No longer playing WHFB, what to do with my old armies?

[Sunjester]

Good stuff so far. I have added something else I thought about - maximising player participation. The long wait during an opponent's turn has been really noticeable recently - maybe it's just my opponent being super slow. So a move away from my turn, you just stand there, your turn, I just stand here, would be a definite plus.

A mechanic I really liked in the old Chronopia rules was that the players took it in turn to activate one unit or leader at a time (highest dice roll going first). If one player had more units they all activated at the end of the turn.

 I've used this mechanic in other rules that I helped cobble together (Border Reivers skirmish, Tudor Irish Wars big battle and Late Roman big battle games) and I like it, it means both players are active through out the turn. You could try importing this into whatever rules you end up using.

[Lowtardog]

A mechanic I really liked in the old Chronopia rules was that the players took it in turn to activate one unit or leader at a time (highest dice roll going first). If one player had more units they all activated at the end of the turn.

 I've used this mechanic in other rules that I helped cobble together (Border Reivers skirmish, Tudor Irish Wars big battle and Late Roman big battle games) and I like it, it means both players are active through out the turn. You could try importing this into whatever rules you end up using.

Also Graham remember we used a variant for our big LOTR campaign and it worked a treat

(Karl)

[Chuck1372]

I'll put in another vote for Armies of Arcanna.  It was written by a guy who was himself unsatisfied with Warhammer.  It keeps some of the better aspects of WFB and adds many more new elements.

[grant]

What he said! 

Me and some of my mates are going back to 5th Edition in January, as our armies were designeed with it (and 4th ed) and we still want to play...

We don't do tournaments, so it seems ideal really...

I left Warhammer a few years ago. The only thing I miss is 5th edition! Small units, small armies, big game.

[Nord]

Thanks for the replies, it's given me plenty to think about. I will try to find reviews and battle reports on the web, looking at Mayhem, Armies of Arcana and Gods of Battle to begin with, since these sound nearest to what I want.

I must admit I was half expecting a suggestion of Hail Caesar with fantasy mod, anybody tried this?

[Conquistador]

I have decided to return to Fantasy (and maybe eventually historical) war gaming but I am going the  "... set your plan, let it go, keep a reserve, and play it out" route with Rally Round the King by Two Hour War Games.

Garcias,

Glenn

[Blue in vt]

Can I suggest that you simply step back in WFB history to when the game was actually fun and narrative in nature...I'm a die hard Warhammer 3rd edition fan....the game had many more interesting complexities and fun elements that were removed from the 4th ed onward when game play was streamlined and sped up to accommodate the tournament based mentality that now dominates the WFB world.  Just because there is a new rule set doesn't mean YOU have to use it.  I played 4th ed when it came out and hated every game of it.  So I've gone back to the game I love and recruited a new set of gamers that feel the same way and we are having fun doing it.  Isn't that what its all about?

Just my two cents...

Cheers,

Blue

[Yuber Okami]

I'll put in another vote for Armies of Arcanna.  It was written by a guy who was himself unsatisfied with Warhammer.  It keeps some of the better aspects of WFB and adds many more new elements.

Me too. I have been amazed to see how people who actually hate WHFB and saw anything fantasy-related with contempt enlarged their dusty armies after playing a pair of games.

[Nord]

I saw the resurgence of interest in the third edition of WHFB and was intrigued enough to hunt down a copy on ebay. It's a lovely old book, full of really nice retro art and, if you like the clumpy old metals, load of mini porn. But the rules. Quite possibly the worst rule set I have ever read. Movement is mind numbingly clunky, three different stats for leadership is completely un-necessary, spells that can kill outright (with no dispels either). Nope, not for me I'm afraid, I think you need a pair of rose-tinted specs for that ruleset.

[Gibby]

I saw the resurgence of interest in the third edition of WHFB and was intrigued enough to hunt down a copy on ebay. It's a lovely old book, full of really nice retro art and, if you like the clumpy old metals, load of mini porn. But the rules. Quite possibly the worst rule set I have ever read. Movement is mind numbingly clunky, three different stats for leadership is completely un-necessary, spells that can kill outright (with no dispels either). Nope, not for me I'm afraid, I think you need a pair of rose-tinted specs for that ruleset.

I got all excited for WHFB 3rd as well, what with the Oldhammer resurgence, but upon acquiring the book I have to agree with you; the rules are horrible!

Another vote here for Armies of Arcana, though I must confess I've yet to play it. I have the book and can already tell it does everything that was good about Warhammer, but better.

[weismonsters]

Warhammer 3rd edition and its various add-ons on are great fun to read. I enjoy dipping into them and styling my chaos collection after them.

However, a fantasy battle game is not just a fantasy game it is also a battle. Creating the right atmosphere and narrative  is good, but the whole thing of deploying armies and moving them about suggests some sort of competition or battle of wits between generals. A game mechanics which goes to pot as soon as both parties try their best to win is missing an important ingredient as far as I asm concerned.

I have not any experience of these other rulesets mentioned, but if they allow for a competitive game that isnt all about cheap tricks or absurd rules anomalies then I would be interested.

[Chico]

I'm a big fan of playing 3rd ed WhFB and after a few play though and getting used to a GM again I happen to think its amazing.

I have a 2 part battle report here:

http://oldhammeronabudget.blogspot.co.uk/2013/09/glogg-battle-treachery-at-legbreaker.html

and

http://oldhammeronabudget.blogspot.co.uk/2013/09/the-disturbed-slumber-part-2.html

We even went and done army fluff and background:

http://oldhammeronabudget.blogspot.co.uk/2013/09/the-ropsmenn-vs-kanboks-kingdom.html

[DowVooVoo]

JUST PLAY THE old RULES 1,2,3,4 ETC wHY CHANGE!!!!

[grant]

and getting used to a GM again

I don't think I could do that!

[carlos13th]

As others have mentioned kings of war might be a decent ruleset to use your models with.

Here is a demo game.

http://www.beastsofwar.com/kings-of-war/kings-war-week-demo-game-part-1/