Quick review: Dux Bellorum

[Steve J]

Good idea .

[Luddite]

Just bought them for £7.84 inc p&p which is as cheap as chips these days . Another quick read through of Ferbs thoughts as well as a sample turn online, plus a preview courtesy of Amazon convinced me to buy these.

Aye, makes a change from the usual £30 effort of 10 pages of rules and 190 pages of fluff. 

I also like the fact that you don't need that many figures to make a force compared to WMA.

Indeed.  Although, if i didn't already have 28mm armies for the period i'd be doing 100x50mm bases with 30+ Pendraken figures per base...

[Serotonin]

Ive just picked these up too- I blame Steve J and am very impressed.

Not sure what scale I want to do these. I would like to do them 10mm but the Pendraken range is pretty limited right now (hint hint). Thinking 15mm as my mates have a few 15mm forces for this era, but I am also contemplating 28mm, because as a Saga player I am anxiously awaiting their Arthurian supplement. Then again with element basing you are talking base widths of around 100mm a unit and that means a foot unit is going ot be moving 20-30cm a turn, which seems a lot to me on a 6x4 table. Any views guys?

[Fenton]

I was reading these again last night, and the large movements did concern me, especially I am thinking of 6 or 10mm on 60mm wide bases, Having not played a game yet maybe the Bravery tests and LP's limit this more than I think it might

[Luddite]

Then again with element basing you are talking base widths of around 100mm a unit and that means a foot unit is going ot be moving 20-30cm a turn, which seems a lot to me on a 6x4 table. Any views guys?

Basing is entirely up to you and the rules recommend 40mm base width for 15mm figures or smaller, or 60mm base width for larger figures.

Personally we've gone with 28mm figures on 100mm bases.  On a 6x4' table, with the deployment rules it means that your cavalry are likely to be within charge range on turn 1.  Infantry can be in contact by turn 2.

This means that deployment is vital since with the larger base widths we've chosen to use, the armies deploy effectively in 'combat range'.  Its not too bad though since Dux Bellorum is about Dark Age warrior 'warbands' who lack subtlety, mobility, or tactics.  For them, anything more than 'get 'em lads' is probably a bit suspicious and 'un-manly' in any case!

With say 60mm base widths you'd have a lot more room for manoeuvring.  If you're on 40mm bases i believe the rules recommend using smaller table so...

Overall though we've found that these move distances aren't a problem and the freedom of movement that individual units have makes for interesting 'dancing' and 'dressage', especially when you get a cascade of units charging each other.  It really gives a feeling of the chaotic 'football riot' style of fighting that Dark Age battles likely were...we're not talking Napoleonic ordered formations here!

Not sure what scale I want to do these. I would like to do them 10mm but the Pendraken range is pretty limited right now (hint hint).

Indeed!

Having not played a game yet maybe the Bravery tests and LP's limit this more than I think it might

Actually we've found the Bravery tests to be not too limiting.  In a game we've found you perhaps fail maybe one or two critical Bravery tests at most, and for those units you absolutely have to move, you can invest Leadership points to get them going!  Its part of the appeal of the game actually.

The bulk of your army is likely to be grouped with your Companions/Leader anyway so Bravery is almost never a problem there.  Its only once the lines meet and the groups break up that things start to get tricky!  The units outside your leader's range are likely to be your skirmisher flanks and they're pretty 'brave' when moving anyway...

Overall the game holds together pretty well and is well worth a try.

[Serotonin]

How many did you get on a 100m base? Im thinking of basing them individually on 20mm circular bases then getting some movement trays made up. That way when Saga Arthurian comes out I can use them for that, or Dux Briitanirum (which I also have)

[fred.]

If you went with 100x50mm bases and 10mm figures you'd get loads on a base. I can get 8-10 figs on a 40x20mm base in 2 ranks - which would easily give you 50-60 on 100 x 50mm base, even with a bit of space for artistic bits!

It does sound like a lot of painting, though, so maybe go with 60x40mm bases. This is the same as WM which would allow the re-use of WMA figures.

Personally I'm happy with a 10mm unit moving 20-30cm in a turn, this can easily happen in WM and we are currently playing KoW with standard moves so infantry can double or charge 10-12".

[Luddite]

How many did you get on a 100m base? Im thinking of basing them individually on 20mm circular bases then getting some movement trays made up. That way when Saga Arthurian comes out I can use them for that, or Dux Briitanirum (which I also have)

In 28mm we have units already based for a previous game so:

8x Infantry
4x Cavalry
4x Skirmishers

If Pendraken ranges for the period were more comprehensive, i'd look to put perhaps 30-50 10mm figures on a 100mm base.  Each unit is supposed to represent about 50 warriors so that seems quite appropriate!   

[Serotonin]

I might start with units of 4 on a 100m frontage in 100x30mm movement trays then when I expand the units to 8 men, I can just buy new movement trays.

[Steve J]

I must say I'm very, very impressed with these rules. I'm so glad I bought them . More details to follow on my Blog soon with luck.

[Serotonin]

Yeah they are dead good Steve. Its got something for everyone mechanics wise.

[Luddite]

I must say I'm very, very impressed with these rules. I'm so glad I bought them . More details to follow on my Blog soon with luck.

Agreed.

We played a couple more games last night.  Marvellous stuff.

These really are a refreshing set of rules.

I do reckon with 30-50 Pendraken figures on a 100x50mm base the armies would look jolly good.  Just need some Dark Age figures to be released!   

[Steve J]

I've put up a review of the rules on my Blog for those that are interested:

http://wwiiwargaming.blogspot.co.uk/2013/01/dux-bellorum.html

[nikharwood]

Nice review Steve - I'm still (just about) resisting though 

[Fenton]

Nice review Steve - I'm still (just about) resisting though 

You know you'll buy them in the end Nik, so why put yourself through the agony of making the choice