contents Sample file CREATE THE HEROES, ADVENTURES AND BATTLES OF YOUR IMAGINATION

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1 contents PREFACE 4 MINIATURE WARGAMING 5 INTRODUCTION 6 THE BASICS 8 THE TURN 11 Initiative, Actions 11 MOVEMENT 12 Engaging The Enemy 12 Disengaging From The Enemy 13 Moving While Remaining Engaged 13 Engaging Across A Barrier 13 Engaging The Rear Of A Model 13 COMBAT 14 Shooting 14 Obscured Target Test 14 Force Back 14 Hand-To-Hand Combat 16 Follow-Up 17 Additional Hits 17 Fortitude Loss 17 Fighting From An Elevated Position 18 Fighting With Two Weapons 18 Fighting Across A Barrier 19 Free Attacks 19 Prone 19 WARBANDS 20 Renown 20 Leader 21 Break Point 21 Zero Characteristics 21 Mounted Models And Monsters 22 WEAPONS 24 SKILLS AND ABILITIES 27 Psychological Attacks 29 TERRAIN 30 Cover 30 Hazards 34 Guidelines For Setting Up Terrain 36 TERRAIN EXAMPLES 37 ADDITIONAL RULES 44 Hiding, Climbing, Falling 44 Jumping 45 Combined Actions 46 SCENARIOS 47 Open Combat 48 Retrieve The Prize 50 Capture 55 The Arrest 59 Escort Duty 61 APPENDICES 63 CAMPAIGNS 64 Starting A Campaign 65 Determining A Winner 66 Creating Your Campaign Warband 66 Reputation 66 Experience 68 Warband Rating 68 Underdog Bonus 68 Challenges 69 Injuries And Determining Fate 69 Leader Not Present 70 Death Of A Leader 70 Exploiting Your Reputation 70 Leadership Challenges 71 Retiring Models 72 Disbanding Warbands 72 Hired Muscle And Mercenaries 73 Hiring Hired Muscle And Mercenaries 73 Hired Muscle 74 Mercenary: Freeblade 75 Embittered, Ally, Retired 76 Playing A Campaign Game 77 Pre-Battle Sequence, Post-Battle Sequence 77 Narrative Campaigns 78 SAMPLE PROFILES 80 HINTS AND TIPS 83 SAMPLE WARBANDS 84 ALTERNATIVE RULES 87 FAQ AND EXPANDED EXAMPLES 88 QUICK REFERENCE SHEET 93 CAMPAIGN REFERENCE 94 WARBAND ROSTER 96 AFTERWORD CONTENTS

2 preface If you re reading this then you probably have some experience with tabletop miniature games (or know someone that does). You may even be similar to me and enjoy buying models just because they re cool. These models could be from all kinds of periods, genres, settings and manufacturers. Maybe, again like me, you want to build a new army but can t wait to have the whole lot finished before starting to play using your latest purchases. Open Combat is designed for you. BACKGROUND I ve been playing tabletop games for over 30 years and over that period I ve collected a great mountain of miniatures and played many different games. Lots of the games I ve played require a lot of miniatures to create a force before they can be used on the tabletop, which document you re reading now is the fleshed out, refined has often resulted in my enthusiasm waning. I have a multitude of half-finished projects, one-off models or choice picks from particular ranges of miniatures that I have purchased. Some of these models have been bought on a whim without any particular army, game or project in mind. Others are intended for use in a specific project but need me to finish something else before I can use them. With regards to games, I love all kinds of games: massed combat, RPGs and skirmish, fantasy, historical or sci-fi. Despite enjoying a great many of the games currently available I found I wanted a game that gave me something else. I wanted to have a game that didn t need too much space to play, could be played quickly and that gave me a taste of that immersive action and drama you get when reading an action scene or watching a fight sequence in a movie or TV show. Perhaps more importantly, I also wanted an outlet for my continuing habit of buying models that I really like but don t necessarily want to commit to a whole range or game setting to use. THE CHALLENGE It was with all this bubbling about in my head that I received a verbal prod in the right direction from an old friend. It was an off-hand remark made back in 2011 by my friend Gav that made me pull together my thoughts about the kind of game I wanted to play. We d been working on another project together and I d been babbling on about tinkering with my own system when he said I should try writing it up properly. He even joked about trying to keep it to two sides of A4. I reckoned I could keep it to one side and Open Combat was born. The early incarnation of Open Combat did fit on one side of A4 but it relied on a lot of assumptions based on experiences of playing many other tabletop games. The version of that early prototype. AN OPEN SYSTEM Right from the outset I ve wanted Open Combat to be as open as possible with regards to its usefulness across genres and settings. I wanted a core system that allows gamers to play out what they want on the tabletop, creating their own encounters and adventures in whatever setting they felt the itch to play within. Essentially, if you imagine something a particular way I wanted a system that allows you to play it that way. OPEN COMBAT On the following pages you ll find all you need to get started with Open Combat. Hopefully you ll see the opportunities it presents for using your favourite miniatures within your preferred time periods and settings. It may even encourage you to try a new range of miniatures or a setting you ve not played before. Go on, you know you ll enjoy it! 4 PREFACE

