Purely by inspiration…and a hope we can get more people playing city fighting games again!

Written by Arthur Hannan 2013 © www.ezpainter.co.uk

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When I first began wargaming in the domain of the

evil empire I began to become increasingly impatient

with the impetus on complicated and realistic rules.

I started to get frustrated with the rules “bible”

bashers as I called them and the people who “just

couldn’t let go”. For this reason I always avoided

mordheim, but I always wanted to try it out. Friends

told me it was rather rule heavy for an

intentionally easy and fun game.

Consequently I have written City Grounds. City

Grounds is a basic rule set in which you can head

butt and swan dive your way through the streets of

mordheim, Lesterheim or whatever your city of

choice may be.

I hope you enjoy, and please remember to take the

game with a pinch of salt and sense of humour.

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Turn Sequence

1.

Roll for initiative.

2.

Winner rolls to activate first model.

3.

Continue to play turn until all models have been successfully activated or the player has

rolled two fails with any model.

If both players fail two rolls at any time, the turn is up.

1. Initiative:

Each player rolls one Dice to determine initiative.

Initiative is rolled once at the beginning of the game and every time both players have failed two

actions therefore beginning a new turn. The turns in city fight can literally fly by so it’s best not to

plan set turn limits for your games before you get to know the game a bit.

2. Activating models:

To activate a model a player must first nominate the miniature they wish to activate, name the

actions they wish to proceed, and roll the appropriate dice.

ALL MINIATURES have the ability to perform three actions a turn. No miniature MUST perform any

actions if the player wishes to simply let them be. This is also risk free, and great if you are camping

out for a messy kill later on.

The Process -

1. Nominate model = name the model e.g. “I want to activate the orc warboss”

2. Name actions e.g. “I would like him to run, and jump onto the balcony” (two actions,

RUN/JUMP,4+/3+)

3. Roll dice

A note on 6+ actions -

[A MINIATURE CAN BE ACTIVATED FOR ONE ACTION ONLY BUT THIS CANNOT BE A LONE 6+

ACTION – e.g. a model may walk, run or sprint only in a turn, but they may not only bound,

for this requires the momentum of a previous action equivalent to 3/4/5+, as do all actions

of a 6+ nature, it is rare that someone will be doing something that requires a 6+ without

first having to run, jump, skid or do something of a “moving” nature, this is part of the

realism of the game, one of the factors that manages to keep things fair in all the madness. ]

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A note on fairness -

To work out the dice needed for each action all players have to be of fair judgement.

If two players cannot agree on a roll then another dice is rolled and on a roll of a 1,2 or 3 player one

is right and on 4,5 or 6 player two is right.

To work out the difficulty of a roll you can first consult the below table, if your desired action is not

here, then you may create a new one, and align it appropriately. This game is all about being

creative, and having fun.

e.g. To run up a ramp (a lavishly described run action) you need to roll a 4+ because running is a

medium difficulty.

You can play the entire game with the example board provided but it is not recommended because

each city grounds board will be inevitably different and you cannot exactly, propel, for instance, if

there is nowhere to do so from.

EXAMPLE ACTIONS BOARD

All combat and firearms are highlighted in red.

Difficulty

3+

Difficulty

4+

Difficulty

5+

Difficulty

6+

Difficulty

(2 dice)

Walk Run (x2 move) Sprint (x3 move) Bound (x4) (cavalry only)

Hop (half model height – to eye)

Vault (Model Height – to eye)

Wall Run (x2 model height – to eye)

Wall Run and Jump back (x 2 height, 2 inch gap max)

Crawl (half move, cover)

Skid (move to hault stop behind standing cover) +1 to cover for turn of landing

Slide (x2 move to skid and hault stop on ground) +2 cover for turn of landing

Slide across gap (x3 move with specific slide, +1 to cover during slide)

[5/4]Slide across gap and fire arms (+1 to cover, -1 to accuracy)

Jump gap 1 inch Jump gap 2 inch Jump gap 3 inch Jump gap 4 inch [6/3]Jump gap 5”+

Fire arms (short range – 6 inches) + 1 to accuracy

Fire Arms (medium range – 10 inches)

Fire arms (Long Range – 15 inches) – 1 accuracy

Fire Arms (Crazy Range) – 20+ -3 accuracy

Punch - +1 Kick - +2 Headbut - +3 Throw - +4

Stab - +2 Slash - +2 (victim falls 1 inch slash direction)

Maim - +3 Knock Down +2 (floored for next turn)

Push free from combat (1”)

Punch free from combat (2”)

Kick Free from combat (3”)

Stand up from floored

Stand and shield from floored (+1 cover for turn - no move)

Shield (+1 to cover/ 1 turn – no move)

Shield and walk (+1 to cover, cannot attack)

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The above grid is intended to give an idea of the normal city fight ideas, but you can do anything you

like! If you want to swan dive into a bale of hay like Ezio from assassins creed or run around jumping

up buildings and sniping bad guys. You need only create the action, assign the roll and write it down

for future reference.

