Looking For Fantasy Rulesets!

[warrenss2]

I use the Fantasy Rules! by Chipco, though I went back to using their 2nd edition set.

--- Ooooo....  

Where can one still get those?

[Colonel Tubby]

For a couple of oop rule systems, you could try the AD&D Battlesytem rules by TSR.  There are both a mass combat version and a skirmish version.  The rules are usually available on ebay and can be picked up on the cheap.

Yeap, good rules and a fairly familar system if you've played AD&D!

Also, if you want a pulpy, skirmish feel try Rattrap's Broadsword! (Available in print & PDF)

http://rattrapproductions.com/store/index.php?main_page=index&cPath=9&zenid=hur3qkkfhvrjn13mgc3ov6kdj7

[Alfrik]

For Chipco's FR! rules check http://www.sabersedge.com/chipco/

[blacksmith]

I'm using Warrior Heroes Armies and Adventurers from Two Hour Wargames. It has solo play and skirmish, dungeon bash, big battles and campaign.
Check this: http://javieratwar.blogspot.com/search/label/Campaign.%20Warrior%20Heroes%20Armies%20and%20Adventurers
And this: http://javieratwar.blogspot.com/2010/12/whaa-big-battle.html
And for bigger battles Rally Round the King from THW as well: http://javieratwar.blogspot.com/search/label/Battle%20Reports.%20Rally%20Round%20the%20King.

[tim in saskatoon]

Hordes of the Things - Mass combat. Playing time (after you know the rules) 20-30 minutes. Out of print.

Savage Worlds Showdown - Skirmish. Can be used with any genre. Free.
http://www.peginc.com/downloads.html --- scroll down to see the download.

I'll second both of those!

SW is the only skirmish system I use. I use it for everything: Fantasy, Old West, Horse & Musket, Great War, Colonial/victorian Horror/VSF, WW2 (sometimes "weird"), Supers, Pulp Adventure, Modern, Sc-fi, etc, etc.

HOTT is also my choice for mass battle fantasy (and DBA for mass battle everything else up to about 1900). While it is now out of print it can now be downloaded for free from the publisher (along with a number of their other out of print games):

WRG History/Downloads

scroll down it's near the bottom.

Or here's a direct link to download the HOTT pdf:

Hordes of the Things PDF

[warrenss2]

Their pdf version of HOTT has left out the army lists. That was half the fun of having the rules.

I was fortunate that a friend scanned his book and let me have a copy.

I just wish that they would re-release it, but with a much simpler verbiage version!!!!

[Damien]

Hi tim in saskatoon, thanks for the heads up, I've been looking for these rules for ages! (nice blog btw, some seriously nice minis, really like the brown skinned orcs)

Cheers
Damien

[Delaney]

On the trend of people posting their own rulesets up...

[Druthu]

I am interested in this as well...
Is anyone using Song of Blades and Heroes ruleset?

I am looking for a skirmish game for my gaming buddies....15mm or 28mm does not matter.
So far I think I might use figs from GW's LOTR line.

Can anyone point out some differences in the systems that they are plugging?
What they like and dislike?

Thanks....I appreciate this thread.
D.

[StorminWolf]

how about Hordes of the things? its similar to DBA but uses a points system so you can customize your Force

[phreedh]

Is anyone using Song of Blades and Heroes ruleset?

I play it almost exclusively. I like the freedom of the army lists and how you can give ANY miniature a stat line with the online character builder. I also like the fact that stat lines are slim! Two attributes and possibly 3 or 4 special rules such as shooter, fast moving, mounted or unreliable.

I also very much like the "small" scale, you only need to paint up 8 or so figs to have a standard warband.

What I don't like is how it's built mainly for one-off face-offs. The activation system is elegant, but can screw people over quite a lot. That's fine in a competitive "best of three" environment, but we mainly play narrative campaigns where I play various bad guys and my mates play the heroes. Thus we have tweaked the activation rules a bit, in favour of poor troops. It was no fun when the heroes waded through paralyzed undead who couldn't activate for the un-life of them. =)

I wholeheartedly recommend it though. There are similar systems which I haven't played (such as Dave King's fine Skulldred, it can be downloaded for free... look above), but SBH is fast playing, elegant and easy to learn.

[phreedh]

BTW, I've been toying with the idea of putting together a rules system thread similar to my miniature manufacturers thread. Should I? =)

[Alfrik]

Go for it! Might generate some new ideas after all.

[Laughing Ferret]

I do like fantasy skirmish games. Only played Songs a few times but did enjoy it.  Downloaded the Skulldred, haven't had a chance to test it, but it does look promising.  For 28mm minis I do prefer skirmish games with half dozen to 20 minis or so compared to the bigger army games.

I've also been getting more interested in 15mm element-base large battles lately and have been looking around for potential rules.  

Somewhere (momentarily lost after the last move) I have HOTT & Fantasy Rules, both good games, but one thing that detracts for me is the element bases are squares. Squares are great for rules mechanics & ease on the battlefield since you can turn a square to a new facing without messing up a convoluted battle, but the squares don't quite look like 'units' to me.

I like the look of Impetus, and their fantasy impetus.  I found the rules, but haven't digested them.  It seems there are some 'build it by points' rules for constructing your own army/race lists, which is good.  But without a good grounding in how good those numbers are and what to expect & compare, it isn't immediately obvious to me how I'd build a force, though it is reassuring that you can tweak it as you go.

So I like the element base shapes for fantasy impetus and have followed some of the game on the Geektactica blog, and have to say it looks promising. But basing 15mm for impetus means the army wouldn't really function in a 40x40 based game: so basing them for this is a commitment.   

So much easier for 28mm skirmish: is the mini on a base of some kind and won't fall over? Yes? Then it will work in any skirmish game system. Great!

Conclusions? None.  Still searching and trying to decide.  But I really want to make some 15mm fantasy armies.

[Thantsants]

I'll second Havoc and Skulldred - marvellous games both of them!

I also enjoyed Warhammer 2nd ed - not as complicated as 3rd ed. and worked surprisingly well as a skirmish game if you ignore the unit size rules!