Table of Contents

Design Philosophy 5 Ruins 24

Units 5 Dungeon Entrance 24

Introduction 5 Ruins Table 24

Formation 6 Random Monster Table 24

Facing 9 Dungeon Table 25

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Characters and Monsters 9 Magic Item Table 26

Dice 10 Desert 27

Markers 10 Fortifications 27

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Marking Casualties 11 Village 28

Marking Units That Act 11 Watchtower 30

Name 12 Healing Fountain 30

Cost 12 Bridge 30

Quality 12 Burial Ground 30

Sample Quality Values

e12 Camp 30

Profiles 12 Holy Ground 31

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Attack 13 Unholy Ground 31

Defense 13 Stacking 32

Sample Attack Values 13 Special Cases 33

Sample Defense Values 13 Characters and Stacking 33

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Traits 14 Fatigue & Disorder 34

Area Movement 15 Effects of Fatigue 34

Special Movement Cases 18 Effects of Disorder 34

Occupied Areas 18 Recovering 34

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Terrain Types 20 Reactions 35

Clear 20 Activation 35

Roads 20 The Turn-Over 36

Hills 20 End of the Turn 36

Forest 22 The Hour of Glory 39

Enchanted Forest 23 Combat 39

Jungle 23 Missile Phase 39

Swamp 23 Shooting and Running Away 39

River 23 Shooting Mechanic 40

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 Splitting Missile Attacks 41 Hits on Units 57

Artillery Fire 41 Winning the Game 58

Melee 42 Spells 59

Melee Mechanic 42 Spell List 61

Splitting Melee Dice 43 Traits 65

Shielding 43 Building Your Army 81

Flanking 44 Home Terrain 82

Casualty Removal 45 Scouting Roll 82

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Stragglers 45 Deployment Zone 82

Generals in Melee 46 Flank Marches 82

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Multiple Melee Dice 47 Advanced Rules 82

Assassins 47 Reinforcements 83

Elevation 48 Mutual Shielding 83

Ambushes 48 Mercenaries 83

Lurkers 48 Multiple Leaders 83

When to Test for Morale

Examples of Actions and Reactions

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Personalities

Challenges
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Morale 50 Healing 85
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Morale Modifiers 50 Medals 85

Things That Do Not Cost Actions or Reactions 51 Campaign Rules 85

Common Modifiers 52 Battle Honors 86

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Formations 53 Army Points Bonus 86

Close Order 53 Loot 86

Column 54 Bribing Dragons 87

Square 54 Bribing Other Monsters 87

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Open Order 54 Magic Items 87

