I am thinking about giving ECW a try, can anyone suggest a rule set for 10mm.
If you find a good ecw set let me know.
Word of advice dont touch Polemos :o
Why not? I have often considered it.
I've been using Tony Barr's RenaissanceMaster WMA variant for a few years now - gives a great game - free from his wiki here: http://ermtony.pbworks.com/Renaissance+Commander
Thanks for the reply. Why not Polemos?
Note sure how well it works, but we've had customers looking for ECW armies to use with Warmaster Medieval rules?
The core mechanic works fine - WMM doesn't have ECW lists [natch] but Tony's RM variant that I've linked to above will do the trick....for me, the WM core mechanic gives a nice fluid & fluent game that's fun, fast & furious [lots of 'f's there] - and the command uncertainty creates a nice fog of war effect for me...
In fact, I've got my ECW armies set up for a nice solo scrap at some point this week - possibly tomorrow: expect pics & a batrep 8)
Why not Polemos?
Log into their forum and check out the arguements! They are a bit like Marmite from what I can gather. I tried the ECW polemos rules and threw them down in disgust halfway through a game. Poorly written, even more poorly explained and if you ask a question on the forum expect to be treated with a little contempt.
I am thinking about giving ECW a try, can anyone suggest a rule set for 10mm.
Hi Bertie,
Send me a private message with your email address included, and if you like I`ll send you a set of 6/10mm ECW rules I wrote a year or so ago. They work smoothly and are amazingly simple and even easier to learn.
Good luck,
Six (Steve)
Another vote for Tony Barr's Renaissance Master. Gives a good game in a reasonable amount of time. Just enough tweaks to the WMA rules to work for the period. Victory Without Quarter can be tweaked to work with 10mm. without too much trouble and are fun (even if we did get some odd results last time). I doubt you'd want to use VWQ for competitive play but the uncertainty makes for entertaining possibilities. My poor Ironsides...
Paul
i have just started looking into this myself and have heard that a Very Civile Action by the Perfect Captain group is very good. They are free although they do request that you donate to charity for the rules, and I admire that. Lace Fire and Fury rules just came out. I have heard Blackpowder works for the period. You could always make your own or modify a favorite.
Sorry for the delay in getting back. Thanks for all your valuable feedback. I used WMA before I moved on to FOG. So I have a good idea of the mechancis. Thanks Nik for the link to RM/WMA I will be giving this a go. Perhaps looking at the other suggestions around Colours in September.
Don't know about you guys, but does this sound familiar? I have not played FOG for a few weeks, as our small group have been doing Napoleonics with Shako II, Spearhead for WWII and Battles for Empires for the Sudan. I cannot believe how much we have forgotten, or have got confused with the other rules.
Do you think it will ever be possible to have one basic set of rule mechanics that with obvious amendments that could span the ages?
Time is so limited I dread the thought of looking at new sets of rules. It took us seven ancient rule sets with as many years on trials to all enjoy and agree on FOG : ???
Yep - the Warmaster engine...does the lot for me...
'Proper' published versions:
Warmaster Ancients
Warmaster Ancient Armies
Warmaster Medieval Armies
Blitzkrieg Commander
Cold War Commander
Future War Commander
Then fill in the gap between Medieval & the Spanish Civil War with the variants available for free out there & you're sorted...Black Powder is a "sort-of" WM variant in some ways...from Biblicals to Aliens...and you can skirmish with them too 8)
Hmmm, I`m often heard to mutter under my breath a lot of the time about Games Workshop and some of their policies, especially the `officialdom` of their rules and elite ethic concerning the modelling standard of their store club games and miniatures (though, I`d be the very first in the line to defend the sheer quality of a majority of their wares).
However, I would highly recommend 1644 by Rick Priestley, which seems to be a Foundry publication, and not GW.
