Skirmish rules?

[grubman]

Any suggestions for a solid set of fantasy skirmish rules that are pretty generic and versatile?  I want to do a series of small one shot scenario games jut to have an excuse to paint up a lot of weird minis and create some cool terrain settings.

I'd like something that is (preferably in print) not totally obscure, streamlined, and provides simple rules for doing what you want without making you do a ton of rule and conversion work.  I’d like something along the lines of Mordheim, but with more versatility (I want to use a lot of minis, not just stock warhammer stuff, and don’t want to have to worry about balance and such when creating them) in including new creatures/characters/ and scenario elements (special rules).  

However, I don’t want to go any more complex, thus entering the realm of role playing.  I want to stay solidly on the side of wargaming with its clear cut rules and simple implications.

[Lowtardog]

Your best bet Gruman is to pick up a set of Lord of the Rings Rules from Games Workshop, there are bound to be plenty around on e-bay going cheap now the films have faded into memory for the kids.

It is principally the same as LOTOW but with slightly less options etc for equipment and the like. You are bound by the races in the books but getting the later books should enable you to have quite a variety without too much of the wizardy magic.

Some one on the forum will know the best book to get hold of as I stopped playing it after the two towers book came out. What that did was take the rules to the equivalent LOTOW of the Alamo book where larger units and obviously siege were played.

[xeoran]

Song of Blades and Heroes by Ganesha Games, only $4 includes free Excel sheet for creating your own troops with points. Fast, fun, deadly and pretty innovative. Also suitably generic whilst containing a troops creation system that allows you to make miniature very non generic. Can't recomend it enough. Service is very fast too.

[matakishi]

Song of Blades and heroes is definitely the way to go  

[chaplain severus]

Age of Blood are  a free set of rules on the internet.

Originally used for a viking warband scenario it is easily adaptable to almost any age.

It uses a d10 system which allows for more variation than the standard GW d6 system (maybe that's good maybe bad depending on what you want"

either way it's free

http://www.miniaturewargaming.com/index.php/mwg/comments/age_of_blood_second_edition_miniatures_rules/


Matt

[jlstuht]

Keep your eyes out for the upcoming "Broadsword Adventures" from those tireless folks at Rattrap Productions.  It's the fantasy (think Conan) variation of the 45 Adventures system.  It's only in the play-test stage at this point but I'm sure Rich will let us all know when he's ready to unleash it on the world.

[Rhoderic]

I suspect grubman isn't really looking for a 45A style ruleset, what with it's RPG-ish influences. This came up over on the Pulp forum.

I'm afraid I can't really think of any ruleset to suggest (having never played Song of Blades and Heroes or Age of Blood - though I'm sure they're good, if they're being recommended here). There's really no ruleset that fills both criteria of being well known and having a design-your-own-factions/creatures/characters function. So if something like Song of Blades and Heroes won't fly with your group, you'll probably have to pick Mordheim, LotR, Confrontation or some other famous ruleset like that, and simply get acquainted enough with it to be able to design your own stuff without breaking the game balance.

[jlstuht]

For larger groups of minis you could look at "Waken the Storm" which is a fantasy variant of "The Sword and the Flame".  I haven't played that particular variant, but TSATF is a well-tested set of rules on which to base a game.  Units will probably be anywhere from 8 - 20 figs in strength which will allow for some fairly large games to be presented.

[Super_Gibbon]

The Gibbon is also always looking for some generic fantasy rule sets for skirmish. I think using LOTR rules would be the easiest thing to do. There was a goal system generic fantasy ruleset, goal system being the Superfigs and Chaos in Cairo rules, that may still be available as a cheap PDF somewhere. That would have more detail and be more customizable than LOTR. I'm painting some great goat men I got from Mega minis and after they're done I'll be looking to try them out with something, maybe the goal system or Reaper's fantasy rules.

[grubman]

Thanks all, I have some research to do now looking some of these up .

Oddly enough (Gib), Mega minis is one of the companies that started me looking also.  They just have some cool figs that make me want to paint them and do something with them.

[twrchtrwyth]

Mordheim and all it's add ons available free here,

http://www.specialist-games.com/mordheim/rulebook.asp

You're probably aware, but just in case.

[revford]

There is a nice simple campaign system of Lord of The Rings, that seems to be based on the one from LOTOW for free download here:

http://uk.games-workshop.com/thelordoftherings/battle-companies/1/


As a LOTOW fan looking for a Fantasy game I thought you may find that handy.

[grubman]

Mordheim and all it's add ons available free here,

http://www.specialist-games.com/mordheim/rulebook.asp

You're probably aware, but just in case.

Yeah, but might help someone else, so thanks for the link.  I really do like the Mordheim rules.

There is a nice simple campaign system of Lord of The Rings, that seems to be based on the one from LOTOW for free download here:

http://uk.games-workshop.com/thelordoftherings/battle-companies/1/


As a LOTOW fan looking for a Fantasy game I thought you may find that handy.

Cool!

[Ruarigh]

I really like Legends of Araby from TwoHourWargames. They are readily adaptable to most settings and the reaction system and the concept of the Star and the Grunts is brilliant. It makes the games play much the same way as the films do. There is also excellent support on the Yahoo group as well as a bunch of downloads of additions to the rules. If you check them out on Boardgamegeek there is a good review of them.

Cheers,
Ruarigh

[revford]

I've not tried Legends of Araby, but the support from THW is excellent.