3 miniature wargaming If you are new to miniature wargaming you re about to discover an almost limitless hobby to explore. On the other hand, if you ve got some experience with miniature wargaming, it s worth taking a moment to remind yourself of the tremendous potential for expression the hobby provides us with. WHAT IS MINIATURE WARGAMING? Miniature wargaming is primarily a hobby centred around a tabletop game where players command a collection of model soldiers and attempt to achieve an objective (often using dice and a tape measure) while competing with opposing forces. The objective may be as simple as destroying the opposing force or it may be about capturing or finding something specific as detailed in the game that you are playing. Terrain Making An often overlooked part of the hobby is making terrain. You can buy commercially available pieces but building your own can create a truly unique collection and provide a lot of lasting enjoyment. Storytelling Every game has moments of tension or excitement. Whether we re imagining a drama unfold as we play or experiencing good (or bad) fortune with dice it all makes for a good story. Simply playing wargames can be an immensely rewarding experience as we test our tactical and strategic thinking skills against our opponents. But the miniature wargaming hobby has a great many aspects for us to explore - each capable of providing us with years of entertainment. The humble model soldier has a lot to offer... Miniature Painting Painting miniatures is seen as a chore by some and as a core part of the hobby by others. Whichever camp you find yourself in the opportunity to develop your artistic skills is only a paintbrush away. Social Interaction Games are available in a vast array of media such as consoles, computers and mobile apps. While great fun these games lack something which miniature wargaming shares with traditional board and card games. A shared experience in the physical company of like-minded people. Collecting The collector gene exists in possibly every hobbyist and miniature wargaming provides options aplenty. Miniature: Gripping Beast Miniatures. From the author s private collection. Education?! While you may not realise it playing wargames often helps to practice basic numeracy along with developing creative and analytical thinking skills. Plus it can support and/or inspire an interest in history. Very useful for quietly inspiring the younger generation to stretch their minds (and keep old heads working). Challenges Whether it s the challenge of competing against an opponent in battle across the tabletop, mastering a bit of freehand painting or attempting a new terrain build we can challenge ourselves in many ways. Fun! Fun! Fun! Whatever aspect of miniature wargaming you enjoy the most, the key thing to remember is to have fun. It s a time to relax and let your creative mind explore the possibilities. Open Combat will, I hope, help inspire you to enjoy your hobby for many years to come. 5 MINIATURE WARGAMING

4 introduction Open Combat is a fast-paced tabletop skirmish game in which you create the heroes, adventures and battles of your imagination. You can guide the ragtag remains of a Roman expeditionary force through barbarian territory, become a Saxon lord with his retinue as they face off against a local rival, or chart the story of a group of adventurers fighting for fortune and glory in a goblin-infested wilderness. It could be anything you wish to play out on the tabletop. So grab a selection of your favourite models and read on! WHAT YOU WILL NEED Before you start, you will need to gather together the following items: This rulebook At least three six-sided dice A tape measure A selection of models to represent opposing warbands A Warband Roster (see later) detailing the characteristics, skills and equipment of each warband An area of approximately 24"x24" to use as a battlefield A selection of model terrain pieces to set the scene and dress the battlefield, suitable for the theme or setting of the encounter Scrap paper and pencils and, of course, a willing opponent! Miniatures: Mantic Games. Terrain: The Last Valley, scratch-built. From the author s and Nick Simmerson s private collections. 6 INTRODUCTION

