MicroBattle 2025

These are the latest iteration of my MicroBattle rules for big battles. They're pretty much dead at this moment; I'm totally hooked on the Dominion of series instead. I just want to put these here for reference.

Basic Concepts

I designed MicroBattle for quick solo wargames where I don’t need to spend much time looking up rules or modifiers.

The TEST

MicroBattle’s key mechanic is the Resolution Test, or simply the TEST. A unit or figure makes a TEST whenever it engages in an uncertain activity, such as combat.

A TEST is a roll of a D6. The testing unit passes on a roll of 4 or better.

Advantages and Disadvantages

Circumstances may make an action harder or easier than normal. In these cases, apply modifiers to the TEST if the unit has an advantage or disadvantage.

Circumstance          Modifier    Target

Extreme Advantage        +2             2

Advantage                 +1             3

Normal                         0             4

Disadvantage                 -1             5

Extreme Disadvantage    -2             6

Another way to visualize advantages and disadvantages is that they change the target number to succeed. The Target column shows the resulting numbers.

Multiple Advantages or Disadvantages

An advantage with a disadvantage will cancel each other out.

Multiple advantages or multiple disadvantages do not necessarily stack. If they did, the target could go off the chart. Instead, I assume that it takes 3 or more advantages or disadvantages to result in a extreme.

Eyeballing

I do not have a list of every possible advantage or disadvantage. Instead, I generally eyeball the situation and make a judgement on where a situation lands on the circumstances chart.

 

The Battlefield

I use a square-gridded battlefield, usually 6 x 8 squares.

Rules for Big Battles

Rules for clashes between armies. Units are divisions or corps, although it is possible to scale down.

Set Up

Use these tables to generate random scenarios.

Scenario and Terrain

Roll Scenario                                                                                                         Terrain

1 Clash – cause the enemy to break                                                                 Clear

2 Breakthrough – move 1/3 of units off enemy’s base line                         Hill

3 Escape – like Breakthrough, but defense starts with small blocking force Hill

4 Defense – hold a prepared position                                                         Woods

5 Seize – both sides try to seize a strategic point                                         Rough or water

6 Retrieve – retrieve and return to baseline                                                 Built up area

Army Order of Battle

Roll for number of units per army based on unit type.

• Primary - 2 to 4 (D3+1)
• Secondary - 0 to 2 (D3-1)

You can add or subtract units to get the sides relatively equal.

Rules for Conducting the Battle.

Turn Sequence

1. Initiative: Opposed roll. High roll first.
2. Side 1 Turn
• Activate: Activate D6 units, modified by commander quality (-2 if army under 50%
• Move: 1 space for infantry and artillery. 2 spaces for cavalry. Move orthogonally only.
• Light may TEST to move an extra space.
• March – move +1 space if 4+ spaces from enemy
• TEST to move through rough terrain.
• Combat: See below
• Rally: 1 attempt per turn per commander. May attempt in lieu of other actions for the unit. TEST to remove a disorder marker.
3. Side 2 Turn: Same as Side 1 Turn

Combat

• Ranges: Melee = 0 (unit moves into enemy square), Volley Fire = 1, Skirmish = 2, Artillery = 3 (count ranges orthogonally)
• To Hit: TEST to hit (1 TEST per defending unit)
• Combat Results
• Attacker passes TEST - Defender defeated
• Attacker FAILS TEST - Attacker defeated IF defender can counter
• Defeat
• Defeated unit makes 2 TESTs
• Disorder TEST Fail - Add a disorder marker. 
• A light unit may TEST to retreat instead
• Retreat TEST Fail - Retreat 1 space (diagonal OK)
• Take a disorder marker if cannot retreat

Following Up

Victorious units may move into a vacated space. Cavalry may make an additional attack.

Army Morale

TEST when an army reaches 50% casualties or loses another unit beyond 50%.

Failure = army defeated and retreats from the battlefield.