This miniature attempts to wall run

then jump a 1” gap before walking. He

passes the first two rolls but fails the

third. Although the player keeps his

turn, the miniature may not activate

any more on this turn.

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ACTIONS – Tips

- 1. (MINIATURE NOMINATION)

It is always best to nominate the models you think have easier actions first e.g. a model who

is only going to walk one move and take an easy shot of his fire arm would be better to do

before the model who is going to run and jump off the balcony into the waterfall! This way

the model with the lesser activation rolls go first instead of the riskier rolls.

- 2. (ONE FAIL AND TWO PASSES?)

e.g. To run, vault and skid it is 3 dice at 4+ each. If the player fails any two of these actions

the turn passes to the other player. If you fail one but pass two you may decide which two

rolls were successful (often given that the latter actions will rely on the earlier actions it

makes sense usually to choose the first actions)

- 3. (RISK)

You can activate one model with one action if you like! Or every model with 3! But as long as

you are ready to lose the turn on those fails!

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RANGED COMBAT

Ranged combat in City grounds is very simple and requires a simple set of rolls.

- For combat rolls a miniature must first roll the required activation roll. For instance to fire

arms (short range) it is a 3+ roll. This simulates the knocking and firing of an arrow (or

respectively the loading and firing of a musket).

- Following activation an accuracy roll must be made to determine a hit. The Accuracy roll is

made by using the miniatures STRENGTH + any modifiers + 1D6 VS Targets ARMOUR CLASS

+ DEFENCE

- If the hit pierces (equal or higher than the targets AC + DEF) then the target makes a save

roll against (1d6 result equal to or less than) their AC (ARMOUR CLASS) to determine

damage. A failed save roll is a wound.

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Some Firearms such as Small Canons, Crossbows, Large Rifles, Ballista etc pack a punch! These kinds

of weapons are considered HEAVY ARMS and grant an extra +1 to accuracy but a 1- to activate (fire)

due to their weight and time sensitive nature. (reload)

(short range – 6 inches) + 1 to accuracy

(medium range – 10 inches)

(Long Range – 15 inches) – 1 accuracy

(Crazy Range – 20+) -3 accuracy

Punch - +1 Kick - +2 Headbut - +3 Throw - +4

Cover – Cover is only used when a miniature is half or more covered by an object or obstacle.

The miniature gains +1 additional DEF while they remain in cover. Some actions such as Shielding or

Skid shooting allow for cover bonuses as a direct result of an action.

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CLOSE COMBAT

Close combat in City Grounds is more of a free for all brawl/ parkour system.

The system is intended so that you may improvise everything be it run up a wall, kick a guy of a ledge

and jump off after him, or you might want to slash a man to the ground and preform a nasty finisher

move. At any point in your activation you may break away from combat, shield against oncoming

slaughter or even flat out punch a guy. The possibilities are endless making for very fun gameplay.

EVERYTHING IS POSSIBLE IN CITY GROUNDS

THE ONLY LIMIT – IS YOUR IMAGINATION

Combat manoeuvres

- To conduct a Close combat attack a miniature must first pass its activation for said action

(punch 3+/ Headbut 5+ etc) this roll simulates the throwing of a punch, swinging of an axe,

or slamming of a foot, the contact has been made, the damage not yet dealt.

- Following this successful activation the miniature then rolls a piercing roll against the target,

this is calculated by adding the miniatures STRENGTH + Action Modifiers + 1d6 VS Targets AC

+ DEFENCE.

- If the hit pierces the armour of the target then they must roll a save roll against their AC, any

fails cause a wound

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MINIATURES/ PROFILES / STATS

City Grounds has been written with maximum flexibility in mind. Henceforth we don’t want

to limit you on genre, scale or number of miniatures. For this reason there is no points value

in City Grounds per race but instead miniatures are calculated on the below table.

STR DEF AC MOVE

3 (ogres, orcs, beasts, large creatures, heroes, etc) Pts: 10

3 Pts: 10

Heavy Armour (plate, steel, samuri, rought iron) AC 5 Pts: 10

10” (cavalry basic move)

2 (Humanoid, Undead, Ratmen, Dwarves, etc) Pts: 7

2 Pts: 7

Chainmail Armour AC4 Pts: 7

6” (everything else)

1 (small creatures, goblins, dogs, halflings) free

1 free

Light Armour (leather, cloth, shroud) AC3 Pts: 5

5” (goblins, dwarves, halflings)

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If you are not playing fantasy simply adjust the names of the “stats” and type descriptions to

fit. E.g. an ogre becomes a juggernaut, and a goblin becomes a grot!

Example Profiles

In accordance with the above table (and as per your personal Pre-Game agreement) an example orc

might read

ORC WARRIOR

Move: 6”

AC: 5 (Heavy Armour)

DEF: 3

STR: 3

PTS TOTAL: 30

And an Example Human Might Read

HUMAN WARRIOR

Move: 6”

AC: 4 (Chainmail Armour)

DEF: 2

STR: 2

PTS TOTAL: 21

Extras may be added per miniature at a cost

Miniatures PRIMARY weapon is free, additional weapons may be purchased.

