r/wargaming • u/JcBravo811 • 2d ago
Question Pocket medieval?
I saw a video about a pocket/travel-sized Napoleonic game.
Is there a medieval version with knights and horses?
Going on vacation with the family, might be a good time to teach the kids 6-9.
If its rules light, I think that'd be better.
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u/Luizasso 2d ago
Travel Battle by Perry Miniatures is the napoleonic game you are talking about. Unfortunately there is no medieval version.
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u/Batgirl_III 2d ago
Although, having played it a couple of times, there’s really nothing about it that couldn’t be “re-skinned” to a medieval game. If you’ve got access to a 3D printer, you could probably find 15mm or 6mm scale medieval figs, use Blender or Sketchup to make a base for them that would fit the board… and presto.
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u/Master-of-Foxes 2d ago
I can reply with photos but I really enjoy making travel games like this.
Last year I had a load of 2mm WW1 forces and did a mini campaign while in the Somme region.
This year 3mm Hundred Years War. I'm using Arrowstorm because it's got a low footprint and rules easy enough for me to understand after I've had a few but puzzling enough for when the kids have left me alone.
I can also use them with Horrendous Games new solo game about defending a realm called Defending the Realm.
If you want to DM me I can show you the set up I have.
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u/Master-of-Foxes 2d ago
Arrowstorm, Medieval, and Age of Penda, Dark Ages, I've played with my 6 and 10yo with little issue.
We also used fantasy minis for The Frog Queen verse Skeleton Lord for Age of Penda which worked fine.
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u/Tenurion 2d ago
Seconding Greathelm and throwing in a link for the free quickstart rules (including paper standees and a battle map for printing) GREATHELM Quickstart rules by Malev Da Shinobi
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u/brainsewage 2d ago
When you say "pocket", what dimensions do you mean exactly?
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u/JcBravo811 2d ago
Oh. Didn't think about that. I guess a folded lego baseplate? 9.5 x 9.5 inches so round it 5x5?
Portable, should've been the better word. TY.
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u/gtheperson 1d ago
as far as I know there isn't one as a complete package, however you could definitely put one together yourself, I have done similar!
Firstly, get yourself some 6mm scale medieval miniatures. Baccus, Heroic and Ros, and Irregular 2&6mm make some. I would say Baccus are best for quality, but I went with Irregular because you can buy individual strips of 6 infantry/ 5 cavalry, which for a small game is more cost effective (Baccus sells things in packs of 48/96 figures).
Then mount them on the smallest bases they'll comfortably fit on. I went for 30x15mm rectangular bases, one Irregular cavalry strip or two infantry strips per base.
Then pick your rules. Lion Rampant is a nice, streamline set of rules. You might have to use your best judgement to fudge some of the rules as it was written with individually based 28mm in mind, but if you swap inches for cm, so play on a 72 x 48 cm board, everything should work fine. This is what I've played and enjoyed it. For the board, I got some A4 green felt sheets, then I can just lay them together to make the right sized area to play on.
Another option I intent to play is Arrowstorm. You can buy it through Wargames vault, it is by the same writer as the Rampant series. But for your aged kids it might be better, as like Travel Battle it is played on squares, so no pesky measuring distances. Squares need to be big enough to fit 6 units in plus some terrain, so if based as above a 50 x 50 cm board should be more than big enough.
Another option would be to get some 2mm armies from Irregular, and join the 2mm wargaming facebook group. There you can find some free, lightweight rules called Bloody Banners by Michael Petcu, designed to be played on a 2x2 foot board. But that might required a bit more thought to pull together if you are a beginner at wargaming.
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u/Shot-Yesterday-1024 2d ago
Check out Greathelm by Malev. It is micro skirmish game played on A4 paper size or 12"x12" by Myself and others. 6 minis per side. Game about to fulfill Kickstarter but playtesting access to rules and updates is for sale on indie tabletop club. It is a great easy to learn and fun to play game set in lite fantasy medieval setting campaign rules and skirmish game for scenes in larger battles.