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General Wargaming

Actively Being Updated

This section is actively being worked on and will change.

Objective​

The objective of any wargame should be obvious - to have fun! This should be your group's main priority. While this ruleset is intended to (hopefully) maximise fun, it's perfectly acceptable to change rules if it makes the game more fun for your particular table.

Secondarily, the objective of any particular wargame is to defeat your opponent. In the case of Blightmeer, this means that your opponent's warband fails a Rout Check and retreats from the board.

What You Need​

There are a number of things needed to play Blightmeer, just like most wargames. Some are simpler than others, but ultimately players should be able to use what they have on hand to start their first game.

Tabletop​

One of the most basic things players need is a 3' by 3' flat playing surface to act as the game board. Dining tables are a staple of wargames and most should be big enough to play on. As a last resort, players could even use the floor.

While the vast majority of games are played at this tabletop size, multiplayer games are often larger.

Models​

The heart of any wargame is the models or miniatures. Blightmeer is a model agnostic system, meaning that any models that fit the fantastical setting can be used. If players don't have access to such models, they can use toy figurines, or even create paper standees from scratch.

These models are the physical representations of a warband's units within the game world and are physically moved around the board to show where units move.

What You See Is What You Get (WYSIWYG)​

Many wargames have a concept known as 'what you see is what you get'. This means that a unit's equipment is reflected by the model that represents it. So if a unit has a sword and shield, the model of the unit also has a sword and shield.

We heavily encourage adhering to WYSIWYG, where practical. Some reasonable exceptions are as follows:

  • a ranged unit's melee weapon is not represented on the model
  • only the melee or ranged weapons of a hero are represented on the model
  • the model's weapon is not one that the unit can use
    • choose the closest equivalent as it's equipment instead
  • any artifacts that are acquired during the course of a campaign

If a unit's equipment could be swapped to make it closer to the model's equipment, a player should do so. So, if a model has a sword, then the unit should not have a spear equipped.

If people so wish, they can go as far as representing injuries, promotions to heroes, or magic items on their models. This is certainly not required however.

Ultimately, this is up to the group to decide how strictly they wish to adhere to this. The end goal should be to minimise confusion about a unit's equipment for others (and even yourself) and keeping on theme where possible.

Tape Measure​

Players should have at least one tape measure, ruler, or other measuring device with inches marked on it. Ideally, each player should have one. All distances are described in inches (or sometimes feet) within this rulebook.

Dice​

Blightmeer is a d20 system, which means it exclusively uses 20-sided dice (a 'd20'). We recommend four d20 to keep gameplay as quick as possible, but it's possible to play with a single die.

Terrain​

One of the most important parts of skirmish wargames, players should have enough terrain to almost entirely fill the game board with terrain. Battles are generally fought within a ruined city, so ruined buildings should be the bread-and-butter of the terrain used. Beyond that some other terrain is heavily recommended:

  • Risers, to vary the elevation of a map
  • Ladders/stairs/crates, to allow units to get to areas that would otherwise require an Agility check
  • Walkways/bridges, to connect buildings and other elevated positions

Lots of terrain is always the highest priority, followed by varied and interesting terrain. Should you not have sufficient terrain, you can always use household items as proxies. Using boxes for risers is a particularly good way to improve the quality of a map at no cost. Cans, books, and whatever you have lying can act as terrain in a pinch.

Warband Sheets​

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Other Printouts​

Wargaming Concepts​

Measuring​

How to Measure​

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When to Measure​

While

Moving​

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Engaging in Melee Combat​

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Making Checks​

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Attacking​

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Line-of-Sight​

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Declaring​

Structure​

Deployment​

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Rounds​

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Turns​

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Game End​

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