Dux Bellorum: Arthurian Wargaming Rules AD367-793

About this board game

Dux Bellorum: Arthurian Wargaming Rules AD367-793 is a tabletop wargame for 2–4 players, with battles typically lasting around 60 minutes. Set during the Dark Age of Britain from the mid-fourth century to the end of the eighth, it lets players command armies led by charismatic warlords such as the fabled King Arthur.

This is an element-based system, with each base of figures representing 50 fighting men. Players receive a specific number of points to build their force, balancing quality against quantity before taking their army into battle. Games focus on simple manoeuvre, the commander’s influence over units, and chaotic, swirling close combat.

Each army usually contains 6–12 units. Every unit is rated for Aggression, Protection, and Cohesion, while its training determines how it operates on the tabletop.

• Shieldwall troops
• Warriors
• Riders
• Skirmishers

Army lists include Late Roman, Romano-British, Welsh, Saxon, Pictish, Irish, and Sea Raider forces. The rules also refer to a Land Raider army list, and all distances are measured in Base Widths, allowing the game to work with miniatures based in many different ways and at any scale.

Success in Dux Bellorum comes from inspiring the right troops at the right time, making effective tactical choices, and finding a little luck when it matters. As a completely self-contained system, it offers a way into Dark Age battles without requiring the time or expense of a larger ruleset.