Horde 54 Slain Generals 87

Warband 55 Assassination Attempts 87

Single Figures 55 Thievery 88

Stealthy Figures 55 Espionage 88

Artillery 56 Tables 89

Resilient Units 57

Tough Units 57

Units with Extra Lives 57

Rabble Units 57

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 Introduction
Of Armies and Hordes is a set of
rules to conduct fantasy mass
battles on a tabletop using minia-
tures and dice. Free army lists, a QRS,
a glossary, and an army creation
spreadsheet are available on our site.
Design Philosophy
Of Armies and Hordes is an army
level wargame using area move-
ment and abstract maneuvering
to simplify play while retaining all
the tactical choices and variables
required by the genre. The rules are
designed for fast, relaxed play
e judgment call if you meet a gray
among friends, not competitions.
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Bookkeeping is minimal.
Combat is dramatic. Battle-lines
clash into each other. Something
happens on the table every turn.
Troops die quickly.
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The rules are non-scale specific.
Ganesha Games produces 28mm
miniatures, but you can use any
figures in any scale. Use any models
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you already own, or build dedicated
armies.
Basing is flexible. Use any system
you like. You can even mix basing
systems. As long as you can count
the units (either the heads of models
or the number of stands), you can
play.
Table size is flexible. As long as
you can identify enough areas of the
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battlefield to provide a good game,
you can play on a small kitchen table
or on a huge wargaming table.
The rules are written for fantasy
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games. It is possible to play ancient
and medieval battles by removing
the fantastical elements, but the
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rules have little pretension of histor-
ical accuracy. We will publish pseu-
do-historical lists to allow you to use
historical models in your fantasy
games.
Always remember, try to make a
area, or use an impartial player as a
referee. If you really can’t agree, toss
a coin and contact us through our
site, Facebook, or Yahoo! Groups.
Units
A unit is formed by 2 to 16 stands.
The stand is the basic building block
of an army. It can be anything you
want: a few multibased figures, a
single figure, two 10mm figures on
a penny, a paper counter – anything
you want will work. Some players
prefer the massed look of smaller
scales, others prefer the detail of
28mm figures. The author plays
with single-based, 28mm models,
using 1 figure as 1 stand, and with
smaller (15mm, 10mm, 6mm) figures
glued on MDF bases. Using multi-
based figures, you can count each
multibase as one stand, or count the
 actual number of figures, marking
losses with casualty caps. It’s your
game, play it with what you want!
For a typical game, a player
needs 5 to 8 units, each com-
posed of 2 to 8 stands, plus 2-5
characters including one general.
Characters, chariots, dragons, giants
and monsters are represented by
are easier to maneuver. However,
having too many small units means
having to pass too many Activation
rolls, and more chances of rolling
turn-overs.
Formation
A unit can be in Open Order,
Horde, Close Order, Square or

single models.
On the average, units of about
eight stands are common. Units of
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Column formation. You need a way
to represent this. The simplest way
is to use rectangular movement

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trays for Close Order and cloud
more than 12 stands should be used trays for Open Order units. There
only in large games. 16 stands is the are specially built movement trays
maximum number that fits into an from many different manufacturers.
area of clear terrain. Broken terrain Trays are NOT essential but speed
areas will often let you stack only 8 up movement. What counts is that
or 4 stands per area, so smaller units
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A unit of 8 stands on a rectangular tray. This is a Close Order unit.

28mm dwarves by Ganesha Games, painted by Alternative Armies.

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Cloud trays represent Open Order formations. They have no flanks (no
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opponent can claim a flanking bonus against them) but have a rear
(they are susceptible to rear attacks). Most light infantry/skirmishers
will be in Open Order. 28mm dwarves by Ganesha Games, painted by
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Alternative Armies.
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Circular trays
represent Hordes.
Hordes have no
flanks or rear. Use
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coasters, CDs, and

mini-CDs as trays.

28mm dwarves by
Ganesha Games,
painted by Alternative
Armies.

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 A unit may also adopt a Column formation. Columns move faster on
roads and broken terrain, but are at a great disadvantage when fighting.
To represent a Column, use a rectangular tray, counting the short side
as the front of the unit, or snake individual figures as seen in this
picture. 28mm barbarians by Mirliton.

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With smaller scales and

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multibased figures, you

can represent a Column
by lining up stands.

15mm DemonWorld
figures by Ral Partha
Europe.

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Infantry units may adopt a Square formation to defend from cavalry
charges. Squares do not move and are vulnerable to artillery and dragon
breath. Pictured above: a Square formed by 28mm single-based hob-
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goblins (Otherworld Miniatures) facing in all directions.

Facing Characters and Monsters

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Columns, Close Order, and Open Single-based characters represent

Order units have a frontage. A unit
will always be facing one direction
corresponding to a side of the table:
North, East, West, or South. A unit
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generals, champions, healers,
heroes, spell-casters, monsters,
dragons, and other personalities. As
long as the models themselves are

may freely change its facing at the recognizable, there is no specific

end of any movement into an unoc- basing rule. They move as single
cupied area. In some circumstances, models and have 360 degree front-
the facing of a unit will allow the age. They can attach themselves to
opponent to attack the unit on the a unit or wander through the battle-
flanks or rear. Open order units field on their own.
have a front and a rear but do not
have flanks (their flanks are treated
as front). Hordes and Squares have
no rear or flanks – they face all
directions.

