3x3 using Chainmail-esque Resolution

I tried several different methods on the 3x3 grid today, finally having a blast when I utilized Chainmail’s missile combat system.

An image of the second game, trying to use an adapted form of Bob’s artillery rules. I struggled to mix skirmish gaming with mass combat; or rather having individually based figures acting as stands. I was trying to mix too many concepts.

The third, much smaller game, testing out different ideas.

This one was actually pretty fun. But I was hungry for seeing a full unit of archers rain feather-fletched hell down on the goblin menace.

I play my test games to full attrition or boredom, to see the mechanics over and over. This saw some very beaten-up humans conquer the goblin force.

Then I went looking through my archives and saw a couple of saved images I had from my own copy of Chainmail and from the Playing at the World blog. It solved my problem pretty satisfactorily.

Essentially, you roll 1d6 and depending on the amount of archers shooting, your result is adjusted. For example, a group of 6 archers against unarmored troops would kill 3 if they roll a 3-6. I also used a simplified version of the Chainmail man-to-man melee system, indeed the very one it was based off of, by a “U.N. Owen”. I’d post a screenshot of the specific section, but I don’t know the legality of posting excerpts of a 50 year old game; I’ve posted links to Playing at the World instead!

Missile Article

Melee Article

My Chainmail-esque 3x3 game saw some Bleudingle forces pitted against a small goblin warband. After all, without the dastardly Latchwell dynasty to deal with anymore, the Baron can focus his forces on dealing with these odd and fantastical trials.

The first volley from the humans took out 3 goblins, more than devastating! The goblins advanced, hoping to break the men in melee combat.

The game ultimately saw the match end with a shootout between the two archer units. With multiple rolls of 6 early on, it looked to be any one’s game…then the goblins rolled a 1 and were wiped out the next turn.

It probably needs some tweaking regarding mortality, but it was fast and fun! Plus, I only needed 1d6 to play the whole thing, which made it an even smaller footprint. It’s not everyone’s cup of tea, but as I get my mojo back it’s fun to get creative.