Recommend a good wargaming system for RPGers

[Filcher]

I'm planning on running some battles directed by PC warlords. I'm not worried about low level PC actions (fighting versus opposing champions, spying etc.) but can anyone recommend a good battle resolution system?

Ideal: something with just enough detail to make it feel like the PCs' decisions matter, but not so much that it takes 5 minutes to resolve an action.

 

[Riley]

Do you want to move troops around on a table, or simulate battles more abstractly?

I used Battlesystem (v1.0) back in the day. It worked well enough, and was close enough to AD&D 1e to make it easy to pick up.

Heck, Battlesystem could be a fair bit cooler now that we can pick up DDM commons to use as troops instead of the counters from the box.

 

[Filcher]

Heh ... important clarification, thank you Riley.

Yes, I am planning on using legos to represent troops (and to build terrain, etc). We'll probably being playing out on the living room floor.

I was thinking about Battlesystem. I haven't played it in probably 20 years. I wonder where the heck I have those books ...

 

[Ulrick]

I recommend Neil Thomas's wargaming system.

The introductory book is Wargaming: An Introduction.

[ame=http://www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/0750938161/ref=nosim/xtremeautomat-20]Amazon.com: Wargaming: An Introduction (9780750938167): Neil Thomas: Books[/ame]

The more advanced book is Ancient and Medieval Warfare.

[ame=http://www.amazon.com/Ancient-Medieval-Wargaming-Neil-Thomas/dp/0750945729/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1273956115&sr=1-2]Amazon.com: Ancient & Medieval Wargaming (9780750945721): Neil Thomas: Books[/ame]

Neil Thomas's system is meant for historical battles, but can me adapted easily for fantasy wargames (as I did). The system is more concerned about results rather than specifics. (Ex: a unit of footknights will do better against a peasant horde regardless of weapon types).

You can use the historical lists to "swap out" fantasy counterparts. For example: Goblin worg riders could behave light Heavy Cavalry with Heavy Armor and average morale.

The system uses d6s to resolve combat and is a simple system to learn and adapt to your needs.

 

[Mark]

I recommend Neil Thomas's wargaming system.

The introductory book is Wargaming: An Introduction.

Amazon.com: Wargaming: An Introduction (9780750938167): Neil Thomas: Books

The more advanced book is Ancient and Medieval Warfare.

Amazon.com: Ancient & Medieval Wargaming (9780750945721): Neil Thomas: Books

Neil Thomas's system is meant for historical battles, but can me adapted easily for fantasy wargames (as I did). The system is more concerned about results rather than specifics. (Ex: a unit of footknights will do better against a peasant horde regardless of weapon types).

You can use the historical lists to "swap out" fantasy counterparts. For example: Goblin worg riders could behave light Heavy Cavalry with Heavy Armor and average morale.

The system uses d6s to resolve combat and is a simple system to learn and adapt to your needs.

Both well worth reading no matter what system you use. You'll find yourself far better equipped to make adjustments with a system, to better highlight the aspects you wish to have to the forefront, after reading what Neil Thomas has to say on the matter.

 

[mach1.9pants]

If you are playing 4th Edition then nothing beats this system from One Bad Egg, by far the cleverest way to run battles with minimal rules changes. OBE's products are ALL awesome:

OBE: Hard Boiled Armies for D&D 4E - Highmoon Games | EN World PDF Store

 

[Wicht]

Hank Woon's recently released Warpath is a good option for adapting OGL rules to armies clashing on the field.