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  • Ask TGN: Fantasy and Ancients skirmish

    Ask TGN

    An anonymous reader asks:

    I am looking for a generic fantasy and ancients skirmish system for use with 28mm scale figures. Ideally this would have a point costing system so that I can build stats for my own miniatures. Is their such a system for either genre?

    15 Responses to “Ask TGN: Fantasy and Ancients skirmish”


    Shades says:

    I’ve researched about 20 to develop my own homegrown game. Someday, maybe mine will be available to the world. In the meantime, check out the following:

    Armies of Arcana
    Fantasy Rules
    For the Masses
    Might of Arms
    No Quarter
    Unbridled Fury
    Undying Lands
    Warlord


    Thorbjorn Nielsen says:

    Fantasy skirmish:
    Song of Blades and Heroes
    Lord of The Rings Strategy Battle Game
    Broadsword Adventures (coming soon from Rattrap)

    Now these haven’t got a points-design-system. But I think you can make out some points rather easily by yourself. A points-engine is not a fail-safe anyway. They’re often easy to break and misuse.


    Zac says:

    Broadsword Adventures might be fun and I have been reading through Song of Blades and Heroes and it looks fun as well.

    I wonder if Broadsword Adventures could be used for Ancients?


    jugglingfool says:

    I would have to put my vote in for Song of Blades and Heroes. It is a $4 PDF downlaod so the cost is good. Plus the couple of games that I have played have been a good quick fun game. I am sure there may be room to abuse the system, but it is not a tournament rule set. It is a fun game to play with your buddies and whatever figs you happen to have lying around. Try it I am sure you won’t feel you have wasted your $4.


    Shades says:

    Oops. I missed the skirmish criteria. Most of the list I provided is unit-based. Here’s the reduced list that is more skirmish-oriented.

    No Quarter
    Unbridled Fury
    Warlord

    Yeah, Song of Blades and Heroes is definitely a contender, too. I left it out just because it didn’t light my fire personally — a little too “thin” for my liking — but it’s simple and complete, and it even has campaign rules.


    gavroche says:

    GWAR uses the same basic rules as Shockforce, has a points system and can be used for heroic fantasy if you discard the silly heavy metal theme. Other than that, I’d recommend Superfigs as the best customizable points based design-your-own-troops skirmish system around. Created for superhero gaming, but the rules are generic enough.


    Thorbjorn Nielsen says:

    Zac says:
    I wonder if Broadsword Adventures could be used for Ancients?

    Thorbjørn says:
    I can’t think of a reason why it couldn’t. The source material available for historians in the ancient periods is scarce anyway… making a lot of the “facts” more like qualified guesses. I don’t think it’s far off to conclude that ancients and fantasy is almost the same. :-)

    Especially when we’re talking skirmish - the traits of different armies doesn’t even come into the picture at that low a level.

    Actually reading Field of Glory my first thought was how easy one could do Mordor and Rohan lists for the game.

    (I have no clue how you do that fancy quotation stuff, so I did it my own way!)


    gaiasstreiter says:

    ARES seems to be a system, you could enjoy:
    klick this

    greetings
    gaiasstreiter


    GeorgeD says:

    I think Skjaldborg by shieldwall games would be worth having a look at. I haven’t played the game yet. but i have done a thorough reading and all the mechanisms look like the might make for a fun and interesting game. heres the link.

    http://www.shieldwallgames.com/rules.htm

    I also concur that Ares is a great system. You might also check out some of the games from Two Hour Wargames as well.

    Cheers
    GeorgeD


    msoong says:

    >Lord of The Rings Strategy Battle Game

    This one IS single figure based and not unit based, so should fit the criteria (and it also has a point purchase system)…


    Zac says:

    Really? Where is that?


    bhopfner says:

    I was going to suggest the old Mage Knight rules, 1.0 or 2.0 or some hybrid as they have rules for mounts etc. You wouldn’t have the clicky dials but you could chart it just the same.

    cheers,

    Bob


    Torben Kastbjerg says:

    You could also have a go at looking at the various RPG systems being put out? D&D might meet your criteria (I even think that there’s a point-system buried in it somewhere; what with all the challenge ratings and so on).

    If you want something more pulpish in taste, then have a look at the Savage Worlds system; it also has a point costing thingamajick, although it’s not exactly rocket science math ;)

    Song of Blades and Heroes does look good, but like the other commenter is a bit thin to my tastes. However, as far as I can see in my copy there actually IS a point costing formular, although very basic. I believe there’s a pointcostformula up on the yahoogroup?

    Also, I’m looking very much forward to the release of Broadsword Adventures. All other games from Rattrap have been a definate hoot!


    Jason Hupka says:

    I’m a fan A Song of Blades and Heroes. Another that is cheap is Goalsystem Fantasy, and that’s only a few dollars as a downloadable PDF. Both are light games - but they’re very easy to start out with, rules are simple to teach, and the games can be quick.


    Jeffhiatt says:

    Something else that might be worth Checking out is Wargods. If you want to do things other than Greek or Egyptian mythology you will have to do a little tweaking. The thing that is it has going for it is that most of things are customizable and there is a pretty good point system. Also worth mentioning is that the turn system is pretty nice as well.


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