Horrendous Gaming’s Solo Campaign Systems

 

In September 2025 I was at the point where three of my Adventure Series Editions had been released and I was already at the point where I was playtesting number 5, the Fantasy Edition, so I had some space to start thinking about something else. When I started back in the hobby I picked up Saga: Age of Magic, built every army type in it, and played a series of games (https://horrendousgaming.blogspot.com/p/saga-age-of-magic-battles-baldr.html) solo. 

It was an interesting experience but ultimately a bit unsatisfying as a solo game. What was fun was the idea of the connected battles with the same army (Viking Horde) taking centre stage, and since then I have been toying with this idea some more. I even took Ivan Sorensen’s rules for Elf, Knyghte, Pyke and Sworde (which I was one of the playtesters for) and layered over a campaign setup, but again couldn’t quite make it work solo.

So I started wondering whether I could make a similar simple combat system and the concept of Reactions work in a large setting, say 30+ figures per side. That’s what I’m working on now then (in the background while delivering the last three Adventures Editions) a Fantasy background 12 battle campaign system, carrying over what elements I can from the Adventure System and developing the ideas that don’t immediately scale. If this sounds at all interesting, drop me line to get the playtest version. 

Probably not surprising, but while I was drafting the skirmish version, my mind started churning on just how big a game you could play with those rules and frankly units of more than 10 mean a bucket of dice, so not much bigger really. So the Big Battles version was also born, with 10mm figures multi-based in mind. 

Current status (04 January 2026)

HG08 Fantasy Skirmish Edition - Protect the Kingdom

Your Kingdom roster has 23 Units made up from basic fighter and shooter troops, through special troops, characters, monsters and war machines. You select a force from these to send against the randomly determined adversary force, fight the battle, and then see what troops survive and progress. You will fight 12 battles, from a scenario pool of 40, with three levels of increasing difficulty. There’s Magic (if you want it) and 12 different Race types with little changes and special Units to make each feel different. Select a Unit size before you start (from 4 figures per to 10 per) and then all forces are selected based on those size units. Individually based figures would be best, but counters can make multi-based work.

This is written and available for playtesting, it is due to be released in April 2026.

I have a campaign in progress here - https://horrendousgaming.blogspot.com/p/protect-kingdom.html

HG09 Post Apocalypse Skirmish Edition - After the Calamity

A bit different this one as your coastal community starts to explore around them after a humanity targeted virus has heavily depopulated the world. Mapping, Resource Gathering, Base Building, all in a world that is out to stop you, can your forces win out against the enemies around you?

HG10 High Fantasy Big Battles Edition - The enemy are coming!

A different scale (10mm) means bigger battles but also needs a different campaign mechanism, so this time you manoeuvre your forces around the map to counter the moves of the enemy army until you can battle against them. You will need to manage your supply lines, keep an eye on the currently neutral parties within your borders, and protect your towns, while dealing with the aftermath of the battles and hopefully driving these invaders from your lands.

HG11 Science Fiction Skirmish Edition - Dropship Troopers

Your command a mobile infantry unit. Select the most appropriate force to be sent down to fight on the planet, but it must be ready to be picked up on time. 12 battles will define the fate of the empire.