Pendraken Miniatures Forum

Hi,
what are the rules you use with yours Pendraken figures ?

For me :

- Might and Reason for WSS, SYW and FPW

And I would like use Black Powder for FPW and Crimean as soon as we could find some Crimean french.  ;)
I want buy some fabntastic AWI range but I don't know what rules to use.

And you, yours rules ?
Thank you

Bltzkrieg Commander WW2
Cold War Commander Moderns
Napoleon's Legacy - Napoleonics and ACW.

Tried Black Powder as well but it's not a very realistic game for me definately a put em up and knock em down set; fun I'm sure.

Bliztkrieg Commander
Future War Commander
Warmaster Ancients
Fire & Fury
Piquet

Blitzkrieg Commander, and some home brews.

WHY do you use the rules you use?

Warfare in the Age of Discovery (Thirty Years' War)
Command Decision: Test of Battle (World War II)

The 2 with some modifications here and there.

Primary Flames of War (uuehh, don't shoot me!!! :-[), some homemade rules, and planning on buying Rapid Fire. :)

British Grenadier works well for AWI. Its quite complex though (based on GdB) so not to some peoples tastes. I'm using the 15mm basing and that looks about right with the 10mm figures (in fact i think that 15mm figures would look too squashed together on the sizes given). Or you could use the 25mm basing and have really big battalions. The main issue with that would be that BG counts the number of figures firing so you would need to adapt the ratio.

Warmaster Ancients for Ancients but most of the Medieval lists and special rules are a bit "broken"

Home made rules for WW2 and WW1

Quote from: DanJ on 18 March 2010, 02:07:48 PM
Warmaster Ancients for Ancients but most of the Medieval lists and special rules are a bit "broken"

Interesting.

In what way do you think they're broken?

Some friends and I have used Spearhead a couple of times for our WWII Eastern Front games.

On the plus side we love the command system which is both 'realistic' and fun to work with. Commanders give written (or rather: drawn) orders to their subordinates before the start of the game. These have to be obeyed even if the tactical situation changes, unless commanders produce the required D6 throw to give them new orders.

On the downside the operational rules are a bit too rigid to our taste. Limited arcs of fire, static positions, some punishing modifiers for the Soviet players and too little diversity of speed and range for various vehicle classes.

Apparently Spearhead has the same tendency as FoW to result in more or less static clusters of hardware on the table slugging it out from behind hill tops and hedges and such. Tank formations usually advance like ships in line abreast because columns carry no positive movement modifiers unless on roads. Some thinking is clearly needed here - most probably on my part.

storming the reich for ww2
DBA for my ancients
Homebrew for my moderns
flying lead or nut's! for my skirmish games

Quote from: slinky on 19 March 2010, 11:47:01 AM
storming the reich for ww2

I've never heard of Storming the Reich rules. Could you tell me a bit about them, please?

Cheers,
Aart

Greetings

Rules for my 10mm:

1.  Blitzkrieg Commander for WW2 Eastern Front (and Desert when built)
2.  If the Lord Saves Us for WWI Mesopotamia (platoon per stand - so roughly an Imperial brigade vs Turkish regiment plus supports)
3.  Poleaxed 2 for late mediaeval
4.  not yet sure for FPW

Of course a lot of the armies are still being painted ...

Regards

Edward

i use

Bliztkrieg Commander                                                                       
Warmaster Ancients
Fire & Fury


and want to get  CWC next.

Hi Aart, storming the reich are a rule set by realistic wargames and are very similar to rapid fire but with more detail. They play at battalion level and a company is generally 8-12 figures that can be based or as I play single figs. There are some nice rules for spotting and national characteristics for each nation that makes for some interesting games!

Quote from: slinky on 22 March 2010, 12:59:42 PM
Hi Aart, storming the reich are a rule set by realistic wargames and are very similar to rapid fire but with more detail. They play at battalion level and a company is generally 8-12 figures that can be based or as I play single figs. There are some nice rules for spotting and national characteristics for each nation that makes for some interesting games!

Thanks, Slinky! It is really helpful for starters like myself if people explain why they prefer certain rules.  :-*

Actually, my choice of rules is primarily influenced by BSB (Big Shiny Books)  :-[ So, I'm building an 8th Army for FoW and have some of their books as well. I recently bought BKC (due to some inspirational pictures on Mr. Harwood's site), but haven't played it yet as I'm not quite sure how the basing works.

To make things (slightly) better, I buy shiny new rulebooks, but that doesn't necessarily mean that I play those rules as well.

As an aside, for 10mm ACW I'm writing my own rules (with an emphasis on fun rather than historical accuracy) and with a friend I have written a nice 28mm skirmish game which is still in the process of smoothing out the rough edges.

Hi

Might be easier for me to list those I dont use ! :-)

Varies greatly depending on period/scale/game level I am playing and I tend to flit between sets as mood takes.

