Fantasy rules

[DougM]

Somehow over time I have managed to acquire a small selection of 'Fantasy' figures - now awaiting paint. Everything from High Elf archers, Northstar old skool Celts, Celtic Mythos from Alternative Armies, Hasslefree Dwarves (you know who you are for that one.) etc.. The Wargames Atlantic goblins look like they might work as Fomorian 'spear-fodder' too.

I also seem to have purchased an amount of Redoubt Trojans.

So I think I am all set for some Mythical Bronze Age action (I'm irresistibly reminded of 'The Many Coloured Land' series) - with small forces - and wondered what the LAW hive-mind would suggest as a set of rules?

My preference would be for skirmish with maybe 30-60 figures, fairly simple 'magic' rules, plenty of friction, and randomness.

Thoughts? I had considered a variant of Dux Britanniarum, but other options might be things like of Gods and Mortals from Osprey.

[Jeremy]

Dragon Rampant is a lot of fun. Really enjoyed that.

I’ve heard there’s a set of fantasy rules being run at E’Bor Lard and Steel Lard.

[tim.w]

These might be too simple but you can build on them as you like. Myself and Tim.H have had a lot of fun with them. No limit on number of figures but it's designed for a handfull maybe 6-12 but it scales up well. Battleblade is the fantasy one, which only really differs with a simple bit of magic rules. They're a good basic toolkit if you wanted to tinker your own set.

http://www.echidnagames.com/home/4586188600

[FreddBloggs]

If you do not mind a bit of homewirk on magic, dux is a good option as is infamy. In one of the specials us all the bits for trojan war dux, and somewhere I have notes for using those rules in middle earth.

Other than that, dragon rampant, and hordes can be fun.

[DougM]

I do think I recall seeing a 'Dux Arda' for Middle Earth... that might be worth a look... hmmm.

I think I have a copy of Dragon Rampant lurking around. But from recollection of Lion Rampant it might be a bit simpler than I was looking for.

And yes Jeremy, I did see your experiments with Beastigors. Is it 'Dr' Jeremy Moreau now?

I'd like to see how those work. Or maybe I'll just write my own, just like 'the olden days'... and there's a cracking name for a set of rules, none of you get to nick it now...

[Jeremy]

I dislike the concept of bolting magic onto a historical rule set because that’s exactly what it feels like. Historical rules with magic shoe horned in. I think it lacks the rich flavour you should be achieving with a fantasy rule set.

Throw in different races and monsters and their requirements and all of a sudden the rules fall apart because that is not what they are made for. And rightly so.

Just my 2c.

To get the best out of a set of fantasy rules, start with a clean slate. Nick ideas you like from others and cobble together what you think works. Others will probably hate it, but they don’t have to play it.

Strangely enough, the step the other way works great. Often fantasy rules make great dark age or medieval rules without the magic or fantasy races. I honestly think Dragon Rampant is a better set of Dark Age rules than Lion Rampant

[DougM]

Well, I haven't played enough to make that observation about DR vs LR

Dave Brown in Oz wrote a very well thought out fantasy rules set, but it was primarily intended for large scale battles, then there was the Chipco fantasy battles stuff. And for the ultimate black box, Hordes of the Things.

I want something between large battles with magicians as explosive bolt throwers, and something akin to Ganesha games and RPG scale.

But I do think you are not entirely wrong about bolting magic into an existing system. Or reverse engineering from fantasy to historical.

[Count Belisarius]

Fantastic Battles seems to getting good reviews as well.

[DougM]

Thanks Count. I will check out the reviews for that.

[Jeremy]

There’s Oathmark as well.

I’d personally go back to Warhammer Fantasy 3rd edition over all the new sets - but that’s just nostalgia talking.