Warmaster Ancient House Rules.

By Little Wars - Stockholm

Version 1.1 August 29 2006

House Rules

At all time the house rules have tried to keep the games “the big picture” point of view.

Single Based Units

Why:

• To create mass affect there for example a number of DB(x) bases are used to form one single unit. This creates visually impressive battles that are both tactically challenging and manageable and easily played in a couple of hours.
• To speed up the combat by minimising the number of used D6 in melee.
• While working on a bigger army. For example using regular WMA stands with 10mm figures.

Suggestions for basing

The following numbers of 15mm DBA/DBM elements are used to represent a unit:

• For stands not deeper than 3cm four elements positioned in a square are used to create a single unit.
• For stands four centimetre deep or deeper two elements positioned side by side are used to create a single unit.

When using 28mm figures see: 28mm Big-Based Ancients

Adaptation for using single based units

• A unit is always moved and treated as one single unit i.e. no single stand moves.
• If a previous unharmed unit takes one hit this single hit is discarded at the end of a phase. This does not apply to units still engaged in melee.
• If a unit takes two hits in a phase it counts as wounded.
• If a previously wounded unit takes one more hit it is destroyed.
• Wounded units have (-1) when given an order.
• A unit that takes one hit after being shot at must take a “Command check” at the end of the phase. If the test is a failure the unit counts as wounded.
• A stand can pass a gap at least as narrow as is depth.
• A brigade can be in an irregular formation (in the same way as regular WMA units).
• A unit that has its centre on a road counts as being on the road

Movement

• Movement of units is performed as a row of straight moves. The length of a move is decided by the corner of the base that moved furthest. And the unit must end all but the last move facing the extension of the move.
• If an order is given to a unit (or units in a brigade) that during any of its moves is turned more than 90º from its current facing, the unit recieves a (-1) penalty. This doesn’t apply to skirmishers.

Zone of control

• For an attacking unit all enemy units besides skirmishers count as having a zone of control. This zone extends as a square out from the unit’s frontal edge. The ZOC depth is the same as the length of a half the stands width. This means that an attacking unit can not move through one unit’s zone of control to attack a second more desirable target.

Troop characteristics

• The new ability “flexible” is used. This ability is given to infantry that has the capability of fighting coordinated in dense terrain. Flexible troops are not penalized with the (-1) in command for being in rough terrain.
• Hired troops; (-1) then given the second order to move i.e. as slow. Point cost (-5).
• To add some flavour; Foot skirmishers are divided into three categories;

Skirmishers can for example be the poorest or youngest contingent of an army. Usually armed with slings and javelins. They harass their enemy from a distance with their missiles. Their lust for contact is low. In short; this is the most common type of skirmishers.

Trained, or specialist skirmishers are known for their ability to harass troops in formation. For example Balearic slingers or Cretan archers are trained.

Light infantry given the task to function as skirmishers during a battle, but they have also the ability to close with a weakened enemy. Peltast are a good example of this category.

Command checks for units

This test is used by units to for example determine if they interpreter a change of orders.

• A unit that checks its command uses a commander’s command value.
• A unit that checks its command can use any suitable own commander for the check i.e. the one that will give the best change of success.
• The used commanders command value is modified with distance between the commander and the unit. This is the only modification used.
• A unit can only make a command check once per phase.
• A unit must only make a command check once per phase.
• If an army is divided in different contingents (commands) a testing unit has a penalty of (-2) if a commander from another command is used. This penalty doesn’t apply to the general.

Orders

Leaders and chieftain can be given specific orders. These orders are given by the general. All units commanded by ordered commanders act accordingly. For record keeping; only the commander’s current order needs to be marked.

• Manoeuvre- units moved by, or positioned within 20 centre metre of a commander with this order has no charge bonus but always (+1) then given an order.
• Hold – units moved by, or positioned within 20 centre metre of a commander with this order have their movement reduced to ½, but counts in the first round of combat as having (+1) save.
• If an attempt to change an order fails all units within the commander command range will become confused.
• If a unit is within command range of to commanders with different types of orders the closest commander’s order apply to the unit.
• The general can give these orders to himself.
• If an army is divided in different commands a unit can only be affected by the commands commander.

Retreating units

• At the start of the last phase all wounded units not attached to a brigade and more than 20 centimetres away from a commander must make a command check. If the test is a failure the unit will retreat a full move. This is performed as evade if any visible enemy units are within the length of the units maximum move. Otherwise the unit will move towards its own base edge avoiding all enemy units and blocking terrain.

