Storm of Arrows: Field of Glory late Medieval Army List Paperback – February 19, 2008

Interesting "non-review" by a previous poster...I understand the criticism in not wanting multiple list books. But the production value and the inclusion of Osprey artwork added to the pictures of painted miniatures makes these books a very nice value. If you count the plates alone in the books, they are a solid value. And yes, I know the illustrations are available elsewhere. But for the novice and the gamer that doesn't have an extensive library of painting guides, these list books are a great start.I have read just about every rules system out there on ancients and medievals. I have even played over 10 different rules sets. I find these rules to be well written and to simulate what "I" feel ancient and medieval battles looked like. From my reading of historical battles, they were rarely actions with "quick kills". The rules simulate the ebb and flow of battles nicely. To be sure, there are situations where a quick rout can happen but these happen more with the luck or lack of luck in die rolls or when multiple units gang up a single unit. Very realistic to what "I" know of historical battle accounts.We can sit here and argue with what rules system is the "best". I feel that these rules compromise very little in simulation with relation to game play. As a whole "system", the rules present a refreshing approach to this arena of gaming.It has brought many "retired" gamers from other rules back to gaming. It has also been bringing in new players for all the right reasons. Both trends that have been sorely needed in historical miniature gaming for some time.So, join the rest of us who have brought an objective and willing attitude to just sit down and play! Come on in, the water is more than fine.

The Field of Glory books are falling into nice step - each contain about 20-24 army "lists" - rules for composing a military force of the period outlined by the book. In addition to extremely well-researched lists with history, background, etc, you have art reproduced from relevant Osprey works, making these guides a GREAT resource for painting miniatures.Most good miniature wargame rules-sets have army books/lists, as this allows you more space critical to explore the historicity of the military forces of the period and define what makes these armies unique. Some rules white-wash history a bit and go for the simplistic approach. Warhammer Ancient Battles gives you nice flavour, but ahistoric and innacurate armies. Terry Gore's Medieval Warfare rules offer very generic army lists that are often too abstracted or too vanilla. DBM and WRG/Warrior offer rich lists and history, but at a high level of complexity. It looks like Field of Glory is doing it just right!

Great book for the pictures and a wee bit of history with each army. Too bad that the gaming system is pretty much defunct.

This proved as useful as a reference as well as a game manual.

Lazy mans' army lists and a reason to paint up actual units rather than the dodgy stand of this and two of that. I think 95% of the illustrations are straight lifts from osprey MAA titles, which is okay of you don't have these already. The lists are well set out (and researched) and give a reasonably balanced army. Like the rules, if you have historical armies and tactics you mostly get historical results.

very good value for money. fast delivery. The book was in good condition many thanks

Excellent set of army lists

I bought this initially out of curiosity, just to see how detailed it was, and I was impressed. Doesn't quite fit with my own research though, but they have to generalise to create armies of roughly equal weight and strength etc so that you can have a fair fight.I personally leave all my knights and men at arms mounted untill it's tactically necessary to dismount them, usually because I'm outnumbered. But although these rules allow you to dismount Knights the majority in most armies are already classed as 'dismounted menatarms' and as such you don't get the option - or make the tactical decision - to dismount most of them. This kind of defeats the lessons to be learned in this period. But despite my own quirks these army lists are comprehensive enough. They usually include foreign allies for each army, and without you therefore needing to buy the extra army list books.The Austrian's and Hungarian's are not listed in this one, it's strictly Western Europe.If you'd like to read a broad view of ancient and medieval warefare before deciding which, if any period army list facilitates your preferred style of play, then Neil Thomas's book is a great introduction with the army lists included in the rule book. He doesn't advocate anachronistic games though, whereas these army lists are designed to work outside their period of history with other books in the series.

The book contains a number of interesting lists including some that were new to me (e.g. various Iberian and Scandinavian territories). I also liked the concept of having both 'starter armies' and detailed lists. I was disappointed that this wasn't done in every case, especially not for the WotR. I was also rather dismayed to find that there was no reference at all to the Hussites. Some mistake, surely?