Medieval newbie

[Maenoferren]

I'd throw in another vote for Impetus - cracking set for pointy stick era games!

The Basic version is free and plays well too, but not really is worth a bash at the full version.

I was discussing this elsewhere and received this reply...
Where to start....army lists are nonsense, but can be ignored obviously. Cavalry seem to be way too powerful when attacking close-order infantry and longbows are only marginally inferior to MG 42. I was considering giving them a go with my Mongols etc...  So any help greatly appreciated.

[Genom]

In Impetus, if you can get heavy cavalry on the flank of anything they're gone. However they lose their Impetus bonus if they charge spears and likewise if you can charge them instead. Otherwise all it takes is causing 1 casualty or flanking them and again they lose their Impetus Bonus. (I have a Teutonic army I use for Impetus so I'm well aware my heavy cavalry isn't the godlike creature some make it out to be unless I can get the better of my opponent positionally.) They are generally also impetuous which means that they can be lured to where you want them to be by offering up an inviting target, you can then start to take them in the flank etc and they're a lost cause.

Longbows that are in a defended position or even behind stakes are a royal pita but the limit on their numbers means that you can partially ignore them and concentrate on the rest of their forces. But sure expect to die if you just charge headlong into them.

Much worse is the machine gun effect that is light cavalry armies. There is an intriguing exploit in the rules that simulates the swarming effect that is sometimes attributed to bow armed cavalry armies where they target a section of the army and concentrate all of their fire on that one spot, it's one of these things that players seem to be either delighted or infuriated by when it's used.  However if it's not used and you're sensible about not getting down to measuring to the degree or MM then you'll probably find them okay.

[toxicpixie]

What Genom said

Big VBU high Impetus knights are scary but will come a cropper against decent bows, which then lets your decent foot get in & duff them up. It's a really good rock-paper-scissors approach and much more subtle than most, and can almost feel the evolutions in historical warfare churn as you play.

We've played all sorts and it's different every period and you get a real sense of the transition of units and tactics - I haven't personally used it for WotR era stuff but reading a few reports & talking to others it should work nicely. The bow and the bill work together and you husband your cavalry as they'll get clobbered if you just throw them in. But commit at the decisive point when they're already wavering and you might well break them.

Across period not many armies get Longbow A - that's effectively limited to 100YW English (and a few French IIRC) and some in the WotR, depending on how well trained and enthusiastic the factions particular troops are. They're massively dangerous if they get the chance to shoot at point blank. And they're the only people who can if charged and on opportunity - everything else uses the normal range factors, Longbow A can use the horrific pout blank ratings. Combined with stakes and some solid bills they're very nasty. But then, if both sides have them no one side has the advantage

[Hwiccee]

For Wars of the Roses I would recommend 'A Coat of Steel' and 'A Crown of Paper' both by Perfect Captain and both totally free.

ACOS is the battle rules and ACOP is the campaign rules. I haven't played the campaign yet but the rules are excellent. Because they are tailored for this war they are a lot better than the various other generic, lack lustre rules mentioned - at least in my opinion.

The downloads are at the bottom of this page - http://perfectcaptain.50megs.com/request.html and this page is info - http://perfectcaptain.50megs.com/acop.html