Battlesystem

Battlesystem1st Edition

Battlesystemis a tabletopminiature wargamedesigned as a supplement for use with theDungeons & Dragonsrole-playing game.The originalBattlesystemwas printed as aboxed setin 1985 for use with the first editionAD&Drules. For the second edition ofAD&D,a new version ofBattesystemwas printed as a softcover book in 1989.

First edition

Contents

Battlesystemwas first released in 1985, compatible with eitherAdvanced Dungeons & Dragonsor theBasic/ExpertDungeons & Dragons(seeeditions of Dungeons & Dragons). The game was promoted as a successor toChainmail.

In aBattlesystemgame, eachminiaturerepresents a hero, a commander, or multiple troops, depending on the troops' level or hit dice.There are no statistics in the game for any troops or characters, but, instead, all are derived from the relevantDungeons & Dragonspublications. For instance, to add any creature from theMonster Manualor similar publications as troops, its in-game point cost can be derived from theXPreward listed in theMonster Manualfor killing the creature.

The first edition ofBattlesystemwas a set of rules and components for use in playing mass fantasy battles, involving miniatures rules for metal or cardstock figures, or counters.The first edition set contained rules with beginner and intermediate levels of complexity, four battle scenarios, a guide to miniatures, a number of cardboard figures, and over 800 counters. It was meant to be used with either theAdvanced Dungeons & Dragonsgame or the simplerDungeons & Dragonsrule book sets available at the time.

The first edition ofBattlesystemwas sold as a box set which contained:

• 32-page rule book
• 24-page scenario book
• 16-page guide to miniatures
• 2 Player Aid Cards
• 2 Metal Miniature Generals
• 3-D Adventure foldup Figures
• Army Roster Sheets
• 801 die-cut counters

The Rulebook is divided into four parts, allowing three levels of play. The first part is an introduction. The second part, called "The Basic Game", covers the basic rules of movement andmeleecombat.The third part, "The Intermediate Game", adds missiles, artillery, cavalry, individual Heroes, special formations and terrain effects.The fourth part, called "The Advanced Game", allows formagic,flying, weather, night battles and special monsters. It also introduces campaign rules that allow for integration of Battlesystem games into arole-playing campaign.The game does not require aDungeon Master,although the Rulebook recommends use of a referee, especially if using certain magics such asinvisibilityor illusions.

The Scenario Book contains four scenarios. Three of the scenarios form a linked campaign in a generic fantasy setting, one for each level of the game. The fourth is an advanced game scenario forDragonlance,Battle of Qualinost.It takes place during the same time period asDL2 Dragons of Flame,while theheroesare in Pax Tharkas.

According to the game's rules, it was designed to be played with either 25 mm or 15 mm miniatures. The game, however, does not require a certain size of miniatures. The officialBattlesystemminiatures released at the time, except for two in the box set, were all 15 mm. At the time, many companies producing 25 mm figures were starting to make larger figures, sometimes even officially called as 'Heroic 25 mm' or 28 mm, that were difficult to fit or didn't fit on the officialBattlesystembase sizes.

Publication history

The first editionBattlesystemset was designed byDouglas NilesandSteve Winterwith a cover byJeff Easley,and was published in 1985.

Reception

Roger Musson reviewed the original boxed set inImaginemagazine, giving it a positive review.He noted that the rules are fairly easy to use, although there are "some omissions and rules buried in odd places".Musson thought that "no self-respecting DM will want to be without the Battlesystem rules", although he found the other contents of the box of somewhat mixed value.Overall, Musson felt that the package is "to be welcomed" and that it "may provide a good introduction for many to the world of fantasy-wargaming".

Graeme Davisreviewed the originalBattlesystemforWhite Dwarf,giving it a rating of 8/10 overall. He called the rules "concise and well-written".He felt that as a supplement to theD&Dgame, "theBattle Systemdoes what it sets out to do and does it very well; it may not be as detailed as some fantasy wargame rules, but it is adequate for the requirements of most role-players and can be used quite easily by anyone familiar withD&DorAD&D".Davis concluded by stating that "Battle Systemdeserves to be given a chance, but I'm afraid that it may have priced itself out the market from the start. "

The originalBattlesystemset won the H.G. Wells award.

Second edition

Contents

The second edition ofBattlesystemremoved the counters, and focused only on miniatures.In the second edition, a figure represents either: 1) 10 infantrymen or cavalry, or 2) a single hero or other special individual, rated for Attack Dice, Armor Rating, Hits, Morale, and Movement, all derived from their corresponding statistics in theAD&Dgame.A character's THAC0 and maximum damage, for instance, determine his Attack Dice, while hisarmor classdetermines his Armor Rating.A figure's Attack Dice rating indicates the type of die it uses when attacking, from a low of 1d4 to a high of 1d12. In general, each figure in an attacking group is allowed one attack die; a group of eight figures with an Attack Dice rating of 6 rolls 8d6. The higher the roll, the more hits inflicted. The defending player rolls a number of dice equal to the number of successful hits; every roll exceeding the defender's Armor Rating cancels one hit. All hits not canceled by the Armor Rating rolls are taken as casualties.The magic chapter is about seven pages long, most of it devoted to descriptions of spell effects.