I was so impressed with the book I am seriously considering using the rules for my 10mm ECW games, and dropping using my own.... something I never do, as I have always used my own creations for everything I do. But I simply can`t ignore these others are utterly inspirational and wonderfully addictive to read â€" like a favourite book under the pillow and always close to hand.
The conversion from 28mm to 10mm would be extremely easy... just change inches to centimetres and away you go; plus the interior artwork alone makes this book an inspiring guide for matching uniform colours, flags, terrain ideas, and a whole host of other theme and atmosphere builders for the reader to build upon. The book even contains a sample of a fictitious mini campaign, and really goes to lengths to try to show the new ECW gamer how to get the most out of this genre of gaming.
1644.... check it out, I don`t think you`ll be disappointed.
Steve.
ooooops, should point out; I own a heck of a lot of GW miniatures and rules.
The entire Middle Earth range and all the books, Space Hulk, and various other bits and pieces..... so I`m a total hypocrite lol.
I`d hate to think I sounded like I was slamming anyone for liking GW :-[ *whispers* I was aWarhammer RPG, Warhammer Fantasy Battle, and Warhammer 40K player for years... psssst! but don`t tell anyone*
Steve ;D
Fire & Fury seems to work well with most horse and musket rules and I am adapting them for the Sudan/colonial period. You could borrow mechanics from it for ancients and renaissance as well.
I know they're full of holes, but DBR are fast and easy, and you can tinker with them a bit to make them more plausible.
'Do you think it will ever be possible to have one basic set of rule mechanics that with obvious amendments that could span the ages?'
The Principles of war set of rules does a good job of this in my opinion. So far they have Renaissance, 18th Century and 19th Century with an unbuplished Ancient/Medieval set on the Yahoo site. Rules that span the ages may not be everyones cup of tea but I find them useful as I only have one set of core mechanics to learn. As Nik points out, the same can be said of the Warmaster engine which also gives a good game.
What about Forlorn Hope? I know nothing of these rules but they are available from On Military Matters and there are several supplements.
Just received 1644 from Amazon on Saturday, quite right Steve a good book worth the money for the pictures and campaign information alone. Thanks for the tip. Just noticed that there will be a Field of Glory rule system for the 30year & EC wars. It will be a three way competition between 1644, Warmaster (thanks for the info Nik) and FOG. From what I can gather FOG will be available in September.
Just received 1644 from Amazon on Saturday, quite right Steve a good book worth the money for the pictures and campaign information alone. Thanks for the tip.
No worries Bertie; and glad you liked the book :-)
I find the colour plates alone extremely inspirational and really sets the tone nicely for the period.
*sighhhhhhs* but me being me, I find it really hard to use anyone elses rules for long, so I`ve gone back, and even now I am (finally) adding the finishing touches to my own ECW rules.... I`ve even added an Imagi-Nation section so I can play "what if" battles and campaigns when I get the urge. However, I can see no findimental problems with 1644 (the title "1644" is a little bit strange, seeing as the rules cover Elizabethan, all three Civil Wars and right up to the Monmouth Rebellion) but they are a bit clunky and fiddly in places - a hang over from the pro Warhammer fistfull of dice enthusiasts I suppose :-)
Steve
Quote from: sixsideddice on 20 May 2010, 07:41:03 AM
However, I would highly recommend 1644 by Rick Priestley, which seems to be a Foundry publication, and not GW.
I was so impressed with the book I am seriously considering using the rules for my 10mm ECW games, and dropping using my own.... something I never do, as I have always used my own creations for everything I do. But I simply can`t ignore these others are utterly inspirational and wonderfully addictive to read â€" like a favourite book under the pillow and always close to hand.
The conversion from 28mm to 10mm would be extremely easy... just change inches to centimetres and away you go; plus the interior artwork alone makes this book an inspiring guide for matching uniform colours, flags, terrain ideas, and a whole host of other theme and atmosphere builders for the reader to build upon. The book even contains a sample of a fictitious mini campaign, and really goes to lengths to try to show the new ECW gamer how to get the most out of this genre of gaming.
