Battlesystem

• 1. Origins And Design

  ›

  In 1985, a boxed set titled Battlesystem arrived on store shelves as a supplement for Advanced Dungeons and Dragons. Douglas Niles and Steve Winter designed the game to serve as a successor to the medieval miniature wargame Chainmail. The creators aimed to return AD&D and D&D games back to their roots of mass fantasy battles. Each miniature in the game represented a hero, a commander, or multiple troops depending on their level or hit dice. No statistics existed within the game itself for any troops or characters. All values were derived from relevant Dungeons and Dragons publications instead. A creature from the Monster Manual gained an in-game point cost based on its XP reward listed there. The first edition contained rules with beginner and intermediate levels of complexity. Four battle scenarios filled out the package alongside a guide to miniatures. Cardboard figures and over 800 die-cut counters provided visual representation for players. The rulebook divided into four parts allowing three distinct levels of play. An introduction opened the book followed by The Basic Game covering movement and melee combat. The Intermediate Game added missiles, artillery, cavalry, individual Heroes, special formations and terrain effects. The fourth part called The Advanced Game allowed for magic, flying, weather, night battles and special monsters. Campaign rules enabled integration of Battlesystem games into role-playing campaigns. The game did not require a Dungeon Master though the Rulebook recommended use of a referee.

• 2. First Edition Components

  ›

  The original boxed set held thirty-two pages of rules and twenty-four pages of scenario text. Sixteen pages dedicated to a guide to miniatures sat inside the box alongside two Player Aid Cards. Two Metal Miniature Generals stood ready for command while three-D Adventure foldup Figures waited for deployment. Army Roster Sheets tracked units and eight hundred one die-cut counters filled the remaining space. The Scenario Book contained four specific scenarios within its pages. Three of these scenarios formed a linked campaign in a generic fantasy setting for each level of the game. The fourth was an advanced game scenario for Dragonlance titled Battle of Qualinost. This battle took place during the same time period as DL2 Dragons of Flame while heroes remained in Pax Tharkas. Official Battlesystem miniatures released at the time were all 15 mm except for two figures in the box set. Many companies producing 25 mm figures began making larger figures sometimes officially called Heroic 25 mm or 28 mm. These larger figures proved difficult to fit on official Battlesystem base sizes. The game allowed play with either 25 mm or 15 mm miniatures but did not require a certain size. Jeff Easley provided cover art for the first edition published in 1985.

• 3. Second Edition Overhaul

  ›

  A new version of Battlesystem appeared in 1989 printed as a softcover book revised for AD&D 2nd Edition. Douglas Niles designed this iteration alone after Steve Winter moved on to other projects. The second edition removed paper counters and focused exclusively on miniatures gameplay. A figure now represented ten infantrymen or cavalry or a single hero rated for Attack Dice, Armor Rating, Hits, Morale, and Movement. All statistics derived from corresponding values in the AD&D game. A character's THAC0 and maximum damage determined his Attack Dice rating. His armor class determined his Armor Rating instead. An attacking group of eight figures with an Attack Dice rating of six rolled eight d6 dice. Every roll exceeding the defender's Armor Rating canceled one hit. The magic chapter spanned seven pages mostly devoted to spell effect descriptions. One significant change made use of 25 mm miniatures standard practice. The rules still permitted 15 mm usage but increased base sizes to accommodate larger figures. All photographs in the rulebook featured 25 mm miniatures staged in elaborate battlefield dioramas. Photography credits went to Michael Weaver and Ral Partha Enterprises Inc for battle scenes. Dick Kahn Studio Inc handled rules diagrams while Dave Sutherland painted figures. Interior art came from Jeff Easley and Keith Parkinson with graphic design by Stephanie Tabat and Dave Sutherland.

• 4. Critical Reception History

  ›

  Roger Musson reviewed the original boxed set in Imagine magazine giving it a positive assessment. He noted that the rules were fairly easy to use despite some omissions buried in odd places. Musson believed no self-respecting Dungeon Master would want to be without the Battlesystem rules. Graeme Davis reviewed the original for White Dwarf awarding it an overall rating of 8 out of 10. He called the rules concise and well-written throughout their text. Davis felt the Battle System did what it set out to do very well even if not as detailed as some fantasy wargame rules. He concluded that Battle System deserved a chance though he feared it priced itself out of the market from the start. Scott Dollinger reviewed Battlesystem for Different Worlds magazine stating two good things emerged from the product. The first was that TSR produced fine modules for large-scale combats appealing to simulation game enthusiasts. The second observation noted areas left undeveloped made great article ideas for impoverished writers. Rick Swan reviewed the second edition for Dragon magazine number 178 published in February 1992. Swan declared both editions flat-out gorgeous among the best products TSR Inc had ever published. He suggested players frustrated by tentative systems in the first-edition game would find a pleasant surprise here.

• 5. Awards And Legacy

  ›

  The original Battlesystem set won the H.G. Wells Award shortly after its release. This victory recognized the quality of the initial boxed set design and content. The second edition claimed the 1989 Origins Award for Best Miniatures Rules of 1989. Despite positive reviews sales for the set remained disappointing overall. This lack of commercial success led to the game not being actively supported in role playing systems like Dark Sun. The Dark Sun setting had been developed with intent to hold large-scale battles but support faded quickly. The 1992 Dragon Kings hardcover book included Battlesystem options even though designer Rick Swan considered them useful but nonessential. Battlesystem Skirmishes arrived in 1991 as a companion volume to the main softcover book. Sales figures never reached levels that justified continued active development or expansion. The system became less relevant over time despite critical acclaim from trade press outlets. Players willing to accept compromises found basic rules elegant and satisfying within the framework provided. The magic system proved less successful than combat rules translating poorly from AD&D standards. Fewer than 20 wizard spells appeared in the final spell list available to players. The game scored as a first-class miniatures game engaging and challenging despite scope limitations.