Main favs at present are

WWII 6mm/10mm -Spearhead or BKC
WWII 15mm - Battlegroup Panzer Grenadier II (really like these) or Overlord/Grey Storm Red Steel
Ancients - DBMM
WSS - Polemos, Might & Reason, Piquet Field of Battle/Command Piquet
SYW - Might & Reason, Piquet Field Of Battle
ACW - Johnny Reb III

Cheers
Gary (http://sgtsteiner.blogspot.com/)

I'm mainly a 6mm player/collector but for my pendraken colonial marines and aliens - FWC (purely because I also own BKC,CWC and the similarity of having three rule sets makes remembering rules relatively easy.)

Slinky: I am in the market for a new set of WW2 rules either company/Battalion level or Divisional level. Seeing your post above I quickly zipped over to TMP and checked out Realistic's website. Storming the Riech sounds interesting and looks well supported. However, can you answer a couple of questions regarding rule mechanics?

1) Do you have to state orders before the game commences, if so is this written or do you use some sort of counters?

2) What is the turn mechanics, IGOYGO or alternate?

Thanks

Stiener: (Good choice of name)

I notice you play Polemos and M&R. I have recently beening researching M&R joined their yahoo group and read through a couple of sample moves and like the way it plays. How does polemos compare?

Thanks


Adrian

Hi gunhit

From the rule book" At the beginning of the game, give each company or group a written order. This may be as simple as, hold the position at all costs, or advance and take/hold hill A. The initial order cannot be changed for three of your own game turns. It then can only be changed by one of the following three methods:
Radio message, telephone or messenger"

The turn sequence is divided into alternate turns which can be interupted by units on over-watch

Hope this helps...... :D

Hi gunhit

Quote from: Gunhit on 22 March 2010, 03:08:03 PM
I notice you play Polemos and M&R. I have recently beening researching M&R joined their yahoo group and read through a couple of sample moves and like the way it plays. How does polemos compare?

Have not actually played a Polemos game yet ! next on list to try :-)

What are termed Temp points are totalled for each Cmdr you have in army  (plus a few other reasons) players then bid some Temp points to gain Initiative in a turn. Winner uses remaining points to issue orders/activations to units (differing costs per activity) player going 2nd does same but his costs are usually higher.
Combat is pretty straight forward but no specific shooting phase as such as all combat designed around Morale outcome/results. Charging in to contact by Cav requires them to 'beat' target in charge check. Melee is similarily resolved as Morale outcome. Ranges/results etc pretty much on par with M&R.
Includes several army lists, a terrain generation system, solo play guide lines.

Will try to remember to update once I get playing them (as often written rule concepts play differently on table)

Cheers
Gary

QuoteFWC (purely because I also own BKC,CWC and the similarity of having three rule sets makes remembering rules relatively easy.)

Got it in one for me - the days of me having the time / inclination to remember rules across multiple core mechanisms are long gone...I like the WM & derivatives command uncertainty - and therefore have found a nice 'stable' which can pretty much accommodate all my gaming needs...

...although I have to admit I like Ambush Alley & Ambush Z for modern anti-insurgent & zed skirmishing  8)

Thanks guys, much appreciated. Will have to do some more delving, hopefully going to Triples so will see what is going on there regarding these two periods. Really like the mechanisms in Might & Reason.

I play with Ambuh Blitz rules, very fast and simple to play.
http://www.dnir.net/JerboaNet/Ambush/AmbBlitz.htm

And you can visit also my blog.
http://brigadatripeira.blogspot.com/
Cheers
JFaria

Hmm, seen Panzer Biltz pop up now and again over the last couple of years. Their website doesn't rearly say much, although the reviews aren't that positive. From the sample game they seem quite simplistic.

Are they Divisional based?

Is also a hex based/movement firing system?


Adrian

I use BKC for WW2 western desert but am thinking of a BKC/Rapid fire hybrid. I use Principles of war for colonial and '45 jacobite rebellion.  Am I the only wargamer still using POW? Never hear it mentioned much but I really like it!

Quote from: nikharwood on 22 March 2010, 08:38:32 PM

QuoteFWC (purely because I also own BKC,CWC and the similarity of having three rule sets makes remembering rules relatively easy.)

Got it in one for me - the days of me having the time / inclination to remember rules across multiple core mechanisms are long gone...I like the WM & derivatives command uncertainty - and therefore have found a nice 'stable' which can pretty much accommodate all my gaming needs...

...although I have to admit I like Ambush Alley & Ambush Z for modern anti-insurgent & zed skirmishing  8)

Nik,whats Bed skirmishing.....It sounds a bit like bedroom gymnastics.Oh hang on a minute Zed skirmishing,obviously something you do asleep.....

"the days of me having the time / inclination to remember rules across multiple core mechanisms are long gone...I like the WM & derivatives command uncertainty - and therefore have found a nice 'stable' which can pretty much accommodate all my gaming needs..."

I agree with Nik completely on this one. BKCII ticks all the boxes for me as a rule set.

Quote from: Jubilation T Cornpone on 26 March 2010, 10:03:36 AM
I use BKC for WW2 western desert but am thinking of a BKC/Rapid fire hybrid. I use Principles of war for colonial and '45 jacobite rebellion.  Am I the only wargamer still using POW? Never hear it mentioned much but I really like it!

