De Bellis Antiquitatis (DBA) is a timeless gem among historical wargames, known for its elegant simplicity and fast-paced battles. But if you're looking to add more depth and excitement to your games, these optional rules will bring new layers of strategy and fun to your tabletop.
1. Weather and Terrain Variability
Add unpredictability with a weather roll before setting up terrain:
- 1: Storm – All troop movement is reduced by 1 UM.
- 2-3: Overcast – No changes.
- 4-5: Dry – Light troops gain +1 in combat in difficult terrain.
- 6: Windy – Ranged troops have reduced range.
2. Morale and Fatigue
Track the mental and physical toll of battle:
- Lose 3 elements? Your troops suffer -1 in combat until they win a fight.
- Moving for more than 2 consecutive turns? Troops become fatigued and take a -1 in combat unless they rest.
3. Heroes and Leaders
Bring narrative flair with heroic actions:
- Heroes: Assign one to a unit for a +1 boost in their first combat.
- Heroic Rally: Once per game, bring back a routed unit from your table edge.
4. Random Events
Add a touch of chaos at the start of each turn by rolling for events:
- 1: Reinforcements – Deploy a new element from your edge.
- 2: Rebellion – An enemy unit near their edge may desert.
- 3-4: No event.
- 5: Unstable Ground – Units in rough terrain suffer -1 this turn.
- 6: Motivation – Gain 1 extra PIP this turn.
5. Secondary Objectives
Introduce new victory conditions beyond elimination: Examples: Control a specific terrain piece or capture the enemy leader. Reward: Gain +1 PIP in a future turn or reintroduce a lost unit.
6. Sieges and Fortifications
- Fortifications give defenders +1 in combat.
- Siege engines cost 2 PIPs to move and add +1 against fortifications.
7. Strategic PIP Spending
Expand the use of PIPs with tactical actions:
- 1 PIP: Stealth Move – Troops in rough terrain avoid combat this turn.
- 2 PIPs: Reorganization – Shift units within 2 UM of your general.
- 3 PIPs: Surprise Attack – One troop gains an extra +1 this turn.
These optional rules are designed to enhance your DBA experience while keeping the core gameplay intact.