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 Dice Markers
Of Armies and Hordes uses six- Sometimes, you need to mark the
sided dice only. Each player needs following conditions on a unit:
about ten, possibly of different ● Fatigued
colors so attacks from special
models can be rolled together with ● Exhausted
the troops’ dice. ● Disordered
Dice results are not added: all Each player should have 4-5

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dice are rolled at the same time and markers per type. If you do not
successes counted. For example, a want to use markers, add a stan-
unit of four stands performing an dard bearer figure. When the unit

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attack rolls four dice, and count is fresh, place the standard in the
each success as a hit. front rank. When the unit is
fatigued, place the standard
besides the unit. When the unit is
exhausted, place it behind the unit.
Represent a disordered unit by
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A Close Order unit of multibased figures (15mm Demonworld, Ral

Partha Europe). Using small scales, you may count each base as one
stand instead of counting individual figures, creating a massed look.
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Dragons and other large monsters play an important role and are
always deployed as single figures. Models by Mirliton.
Marking Casualties
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Single based: Use movement
trays. Remove individual models to
represent losses. For example, if a
unit takes three hits, remove three
figures.
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Multi-based: Place casualty mark-
ers, small dice or broken shields
behind the unit as counters. When
enough losses have been accumu-
lated, remove a multi-figure base. If
you use dice to mark casualties, use
differently shaped dice, like a d4 or
a d10, so you do not pick them up by
mistake.
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Marking Units That Act or React
Normally it is unnecessary to mark
units that are activated. They
change their position on the board,
suffer losses, and that acts as a
reminder that they have been acti-
vated. Some players prefer to use
glass stone counters to mark units
after they act or react. Another way
is to assign a musician figure to
every unit. Place the musician in the
first rank. Move it to the side of the
unit as a reminder that the unit has
been activated. Move it to the rear
of the unit as a reminder that the
unit has performed a Reaction.
 Profiles
Every unit in the game has a Profile
summarizing its abilities: Name,
Cost, Quality, Attack, Defense,
and Traits.
Name
This is the name of the unit. It is
either a single, unique Personality
(”Throggo the Unclean, Orc War
Chief”) or a description of the unit
(”Wood Elf Elite Longbowmen”). It
can be fun to assign names to special
units, which allows the unit to be
unique and have history. In cam-
paigns, when a unit gets promoted,
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you can change its name into some-
thing more memorable, like
”Devan’s Slaughterers” after the unit
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massacred a unit commanded by
Devan the Bold.
Cost
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Players receive the same point
budget to build their armies, thus
creating armies of roughly equiva-
lent power level. Each stand has a
point cost. The more powerful it is,
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Dice in two colors, wound markers for figures with multiple wounds
(produced by Litko), and markers for Fatigued, Exhausted, and Disordered
used by the author.
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the more it costs. The cost of a unit
is the sum of the cost of all the
stands in the unit. The point system
may be disregarded in specific sce-
narios.
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Quality
The Quality (Q) score is the
number you must roll on a die to
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activate the unit. The lower, the
better. Q is used to perform Activa-
tion, Reaction, and Morale rolls. It
is indicated by a number and the
plus simbol (Q4+) as a reminder
that you must roll that number
OR BETTER. Most units will be
Sample Quality Values
Civilians Q6+
Militias, conscripts Q5+
Regular troops, motivated
warriors, professional sol- Q4+
diers
Veterans (rare troops) Q3+
Elite troops (very rare) Q2+
 Q4+. Use the following table as a
benchmark of troop Q.
When you perform any Q roll, a
result of 1 is always a failure, and
a result of 6 is always a success. If
the rules do not specify how many
dice to roll for a Q test, roll a single
die. Troops with Q3+ are Limited
(you may not spend more than half
your budget on Limited troops).
Troops with Q2+ are Limited and
Rare 1 (you may have only one such
unit in an army).
Attack
The Attack score (A) is the number
added to the unit’s combat dice
when it attacks in melee.
For example, if your spear-
e a result of 6 is always a hit.
men have A2, they add +2 to
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their melee rolls. When they
attack, roll a die per stand,
and add +2 to every die. Every
die rolling the opponent’s
Defense value or better is a
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hit.
Sample Attack Values
Unarmed Civilians, impro-
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A -1
vised weapons
Armed Civilians A0
Warriors with light weapons A1
Regular troops: swords,
maces, axes, spears; small A2
monsters
Heavy, well trained troops;
average monsters; small A3
dragons
Adult dragons, large mon-
A4
sters, huge giants
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For ranged attacks (bows, cross-
bows, javelins, etc.), the unit rolls
one die per every two stands and
adds the number shown in their
Shooter Trait.
Example: Wood Elf Archers
are A1, and have the Shooters
2 Trait. They are better with
bows than swords. They add
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+1 in melee. They add +2 when
using their longbows.
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Your target number is your
enemy’s Defense score. In other
words, if you attack a Troll with
Defense 6, you must score a 6 or
better to hit. When rolling to hit,
a result of 1 is always a miss, and
Defense
A unit’s Defense (D) score is the
number that the opponent must roll
to hit that unit. A high D may rep-
resent armor, toughness, naturally
hard skin, or the ability to dodge
and parry blows. Use the sample
Sample Defense Values
Unarmored D4
Light armor, unarmored
D5
with shield, orc skin
Light armor and shield, troll
D6
skin, medium armor
Heavy armor, giant skin D7
Heavy Armor and shield D8
Dragon skin D9
 Defense Values table to assign D Gaze attacks (like a gorgon’s petri-
scores. A result of 6 is always a fying stare) hit automatically, and
hit, so no unit is invulnerable. require each target to pass a Q
test or suffer the effect listed.

