Sword & Spear – 2nd Edition

Sword & Spear is a popular, fast-paced wargame for large ancient and medieval battles.  It features a unique, non-I-go-U-go activation system using dice and a, largely, “no-modifiers” combat mechanic, making it accessible and tactical. The game uses element-based movement, allowing for flexible figure basing, typically played in 28mm or smaller scales.

Key Features and Mechanics:

  • Unique Activation: Players allocate dice to units; the value dictates if they activate and what action they can take, often resulting in not all units being able to move each turn.
  • Fast Combat: Combats use a dice-off system where units roll dice equal to their strength, and high-to-low matches determine results.
  • No “To Hit” Tables: The rules avoid complex, modifiers-heavy lists, allowing for quick, intuitive gameplay.
  • Army Customization: Covers a wide range of periods (Biblical to Medieval) with free, downloadable army lists available online.
  • Mythology/Fantasy Option: A variant exists for mythological or fantasy settings.

    Gameplay Experience:

  • Scale: Designed for large battles but requires relatively few figures compared to other rulesets.
  • Turn Structure: Uses a bag of dice to manage the turn, requiring tactical decisions on which units to activate, rather than a simple, rigid “I-go-U-go” system.
  • Turn Duration: A standard-sized game typically takes 2-3 hours.
Genre: Fantasy, Ancients (up to 500 AD), Medieval (500-1400)
Scale: 25 mm, 28 mm
Average Models per Side: 51 and Over
Number of Players: 2, 2+
Miniatures: Agnostic
Rules: Purchased PDF or Rulebook
Availability: In Print
Publisher: Great Escape Games
Designers: Mark Lewis
Year Released: 2014
Additional Information:

Army Lists are available online for free download

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Facebook: Sword and Spear Group

Webpage: Sword and Spear Review by Glory Eagles De L’Empereur!

Youtube: Sword and Spear Playlist (5 Videos) by Mark Lewis  (Author of the Game)

Youtube: Sword and Spear an Introduction by Ralph Astley