Are the mass combat systems in Alderac's Empire and War sourcebooks the same?

[pogre]

I realize this has been beat to death a bit, but I have a couple of questions:

Are the mass combat systems in Alderac's Empire and War sourcebooks substantially the same?

If a guy loves miniatures, and wants to use LOTS of them, and no grid system to mar his terrain - What d20 mass combat system would you recommend?

Really, the grid is not that big of a deal I can always convert it to inches.

If you do not mind, take a moment to explain why you would recommend it to a guy who wants to use lots of figures. I know this is not what most folks want out of a RPG related mass combat system, but please bear with me.

Thanks,

pogre

 

[the Jester]

I recently bought Fields of Blood, and so far I really like it. I'd recommend it, though I must confess I haven't finished reading it or playtested it yet.

 

[MerricB]

Cry Havoc uses a grid system (and I don't like it much, anyway).

The Miniatures Handbook doesn't use a grid system but doesn't have a suitable "mass" combat system.

Cheers!

 

[diaglo]

i always recommend Chainmail (1971) by Gygax & Perren

 

[pogre]

Hoping someone knows the answer about the Alderac source books.

 

[The Lemon Merchant]

Hoping someone knows the answer about the Alderac source books.

The mass combat rules in AEG's War are pretty abstract and really have no appeal to a tabletop inclined approach. I can't remember much about AEG's Empire mass combat rules, other than they were more detailed than those in War and they made my head hurt. The Skirmish Combat rules in AEG's Empire are an update to the similar rules in their Mercenaries book. The system works pretty much like d20 combat, but includes the Mob concept. Which is a representation of up to 20 individual troops. It seemed pretty conducive to tabletop combats w/ lots of minis and even had rules for converting the mass combat rules into skirmish rules.

I can't honestly say how well any of them work as I've only read 'em, taken Advil for the pain (math hurts) and then put the books on the shelf for future reference.

 

[Psion]

Are the mass combat systems in Alderac's Empire and War sourcebooks substantially the same?

No they are not.

For that matter, I would go so far as to say that the system in War is not really complete.

Empire is complete, if not my favorite.