New and Updated

12th December 2004

Battle Reports

An excellent battle report from the siege of Troy.
Army Statistics The result of the above battle added.
Optional Rules Rules for challenging an enemy officer or hero to single combat added.

4th December 2004

Army Lists

Pictures of Thane's Wolfen and Snakemen added.

29th November 2004

Army Lists

I have added the additions to the Alternative Armies 15mm Elf army:  some meaty mattock-men, artillery and crossbows.

I have also tidied up the Thane's Games Wolfen and Snakemen lists.  Now that I have the figures, I have had to have a re-think about some of the classifications.  A fuller review of them is to follow.

Amendments

I have now added a downloadable pdf of the incorrect pages of morale check rules that appear in the rulebook (page 51 and 52).  You can print these out and use them instead.
Battle Reports

I've added a picture to the last battle report in November: some nicely painted dwarves.

26th November 2004

Battle Reports Another battle report from the Nederlands:  Undead vs a Dwarf/Human/Elf Alliance.
Army Statistics The result of the above battle added to the army statistics page in an entirely controversial way.  

Now don't be shy:  send in your battle results (and reports if you have time to do one) and help us find out which is the best VM fantasy army.

Soon to Come Thane Morgan has very kindly sent me some of his 15mm Wolfen and Snakemen figures.  They are superb:  and look much better in the flesh than they do on the website.  Sorry, Thane, but it's true!  See Army Lists for the VM army lists.

I'll be painting them up as soon as I can, so keep your eyes peeled for more updates!

He's also just announced that some Demons will soon be available as well.  A picture of the greens appears below:

12th November 2004

Army Lists

Two fantastic armies from Thane's Games added.  The first are the Wolfen:  a range of beautifully crafted fierce tribal werewolves.  The second are the Snakemen:  cavalry-sized man-snakes.

8th November 2004

Army Lists

The last of the Alternative Armies 15mm ranges are now up on the site:  Dwarves, Orc/Goblin Alliance and Undead.  They join the Elves (slightly modified) and the Dracci.

24th October 2004

Army Statistics Two results added.

23rd October 2004

Vis Magica "Not A Tournament Day" Don't forget that tomorrow is the first Vis Magica "Not A Tournament Day", being held at the Hartford Sports and Social Club, Old Houghton Road, Huntingdon, in the UK.

The day starts at 12 noon, and we have the hall (courtesy of Huntingdon & District Wargames Society) until 2200hrs.

The HDWS are providing tables and terrain, so just turn up with your VM or VB armies.

See you there!

Amendments Derk Groenveld has noticed that VM is missing the paragraph about bad terrain in the Movement section.  Well spotted Derk!  Now added to the Amendments page.
Army Statistics One result added.

12th October 2004

Battle Reports Two superb battle reports from the Nederlands added, plus pictures.  Both describe the humiliation of the Dwarves at the hands of the Pointies...I mean the Plains Elves.  Come on, short stuffs, this isn't good enough!
Army Statistics The results of the above battles added to the army statistics page.  Now don't be shy:  send in your battle results (and reports if you have time to do one) and help us find out which is the best VM fantasy army.

8th October 2004

Battle Reports Two battle reports added.  The first is an epic dwarf/orc clash describing the first part of the Siege of Turumzabar; the second describes Dread Elves leading evil allies into the Green Gully...which now runs red!
Army Statistics The results of the above battles added to the army statistics page.  Now don't be shy:  send in your battle results (and reports if you have time to do one) and help us find out which is the best VM fantasy army.

4th October 2004

Amendments A couple of people who play both Vis Bellica and Vis Magica have pointed out that there is an inconsistency in the way Section 10: Morale Checks reads.  I've checked this out and it appears that there has been an error made.  You'll now find a correction in the Amendments section.

I've also added the displaced paragraph about shooting at flying bases.
Rules Lawyer I've clarified the phrase: "an Officer must aim to fulfil his orders, although this applies to his command as a whole, with individual bases allowed to be held, for example, as a reserve or to protect a flank." 

27th September 2004

Battle Reports Another battle report added to the site:  a stirring tale of why you shouldn't change your plans in mid-charge!
Army Statistics The results of the above battle added to the army statistics page.  Now don't be shy:  send in your battle results (and reports if you have time to do one) and help us find out which is the best VM fantasy army.

21st September 2004

Army Lists

The first two lists for the Chariot Miniatures 15mm ranges: the Semi-Historical Egyptians and the Duck Persons. 

Please excuse the puns in the latter case:  I couldn't help myself.

18th September 2004

Army Lists

Another two list for figures from Alternative Armies: the Dogmen and the Otharmann Empire in 25mm.

16th September 2004

Army Lists

Another list for figures from Alternative Armies: the Krauten Dwarves in 25mm.

12th September 2004

Army Lists

Another two list for figures from Alternative Armies: the Cities of Men and the Goblin Principalities in 25mm.

11th September 2004

Battle Reports The first battle report added to the site:  a short but sweet account of a dwarven attempt to steal the golden fleece.
Army Statistics The results of the above battle added to the army statistics page.  Now don't be shy:  send in your battle results (and reports if you have time to do one) and help us find out which is the best VM fantasy army.
Army Lists

Another list for figures from Alternative Armies: the Orc Tribes in 25mm.

9th September 2004

Army Lists

More lists for figures from Alternative Armies.  I've now added the Undead in 25mm;  and the Wood Elves in 25mm.

7th September 2004

Army Lists

More lists for figures from Alternative Armies.  I've now added the Dracci in 25mm;  the Crystal Elves in 25mm;  and the Elves in 15mm.

31st August 2004

Buying Vis Magica

Vis Magica is now available for immediate purchase!  

Pre-order copies have already gone out, so don't miss out:  please click here to buy Vis Magica.

18th August 2004

Buying Vis Magica

Vis Magica is now available for pre-order!  

It will be published on or around 1st September 2004, so in the post to you around then.

Please click here to buy Vis Magica.

16th August 2004

Army Lists

The first army list added for the Alternative Armies 15mm range.  This list covers their Dracci figures:  a beautiful range of dragon men.

10th August 2004

Army Lists

A couple more army lists added, more as and when I get a chance to upload them.  If any figure manufacturer wants me to produce lists for their range to go on the site, click here to contact me.

News from the Printer Vis Magica is on the presses, with delivery scheduled for the end of this week.  Once I get a firm date, I'll make the Buy Vis Magica link live for pre-orders.

1st August 2004

Introduction

Welcome to the launch of Vis Magica Online:  the official site of the new Vis Magica rules for fantasy wargaming.

Vis Magica is based on the popular Vis Bellica rules for wargaming the ancient and medieval periods, but is a game in its own right.  You do not have to have the Vis Bellica rules to play Vis Magica:  just the Vis Magica rulebook, available to buy from around August 12th 2004.

Vis Magica can be played with any manufacturer's figures and, in fact, encourages imagination and experimentation in its army lists.  The rulebook contains over 15 basic army lists, with instructions on how to create your own army from the figures that you already own.

Vis Magica emphasises command and control over everything else.  No buckets of dice, no calculations involving nanometres and fractions of degrees:  just a simple system that encourages good tactics and bold play.  All written in plain English.

That's not to say that its easy:  Vis Magica is one of those systems that you can pick up in minutes, but the subtleties of the game can take many battles to develop.  The command system only involves four to six orders, but the decision as to which to use, the possibilities of what you can use, are almost endless.

I hope you enjoy playing VM as much as I've enjoyed writing and play-testing it.  Just remember that Void Magic isn't the answer to everything...but it sure helps!