Saga Forge offers a procedurally driven, zero prep solo campaign system for dark ages battles. It’s in beta testing, but may well be worth a try.
Rules: Dark Ages
Brytenwalda Age of Arthur – Saxon Invasion Rules
Brytenwalda is a new set of very professsionally done free wargames rules for battles in the Dark Ages – Age of Arthur – Saxon Invasion period. It’s a neat set, but what I really like is the attitude of the authors:
Brytenwalda is an open set for mature gamers.
It is open because, as Creative Commons licensed project, you’ll be free to adapt the game in any way you feel more confortable with. There is no written in stone rules, you can change whatever you want. You can even set this rules into another time: in Brytenwalda you’ll find the rules to create your own warriors or whole warbands so, why not playing in the times of Rome, the Crusades or in a fantasy world?
It is for mature gamers because it is not focused in competitive manners nor thought as game for tournaments. This is just for fun… and fun is what a game should be.
Skjaldborg skirmish rules
From Shieldwall Games, Skjaldborg is a set of free wargames skirmish rules for ancients through medievals. They look like they’d be best for dark ages — and especially Vikings! It is very professionally presented in a pdf file and has some interesting rules mechanisms. My favorite part is how all of the charts work the same. You start in a base column and then shift left or right depending upon the situation. The modifiers are presented below the appropriate chart, with little arrows telling you which way to shift.
I’ve saved this one to my hard drive. It’s a must-try in my Viking project.
Medieval Skirmish Rules
Lord Merlin has a set of free wargames rules for large (70mm or 1:20) scale figures. There are three levels to this skirmish rules set: “simple”, “better” and “more realistic.” There also are some cute pictures of a “knights of the dinner table” game.
One Page Battle of Hastings Rules
Battle of Hastings is a simple, one page set of free wargames rules for refighting the classic 1066 confrontation between the Normans and Saxons. Reading the rules makes me think that it is designed for use in a classroom setting.