1644.... check it out, I don`t think you`ll be disappointed.
Looked through it last week amd it's indeed really nice with a lot more info beneath the rules.
Just to throw my tuppence worth in, try Regiment of Foote by Peter Pig http://www.peterpig.co.uk/ £9 a copy. It's warmasterish enough to keep Nik happy, but the bit that I like is that you can make up a beatifully formed (yes there is a points system) army, but the pre-battle campaign system means that it could be radicaly changed by the time it gets to the battlefield. Some of it might never get there, some of it could turn up late, some of it might be so disheartened by whats happened en-route that its quality has dropped, etc. During the battle there's a countdown going on every turn, so youre never certain how long the battle is gonna last, so the attacker cant hang about, you have to get stuck in from turn 1, also deployment is so close that theres little chance of changing it. It's a ruleset thats just made of WIN!!!!!!!!!
I like it so much I bought the other 4 sets in this stable, Washingtons Army, Bloody Barons, AK47 and Civil War Battles, lots more 10mm stuff to buy :-\
Gordon
Interesting Gordon...I did have a quick flick-through of Bloody Barons a couple of years ago at Legionary & was interested...but then got sidetracked by something else ;)
You say they are warmasterish-enough - is there uncertainty around command & control as well? (that's a biggie for me...) - the campaign system sounds great too, I like the idea of that *very* much as it would certainly add an element to my (predominantly) solo gaming.
Generals quality + unit quality + modifiers dice roll to activate a unit, then a d6 for number of actions, close enough??
Gordon
Interesting...might just pick up a copy to see 8)
I am a huge fan of the Peter Pig rules. They have command rolls to activate units similar to Warmaster, but with no decrease for mulitple orders. As previousley stated though the roll depends on three things.
1. Quality of the general, usually between 1 and 3. 1 being best.
add that to
2. The quality of the unit you are trying to motivate, again rated between 1 and 3.
add that to factors for
distance between the general and the unit, +1 for every complete 3"
+1 if an order passes through line of sight blocking terrain (like a wood)
The number generated must be equalled or rolled under on 2D6. If you do, the unit is activated and you then roll 1D6 for action points, letting you move, shoot, charge, change formation etc. If you roll over the number your general fails to motivate and can't issue any more orders that turn. Units that are unmotivated are aloowed 1 'residual' action point to move a bit or doing something at least.
I have been involved in playtesting the last four rules sets they have released (there is a picture of me in Washingtons Army :>)
Regiment of Foote was the first set of rules they released using this game skeleton. The unique pre game sequence that basically sets up the 'on table' game is excellent and basically involves detailing your armys march to the battlefield and the characters they meet along the way such as 'Sir Fleming Nadger'.
The style is certainly less polished than other rulesets with occasional typos and grammatical errors, but we are talking about a very small company who produce what I feel are the most innovative rules out there at the moment. their Samurai battles set ''Battles in the Age of War'' are great. ''Regiment of Foote'' are my favourite ever set of ECW rules.
I have a small blog which hasn't seen much action for a while where I discuss some games I played using there rules at
www.seanswargames.blogspot.com
m/ m/ m/ :-bd
Tell me more about the Samurai set Sean, PBI or RoF type rules????
My butterfly mind just had a little Eastern moment.
Gordon
Just re-read your post Sean, I believe that you got one bit wrong, the activation roll, it's equal to or OVER the number. Otherwise we'd all be using grade 3 generals (incompetent buffoons) and grade 3 troops (raw) and commanding the ones furthest away from us just to get the number up to 12ish.
Gordon
I guess it depends upon what size battles you are wanting to play and paint up.
We use a variant on the DBA rules called DBA-RRR. They are a good set for us since we like the smaller armies, only need 12 bases per army, battlefield is 24in by 24in or 30in by 30in, games are over in about an hour or less and we can build/paint several armies for the cost of one arny from other rule sets.
Only problem is you have to have a copy of DBA to use the rules and I hear they are starting to be hard to find.