Army lists

Medieval Swedish 1280-1523AD

Troop	Type	Att	Rng	Hit s	Save	Cmd	Size	Min/Max	Points	Special
Knight on foot	Inf	3	-	3	4+	-	3	0/2	75	3,4
Pole armed men	Inf	3	-	3	5+	-	3	0/2	65	1
Allmoge	Inf	2	15	3	5+	-	3	4/-	65	1,6
Archers	Inf	2	30	3	6+			0/2	55	1
Ambushers	Inf	1	15	3	-	-	3	0/2	35	1,2
Hand-gunners	Inf	1	15	3	-	-	3	0/2	45	1,2,6
Knights	Cv	3	-	3	4+	-	3	0/1	125	3,4
Smasvenner	Cv	3	-	3	5+	-	3	0/1	110	3
Skyttar	Cv	2	15	3	6+	-	3	0/2	60	2
Artillery	H Art	1	3*60	3	-	-	1	0/1	75	5
General	Gen	+2	-	-	-	8	-	1	100
Noble	Ch	+1	-	-	-	8	-	0/2	40
Leader	Ch	+1	-	-	-	7	-	0/2	30
Upgrade to portent									10	Re roll

Special:

1. Flexible
2. Skirmishers
3. Shock
4. Slow
5. Heavy warmachine
6. When using ranged fire, the targeted stand has -1 save.

Notes:

Allmoge

Units made up of men armed with crossbows and pole arms. The Allmoge provided its own fire support.

Allmoge is a Swedish term that can be translated as “commoners”. The Allmoge of each landskap (roughly equivalent to county or province) were largely independent. It was quite common for the allmoge of different landskap to fight on different sides in any conflict. The commoners were able to field considerable independent military forces and no domestic or foreign political faction was ever able to maintain control of Sweden without at least some support from the Allmoge of the more important landskap.

The local yeomen that made up the Allmoge armies were quite prosperous by medieval standards and were somewhat similar to Italian city militia forces. The Allmoge contingents were sometimes led by lower nobility or commoners, but it was probably more common for the local nobles or church dignitaries to ally themselves to the Allmoge of their landskap and to provide leadership for the Allmoge forces. Some noble families were periodically able to control the Allmoge of their province, at other times not.

The troops of the Allmoge were of good quality, but the higher-level leadership was the Achilles-heel of their military system. It was usually quite difficult for the contingents from different landskaps to coordinate their actions. In addition, the Allmoge fighting men were farmers first and soldiers second. It was very difficult to keep them in the field when it was time for harvest, sowing, etc.

In the mid-to-late 15^th Century the Allmoge were very militant and went on frequent campaigns. This experience gave them much better command/leadership than one might expect from part-time yeomen soldiers. In this period predominantly Allmoge armies led by local nobility often got the better of professional forces, and were quite adept at coordinating operations over considerable distances.

Frälse, Skyttar and Småsvenner

The Swedish mounted troops were fewer in number than most of their adversaries and often of lower quality.

The Riddare (dubbed knights) were always very few in numbers and the Kn elements in this include any people of the Frälse, including Riddare, other nobles that are not dubbed knights and Church dignitaries with their respective retinues. To be counted as Frälse, it was sufficient to produce a suitably armed and armoured mounted warrior. Being Frälse meant that, in return for mounted military service when called for, you did not have to pay taxes.

The Frälse was less well equipped than their Danish opponents. There is also reason to suspect that most Swedish horses were smaller than those used for military purposes in Denmark or Germany.

Mounted troops were often used to rapidly seize terrain chokepoints. The Riddare were often dismounted to provide leadership/spearhead troops. The terrain is often constricting in Sweden, and Swedish nobles often inferior in quality to Danish adversaries, so there were quite a few reasons to dismount. And as far as I know the Riddare are more often depicted on foot than mounted.

Artillery

Swedish forces did not use much artillery and were not adept at major sieges. Allmoge armies frequently succeeded in storming minor fortified castles and towns that could not be supplied by sea. The most common targets for Allmoge forces were the strongholds of tax-collectors.

The few large cities could be supplied by sea and were rarely taken by Swedish forces, since they lacked the naval capability to cut them off. Smaller calibre artillery and handguns were fairly common, though. At the battle of Brunkeberg, the Danish King was wounded by bullet, for example.