Losses would be recorded use dice and tokens. These rules are more modern in concept with command and control central to their use.Р”Р„gain, the units were 1/72 plastics on 80mm x 60mm IMPETUS bases. Given the breadth of periods covered by the rules these two battles were enjoyable enough for a further outing at some point. Overall, I felt that AMW is better suited to combined arms battles as opposed to a slogging match. This second game also confirmed that archery is quite potent. It showed you need to put the whole force jointly in together as the attrition is such that late comers РІР‚вЂњ in my case the token infantry shieldwall were simply outnumbered and picked off in turn.Р”В¬oordination is in the hands of the gamer through movement of units and their proximity. The result was a defeat for the cavalry army. In my battle report I suggested a way to deal with anglo saxon cavalry in battle that might more reflect their power as pursuers and opportunists.Р”В«ecause of the apparent strength of shieldwalls in AMW I then play tested cavalry against a shieldwall. The cavalry interventions were easy to achieve as there is no restriction on command and control.Р”Р‡inally, the structure of the ruleset with core rules and some simple extra rules simply cries out for more house rules. And the lines once met were static РІР‚вЂњ which cuts both ways РІР‚вЂњ thatРІР‚в„ўs what happened РІР‚вЂњ short of logging loss of points there is not much game movement. The feeling and reality of individual units meant that flank attacks were inevitable, and these were the main mechanism of destruction. The use of some cavalry may have speeded up the result although I think the outcome was not in doubt. With no need to put the units in base to base contact visually it did not look quite like two shieldwalls: More like roman maniples! And the erosion of the 16 hits or 4 bases in DBA speak resulted in some quick breakthroughs. The battle lines were deliberately aligned and close together as the intention was to show two equally sized shieldwalls simply coming together. The first losses also triggered more (domino effect) as AMW uses morale effects to pile on misery when dice are thrown low. It did help to keep the stronger type of unit РІР‚вЂњ nobles in the field longer than the peasants. AMW uses the two-step process to provide the layered differentiation between such a small number of unit types to cover several hundred years of warfare and army types. The dice to hit and dice to save has some interest for live opponents although for solo play arguably it simply prolongs the playing time. Mine are 60mm deep РІР‚Сљfor the lookРІР‚Сњ as IMPETUS suggests. Each base equates almost to 4 x 15mm scale 40x20mm DBA bases as referenced in the rules. I used my 80mm frontage IMPETUS bases showing 1/72 plastics. I added some variety in the choice of light troops. Selection of the 8-unit force was straight forward. Saxon Cavalry were permitted, and I think Neil is more on the РІР‚Сљthey were everywhere in life so why not some on the battlefieldРІР‚Сњ. The rules gave a simple mix of troops and are explained in a chapter on why the troop mix was chosen and what they could and could not do. I printed the relevant pages as the paperback is a РІР‚СљtomeРІР‚Сњ and short of breaking the spine it is not easy to РІР‚СљuseРІР‚Сњ in a game. The rules take up a couple of pages and are in clear large print and easy to understand. I used the Dark Age ruleset straight from the book. First I should say that from nowhere these rules have come to represent a modern take on what РІР‚СљI rememberРІР‚Сњ I enjoyed about rules from the 1970РІР‚в„ўs: Above all simplicity. Outcomes РІР‚вЂњ the outcomes during the game and overall at the end.Reading the rules (understanding/comprehension) РІР‚вЂњ both at the start and when referencing.My consideration of the rules is of course subjective, and my criteria may not be to everybodyРІР‚в„ўs liking. Table Top Battles (gridded wargame) by Mike & Joyce Smith.Ancient & Medieval Wargaming (AMW) by Neil Thomas.Here is a reminder of the rulesets tested Having said all that РІР‚Сљone swallow a summer does not makeРІР‚Сњ so everything I write here is caveated РІР‚вЂњ only multiple playingРІР‚в„ўs will help you like or dislike a ruleset fully in my view. This meant the mechanisms in the rules might be more transparent and then the rules could be better contrasted in my mind. In most cases the two opposing forces were mirror images. Over quite a few posts I have reported on my use of rulesets to play battles between shieldwalls. Shieldwalls РІР‚вЂњ Dux Bellorum, AMW, OHW and Table Top Battles Rules reviewed

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