I use POW for ECW, ACW and Colonial - so youre not on your own!

QuoteNik,whats Bed skirmishing.....It sounds a bit like bedroom gymnastics.Oh hang on a minute Zed skirmishing,obviously something you do asleep.....

:D No comment... ;)

Quote from: Aart Brouwer on 18 March 2010, 05:55:41 PM
Tank formations usually advance like ships in line abreast because columns carry no positive movement modifiers unless on roads.

Why would a cross country column advance in column?  You stay in column on a road because roads have a limited width - remember major roads in the 40's were at the best what we would consider an A road in the UK nowadays- compare, say the A1 of 1942 with the modern A1 (the 'old A1 still exists- its that one that runs along side the new A1, but goes through all the towns, and is rarely more than 40 foot wide).

A tank column cross country merely presents a more predictable target, with most of the tanks unable to engage forward, for no benefit- does it really matter where you cross a field on the SH scale?

Quote from: Last Hussar on 27 March 2010, 11:36:14 PMWhy would a cross country column advance in column?

Because the Germans knew what they were doing. They often advanced in double column (Doppelreihe) because it enabled them to react quickly and efficiently to any situation their recon might encounter. In case of a flank attack by (fast) T34's the double column provided the required depth for the Panzergrenadiere which could operate behind one column with fire cover from the other. In case of frontal attack they could easily spread out in well-rehearsed formations like the broad wedge (Breitkeile).

For further information you might take a peek at Panzer Tactics by Wolfgang Schneider, it's (partially) available in Google books. It has pictures, diagrams &cetera on this tactic.

Cheers,
Aart

And it's a book definitely worth buying IMO...it's one I'm forever dipping in & out of....great pics too

Why Zouave for ACW/FPW, of course! see:  www.repiquerules.com

I use a "Song of Blades and Heroes" with most Ad ons and "Dungeon Crawl". I also use the figures for my Role-Playing-Game "DungeonSlayer"

Try "Real Time Wargaming" rules from Realistic Modelling, each set is period specific and aimed specifically at the 10mm gamer. Not Glossy!

QuoteQuote from: DanJ on 18 March 2010, 02:07:48 PM
Warmaster Ancients for Ancients but most of the Medieval lists and special rules are a bit "broken"

Interesting.

In what way do you think they're broken?

The WM forum had a lot of stuff on this when they first came out, but off the top of my head the main problems seem to lie in the special rules, for instance:-

The "Combined Arms" allows bows to shoot from behind heavier foot but any shooting back only ever falls on the heavier foot, a fundamental change to a basic WM mechanic and is "free" in points terms.

Longbow and Crossbow troops "down graded" to skirmishers retain their full range (twice that of other skirmish troops).

4+ save knights aren't slow.

The "knight" special rule which gives them an extra attack in their first frontal melee is free.

The army lists are too heavily biased towards Britain and Western Europe.

These issues aren't too much of a problem if you only play in period but one of the great enjoyments of WM was the ability to play out of period games, in this case the Medieval armies have too many advantages.

That said I think the rules are worth getting for the seige rules alone, which are excellent.

Dan

I use -

Blackpowder for AWI
WH WW1
Warmaster
FWC
BKC
Rapid Fire


The reason why for all the rule set is we like to have fun gaming, realism is ok but FUN is the reason my club games.

chris

Just got my copy of Warmaster off ebay today, looks like a nifty set of rules...... better finish my romans

War in the Colonies for AWI, ideal for 10mm, as it uses elements and there are ony two base sizes. Authored by Steve Tulk of NLWG. I think Brookhurst in the states might have a few copies, also available for download from the Wargames Vault website.

Forlorn Hope for ECW.

WSS - Blenheim 2004 rules on Warflag site
Napoleonics - Just switched to 'Black Powder' after years of Grande Armee. May also try for other periods.

Chad

I am still using marbles and matchsticks fired from spring loaded guns...still the best and fairest way  to go

QuoteJust got my copy of Warmaster off ebay today, looks like a nifty set of rules...... better finish my romans

You should visit Rick Priestly's Warmaster web site, there are a number of semi official army lists which haven't made it into the books and also the official errata and updates.

Hi, as I say in my introduction, I use a minimalist set of rules (One Page Fantasy Skirmish) with my Pendraken minis, mostly for iniciation of new gamers. And I bought the Song of Blades and Heroes too (spanish version), the system is fine but do not allow to create warriors, just pick them in a list. Too bad...  :( :)

Quote from: Goblin Warchief on 16 May 2010, 09:28:52 PM
Hi, as I say in my introduction, I use a minimalist set of rules (One Page Fantasy Skirmish) with my Pendraken minis, mostly for iniciation of new gamers. And I bought the Song of Blades and Heroes too (spanish version), the system is fine but do not allow to create warriors, just pick them in a list. Too bad...  :( :)

If you go to the Song of Blades and Heroes Yahoo Group there's a calculator that allows you to create your own heroes in the the file section.

Great. Thanks Derek H.  :)

http://games.groups.yahoo.com/group/songofblades/files/  warband_builder.zip