Question on pen paper rpgs - mass combat systems?

[kharille]

Just thought I'd post this here. I'm curious whether any pen paper rpg did the reverse of Gygax, and expanded into a good mass combat system? I just keep envisioning higher level players developing a following and wondering whether systems evolved in that direction.

Somewhat inspired by mount & blade warband, and certain situations where a character might command others. Curious whether any pen paper system did it well? I know Warhammer could do some conversion from the rpg system to the tabletop battle system but just asking.

[ṼṏẌṏḭḊ]

40k did it with their Only War set of the RPG books. It all deals with commanding units and large scale battles.

I've never played it or watched it played though, so I don't know how fun or efficient the rules are.

[Hobbit XIII]

These are from memory of long ago.

Armies of the dead, Seas of Blood spring to mind of the Fighting Fantasy Genre.
Duel Master one of those books from distant memory had you commanding an army.
There are lots out there from the ancient days too.

Archive site has loads of old gaming magazines from the 70s'80s with games in them on commanding armies with full rules can be bit heavy but nothing stops you from simplifying them. -and I cant think of their names but its easy to find on their just look at gaming magazines or something ill have a look now and add in.

I often make my own rules for commanding forces and the formulas that go into them.
Much easier to do it if you have a basic grasp of html and js but not difficult to do with just physical dice either.

If I was to do a Mount and Blade Warband I'd start off with something very simple literally just coming up with a few factions and giving them a few troop types or just start off with one troop type each with a ranking system ie more xp the next better of that troop they will be to test your system out.
A simple this faction is good at running in and out cavalry but limited armor so they get +2 speed and difficulty to hit and a -1 for armor on impact.
Second faction is a more advancing slowly with heavy armor so -1 speed and easier to hit and a + 2 armor or whatever.

I do a very simple version first just to tap out a feel of the game and what I want from those people/factions and the game system.
Sometimes just a d6 roll with the modifiers work well enough for what I want to do.

Then other times I build in more and more complexities its easier for me to read stuff maybe get some ideas and then build my own so I can create what is more natural for me to understand to build.

I am probably waffling now.

[Hobbit XIII]

As I said earlier I'll post the link to Ares Magazine think in one of them had something your looking for if not there are other gaming magazines on archive with a look about may help you.

https://archive.org/details/ares_magazine

This actually frustrates me because there was a fantastic series of magazines I remember had rules for different armies and games but the name is lost to me I know it was on Archive :/ which is not helpful but hopefully Ares will have something.
I don't have time to do a proper search and get you a specific answer .