I sold my 15mm ancient armies last spring.
Walter said he'd give me "serious money" and I wanted to finance other projects (Afghanistan). He really just wanted my Goths, but he took the late Romans and Sassanids too. Then came back for my Republican Romans and Spanish.
I hadn't been happy with my ancient games anyway. They weren't very satisfying. Maybe because I had to do too much of the heavy lifting. Or maybe I have not been able to resolve a good game with my interpretation of history. Big Battles don't give much variety in scenario. They tended to be pretty straightforward and once deployed did the commanders have much influence?
Last week's Ronin game was on the other extreme and again unsatisfactory. It is I feel, too gritty. Perhaps excellent for two or three characters fighting in a tea house, but not any bigger. And I do want bigger.
But how big?
So what do I want from an ancient game?
I want the Big Men to have some effect. Rallying troops with a stirring speach or wading into a melee with their famous sword to turn the tide. But I still want units and manoeuvre and tactics. So too big and the characters get lost or just give a plus 1. Too small and its D&D.
Hmmm... :-\
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Sounds like you need Simon MacDowell's Comitatus
ReplyDeleteComitatus rules
my playtests:
http://gameofmonth.blogspot.ca/search/label/comitatus
Perhaps. I've been intrigued by his ideas since he first put them out in Slingshot and the book "Romans, Goths and Huns".
DeleteI know where you are coming from and I think if you are not happy with your set of rules for that period, then it is hard to get motivated to paint for that particular collection.
ReplyDeleteI like the large skirmish games and really enjoying Chain of Command at the moment. Have you tried 'Too Fat Lardies' dark age rule set, as they might tick your box.
I'll be watching the Mad Padre's Dux Gondorim project closely. But I'm not as keen on dark ages, although I suppose the rules could translate to the 3rd or 4th cent Rhine frontier which does interest me.
DeleteI was just thinking of Dux as I read this, mate. I am sure there is a way to model Ancients skirmish gaming in it somewhere.
DeleteWe need to reschedule OP THUNDERING DICE. My December is looking good.
Yes we do!
ReplyDeleteI should try Dux, Lion Rampant and Comitatus and see which floats my boat.
I've also heard of mediaeval and samurai versions of Sharp Practice too which intrigues me.
How much role playing were you doing with your ancients? Did you slot your games into a campaign setting? Did your generals have names, backstories, and ongoing different motivations, or was it just line up the troops hand have at it?
ReplyDeleteExactly. For some reason the narrative never built up. But then I don't ask for any narrative of my SYW games.
DeleteCurious.
But lower level games, say a few cohorts on the Rhine might be easier to develope some narrative back story.