Over 3 years ago I wrote an article about playing Kings of War (KOW) with 10mm and 15mm scales. Today I am revisiting that article with the advent of the 2nd edition of KOW. I think KOW is a game that maintains the flavour of a mass battle game, but allows players to play through it quickly with the use of simple mechanics that allow the use of tactics and strategics to shine through.
In this day and age were time is scarce, this game offers a good compromise between large games and quick yet meaningful play. The article will be in two parts. The first part will discuss the use of 10mm armies, and the second will focus on 15mm scales.
UNITS IN KOW
Units in KOW come in several sizes and types. The smallest size of unit is the Troop; followed by the Regiment; then the Horde and finally the Legion. Since the first edition, units have changed slightly, mostly with the Large units and with the introduction of Legions.
I think this is a good move from Mantic, as the scope of the game is for big armies, so it was rather redundant to have single large infantry in the game.
There are also several types of units. The most common are the Infantry and Cavalry units, but like all worthy fantasy games there are also units of Large Infantry, Large Cavalry, War Engines, Monsters, and the legendary Hero.
THE TROOP
The basic and smallest type is the Troop and this is the place to start our discussion. Troops are usually infantry and cavalry. The infantry unit in KOW contains 10 models and the cavalry unit contains 5 models.
THE REGIMENT
The Regiments are the staple unit of any army. In KOW regiments can be Infantry, Cavalry, Large Infantry, as well as Large Cavalry. Infanty units contain 20 models, cavalry units contain 10 models, and Large Infantry/Cavalry contain 3 models.
As you can observe the Infantry and Cavalry regiments are double the size of their corresponding troop.
THE HORDE
The concept of the Horde was first intoduced (more or less) with Warhammer Fantasy Battles (WFB), but was rendered playable by KOW. Once again, the amount of models in the Horde is double that of the Regiment in all the types of units. So Infantry hordes contain 40 models, Cavalry models contain 20 models and Large Infantry/Cavalry contain 6 models.
THE LEGION
By no stretch of the imagination is this type of unit a new concept. I remember reading battle reports of such units in 3rd edition WFB before the army lists came out to help balance things out! Yet once again KOW makes them playable, at least in larger games.
Infantry legions contain 60 models, Large Infantry/Cavalry legions contain 12 models. There are no Cavalry Legions in this iteration of KOW for the time being.
WAR ENGINES & MONSTERS
These categories only contain one model per unit. Their size is their restriction.
CONVERTING TO 10MM ARMIES
In order to convert KOW units into 10mm units the fist thing you must do is equate the number of models in a KOW Troop with a single base on the 10mm scale.
Then, all you have to do is divide the Troop, Regiment, Horde or Legion in KOW by the basic amount of models in a Troop from the corresponding type of unit. The result is the amount of stands at 10mm needed to form the corresponding Troop, Regiment, Horde or Legion at the 10mm scale.
So, for example if you want a horde of Ax orc warriors, you have to check how many orcs there are in a KOW horde of Ax orc warriors - there are 40 models.
Now take the amount of models in a Troop of Ax orc warriors - there are 10 models. Divide the number of models in a Horde of Ax warriors by the amount of models in a Troop of Ax warriors. The result is the amount of bases at the 10mm scale you need to form a 10mm Horde. In this case the amount is 4 bases.
To recap what I just wrote above into an easier format, please check out the list below:-
Infantry
Troop = 1 base
Regiment = 2 bases
Horde = 4 bases
Legion = 6 bases
Cavalry
Troop = 1 base
Regiment = 2 bases
Horde = 4 bases
Large Infantry/Cavalry
Regiment = 1 bases
Horde = 2 bases
Legion = 4 bases
War Engines & Monsters
War Engines and Monsters are always represented by one model.
WHAT SIZE BASES FOR 10MM UNITS.
The size of the base comes down to several factors. Namely, the game system, brand of miniature and/or personal taste. The only thing you need to concern yourself with is the frontage of the base. Frontage is everything!
I use Warmaster miniatures mainly with my 10mm armies, because I used to play GW's Warmaster game. The frontage in Warmaster is 4cm. So I kept this frontage. Coincidently most historical games and other fantasy games in this scale use a 4cm frontage as well. I only had to rebase the Cavalry and Chariot units.
You can also play with a base frontage of 6cm, or 8cm, or 10cm. As long as all your units (and those of your opponent) are based on the same frontage - it is not an issue. Nonetheless I recommend a frontage of 4cm with 10mm armies.
The depth of the base is not important and can vary depending on the unit type or miniature size. So Dwarven and Elven units might have shorter base depths to represent close compact regular units, while irregular units like barbarians and orcs might have slightly longer base depths to represent their warband-like unit structure. Cavalry, Large troops and Monsters would all have longer depths depenting on the models.
HOW MANY MODELS ON EACH BASE IN 10MM SCALE
Once again, this depends on two factors - brand and personal taste. Either way, it is not important as it will not have an impact on the mechanics of KOW.
Remember that the Troops, Regiments, Hordes and Legions in KOW are represented by a number of bases at 10mm scale. So if a Regiment of Elves has 15 attacks in KOW, then the 2 bases that represent the Regiment at 10mm scale also have 15 attacks. If a 10mm Goblin Horde of 4 bases is destroyed, then all four bases are removed. And so on!
In Warmaster, models come in strips, and two strips are placed on a single base. Coincidently, two strips of infantry usually contains 10 small models.
Other brands like Copplestone Castings and Eureka Miniatures produce 10mm scale figures in single pieces. So you can place as many as you like on a base. I would try to weigh cost against aesthetics, and place as many models you can afford, but with an eye to how the unit looks. A full base of men always looks more striking.
Below is a short list indicating an appropriate amount of miniatures per base for 10mm. This list is only an opinion, but is works for me.
For Bases with a frontage of 4cm:-
Infantry = 10 miniatures per base
Cavalry = 3 to 4 miniatures per base
Large Infantry/Cavalry = 3 miniatures per base
War Engines = 1 model per base
Monsters = 1 model per base
DO YOU WANT BIGGER SIZED ARMIES?
If you feel or think that one base representing a Troop, or 4 bases representing a Horde is not visually very stimulating, then just double the amount of bases for each respective unit.
Infantry
Troop = 2 base
Regiment = 4 bases
Horde = 8 bases
Legion = 12 bases
Cavalry
Troop = 2 base
Regiment = 4 bases
Horde = 8 bases
Large Infantry/Cavalry
Regiment = 2 bases
Horde = 4 bases
Legion = 8 bases
KOW is a great game, and its flexible game mechanics and structure allows you to play at any scale you like. If you are restricted in space, or find it hard transport your army or you simply have an 10mm fantasy army you are not using anymore, then you have an option with KOW. I recommend giving this game a try whatever scale army you have.
Farewell and good health,
NR