Special attacks (spells, artillery fire,

magic weapons, dragon breath) Traits
ignore the target’s D score alto-
gether. Any roll of 4+ is a hit, and Most units have one or more Traits.
Traits that allow a save (Resilient Traits make units behave differently

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and Tough) are ignored. in specific circumstances or against
certain enemies. For example, units
with the Shooters Trait may

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Dwarven giantslayers (Ganesha Games) try to stop a goblin war

giant (Mirliton).
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 perform missile attacks; a Spell
Caster will have a list of spells that
he can cast; and so on. A few Traits
have a negative value. They decrease
a stand’s cost and give the unit some
penalty.
Area Movement
The tabletop is divided into
patches of terrain or geographical
features. Each of them is an area. A
hill, a castle, a village, a forest, a
cultivated field, the eastern and the
western banks of a river, are all
examples of areas. Long terrain like
a road or a river is divided into
stones. Every area has a stacking
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sections by bridges, fords, or mile-
limit (SL) – the maximum
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Deployment zone - Player A
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Deployment zone - Player B
A large table, with over 40 areas. The areas on the edges of the two
long sides (1 to 6 and 40 to 46) are the deployment zones.
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number of stands it can contain.
The SL is 4 for very rough terrain, 8
for rough terrain, and 16 for clear.
An average table will have at least 15
areas but may have 48 or more,
depending on the scenario. Move-
ment is by area. Area movement
makes for a faster game and avoids
geometry problems like calculating
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angles of impact or doing errors in
measurement. Areas NEED NOT
be squares, hexes, or any other
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regular shape. We encourage you
to play on your standard wargaming
table. You need to mark where
one area ends and another
begins. Use pieces of felt, colored
paper, or small terrain elements like
trees, bushes, stones, rocky out-
crops, patches of grass, roads, mile-
stones, tree trunks, hedges, streams,
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Regular areas are NOT required by the game, but some players prefer
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the ease of portability of hexes. In these pictures, you can see the Terra
Tiles hex system. These durable, double printed card hexes are large
enough to play in any scale. They are out of production at the moment
of writing but they could be available again in the future.
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