Additional Weapons Additional Items Steeds

Bow – 10 Pts Shield – 10 Pts Horse – 10 Pts

Concealed Sleeve Dagger – 10 Pts (+1 to ALL combat activation rolls in hand to hand)

Extra Padding – 5 Pts (+ 1 DEF OR allows two re-rolls during activation for combat rolls- once used, padding is considered damaged)

Donkey – 5Pts

As with all City Grounds tables, feel free to print off the spare tables on the next few pages and fill

them out with your own items.

As per the rules that is all for now. Following on from this is a small example scenario to kick things

off. I sincerely hope you enjoy playing city grounds and getting those mini city fight campaigns back

into full swing.

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THE DEFENCE OF LESTERHEIM

YOU NEED

- Six “town guard”

- 4 “daemons”

- 1 “mega daemon”

- 3 “rippers”(small daemons)

- A handful of D6

- A shrine and tower

- A scaffold and factory

PLAYING

1. The first scenario in the defence for Lesterheim is a shrine defence. To win this

scenario the guard must approach the first “defiled” shrine and defeat the

Daemons that have spawned there. If the Daemons beat the guard, or manage to

hold the shrine for up to 6 turns (6 initiative rolls- played to the end of the turn)

then the daemons win and they are given an advantage at the beginning of the

second scenario.

SETTUP

GUARD SETTUP

Daemon Settup

Shrine

Tower

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Guards- on edge of board

Daemons- (4 normal daemons) on shrine.

2. Following the shrine the guards are pushed back into city and they are faced off

against a merciless foe! For this scenario you will need one Larger Daemon and 3

smaller “rippers” (clawed daemons). To win the guards must hold the factory and

stop the larger Daemon getting to the top of the factory, for it is there that he

can “howl” to the other daemons, and bring them forth to destroy the city of

Lesterheim. The Larger Daemon must reach the top of the factory by the End of 6

turns, or else they lose the game, disappearing into the midst of the ether.

SETTUP

Guards- On furthest edge of board

Daemons- Parallel to the Factory.

The

Scaffold

The

Scaffold

The Factory

GUARD SETTUP

D

a

e

m

o

n

s

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4x GUARDS – 2 wnds

STR: 2

DEF: 2

AC: 4

MOVE: 6”

TOTAL: 21 x 3 = 62Pts

1X GUARD CAPTAIN- 3 wnds

STR: 3

DEF: 3(+1=4)

AC: 4

MOVE: 6”

OTHER-

- Sleeve dagger – (10pts, +1 all combat activation hnd2hnd)

- Extra Padding – (5pts, +1 Def)

- Shield – (10pts, ability to shield)

TOTAL: 52pts

1X CAPTAIN BODYGUARD- 2wnds

STR: 2

DEF: 2

AC: 4

MOVE: 6”

OTHER-

- Shield – (10pts, Ability to shield)

TOTAL: 31pts

GUARD TOTAL FORCE PTS VALUE: 145 (for 6 miniatures)

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4X Normal Daemons- 2 wnds

STR: 2

DEF: 3

AC: 4

MOVE: 6”

OTHER –

Extra Padding (5pts, Daemon Scale) – 2x re-rolls during combat ACTIVATION.

Between all 4 daemons. One daemon may make two re-rolls.

TOTAL: 29 x 4 = 116

3X RIPPERS – 2wnds

STR: 1

DEF: 1

AC: 4 (spiky hide)

MOVE: 6”

TOTAL: 7 x 3 = 21pts

Large Daemon – 3wnds

STR: 3

DEF: 3

AC: 5

MOVE: 5” (encumbered)

TOTAL: 1 x 30pts

DAEMON TOTAL FORCE PTS VALUE: 167 pts

As you can see, this is a relatively balanced match, especially given that it is a scenario

broken up into two halves. Although the Daemons have more PTS value, The Guards are

strategically designed to be able to work together and fight together.

Of course please feel free to create your own stats for the missions from scratch, including

more or less miniatures at your own discretion.

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EMPTY TABLES

Action Table

Difficulty

3+

Difficulty

4+

Difficulty

5+

Difficulty

6+

Difficulty

(2 dice)

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ROSTERS

NAME:

STR:

DEF:

AC:

MOVE:

OTHER –

TOTAL COST:

NAME:

STR:

DEF:

AC:

MOVE:

OTHER –

TOTAL COST:

NAME:

STR:

DEF:

AC:

MOVE:

OTHER –

TOTAL COST:

18

NAME:

STR:

DEF:

AC:

MOVE:

OTHER –

TOTAL COST:

NAME:

STR:

DEF:

AC:

MOVE:

OTHER –

TOTAL COST:

NAME:

STR:

DEF:

AC:

MOVE:

OTHER –

TOTAL COST: