Rules for Alfred v Guthrum era battles

[Big Insect]

More good suggestions, chaps - many thanks.  Age of Penda looks interesting, although I have an instinctive aversion to gridded or 'hexed' wargames tables (for ultimately no good reason).

I did take a look at Mortem et Gloriam and even watched few rules presentations and for some reason it scared the living daylights out of me.

I think it is probably overly complex for what you appear to be looking for (IMHO).
But then I am not a 'fan'. I find the pre-battle process too elaborate and complex for the end result.

You might be better off finding a simpler set of table-top rules (maybe Dux Bellorum from Osprey) and then looking for a board-game of the era to play out your campaign. Just a thought.

'Battles for Prydain: Heroic Combat in Dark Age Britain 450-650 AD' comes up regularly as 'highly recommended' in online searches, but I've never played it. Whether it is too 'tactical' and not 'strategic' enough, to combine with a tabletop wargame, might be its challenge.

[henjed]

Thanks for the suggestions.  I feel quite (and fairly, I have to say - I *did* ask) inundated.

I'm still prevaricating - but as it's a few months until I'm scheduled to rebase the figures I have (and paint some more) I will continue to ponder.

[steve_holmes_11]

It's probably best to note all the titles then look for slightly larger reviews online.

Before doing that, try to visualise your own impression of the battles that interest you.



Does it involve two shieldwalls pushing away until one flees?

Does if centre on shieldwalls, but with looser action on flanks and household troops waiting their moment to intervene?

Do you want a campaign system, with your invaders looking to raid / settle, and the defenders needing to drive them away?

Are you more interested in tiny raids and ambushes where shieldwalls may not be appropriate?

And finally

Do you wish to include mounted combat, or do your troops always fight on foot?

[henjed]

And that's another reason for my prevarication! I am keen on some sort of campaign system, and had envisaged medium size battles (representing a couple of thousand men a side) with some flexibilities for Welsh/Irish/scotti(sh) allies (some of whom might be cavalry and which wouldn't be 'true' shieldwall) - but then I keep seeing some small action/large skirmish rules that strike me as more interesting (mechanically) and (dare I say it about dark age slog) more fun.

[PedroSwift]

How about the computer game Total War Saga:Thrones of Britannia? Save you painting minis. Or is that siggestion sacrilegious on this forum  ?

[DecemDave]

How about the computer game Total War Saga:Thrones of Britannia? Save you painting minis. Or is that siggestion sacrilegious on this forum  ?

FWIW I found the "Thrones" battles grew quite boring for much the same reason as table top shieldwall v shieldwall can be.  It was interesting a few times to experience managing unruly nobles and family members and populations that hated your wars.  But even the campaign mechanics are not correct.  E.g. the campaigns of men like Ecgfrith, Penda, Offa and Cadwallon covered long distances in a fraction of the seasons the game allows. (fan built mods exist). Sticking with TW, I found "Age of Charlemagne" in Attila was better.

There are more fun (sillier) options like Civ III conquests where you can load up your longships with insanely powerful beserks and go round attacking all the AI civs.  And Field of Glory has a direct computer equivalent for example if you like that rule system. 

Does anyone know another "dark age" computer game where you can use the campaign features but switch the battles to tabletop and the input the outcome?  That might be the best use. 

If you just wanted to avoid painting but have the tabletop experience: Battle Ravens, The Helion paperboy series or Wofun minis might be a better option.   The latter two ARE sacrilegious as they have 10mm options.  But they are flat so dont compete well with the sheer joy from your very own painted Pendrakens. 

[steve_holmes_11]

And that's another reason for my prevarication! I am keen on some sort of campaign system, and had envisaged medium size battles (representing a couple of thousand men a side) with some flexibilities for Welsh/Irish/scotti(sh) allies (some of whom might be cavalry and which wouldn't be 'true' shieldwall) - but then I keep seeing some small action/large skirmish rules that strike me as more interesting (mechanically) and (dare I say it about dark age slog) more fun.

The answer may be a mash-up of systems.


Relatively few contain a campaign system, but that's something you can homebrew fairly easily.

Try to pick up clues form reviews.
Are there rulesets that can "bathub" well; using similar systems for guerrilla actions around Athelney or the Battle of Edington.

[John Cook]

Have you considered computer moderated rules.  Computer Strategies V7 rules'To Me!' covers the Dark Ages and early Medieval and has sophisticated campaign and solo modules.  I ran Norman Conquest and Anarchy period campaigns with it very successfully.  No dice, no tables to consult I wouldn't use anything else.  Runs on any Windows PC; a tablet is ideal as it's more 'mobile'.