Deadwars

So thanks to copious amounts of cold and flu capsules I managed a little painting yesterday and a little game today. After realising I had a box of Mars Zombie Pirates and Dark Alliance Mummies I was pondering the possibilities of an all out war between the forces of Davy Jones and Imhotep (I wonder whose side Dracula takes?).

Although the rules are in a very rough form and not specifically designed for forces of the undead (they’d fit multiple things) here they are:

Starting Force Morale = 10, modify before game by rolling a die:

1)      -2 Morale

2)      -1 Morale

3)      +0 Morale

4)      +1 Morale

5)      +2 Morale

6)      +2 Morale

Force with higher morale is Side A, force with lower is Side B, roll off in case of tie. Side A and B may switch turn by turn depending upon morale.

Turn structure:

1)      Side A Shooting

2)      Side B Shooting

3)      Side A Moves – resolve melees

4)      Side B Moves – resolve melees

Movement

6” if unarmoured

5” if armoured or shield

4” if armoured and shield

-2 if crossing rough ground or any number of obstacles.

Melee

Roll a die for each combatant to determine attack order. Higher roller rolls to hit first, then lower. Roll 2 dice for fighters with two single handed melee weapons, both roll to hit in order. +1 to roll for fighters with long weapons (spears/ halberds). If both roll same number hit simultaneously.

Roll to hit – 4+

If hit is achieved make a saving throw for the defender – 4+

-2 if attacker carrying double handed weapon.

+1 if carrying shield or armoured.

+2 if carrying shield and armoured.

If save is failed roll a die:

1-3 defender wounded, moves at half speed and gets -1 to all die rolls. Side takes -1 morale. If already wounded defender killed and side takes -1 morale.

4-6 defender killed. Side takes -2 morale.

Shooting

Roll to hit – 5+

+1 if defender within 6”

+2 if defender within 3”

-1 if defender in cover

If hit achieved roll to save – 4+

+1 if armoured and shooter using bow or sling

+1 if carrying shield and shooter using bow or sling

If save failed roll for effect as above.

When one side is reduced to 0 morale they will flee the battlefield.

Like I said they’re pretty rough but gave a satisfying little skirmish.

I found the melee combat system surprisingly good at resolving multiple combats in a satisfying way. By that I mean where uneven numbers met and you had one mummy fending off two pirates. I simply assigned each fighter different coloured dice so it was easy to see who was attacking first, second, third etc. Interestingly this meant that a fighter could potentially be wounded before their chance to attack which hampered their roll to hit. A fighter with two single handed weapons may get one strike in, then get wounded by their opponent while swinging their second weapon causing them to miss. It created a feeling of an actual duel taking place, and not just a bunch of dice rolls.

Right, back to naps and drugs for me. Hope you all have a good New Years!