Skirmish Rules

Mediaeval Skirmish Rules

Last modified - 3rd Sept. '99
Author - Mark Standing

Scale

1 figure = 1 man

1 pace = 1 inch (25m) or 1cm (15mm)

Visibility

Line of sight.

Dense woods/undergrowth

5 paces for moving figures
2 paces for figures already stationary Light Woods/undergrowth 10 paces for moving figures
4 paces for figures already stationary Grades

Elite, Veteran, Average, Novice

Turn sequence of actions

1. Roll for initiative
2. Movement
3. Firing

4. Melee

1 - Initiative

Each side rolls a D6, highest chooses to go first or second.

Figures are moved, fired and melee'd alternately within the sequence.

Actions take one turn eg Mount/ dismount, kneel, lie down, stand up, draw/sheath weapon. It is possible to perform combined actions such as kneel and draw weapon. It is important to note which weapon a figure is using or has put down (& where).

2 - Movement

Measured in paces

On foot Open Ground Difficult Terrain On Horseback Open Ground Difficult Terrain

Walk 6 3 Walk 6 3

Run 10 5 Trot 10 5

Charge 12 6 Canter 14 -

Crawl/limp 3 2 Gallop 18 -

Hills reduce movement by 25%.
Light woods & villages reduce mounted movement by 25%
Light woods count as soft cover
Marsh & dense woods are difficult terrain & count as hard cover.
Mounted may only increase or decrease move rate by one level per turn.
Charges must be in a straight line from starting position that turn and can only be declared if at least half the charge distance is covered.
For every 45 degrees of turn at run or trot reduce distance by 2 cm, for canter reduce by 4 cm. A gallop move can only turn up to 45 degrees.
It is important to indicate which opposing figure one is going into melee with.
Civilians can only run at 8/4 and if made to run for two turns in succession will need to remain stationary for one turn.

Moving away from melee

If a figure's melee opponent(s) is unable to attack him during a turn then that figure may be moved away.

Or, if another figure was attacking opponent during previous turn & itself is not being moved away.

3 - Firing

Range in paces

Weapon Short Medium Long To reload

Javelin, Light throwing spear 10 24 40 -

Spear 8 10 24 -

Throwing axe, hammer, dagger, knife 6 12 20 -

Bow 20 60 100 1 turn

Basic chance to hit percentage table.

Type of target Short range Medium range Long range

Standing 80 70 50

Walking or making an action 70 60 40

Running or trotting 60 50 30

Kneeling, charging or cantering 50 40 20

Galloping 40 30 10

Lying, in soft cover 20 10 0

In hard cover 10 0 -20

Modifications to the BCH: -

Each hit on firer -10% Veteran firing +20%
Running/ cantering/ galloping -20% Walk/ trot -10%
Target in soft cover -10% Target has shield -10%

Firing while moving -

Can only throw in 22.5 degree arc either side of forward direction.

Can only fire in 45 degree arc to right of forward direction.

Roll percentage dice & D10 (% score must be equal to or less than calculated %). If it is, then use D10 to read off wound results table.

Wound results table:-

1 = Dead
2, 3 or 4 = two hits, stunned for next own turn, ie cannot attack or move away,
1/2 movement rates & no charging.
5, 6 or 7 = one hit
8, 9 or 10 = glancing blow - no effect

NB - If hit whilst stunned then automatically dead

4 - Melee

Figures must be in base contact. Hits are effective immediately.
Cannot change weapon during a melee.
Weapons table

Foot Mounted

1 Unarmed 9 Anything other than 10/11

2 Club/hammer 10 Lance/spear

3 Knife/dagger 11 sabre/sword

4 Crude pole weapons

5 Short axe/hatchet/tomahawk

6 Short sword/bayonet/scimitar/cutlass

7 Fixed bayonet/spear/javelin/long war axe

8 Sword

Basic Hit Chance table

OPPONENT'S WEAPON

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11

O 1 50 40 40 30 30 20 20 10 20 10 0 1

W 2 60 50 40 40 30 20 20 20 20 10 0 2

N 3 60 60 50 40 30 30 20 20 30 20 10 3

4 70 70 60 50 40 40 30 20 30 20 10 4

W 5 70 70 70 60 50 40 30 30 40 30 20 5

E 6 80 80 70 60 60 50 40 30 40 30 20 6

A 7 80 80 80 70 70 60 50 40 40 30 20 7

P 8 90 80 80 80 70 70 60 50 50 40 30 8

O 9 80 80 70 70 70 60 60 50 50 30 20 9

N 10 90 80 80 80 70 70 70 60 70 50 60 10

11 99 90 90 80 80 80 80 70 70 40 50 11

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11

BHC Modifiers:-

+/-10% for grade difference
+10% if charging
+10% if opponent wounded
-10% for each hit already received
-10% for each extra attacking opponent (if outnumbered)
-10% if opponent has shield (can only count shield against one opponent in melee)

Wound results table:-

1 = Dead
2, 3 or 4 = two hits, stunned for next own turn, ie cannot attack or move away,
1/2 movement rates & no charging.
5, 6 or 7 = one hit
8, 9 or 10 = glancing blow - no effect

NB - If hit whilst stunned then automatically dead

On foot	Open Ground	Difficult Terrain	On Horseback	Open Ground	Difficult Terrain
Walk	6	3	Walk	6	3
Run	10	5	Trot	10	5
Charge	12	6	Canter	14	-
Crawl/limp	3	2	Gallop	18	-

	Range in paces
Weapon	Short	Medium	Long	To reload
Javelin, Light throwing spear	10	24	40	-
Spear	8	10	24	-
Throwing axe, hammer, dagger, knife	6	12	20	-
Bow	20	60	100	1 turn

Type of target	Short range	Medium range	Long range
Standing	80	70	50
Walking or making an action	70	60	40
Running or trotting	60	50	30
Kneeling, charging or cantering	50	40	20
Galloping	40	30	10
Lying, in soft cover	20	10	0
In hard cover	10	0	-20

Foot		Mounted
1	Unarmed	9	Anything other than 10/11
2	Club/hammer	10	Lance/spear
3	Knife/dagger	11	sabre/sword
4	Crude pole weapons
5	Short axe/hatchet/tomahawk
6	Short sword/bayonet/scimitar/cutlass
7	Fixed bayonet/spear/javelin/long war axe
8	Sword

		OPPONENT'S WEAPON
		1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	11
O	1	50	40	40	30	30	20	20	10	20	10	0	1
W	2	60	50	40	40	30	20	20	20	20	10	0	2
N	3	60	60	50	40	30	30	20	20	30	20	10	3
	4	70	70	60	50	40	40	30	20	30	20	10	4
W	5	70	70	70	60	50	40	30	30	40	30	20	5
E	6	80	80	70	60	60	50	40	30	40	30	20	6
A	7	80	80	80	70	70	60	50	40	40	30	20	7
P	8	90	80	80	80	70	70	60	50	50	40	30	8
O	9	80	80	70	70	70	60	60	50	50	30	20	9
N	10	90	80	80	80	70	70	70	60	70	50	60	10
	11	99	90	90	80	80	80	80	70	70	40	50	11
		1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	11