The book features glossy, full-color photos of painted miniatures, many of them staged in elaborate battlefield dioramas.

One of the more significant changes was making the use of 25 mm miniatures as standard. According to the rules, 15 mm could still be used, but the base size was increased to allow for larger miniatures. Additionally, all photographs in the rule book were of 25 mm miniatures.

Publication history

The second edition ofBattlesystemwas published in 1989, revised for use with 2nd editionAdvanced Dungeons & Dragons.It was designed byDouglas Nilesand featured a cover byGlen Taranowski.This version was a 128-page softcover book.Editing and development was byKim Mohan,Jon Pickens,andDave Sutherland.Photography was by Michael Weaver andRal Partha Enterprises,Inc. for the battle scenes, and Dick Kahn Studio, Inc. for the rules diagrams.Figure painting was by Dave Sutherland, with interior art byJeff EasleyandKeith Parkinson,and graphic design by Stephanie Tabat and Dave Sutherland.

The second edition ofBattlesystembecame available in the form of two books calledBattlesystem(1989) andBattlesystem Skirmishes(1991).

Despite positive reviews, sales for the set were disappointing.This led to it not being actively supported and used in role playing systems such asDark Sunfor very long even though the Dark Sun setting had been developed with the intent of holding large-scale battles.The 1992Dragon Kingshardcover book, for example, includedBattlesystemoptions, even though game designerRick Swanconsidered them "useful but nonessential".

Reception

The game won the 1989 Origins Award for "Best Miniatures Rules of 1989".

Rick SwanreviewedBattlesystemforDragonmagazine #178 (February 1992).Swan declared both the second editionBattlesystemandBattlesystem Skirmishesbooks "flat-out gorgeous, two of the best-looking products TSR, Inc. has ever published", and that they both "make terrific guides for figure painting and are a pleasure to thumb through, even for those with only a passing interest in miniatures games".Swan suggests that players "frustrated by the tentative systems in the first-editionBattlesystemgame "would be" in for a pleasant surprise with the second edition, a complete overhaul that's as impressive as the 1st-to-2nd Edition transformation of thePlayer's HandbookandDungeon Master's Guide.Gone from the original game are the math-heavy combat tables, the awkward base sizes, and the quarter-page unit rosters; they're replaced by streamlined bookkeeping systems, cleaner attack procedures, and a plethora of clever options. Particularly welcome is the reduction of relevant statistics from a dozen-plus to a mere five. "Swan felt that "the conversions are sound, if a bit convoluted, and produce acceptable results on the battlefield".He also felt that any players "willing to swallow the compromises inherent in the system will find the basic rules elegant and satisfying".He felt that while it was not unusual to roll a lot of dice to resolve a single combat engagement, "the system is preferable to the dreary bookkeeping required by too many miniatures games".He considered the magic system "Less successful", in that it "doesn't translate from theAD&Dgame as well as the combat rules, and that the descriptions of spell effects are "sketchy" and the spell list is "woefully incomplete" with fewer than 20 wizard spells discussed.Swan concluded the review by saying: "Even though it emphasizes the military aspect more than the magical, theBattlesystemgame scores as a first-class miniatures game; engaging, challenging, and - considering its scope - surprisingly easy to manage. TheBattlesystem Skirmishesgame succeeds in smoothing over the rough spots in theAD&Dcombat rules, but it reaches the point of diminishing returns in battles approaching several dozen figures per side; at that point, you might as well use theBattlesystemrules. For its versatility and sheer volume of material, theBattlesystembook has the edge over theBattlesystem Skirmishesrules, but both books are recommended toAD&Dcombat aficionados and especially to students of figure painting - these photos are real knock-outs. "

References

• Dobson, Michael(August 1985). "From first draft to last gasp".Dragon #100.X(3). TSR: 96–98.ISSN0279-6848.
• Niles, Douglas(1985a).Battlesystem Rulebook.TSR.fromBattlesystem: Fantasy Combat SupplementBoxed set.
• Niles, Douglas (1985b).Battlesystem Scenario Book.TSR.fromBattlesystem: Fantasy Combat SupplementBoxed set.
• Niles, Doug (August 1985). "The chance of a lifetime".Dragon #100.X(3). TSR: 86–94.ISSN0279-6848.
• Niles, Douglas (1989).Battlesystem.TSR.ISBN0-88038-770-X.
• Nesmith, Bruce (1991).Battlesystem Skirmishes.TSR.ISBN1-56076-141-5.
• Winter, Steven(1985).The Art of Three-Dimensional Gaming.TSR.fromBattlesystem: Fantasy Combat SupplementBoxed set.
• "Battlesystem".The Miniatures Page. 1999-09-04.Retrieved2007-03-17.

Further reading

• "Sage Advice",Dragon#132.

Reviews:

• Different Worlds#43
• The V.I.P. of Gaming Magazine#2 (1986)
• The V.I.P. of Gaming Magazine#3 (1986)

External links

• http:// rpg.net/reviews/archive/12/12614.phtml