9266 Advanced Dungeons Miniatures Rules Sample file An all-new g Rules for playing tabletop battles with miniature figures Sample file BATTLESYSTEM Miniatures Rules Sample file Table of Contents Introduction 3 Forced March 57 Basic Rules Summary 6 Heroes 57 Chapter I: Reviewing the Troops 7 Commanders 58 Common Troop Types 8 Firearms 61 Standard Base Sizes 11 Dismounted Cavalry 61 Unit Rosters 12 Optional Combat Rules 62 Chapter 2: Sequence of Play 13 Intermediate Scenarios 63 Chapter 7: Advanced Rules 71 Chapter 3: Morale 15 Making Morale Checks 16 Flying Creatures 72 Undead Units 75 Morale Scale 17 Animal Packs or Herds 76 Chapter 4: Movement 19 Fortifications and Fortresses 77 Formation 20 War Machines 83 How to Move 23 Fire Attacks ...86 Movement and Enemy Units 28 Movement and Missile Fire 31 Chapter 8: Magic 87 Charging 31 Special Magical Abilities 88 Rout Movement 33 Spell Abilities 89 Terrain Effects on Movement 34 Wizard Spell List 90 Priest Spell List 93 Chapter 5: Combat 37 Advanced Scenarios 95 Attack Procedure 38 Melee Combat 40 Appendices 103 Missile Combat 42 I: Converting AD&D® Game Statistics 104 II: Troop Type List 108 Basic Scenarios 46 III: Scenario Construction and Point Costs 116 Chapter 6: Intermediate Rules 53 IV: The Art of Miniatures Gaming 119 Skirmishers 54 Battle Platforms 56 Unit Roster Forms 127 Special Formations 56 Reference Card 128 Credits Design: Douglas Niles Author, "The Art of Miniatures Gaming": Steve Winter Editing and Development: Kim Mohan, Jon PickensSample, Playtestersfile : Dave Sutherland Zeb Cook, Scott Haring, Jon Pickens, James Ward Play test Coordination: Jon Pickens David Nalepinski, Warren Brewer, Patrick Daniels, Photography, Battle Scenes: Michael Weaver, Ral Partha Joe Wedige Enterprises, Inc. Mark Middleton, Eric Adamaszek, Ed Isaac, Photography, Rules Diagrams: Dick Kahn Studio, Inc. Kip Romaine, Tim Sluss Figure Painting, Rules Diagrams: Dave Sutherland Jason Saylor, Mike Cook, Ed Hupp, Brian Jordan, Kim 3-D Construction, Rules Diagrams: Dennis Kauth Moser, Joshua Saylor, Rick Schulte Cover Art: Glen Tarnowski Dave Bethke, Chris Clark, Gamemasters Guild Interior Art: Jeff Easley (pages 1, 7,19, 37, 53, 71,103); Tim of Waukegan Truman (page 13); Keith Parkinson (pages 15, 19, 87) Jeff Morrison, Steve Bell, Bill Bowman, Dave Cuneo, Graphic Design and Keylining: Stephanie Tabat, Dave Ted Delairs, Roland Gebner, Chris Steihl Sutherland Wayne Rasmussen, Bill Weaver Typography: Gaye O'Keefe Our special thanks ... to Chuck Crane and the folks at Ral Partha En- TSR, Inc. I | TSR Ltd. terprises, Inc., for their help and enthusiasm. All POB 756 120 Church End, Cherry Hinton of the figures shown in this book are available Lake Geneva Cambridge CBl 3LB from Ral Partha, 5938 Carthage Court, Cincin- WI 53147 USA TSR, Inc. United Kingdom nati OH 45212; for more information, write to mraoucrs or vdun NMOINMION" that address or phone 1-800-543-0272. Distributed to the book trade by Random House, Inc., and in Canada by Random House of Canada, Ltd. Distributed to the toy and hobby trade by regional distributors. Distributed in the United Kingdom by TSR Ltd. This work is protected under the copyright laws of the United States of America. Any reproduction or unauthorized use of the material or artwork presented herein is prohibited without the express written permission of TSR, Inc. ADVANCED DUNGEONS & DRAGONS, AD&D, BATTLESYSTEM, PRODUCTS OF YOUR IMAGINATION, and the TSR logo are trademarks owned by TSR, Inc. 0-88038-770-X Copyright ®1989 TSR, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Printed in the U.S.A. Introduction The playing surface usually repre- ditions (including how to achieve For the scenarios given in this book, sents something other than flat, fea- victory) that apply only to that sce- general setup locations are specified. tureless terrain; the battlefield (whether nario. However, you will often get to select for a predesigned scenario or one of Each of the nine scenarios in this book the exact placement of each unit, the di- your own creation) is likely to have contains all of the information described rection faced by your miniatures, and hills, rivers, buildings, forests, and above, enabling you and your friends to so on. Sometimes a scenario will spec- other kinds of physical features that recreate the situations and play out the ify that one side or another is set up will have an effect on how the battle battles as commanders of the opposing first. plays out. forces. If you're new to miniatures gam- Rosters for the scenarios in this book These terrain pieces can be simple or ing or have just started to become famil- are included with each scenario. You elaborate. Cut-out strips of construc- iar with the BATTLESYSTEM rules, you may want to copy the