Category: Front Page
Storm of Spears is available now!
- Published on Saturday, 08 December 2018 16:09
- Michael
- 0 Comments
On and off, it’s been two and a half years in the writing and testing.
At first, I had the aim to make the game play out in a decent length of time; but it needed to give players enough to do and think about.
Sadly, so many people dismiss the period of hoplite warfare as being; one-dimensional, simplistic and lacking tactical in nuances that we find represented in other periods.
But actually, as I played and tested I found opportunities to introduce most of the tactical elements of the period into a game that can be grand-tactical in scale. Many of these elements are either over-looked or deemed unplayable in a large ancients wargame, but in this rule set I hope that I have found ways of making them playable and possible.
These tactical elements are; the option to use open and close order in charges and combat, depth of files, half-files, the attachment of hamippoi (foot skirmishers) to cavalry, ekdromoi (hoplites who would leave the phalanx to chase off enemy skirmishers), slow march intimidation (favoured by the Spartans), variations of grand-tactical formation such as echelon and the use weakened centre and reinforced flanks and then also in the rules is the phenomenon of drifting that shaped and determined early hoplite tactics.
6mm ACW Paper Armies
- Published on Thursday, 16 February 2017 17:10
- Michael
- 0 Comments
BELLA CONTRA BARBAROS Grand Manoeuvre Ancient Rules
- Published on Sunday, 29 January 2017 10:18
- Michael
- 5 Comments
Well, I`m in the last stages of getting my ancient rules together…
And I guess its about time (overdue actually) to post some the news of this here!
The rules cover the period of Rome`s wars with the barbarians from 100BC to 100AD; from the reforms of Marius to the Dacian War of Trajan.
There are some interesting ancient period flavours in this one. I`ve included many of the stratagems mentioned by Frontinus and Polyeanus – these stratagems are played with cards selected by players, or at random for the game set up and the game itself. There are also pre-battle speeches which may give the player some game advantages. The rules are an adaptation of my Napoleonic set; the same rules mechanisms are applied to ancient Roman and barbarian tactical methods. Added to the mix (and only if things are going badly for the player) is the possibility of an heroic death for both barbarians and Romans – the Roman version of this being called the “devotio”.
Publication here by pdf download will be sometime in April 2017.New Year`s News
- Published on Tuesday, 29 December 2015 07:38
- Michael
- 0 Comments
- Published on Saturday, 11 January 2014 17:54
- Michael
- 0 Comments
Solo Play Module for Grand Manoeuvre
This Solo Module is designed to slowly reveal an automated plan of battle for the non-player side. The rules determine the command decisions of enemy, non-player generals. They may also be used to automate the decisions of subordinate commanders in one to one game play; adding to uncertainty and unpredictability in “normal” games.
The first three sections of the module will generate the non-player’s dispositions, orders and battle arrays if the game has been generated by a campaign, or if it is a fictitious battle.
Alternatively, if you wish to re-fight a particular battle, you can keep the historical dispositions and go straight to section two and then section three and possibly change the “shape” and events of the battle by varying the non-players` corps orders and consequently also their battle arrays.
The non-player will react in response to your grand-tactical movements or to changes in tactical situation. There is also a section which relates to the delegation of orders applying to minor objectives.
Section eight, “Tactical Systems, Dispositions and Divisional Battle Arrays” is reproduced here from Grand Manoeuvre Miniatures Wargames Rules to provide solo players with more useful information on battle arrays, methods and unit formations used by various nations throughout the Napoleonic period.
Section nine is optional and allows for chance events that may occur in and around the battlefield area that may affect player’s and non-player’s decisions.
The module has 106 pages. The text is spaciously laid out and the rules mechanisms are very simple. The download will comprise of a full colour version with some nice images of Napoleonic history paintings and engravings and a printer-cartridge friendly version in black and white. There is also a 2-page QRF for chance events.
The download will be available here, from grandmanoeuvre.co.uk on Saturday 18th January and it will cost £6.
Solo Rules for Grand Manoeuvre – Publication
- Published on Sunday, 05 January 2014 19:08
- Michael
- 0 Comments
The Solo Module for Grand Manoeuvre will be published on the evening of the 18th of January (GMT).
This Solo Module for Grand Manoeuvre Napoleonic Wargames Miniatures Rules is intended to generate an unfolding, automated plan of battle for the non-player side.
Once the initial battle dispositions and orders are established there should be little need for the soloist to consult these rules apart from identifying the most significant changes of situation and determining his automated opponents` responses to them.
These Solo Rules may also be used to represent the decisions of subordinate commanders in 1 to 1 game play and adding to uncertainty and unpredictability in “normal” games.
The module has 105 pages – but don`t worry, just like Grand Manoeuvre Miniatures rules, the text is spaciously laid out and the rules mechanism are very simple.
The download will comprise of a full colour version with some nice images of Napoleonic history paintings and engravings and a printer-cartridge friendly version in black and white.
The download will be £6.
Paper Strength Units Are Here !
- Published on Thursday, 17 October 2013 11:30
- Michael
- 2 Comments
Designed with the Napoleonic beginner in mind; “Paper Strength Units” will provide players with an opportunity to game on a large scale or with an “en masse” effect but at a very low cost – you may print and make as many units as you wish.
For example, the French Army pack consists of twenty-two pdf files of French “Line” army units and includes; light and line infantry, skirmishers, cavalry and artillery with horse and limbers and flags.
All you will need to make them is paper, small sharp scissors, PVA glue, a small brush and printer ink.
Once made and the glue is dried, the army unit blocks are surprisingly strong and can be very durable – I still have some in my garage that I made in April 2006!
The bottom line: £5 for an army pack of 20-25 files and smaller packs and armies will cost proportionately less!