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Made in us
Fresh-Faced New User




I've been looking into lots of miniature games and have been looking at some historical games. I could probably play anything and enjoy it if it's before gunpowder units but I've always enjoyed Roman history and how the battles tended to be fought.

Hence I'm wondering what the best miniature game for that general time period would be. Doesn't matter what scale it is, I'm also fully aware I may just need to have 2 armies and just find opponents so if it's a matter of money I'd accept a slightly less fleshed out ruleset or something.
   
Made in us
Gore-Soaked Lunatic Witchhunter







I know of Hail Caesar, Kings of War Historical, and Warhammer Historical (all of which are based on 28mm scale and have similar unit footprints); Hail Caesar (Warlord Games) is actually designed around the era rather than being a fantasy linear warfare game back-ported into a historical context, so it would probably work better.

I haven't played Hail Caesar itself but I have played Black Powder, which is based on the same system but with rules/stats tweaked to represent the flintlock era, and on basis of that experience I can recommend it. The system is straightforward and easy to understand, attacks are abstracted enough that you won't need to learn a large table of numbers to figure out how a given unit works, and the complexity of the gameplay emerges naturally from a well-thought-out set of rules on positioning, formations, and terrain.

Even if you don't end up using the actual Hail Caesar rules Warlord is still a great source of 28mm Roman models; they've got a wide range of plastics from various periods (including some plastic artillery) and once you get into the metal models they've also got an extensive array of auxiliaries.

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Made in us
Longtime Dakkanaut




Maryland

It really depends on what you want.

If you're interested in a certain time period, you can check out Sam Mustafa's Aurelian which takes place during the Crisis of the Third Century, which allows you to command Romans, Persians, Germans, and Sarmatians. It uses a card deck system instead of dice for activation and combat, and a campaign system where each faction has their own goals - for example, a Roman player will be seeking to establish dominance over the Empire, while a German commander simply wants as much loot and captives as they can get.

Alternatively, you can check out Gangs of Rome, which is a skirmish game set in the dying days of the Republic, where players use their gangs of hired thugs to assert dominance in society. It has a rather interesting approach to force building where each model you purchase is randomized - you get a unique fighter card and equipment with each model.

This message was edited 2 times. Last update was at 2018/03/15 20:28:19


   
Made in gb
Mekboy Hammerin' Somethin'





Dorset, England

Personally there is nothing that puts me off a game faster than card systems! Although, I read the preview for Gangs of Rome in the WI before last and it did have some other interesting elements especially the 'crowds' mechanic.

I haven't had any personal experience of them, but I've heard good things about the 'To The Strongest' rules which cover the ancients period.
   
Made in us
Battlefield Tourist




MN (Currently in WY)

You say the way the Romans fought.... but that covers a huge swathe of history.

As a Kingdom, they used a standard Phalanx. As an Ealry Republic the Triplex Acies, Then the Polybian Legion, this morphed into Marian Legions, etc. etc.etc, until eventually they were a mostly cavalry force using border militias!

What part/time period of Roman warfare interests you the most?

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Made in us
Fresh-Faced New User




I'd have to say that Hail Caesar seems to be most like what I was wanting. It seems to have a good base of people that tend to play it and doesn't cost too awful much overall.

In regard to how the battles were fought I meant more along the lines of how Rome tended to be highly structured compared with their average enemies of varied barbarian tribes. And Hail Caesar seems to be kind of that with some other time periods that have some interesting bits in history as well.

I have seen Gangs of Rome and it didn't really interest me. Aurelian could be but the card system makes me a little put off. Still worth looking into.

So really I'd say until I've tried some out I'd call this pretty decently answered.

But in regard to time period of the Roman empire I sorta meant just about any but preferred the Republic and onward so Hail Caesar seems to cover it and even others as well.

   
Made in us
Leaping Dog Warrior




New York

i would go hail caser or kings of war historical. In fact there is no reason you cant do both. Just do everything with the same size.

I find kings of war to go quicker though

- steve

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Made in us
Wing Commander





TCS Midway

Warmaster Ancients is the father/grandfather of Hail Caesar! It is out of print, but at 10mm you can get some large combats going.

It seems to be based first on Roman battles and then extrapolated out. We play it all the time as a club.

http://www.wfhgs.com/

This message was edited 1 time. Last update was at 2018/03/19 19:45:41


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