Rules for Riots?

Started by lentulus, 16 August 2025, 10:37:53 PM

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Duke Speedy of Leighton

You may refer to me as: Your Grace, Duke Speedy of Leighton.
2016 Pendraken Painting Competion Participation Prize  (Lucky Dip Catagory) Winner

Raider4

Civil Disorder by Jim Wallman (found by typing "wargaming civil disorder" into a search engine).

Not played them, a quick read through suggests to me that they're designed for walk-up games at a convention - multiple players run the police/security forces, umpire(s) run the troublemakers.

Gwydion

Quote from: Raider4 on 18 August 2025, 07:59:46 PMCivil Disorder by Jim Wallman (found by typing "wargaming civil disorder" into a search engine).

Not played them, a quick read through suggests to me that they're designed for walk-up games at a convention - multiple players run the police/security forces, umpire(s) run the troublemakers.
Or you could have looked at my post above :D

Raider4


QuoteOr you could have looked at my post above :D
Doh! Sorry, didn't see it.

Duke Speedy of Leighton

Quote from: Gwydion on 18 August 2025, 11:18:55 PMOr you could have looked at my post above :D
But where's the fun in that?  :D
You may refer to me as: Your Grace, Duke Speedy of Leighton.
2016 Pendraken Painting Competion Participation Prize  (Lucky Dip Catagory) Winner

Gwydion

Quote from: Raider4 on 19 August 2025, 06:21:53 AMDoh! Sorry, didn't see it.

No problem - I was just so happy I had an answer to a question for a change! :)

steve_holmes_11

A late contribution.

Some while ago, Footsore Miniatures released a game called Gangs of Rome.

https://footsoreminiatures.co.uk/collections/gangs-of-rome

From my perspective, the game unified almost every feature and mechanic I despise.
 * 28mm, with all the bulk, crowding  and cost that implies.
 * Skirmish, a bit less bulk and cost.
 * Collectable figures.
 * A "not war" wargame.
 * Action tokens.
 * Special dice.

Some of the associated bits looked nice.
 * MDF roman civic buildings.
 * Rules for criminals sheltering among crowds.


You'll gather this isn't my choice, but our hobby is diverse.
So I'll chuck the name in here as something riot-oriented.

If you, or a friend already own these, you might find something worth stealing form the rules.
 

Duke Speedy of Leighton

The mob rules are very good.
You may refer to me as: Your Grace, Duke Speedy of Leighton.
2016 Pendraken Painting Competion Participation Prize  (Lucky Dip Catagory) Winner

Ithoriel

I have (and love) Gangs off Rome but then I'm a sucker for any Roman game.

I do think the crowd mechanisms could translate into more general urban mob type games and the rules for the vigiles would work for much later police forces. I plan to use the forces of the Tresvirii Capitales instead of vigiles since I plan on a Late Republican not Early Empire setting.

On the critique of the game itself I offer the following thoughts.
 

* 28mm, with all the bulk, crowding  and cost that implies.

You could play it in 6mm if you can find the figures and don't suffer from FFS* like me. 15mm would be easier. Around 50-60% of my figures aren't from Footsore, though I do like the Footsore minis.


* Skirmish, a bit less bulk and cost.

Is that a plus or a minus? I wanted something that would let me play the skirmishing in the Late Roman Republic between people like the Gracchi brothers, Clodius, Milo, etc. For me the game works well for that.



* Collectable figures.

They provide rules, terrain and miniatures, either themselves or through partners. But you don't have to use anything except the rules. The rest can come from any where. Big Box, all in one place, offerings seem much appreciated by a sizeable segment of the wargaming population, however.


* A "not war" wargame.

It's a skirmish game and a combat game so if that's not what you are looking for then the game is not for you. We are, as you say, all entitled to our own likes and dislikes. If you do like that style of game I'd say this is fun, quick to play and works to reflect the history of the period.


* Action tokens.

OK, love them or loathe them they are a mechanism many games use. I like tokens. YMMV!


* Special dice.


Sure, they'll sell you themed dice. If you like themed dice, fine. If not, just use standard D6's. There are plenty of them available.

For my 6mm Sumerians I bought "knucklebone style" D6's.  For Gangs of Rome I bought Roman themed ones. Mostly from Footsore but also some from thediceshoponline.com. I like choices. 

I look forward to seeing reports of games spawned by this thread.

More power to your collective elbows!


FFS - Fat Finger Syndrome
There are 100 types of people in the world, those who understand binary and those who can work from incomplete data

Duke Speedy of Leighton

And Gangs of Rone mobs does have a slave mob with Grummio in it!!  8)
You may refer to me as: Your Grace, Duke Speedy of Leighton.
2016 Pendraken Painting Competion Participation Prize  (Lucky Dip Catagory) Winner

lentulus

We played with this back in the 70s — Airfix Romans kitbashed into riot cops for example.

Victory points came from provoking your enemy to violence in front of a TV crew.

And I would be inclined to have four sides, two of extremest trying to provoke violence and two trying to achieve peaceful objectives.

Like I needed another project.  I must look at Pendraken Romans now.