Miniatures vs. Boardgame Rules

[Q Rutilius]

I've played board wargames for years (the grognard type). I've never played miniatures. Can anyone here recommend a site or sites that have miniatures rules posted? I'd like to see how they compare (if at all) to boardgame rules. <p></p><i></i>

[Caius Fabius]

You might check these sites, but there are so many different sets of interesting boardgaming rules........<br>
<br>
members.iinet.net.au/~mar...rules.html<br>
<br>
www.btinternet.com/~david...nline.html<br>
<br>
<p>"Just before class started, I looked in the big book where all the world's history is written, and it said...." Neil J. Hackett, PhD ancient history, professor OSU, 1987</p><i></i>

[Los456]

There are some more free ancients rules here:<br>
www.freewargamesrules.co.uk/<br>
<br>
It's not Roman but an interesting set of rules that narrowly focuses on one area Hoplite warfare is here:<br>
perfectcaptain.50megs.com...achia.html<br>
<br>
RE: Miniatures vs Wargame rules:<br>
<br>
I am a fan of both mediums myself. I have picked up a lot of various Roman-era boardgames, but my favorite are from GMT with the great battles series. I also enjoy Seige of Jerusalem by AH which to me is kind fo like "Roman ASL". There are two seperate games in the works about Alesia. One from GMT GBOH series and one from L2 designs which of course did the Streets of Stalingrad remake at the Company level. Both will be to some extent Monster games with L2 being the larger.<br>
<br>
Check them out in the pre-gunpowder discussion section of www.consimworld.com <br>
<br>
I've played a number of Ancient rules. Apart from the "regulars" (DBA/DBM) Check out Classical Hack which is pretty good.<br>
<br>
Because I've gotten my kids into miniatures I've found that I neded to make our own rules set geared to their interests. They're more into skirmish stuff but because we have huge 15mm Armies (I can field a cohort of Romans at 1 to 1 scale as well as similar sized Greek, Gaul and persioan/parthina enemies), we sort of came up with grand-scale skirmish rules to do that and they are much fun.<br>
<br>
And of course for a comprehensive list view of all things miniature go to:<br>
<br>
www.theminiaturespage.com <br>
<br>
Cheers....<br>
<br>
Los<br>
<br>
<br>
<p></p><i></i>

[Q Rutilius]

Thanks. I shall check those sites out. I have some GBoH games too. All of them are late repubic stuff, so if GMT ever reprints SPQR I will have to branch out in my interests. I've been trying out different formations: putting archers in with the ranks for example. I was hoping that maybe the miniatures games would be more tactical and allow for experimenting with different formations.<br>
<br>
Miniatures sound like fun, but I can hear my wife now, "Where are you going to keep those?" <p></p><i></i>

[Caius Fabius]

I enjoy the games (campaigns) where we use boardgame style rules to do the strategic movement and then table-top battles with miniatures for the actual combat resolutions. <p></p><i></i>

[Los456]

"Where are you going to keep those?"<br>
<br>
Ha! She must not be a disciple of the Church of Plano! (Plano is the company that makes those fishing tackle-type plastic boxes that you store minis in.) Actually it's a big issue at our palce as there are minis and what not all over.<br>
<br>
My problem is also differnt scales. For instance in Romans I started out building two Punic era armies, Roman and Carthaginian in 6mm. That's good for large strategic battles. I have a couple thousand figures in that scale. Then I started getting into 15mm and built an EIR cohort on 1:1 scale (plus a few Turmaes of cav.) then of course I had to have enemies for them. Finally I just started on a few 25mm Romans, enough for a Century, just because... It all adds up!<br>
<br>
BTW I think you cans ee some of our battles here:<br>
photos.yahoo.com/bc/rotha...es&.view=t<br>
<br>
Los<br>
<br>
<br>
<p></p><i></i>

[JRSCline]

Los, I feel your pain, I've got miniatures for days and days. Someday I'll start painting them again. I have an Essex 25mm Late Roman army I've been painting since oh, 1984.<br>
<br>
Actually, with the advent of games like Rome Total War, I've been thinking maybe it's time to bow to the inevitable wave of technology and just get out of tabletop wargaming.<br>
<br>
After all, I can do everything in a TW game that I can do with miniatures, and they march and move and fight right before my eyes, beautifully depicted on my 19" LCD monitor. And perhaps best of all, I don't have to spend a lifetime painting them...<br>
<br>
It just hasn't been the same since Microprose destroyed Avalon Hill in that ridiculous fight over the rights to Advanced Civilization. Grognards are like dinosaurs in a world of more and more warm fuzzy critters.<br>
<br>
Sigh!<br>
<br>
Cheers<br>
Jenny <p></p><i>Edited by: <A HREF=http://pub45.ezboard.com/bromanarmytalk.showUserPublicProfile?gid=jrscline>JRSCline</A> at: 7/8/03 6:15 pm<br></i>

[Q Rutilius]

No way! Grognards forever!<br>
<br>
You know what bugs me? As a kid I had, oh about 4 of those plastic soldier US Civil War sets. You know what they are selling for these days!<br>
<br>
Have not found a computer game that is tactical enough for me. Tried the demo for Hannibal (GBoH), was not too impressed.<br>
<br>
Just had a thought: What is needed (forget cheap oil, this is important), is a tactical Roman game. Decuries in a cohort, and maybe a legion's worth of cohorts. And differentiate the cohorts by tunic color! <p></p><i></i>

[Anonymous]