information onto tion paper can mark a river. A few large should start by setting up and playing a separate sheet of paper (especially if books can be scattered around to repre- the basic scenarios on pages 47-52. you want to refer to other parts of the sent low hills, while a book on a flat When you've gone through each of rule book during play), but this is not game box represents a high hill. those at least once, you can try your necessary. If you are using a self- Of course, a whole host of products hand at designing some more scenarios designed scenario, you will have to is available to make your battlefield using only the basic rules, or you can draw up your own rosters. look like a grand diorama. Many play- progress to the intermediate and Once your rosters are in hand, the ers enjoy placing styrofoam cut-outs, advanced rules and try out the scenarios terrain and miniatures are arrayed detailed miniature trees, and models of provided on the pages following those across the table, and dice, rulers, and buildings and other features on the bat- sections. By the time you've absorbed all the rule book are close at hand, you're tlefield. Appendix IV contains some ba- the rules in this book, you'll be able to ready to start the game! sic information on how to construct play large battles involving heroic lead- Follow the BATTLESYSTEM se- and use realistic-looking three- ers, hordes of monsters, powerful siege quence of play (see page 14) for each dimensional terrain features. artillery—even flying dragons and tow- turn of the game. Play through a suc- ering castles! cession of turns until one side or an- MEASURING STICK. Several rulers other achieves victory. Though the and measuring tapes are handy at the The complexity and playing time of a victor is always defined by certain sce- gaming table, since every player will scenario relate directly to the size of the nario conditions, such definitions are probably need to make a few measure- playing area and the number of minia- often unnecessary. If your victory was a ments during a turn. The best tools for tures involved. While miniatures gam- solid one, you (and your opponent) will this purpose are those metal tape mea- ing lends itself readily to team play, Sample file know it! sures that remain rigid when extended. getting more players involved will not You can get along with rulers or yard- necessarily decrease the playing time of sticks most of the time, but a flexible a game. Experience will soon show you Questions? tape will come in handy at times for the right type of scenario for a given group of players and time limit. If you're unsure measuring along arcs. If not every how to interpret a rule or how to deal Self-designed scenarios are easy to do player has access to a ruler, you can with a special situation that comes up and lots of fun. A particular advantage make temporary measuring sticks by during the play of a scenario, we may of the home-grown scenario is that you marking off half-inches and inches on a be able to help. Send a note containing can tailor the forces in the battle to the strip of cardboard. your question or comment, along with kinds of minatures you have on hand. a self-addressed, stamped envelope, to Appendix III provides a point system BATTLESYSTEM™ Game Question, and other tips for creating balanced TSR, Inc., P.O. Box 756, Lake Geneva Playing a Scenario armies in home-grown scenarios. WI53147. Be sure to give us as much in- Once you have formation as we'll need to give you an learned the basic rules of the BATTLE- accurate and complete answer, and if SYSTEM™ game, you will be able to set Starting to Play possible, phrase your question so that it up and fight an enormous number of can be answered in just a few words. battles, skirmishes, and engagements Once your sce- on your tabletop playing area. Each nario is chosen or planned, you simply scenario—actually a "game" in itself— need to set up the necessary terrain fea- consists of at least three sections of in- tures, make a roster of all of your units formation: the situation map and (for an original scenario), put the min- background; a list of the forces in- iatures in place on the battlefield, and volved in the scenario; and special con- start to play. Introduction About this book This new book of BATTLESYSTEM™ rules gives you all the information you need to create and fight tabletop battles with miniature figures. The rules progress through stages, allowing you to select the level of complexity and detail you desire. The basic rules (Chapters 1 through 5) are the fundamentals: how units of miniature figures are described, and what they represent; the sequence of events that makes up a turn; how to de- termine morale; how to move units across the battlefield; and how to con- duct combat.