In a continuing trend, Games Workshop has released Warmaster as a free rules set. Clearly, they have decided that giving away rules promotes the sales of figures -- their primary focus.
The release of Warmaster is particularly welcome. It is a very flexible set and has been adapted to a large number of different genres and periods. Use the search box on the left hand side of this page to find a few of the variants.
Those of us of a certain age remember fondly the microgames Melee, Wizard and the rest of the Fantasy Trip line. I've often thought that they would make a good fantasy gladiator or dungeon crawl game. But alas, I've long since lost my copies. Not to worry any more. Here they are, in pdf format.
Miniatures Company Dragon Rune has released these free wargames rules for playing fantasy gladiatorial combat. The downloads page includes the rules, champion cards, a hex grid arena, and coins.
Jim Wallman has written "Follow Me, Men!"a set of free wargames rules for fantasy miniatures. Wallman describes these as "one brain cell rules"
Wallman writes:
Continued...
Dark Age is a miniature wargame based on the artwork of the acclaimed artist Brom. Set in a dark science-fantasy world (now there's an original thought), the game features some really interesting-looking miniatures. In a smart marketing move, the rules are available free for the downloading.
Here's a set of free wargames rules from The Neo Stalinist Reality Wargames Collective (I love that name). It's a quick play fantasy battle system called "Kings and Captains." Of particular interest is the fact that the rules include army and unit creation, and lists for Tolkien, Army of Darkness and Mythic Norse armies.
A review of Two Hour Wargames' Warrior Heroes miniature wargames rules. I really like the Two Hour games. They play well, and the author/owner is great with customer service.
ARES: Miniatures Wargaming System is a complete skirmish-level fantasy game. But it is also much more. The flexibility of the system allows players to use any wargaming miniatures in their collection. Over two dozen sample figures are detailed in this book, but the real strength of ARES is its figure creation system, that encourages players to use their imaginations -- which is the way it should be! Also included is a fully-customizable magic system, providing players with the opportunity to design their own spells for their troops.
Circus Murderous is a set of free wargames rules for fantasy chariot racing. Ok. Hellish chariot racing, for in this game the players are racing their demons across the plains of Hell. Cool. Or hot. Whatever. You know what I mean.
Majestic 12 Games has these demo rules for their For the Masses Fantasy miniature wargames system. Here's their blurb:
For The Masses is a complete fantasy mass-combat wargame system. But it is also much more: The flexibility of the system allows players to use any fantasy setting and armies to play out famous fantastical scenarios and ancient epic battles. Several sample army lists are included in the book but the real strength of For the Masses is the unit creation system. This system encourages players to be creative, use their imagination and have fun, which is the way wargaming should be.
Miniature Wargaming is part of the "adventure games" hobby, which includes r ole p laying and board games. Wargamers recreate battles on the tabletop with toy soldiers, like a more complicated game of chess. Models range in height from 6mm to 28mm tall, with 15mm and 25mm being the most popular. There also is a growing interest in toy soldiers and military models, such as the 1/32 and 1/35 scale plastic soldiers from Conte, and Marx.
The most popular miniature wargames are fantasy and science fiction based, such as Warhammer, Warhammer 40K, Warmachine and The Lord of the Rings. World War II games such as Flames of War and Axis and Allies are new favorites. Other favorite historical periods include Napoleonics, the American Civil War, and ancients, such as Romans or Greeks. Other gamers enjoy miniature naval wargames, recreating battles like Trafalgar, Jutland and the Coral Sea.
Hobbyists research historical periods and paint their tiny soldiers in accurate uniforms. Others develop "historically realistic" rules sets or build scale battlefield terrain using model railroad techniques.
For pictures, visit the gallery.
Some of the bigger hobby companies are Games Workshop, which produces Warhammer, Wargames Foundry and Old Glory Miniatures. Wizards of the Coast produces several lines of pre-painted miniatures games, such as the Star Wars and Dungeons and Dragons miniatures games, and a historical game with pre-painted miniatures: The new Axis and Allies game. Wizkids produces a fantasy collectable miniatures game, such as the Mage Knight and Heroclick fantasy games, the science fiction games MechWarrior and Rocketmen, as well as the quasi-historical Pirates of the Spanish Main.
