Optional Rules and Ideas

With Kickstarter backers receiving a digital copy of the rules and a PDF copy available since the beginning of January 2021, The Barons' War game has finally become a reality out in gaming-land.

The Barons' War, so far, seems to have been well received and we are already receiving feedback from members of the community who have read the rules and have offered further suggestions and ideas. I have to admit I like feedback as it makes me feel that engagement has started and players are wanting to invest, it also shifts the dynamic from being just 'my rules' to 'our rules'.

With this in mind, I wanted to share three new rule suggestions that you can add to your own games, each has developed from discussions on the Facebook Group. These ideas are not 'written in stone' so if you don't like them then please don't use them again, even better get in touch and let us have your ideas instead.

Battle Axe (one-handed)

An Axe is no longer treated as a Hand Weapon and becomes a Battle Axe with its own rules. Cost per warrior: 0pts | Modifier: none | Effect: Target receives -1 to Shield Rolls. Available for all knight types and all sergeant types.

Reactionary Shooting to Being Charged

When attacking Warriors find they must roll a d6 when charging a Group armed with ranged weapons, they can be subjected to Reactionary Shooting. For the cost of an Action, the defenders can shoot their charging attackers with a +1 modifier to their Attack Dice. If the attacking group suffers 25% casualties (p.48), they must take a Morale Check before they engage in melee combat. If failed, they become Broken instead and proceed to flee. If the defending group is armed with crossbows, they cannot shoot as a reaction to being charged as the crossbow is too slow.

Dismounting and Mounting

There are currently no rules for dismounting and mounting in the rulebook. It would be an easy thing to include costing a single Action. Use an Ability Action Token when dismounting and add a foot model to represent each dismounted knight or sergeant within 1" of their mount. Either leave the mounted versions at the location they have dismounted, or replace each figure in the group with a riderless horse. Make sure you adjust the Groups Movement value whilst on foot. When returning to mount, the rider must be within 1" of their horse and spend an Action to do so.

Other rules currently under development, in no particular order, are siege warfare, campaign rules, ship to ship fighting and further supplements containing army lists, the first of which will be 'The Dark Ages'.

As the introduction to the rules outlined, it would be great if this became a system used throughout the Medieval period, and possibly at some point fantasy settings as I'm a sucker for a bit of magic. This idea presents us with a huge span of history for gaming, especially when we start venturing outside of Great Britain. I am under no illusion to make this happen new rules will need to be added to represent armour, weapons, and warfare changes. However, I hope that using Abilities, plus a new idea that we are currently calling 'Traits', can achieve this.