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.