Cavaliers & Roundheads variant

[derv]

C&R was one of tsr's first publications. The rules were written by Gygax and Perren. It's a game I'd like to take a look at, but I've rarely seen it for sale. When I have it's been at an exorbitant price. I don't really have enough interest in the English Civil War time period to invest in purchasing a copy unless it would be affordable.

Sometimes things pop up in your search. This is a variant of the original rules developed by the Jackson Gamers Club. They have a few other rule sets worth looking at too- for instant, Ancients by Ral, a Rules by Ral variant.

Charge yr Pikes

[Finarvyn]

I have a copy of this from way back, but must confess that I never played it. My group went from ancient miniatures to fantasy miniatures and never quite got around to English Civil War.

[derv]

How do these rules compare to the original?

The Jackson group also has a derivative Wham-Lowry (Guidon) Ironclad rule set that's worth checking out.

[Finarvyn]

Honestly, it's been a couple of decades since I read the rules for C&R. I'd have to dig around in my closet to find it, then try to compare the two.

[muddy]

I had a chance to play for an hour, maybe less at GaryCon last year. We played on a very large table - much larger than a large pool table - and I enjoyed the game, though it did require some time just maneuvering, and the person I played against was so interested in winning (working the ref, arguing about what the rules SHOULD be (since he didn't know them) etc diminished the enjoyment. Because of him got put as quickly as I could. And the main ref was a stand in, who wasn't entirely sure of the rules but gave it his best shot. I've not played exactly this sort of game (miniatures on a large terrain board) before but it was very familiar - like a large scale sophisticated war board game. But I couldn't say, for example, how it differed from Chainmail.

Gronan - Mike Mornard - was there, hepling to run the game, and another very pleasant fellow - I want to say Tim Kask's brother, but I'm not sure - someone's brother - was there, helping out.

My guess is that, if you like strategic games, maneuvering into the high ground, taking tactically sound positions, etc, then you would enjoy it. I do, and would have then, under slightly different circumstances. I have a professional interest in British history, but would have enjoyed it regardless of that.

One thing of general interest - playing made it clear how DM's came about - someone who knew the rules, even though you might not, and adjudicated what was going on rather than taking an interest in the outcome.

The moral of the story - come to Gary Con!

[stevemitchell]

There have many subsequent ECW rules sets over the decades since Cavaliers & Roundheads came out, though I get the impression that the subject matter is of greater interest in Britain than here in America. I've played and enjoyed both 1644 and File Leader, and have some other sets I hope to try out some day.