Chris Peer´s "By The Sword"

[Clearco]

Does someone of you play or own these rules? How are they? I was unable to find any detailled information in the net  

I´m a big fan of Peer´s "In The Heart of Africa", so if the rules are similar (fast and easy ) but set in the medieval era I would like to give it a try, but I don´t want to buy it until I know how they are...Do you know if in the rules the minis are single based, and if the manual has army lists?

I saw that it has a supplement called "War in el Dorado"...Is that the same as "El Dorado" from the Foundry Compendium (Which I happily own ) or is it a sort of "expanded version" of it?  

Thanks!

[DoctorPete]

I own the rules but have not played them yet.  Figures are individually based and organized into units with 50 to 60 figures per player.  Troops are defined by several characteristics (training, morale, etc) and weapons have classes (thrusting, armor-defeating, etc).  Heroes and leaders (knights) lead troops who may otherwise just stand and watch the fight rather than get their hands dirty.  There are 2 types of turn sequence -- you move a unit, I move a unit or by random dice roll according to the training of the unit.  All in all they are more involved mechanic-wise than his other games (I have his Africa, Ancients and American West rules) and provide no army lists (none are needed, really.)  Games concentrate on infantry and cavalry with little or no use for artillery.  The rules seem adaptable for most pre-gunpowder periods and nations (like Asia as well as the Middle East and Europe).

Hope this helps.

[Clearco]

Thanks Doctor Pete, that helped!
It looks then closer to "A Good Day To Die" than to "In The Heart of Africa" it seems...
Is there a point system or something like that to build your army? I missed it in "A Good Day To Die".

I would like to adapt it also to the Trojan Wars, not only to medieval times, but it looks like it could work aswell (well, if there are javelin or throwing weapons...Not sure about the chariots)

[DoctorPete]

No point system.  It is a scenario driven set without standard "armies" as such.  The game designer says the rules are adaptable for a great many periods, so the Trojan wars should be one of them.  There are no rules for chariots that I can find but elephants are covered simply.  The designer also says they are based on some of the mechanics of A Good Day to Die! .  All throwing weapons (javelins, darts, etc) are under the class "hand-hurled" weapons.  Seems much more like a club or "friendly" rule set than a tournament set.

Pete

[Clearco]

Thanks!
The rules seem interesting but I really miss a point system  It´s not that I play tournament-like but I enjoy a lot building up armies/bands whatsoever. Besides I think it´s a good orientation for making scenarios so you can know how valanced or unvalanced it´s going to be...
Maybe I´d adapt In The Heart... instead of it 

[Arlequín]

I'd be interested in reading a review of these, however short, if anybody fancies that? 

[DoctorPete]

I hesitate to write a review because I haven't actually played the game yet.  I couldn't give an honest opinion.  Perhaps someone else will come along who has experience with the game.   

[Clearco]

I'd be interested in reading a review of these, however short, if anybody fancies that? 

Me too 

[blacksmith]

Clearco, you have a private message.
Saludos,