The DBA-RRR, Renaissance, Reformation and Restoration, start around 1494 up to around 1700, the variant rules are 3 pages, the army list for that range of years is 56 pages long.
If anyone is interested, feel free to email me and I can send the PDFs to you, just remember the army list is a big file ;)
cya
Gordon you are of course correct, you roll equal to or over to pass the test. So a quality 2 general, trying to motivate an average unit (quality 2 also) who is 6" away with an intervening wood needs 7+ on 2D6.
Samurai battles is a great set based around this mechanic. Closer to Bloody Barons than Regiment of Foote. Units are mixed spear and bow in the main. Samurai are the best quality followed by Armoured Ashigaru then Levy troops.
You get a Daimyo as your leader and then uptown 3 clan generals to command your troops. Your Daimyo can have a Hatamato. There is a great system for leaders to challenge each other and take opponents heads.
The book has half a dozen or so scenarios of famous battles.
Can you guess that I like them? :D
Yep looks like my next PP purchase. :(
Gordon
Forlorn Hope are a good set of rules. For a future project, I am going to use 15mm base sizes with 10mm figures, should look pretty impressive !
Actually with the PP rules/basing theyre designed for PP figures, which to be honest are on the titchy side of 15mm and as (most) Pendraken are on the large side of 10/12mm using 15mm basing with these figs just plain looks normal. :)
Gordon
Has anyone played "For Parliament, King and Glory" free to download from PKG Yahoo group, http://uk.groups.yahoo.com/group/PKG/
they look a well presented set
If you want some simple rules- Black Powder will do the job for ECW.
If you want something a bit more rules heavy but in my opinion better, Field of Glory Renaissance.
There's also the Warhammer English Civil War rules (using their WAB engine). I've not played themas i hate the WAB engine, but know a few people who love them.
I am thinking of using BP, and have started with a friend to look at possible stats etc, but came across these yesterday and had not heard of them before
When I get the WSS, ACW and possibly Vietnam out the way...
I will be returning to ECW for Regiment of Foote. Like most games don't worry about the figures per base - its the base that is important. they say 4 per base, I do 16 10mm pikes, or 10 musket.
Last Hussar,
And I thought I was the only man in the world who realised that 16 pikes or 10 muskest was the ideal 10mm number for a single base (plus the odd sergeant, drummer, officer, or ensign of course!). Now the most important question - how big a base? Mine are a glorious Imperial 1 1/2" square.
Mollinary
I've gone for - pike 20 on 40mm x 40mm, musketeers 10 on 40mm x 20mm
[attachment deleted by admin]
Just to get this topic going again.. I'm after some ECW rules after a long lay off..
I'm wanting a rules set that doesn't have you taking casualties off. Hated that in the old days. I think I'll be basing on three bases per regiment, either 40x20 or 40x30.
Regiment of Foote and the Warmaster variant seem to be the fave's from this thread. Do any of these fit the bill?
I want a quick flowing game, uncertain command with no rivert counting (sorry I do trains and scooters).
I would also like a campaign system if possible.
Cudders
Hi Cudders
You could always have a look at the Perfect Captain's Very Civile Actions, which has the Tinker Fox campaign system hanging off it - http://perfectcaptain.50megs.com/vcactions.html (http://perfectcaptain.50megs.com/vcactions.html), if you don't like them then you can console yourself with the thought that they're free :). I've also used the Tinker Fox system attached to other rules.
Cheers
GrumpyOldMan
I echo Grumpy's recommendation, especially Tinker Fox and the Battlefinder system, and would suggest that you also take a look at "Lion of the North" actually written for the 30 years war but suitable for the ECW. These will give the uncertain command, game flow and simplicity that you are looking for.
Bob
Thanks alot guys.. I'll try all the free ones first and see if they suit..
If not then it's hands in the pockets.
Think I need to find a local gaming group for a try and get myself back into it.
Cudders