Rules: Dark Ages

Shields and Blades Dark Ages rules

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Shields and Blades is a set of free wargames rules by Jackson Gamer Eric Wood. It is designed as a “squad level” game, with each casting representing 10 to 15 men.

From the introduction:

Overview
This rule set is a squad-level scale using side move / countermove system. The rule set has opportunity fire (with both standing and moving fire). Since these rules are not skirmish level, the shield facing and facing of the castings is not a problem.

Squad Scale
This rule set deals with each casting representing a squad of a fifteen men rather than tactical or grand tactical scales. As a result the formation and movement rules are very fluid and the distance ranges might seem wrong to some one, until they realize that the battles are “zoomed in”.
Since we are not skirmish level, shield facing and facing of the castings is not a problem. One can do a skirmish level game with these rules easily by worrying about the shield facing and increasing the weapon 3” and movement ranges an additional d6”.

Scale
1:15 thus 1 casting represents 15 men. 1′ = 120 yards, 1″ = 10 yards. Time frame is 1 minute. 2 fire phases. Infantry unit has 180 men; cavalry has 90 riders and 90 horses. Minute walk moves 1’ (12”).
Infantry base is 3/4″ x 3/4″. Assume each infantryman wants 4′ front x 7′ back. Fits 15 castings with 5 along the front and 3 ranks deep.

Saga Forge Solo Viking Campaign

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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.

Link

Brytenwalda Age of Arthur – Saxon Invasion Rules

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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

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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.

Link

Medieval Skirmish Rules

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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.