A possible useful crossover would be DBAOL (DBA-on-line) at www.dbaol.com .
<br>
DBA = De Bellis Antiquitatus - a set of very simple figure-game rules with many board game aspects. DBAOL is a PBEM conversion of them - there's no AI - all games are against human opponents.<br>
<br>
Unfortunately you sort of ned to know DBA to be able to play it! But then DBA is pretty simple, and widely played. <p></p><i></i>

[Caius Fabius]

The HMGS (Historical Miniatures Gaming Society) is a good place to find opponents They have occassional conventions. Figure gaming is a great social activity, and (in my 7 years of owning a wargaming shop) I found that most games have a great deal of personal interaction, sharing of research, compliments on painted figures and other things that just can't be found on the computer, (yet).<br>
On the other hand for all post 1930 combat simulations, I prefer computers...<br>
For myself, I enjoy having the collection and setting it up and looking at it, adding to it, planing the next units, researching, finding or modifying the correct figures, and eventually trying a live opponent with my new army. I have a 28mm Late Roman/Romano-British force, 28mm Caesarian Romans, and 25mm Egyptians in metal. I also have started collecting 20mm Republican and Marian Romans, (and enemies and allies)Persians, Macedonians, and Greeks in plastic. I sold my extensive 15mm figures, including 3000 painted Trajanic Romans and 6000+ painted Napoleonics to finance some other projects, and as soon as "Steel Panthers" came out I sold all of my 1/285th collection of WW2 and modern, including the Soviet MRD (on a 1:1 scale) with all appropriate support vehicles, the US Mech brigade and support vehicles and all the rest... (German, Israeli, Iraqi, French, British, South African, Canadian, Dutch, Chinese, South Korean, North Korean.....) I had a lot of lead....<br>
Currently I prefer serious wargame battles with "Piquet" rules and less serious battles with either "Warhammer Ancient Battles" or "Pig Wars". I also enjoy playing and running campaigns, where the stratigic movement is done in a double blind situation with a neutral umpire, and the battles are fought on the table top.<br>
<br>
If you let me know where you live, I can probably find some gamers in the same region..... We had a gaming club in Wiesbaden. If nothing else, you can become a solo wargamer, and use the interesting solo wargame rules to fight table top battles, (or teach your significant other to play!) ((Let them win sometimes, you know))! <br>
<br>
DBA online is a pay sevice, you can't complete the game without playing, but you can have some interesting "match-ups" if you are willing to concede the game just before you have to pay!!! <p>"Just before class started, I looked in the big book where all the world's history is written, and it said...." Neil J. Hackett, PhD ancient history, professor OSU, 1987</p><i>Edited by: <A HREF=http://pub45.ezboard.com/bromanarmytalk.showUserPublicProfile?gid=caiusfabius>Caius Fabius</A> <IMG HEIGHT=10 WIDTH=10 SRC="http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ROMANISROMANORVM/files/C%20Fabius%201988b.jpg" BORDER=0> at: 7/10/03 6:12 am<br></i>

[Anonymous]

DBAOL can be played "hotseat" for free, and IIRC you get a game or 2 with a "mentor" for free too - but yes, otherwise it is pay per game - US$1!! ($9.95 for 10 games), or you can pay $9.95 per month, or slightly less per month for longer periods if you play a lot. <p></p><i></i>

[Caius Fabius]

I got this email, might be of interest to some people?<br>
<br>
Dear Caius Fabius,<br>
<br>
We are pleased to announce the launch of DBAOL Summer Trial Players Championship!<br>
Participating in this competition provides you with unique opportunity to play games with no trials limitation and fight with opponents of the same skill level.<br>
You can read the rules at www.dbaol.com/trialchampi...summer.htm<br>
<br>
Please check your e-mail for new bounds and make sure to visit our real-time results page at www.dbaol.com/summer2003_results.htm, which will be<br>
created immediately after Championship games launch.<br>
<br>
To sign up you need to click on the corresponding link in your Personal Challenge Manager.<br>
<br>
Good dices on battles and let the best commander win!<br>
<br>
Regards,<br>
DBAOL Team.<br>
<br>
<br>
<p>"Just before class started, I looked in the big book where all the world's history is written, and it said...." Neil J. Hackett, PhD ancient history, professor OSU, 1987</p><i></i>

[Los456]

Caius<br>
<br>
3000 legionaries! Wow I'm imnpressed. I thought it was a major accomplishment getting to 5-600. But three thousands, you can almost do a legion fight on 1 to 1 scale.<br>
<br>
If Jenny ever organizes a RAT-Con, we'll have to set aside a room for miniatures. (Not to mention that it would be a good visual "sand-table" rehearsal to visualize for event visitors various Roman tactics.)<br>
<br>
Los <p></p><i></i>

[Caius Fabius]

well, it is easier to collect miniatures and even get them painted if you have the right kinds of jobs......<br>
like being a security guard for oilfield equipment on 12 hour shifts with only one "walk around" per hour lets you paint a lot of figures, owning a hobby shop is also helpful, you can get a discount on figures and have time to paint.<br>
I need to see if I can find some photos of my previous collections......<br>
<br>
I miss the "good old days"... when I could get paid to paint my toys......<br>
<p>"Just before class started, I looked in the big book where all the world's history is written, and it said...." Neil J. Hackett, PhD ancient history, professor OSU, 1987</p><i></i>

[Jeroen Pelgrom]

you sold your miniatures!!!<br>
<br>
Wow, i wished i owned a hobbyshop.<br>
<br>
That´s mighty impressive Fabius. <p></p><i></i>