5 SIX-SIDED DICE & TAPE MEASURE PLAY AREA Most gamers have access to six-sided dice (referred to as D6). If you don t, they re readily available from game and hobby shops or online retailers. There may be occasions when you are required to roll a D3. To do this simply roll a D6 and half the score, rounding up. Thus 1 or 2 = 1, 3 or 4 = 2 and 5 or 6 = 3. Open Combat uses inches for measuring distances so you ll need a tape measure with inch increments. If you prefer to work in centimetres, please feel free to do so, we d recommend using a ratio of 3cm to 1". Whichever form of measurement you choose, ensure both you and your opponent use the same approach. Players may measure distances at any time, the action in Open Combat takes place at close quarters so we assume the combatants can assess relative positions accurately. MODELS One of the great joys of playing miniature tabletop games is the vast array of models available to buy, paint and play games with. We ve used 28mm models from several manufacturers throughout this book selected from the author s own collection and Open Combat has been designed with this size in mind. If you and your opponent prefer using a different scale of models these rules will work just fine regardless (although you may wish to use centimetres instead of inches for measuring distances if using 15mm models and smaller. Simply treat any references to inches as centimetres. i.e. 1" = 1cm). WARBAND ROSTER Open Combat pits two rival groups of fighters, called warbands, against each other. Each player creates their warband and records the details of their fighters characteristics, abilities and equipment on a Warband Roster (see page 96 for more information). Open Combat can be played comfortably within a 24"x24" area. The scenarios have been developed with this area in mind but feel free to alter the size to suit your own preferences and availability of space and time. The play area is often referred to as the battlefield, board or tabletop. Note: If you choose to play on an expanded area you may need to adjust a few details within the scenarios to reflect the area you re using. MODEL TERRAIN Open Combat can be played across a barren landscape if necessary but you will find your games are far more entertaining and engaging if you dress the tabletop with appropriate pieces of model scenery. Not only do terrain pieces create interesting tactical situations, they make your games look great too! AIM OF THE GAME Open Combat games are played using scenarios. Each scenario has its own set of victory conditions that explain what you must do to win the game. It may be as simple as forcing the enemy to break away from the battlefield or you may be required to complete a task such as finding an important relic. You can find out more about scenarios and victory conditions in the Scenarios section (see page 47). OVERVIEW OF THE GAME Once you have all the necessary components to hand its time to get down and play. Choose Forces Each player constructs their warband using an agreed number of renown points. Choose Scenario You can randomly determine a scenario to play or simply pick the one that you and your opponent wish to use. You can print the roster sheet from this book or download it from our website at Set up the Battlefield Set up the scene of battle by placing scenery on the tabletop. Sometimes the scenario will require specific pieces of terrain, otherwise set up the scenery in any agreed fashion. Deploy Forces Both players place their warbands onto the tabletop as detailed in the scenario. Fight for Victory! Start the game. 7 INTRODUCTION

