Stand Alone D&D Wargames

[redmetal]

Lately I've been addressed with the problem of missing players from my campaign which is really starting to enfuriate me. So I'm looking for alternatives to D&D, but using the D&D rules.

I know lots of sentiment has spread about being anti-wargame and pro-role-playing (I don't personally see the problem with a combination of the two) but I would still be interested in created a one-shot war game system using the D&D rules.

These would not have "adventurers" in them, but would more be about skirmishes between small armies. I have some miniatures from the D&D game, but I wasn't a huge fan of the game

So what I was thinking of for one example was a orc raid on a small mountain village. This would include all sorts of spellcasters, warriors (not just the NPC class) and all sorts of fun wargame type elements.

Anyone have any thoughts on this idea? Any Suggestions as to other D&D battles?

 

[joelsanda]

These would not have "adventurers" in them, but would more be about skirmishes between small armies. I have some miniatures from the D&D game, but I wasn't a huge fan of the game

So what I was thinking of for one example was a orc raid on a small mountain village. This would include all sorts of spellcasters, warriors (not just the NPC class) and all sorts of fun wargame type elements.

Anyone have any thoughts on this idea? Any Suggestions as to other D&D battles?

Have you looked at the D&D Miniatures Handbook? The hardcover rules for miniatures? These rules are much more robus than the skirmish rules in the miniatures boxed sets, and include mass battles. Combine the Mass Battles Rules with the upcoming Map Folid 3-D and you have D&D rules with the wargame 'look & feel'.

 

[Christian Walker]

Hello,

I ran a campaign last year that pretty much played like warhammer - small unit combat with role-playing in between. The emphasis, though, was certainly on small unit combat with lots of painted minis and terrain. The PCs were cast as heroic soldiers, stubbornly holding the line against the hordes of darkness. Each PC generally lead a smaller goup (3-7) npcs, like archer units, skirmishers, spearmen, etc. Other times, the pcs - once they hit mid level - would often hold the battlements again as many as 50 CR1/3 slobs, hacking and killing at will.

So yes, if you have enough minis, terrain, and a good story line, you can run a great campaign that mixes role-playing with lots of tactical grunge.

Use wizzos painted plastic minis to save money and if you can, learn to make your own terrain. You will save hundreds (if not a few thousand) of dollars that way!