De Bellis Antiquitatis: Quick Play Wargame Rules with Army Lists for Ancient and Medieval Battles (1990)

About this game

A flexible, fast-playing set of miniatures rules. An army consists of 12 units (called "elements"), classified as Blades, Warband, Knights and so forth. The rules are very simple (and can actually fit on one sheet of paper) but nevertheless pretty effective. The Fantasy version is Hordes of the Things, and the De Bellis Multitudinis: Wargames Rules for Ancient and Medieval Battles – 3000 BC to 1500 AD rules add more detail and significantly increase army size. De Bellis Renationis extends the time period through the end of the Renaissance (1700 AD) and Horse, Foot and Guns covers the period from 1701 to 1915.

Does it fit your group?

• Group size. Works with 2 to 6.
• Rules load. At 2.8/5 this is a mid-weight game — expect a proper rules explanation before you start.
• Age. The publisher suggests 14 and up. That rates the rules rather than the artwork, so judge the box yourself for younger players.