6 the basics Before we get into the nitty gritty of the rules let s cover a few concepts central to playing tabletop miniature games. THE MOST IMPORTANT RULE Playing tabletop games is a social activity. Yes, we do all try to win but a big part of the enjoyment of playing tabletop miniature games is the shared experience of playing through an encounter or battle and watching the events unfold. If a situation on the tabletop leaves you and your opponent at odds over how you feel it should be resolved, agree a way forward to apply throughout the game and move on; you can always discuss the details after you ve finished. If you cannot agree, roll a dice or flip a coin for it and make a note for future games. You may wish to let us know about the situation too via or the Second Thunder forum. Play with good grace and a smile on your face, even if it is a grim smile of resignation when things aren t quite going your way. You ll never be short of an opponent if you win and lose with equal good humour. Miniatures: Gripping Beast Miniatures, Heresy Miniatures, Reaper Miniatures, Warlord Games, Wargames Factory. From the author s private collection. MEASURING DISTANCES Distances are measured from the edge of a model s base. You may measure distances at any time before committing to an action. Once an action is announced you are committed to it. MODEL BASES The size and shape of a model s base is not especially important in Open Combat so you may use whichever approach you feel comfortable with. Generally this will be one model to a single base (this is the approach used throughout development). However, if you play in a group where one or two players like to squeeze every advantage they can out of anything they play you may want to agree a standard approach that you can all adopt to accommodate your miniature collections. Measuring the distance between two models: Correct way to move a model: 8 THE BASICS

7 FRACTIONS All fractions are rounded up. CALCULATIONS Calculations are made in the following order: multiplication, division, subtraction, addition. FACING Models have a front and rear facing. You may change the direction a model faces as often as you wish during that model s activation. Once a model has completed its activation its facing is fixed until it is next activated or something happens to it in the meantime which alters its position. LINE OF SIGHT A line of sight (LOS) between two models is drawn by extending an imaginary line from the centre of one model s base to the centre of another model s base. You are free to check line of sight at any time but when you declare an action you are committed to that action. A model cannot draw line of sight through its own rear facing. If the line is uninterrupted by intervening terrain or models then there is a clear line of sight. If the line crosses another model s base, an obstacle or a terrain feature which has been designated as Obscuring (see Terrain on page 30) then the line of sight is Obscured. Examples of obscuring terrain are hedges, tall grasses or crops and low walls. See the FAQ and Expanded Examples section, page 88 for further guidance on Facing. PRONE FRONT REAR FRONT REAR FRONT REAR There may be occasions when your fighters are knocked from their feet. A model knocked from its feet is referred to as being Prone. A model standing within 1" of a barrier can ignore the barrier when checking line of sight to a model or object on the opposite side. If the line of sight crosses a terrain feature designated as Blocking (see Terrain on page 30) then the model cannot see and there is no line of sight. On occasions when part of a model or its base is sticking out from the Blocking terrain feature but its centre is Blocked we assume the actual fighter, if the model was alive, is ducking back out of sight or otherwise not visible. Examples of Blocking terrain are buildings or large rocks or areas of dense woodland. EXAMPLES OF LINE OF SIGHT (LOS) A: Clear LOS to B and C but blocked to D. B: Clear LOS to A, Obscured to C and D. C: Clear LOS to A, B and D. D: Clear LOS to C, Obscured to B and Blocked to A. B When you are required to place a model Prone simply place the model on its side, to show that it has fallen to the ground. A Alternatively place a suitable marker next to the model if you don t wish to risk chipping any paint off or bending a particularly spindly part. When a model is prone it is stunned or disorientated by the circumstances that led to it being knocked from its feet. This will affect the model as detailed later in the rules. Miniature: Warlord Games. From the author s private collection. BUILDING C D HEDGE 9 THE BASICS

8 CHARACTERISTICS Open Combat allows you to field a wide variety of combatants. These fighters all have different abilities, strengths and weaknesses which contribute to their effectiveness on the tabletop. We measure a model s effectiveness using a series of characteristics. These characteristics are: Speed (SPD) Fortitude (FOR) A fighter s Fortitude value represents their stamina, health and physical ability to continue to fight. Mind (MND) A fighter s Mind value represents their mental aptitude, discipline, strength of will and general desire to fight on. A fighter s Speed value represents their pace, agility and dexterity. Attack (ATK) A fighter s Attack value represents their skill at arms, aggression or natural prowess when taking the fight to the enemy. Defence (DEF) A fighter s Defence value represents toughness, armour and their ability to defend themselves when beset by enemies. Terrain and Perry Miniatures from the private collection of Oliver Gommer. Image Oliver Gommer. Used with permission. CHARACTERISTIC PROFILES A model s characteristics are written in the form of a characteristic profile for easy reference during a game, an example is given below: spd atk def for mnd THE BASICS