Simple rules, complex process.

[Paintdog]

For a while now, I've had two armies in search of a rule set - my Late Antiquity Romans & Barbarians.

As I'm the only one in our group covering this period, it's up to me to find something that will work, in order to interest my pals. And to fit a niche in our gaming schedule - in this case, midweek night games of 2-3 hours.

Searching for a commercial rule set is fraught. You get recommendations from forums, read online reviews & watch after battle reports before shelling out money to receive what still not might work for you. Just look at my book cases for unused rule sets.

I finally decided to go with home grown. I had  some notes and the start of a rule set I'd started some years ago. I thought they had promise so spent the last few weeks working on them - with AI's help in suggesting some good & not so good mechanisms, formatting etc. I've run some solo games & I hope they're good to go - I've organised a game for Thursday night. It'll be a 'civil war' scenario, also co-authored by me & AL (my new best friend).

I believe they have some tactical challenge, mirror the period & will be fought to a conclusion in the available time. I don't think 'Shieldwall' (my name - Al came up with some poor suggestions) will threaten 'hail Caesar' or ADLG etc but hopefully the rules will be fit for purpose.

[fred]

Hopefully it plays well and your group like the rules!

Shieldwall is already in use for a fairly popular Dark Ages rule set - but then most wargames rule names seem to have more than one set of rules using them.

[Paintdog]

Thanks.

 I've never played a commercial set called  'Shieldwall' but now that you mention it, it rings a bell. That might be why the name occurred to me. Hmmm - plagiarism.
As I have no intention of selling my rules (& no-one would be daft enough to buy them), I should be safe!

donald

[Rick]

I have to admit, if someone were to mention a set of rules called 'Shieldwall' then the very first period I'd think of is the dark ages, not ancients. 'Testudo' would be more like an ancients set of rules, I'd have thought.

[Moriarty]

Do let us know how it works out!