Comparing and contrasting rulesets

Following the success of the two previous topics we got discussed ‘Why we don’t have the perfect wargame’ (Blinky465 ran with this and did a brillliant job of it too just quietly) and ‘Soloman Kane KS’ and why I no longer cared about getting it (it remains unplayed and unloved), I want to ask about peoples favourite rulesets.

How I’d like to start this is with a genre, a ruleset you own or play in that genre, and a little bit of detail what was good or bad in that ruleset, and maybe what would improve it. Compare them to other rules in the same genre if you can. No need to comment on others opinions, just explain your own choices. For example;

Warhammer – I played every edition, I loved them all even when I lost consistantly for several editions with Dwarves. The game became 2nd nature to me. I loved the lore. I wished they’d gone to D10 for better dice range. Loved when 7th and 8th ed went to big regiments. AoS takes to long at that size. Hated taking off individual models. KOW does that so much better.

Kings of War – I’ve played 2nd and 3rd ed. Simple compared to WHFB but very tactical. I love multibasing but wish you build units in troop size blocks (ie 2 Troops = Regiment, 4 troops = Horde, etc), because I don’t like the lack of unit degredation when wounds are taken. Rules are better than WHFB, but the lore still isn’t anywhere as good. Warhammer made races feel very distinct. KoW moreso now but still not as much as WHFB. Again I’d have gone to D10.

Age of Sigmar – I’ve played it and hated it. I think I was probably never going to give it a fair hearing after they killed the Old World but… I have to admit I preferred the turn sequence to the very tired and old ‘You go. I go’.

Warmaster – Great game that I wish GW hadn’t dropped. The scale meant I had massive armies on the table in a matter of weeks of painting instead of months, and a game that was played in less than half the time of the 28mm game in the same setting.

Warhammer Ancients – Was easy to learn because of WHFB. Campaign books really brought out the flavour of the game. Suffered from a dumb rule of kill the front ranks and your opponent didn’t fight back, left over from WHFB. Removing individual models was painful, especially pikemen.

Kings of War Historical – Good but not as good as I’d hoped. It’s the casualty degredation issue I mentioned before with KoW. Historicals fare better with D6 than fantasy or Sci-fi because men are men whereever they come from. If they are differnt in war it’s because of equipment or training.

Hail Caesar – So good. Basically it’s Warmaster in 28mm EXCEPT you dont remove casualties until the unit is totally destroyed. Otherwise it would be my favourite rank and flank 28mm historical game.

Saga – Played both editions and in several of the settings. This game just seems to get better and better. I haven’t played an Epic game yet but I’m looking forward to it. Compared to AoS which is also ‘skirmishy’, its a less complicated funner game by far that’s far less prone to ‘power creep’.

Mordheim – My favourite fantasy skirmish game. Despite itself the game emersed you in the feeling of fighting running gang battles in a ruind city. There was a chart for everything and so much random that it would make you scream but totally in line with the setting. Frostgrave has come the closest to recapturing the feeling, but still didn’t get there.

Frostgrave – Mordheim in a frozen ruined city. I didn’t quite get the sense of urgency or risk with Frostgrave that I did with Mordheim. The rules are better laid out, it’s easier to play but …. It’s just missing something. I hated that in the first version treasure meant nothing really.

Warcry – I play this weekly. The rules are very good (unusual for GW I know), and the feeling is very ‘Mordheimesk’ BUT the campaign system lacks any ‘life’. You do not get invested in your leaders. If they die, you just get a new one. The models are superb if some what impractical at times.

Warlords of Erehwon – I like this game. I like it because it gives me a very 1990 Rogue Trader feel to fantasy warband combat. I’ve only been able to play it twice due to Covid but enjoyed both games.