Due to the small size at the armies I tend to wargame the Men of the North as single figures. I use 15mm figures mounted individually on 1/2" washers. For large units, I make movement trays of basswood with magnetic tape on it. They are roughly 10 figures wide and 3 figures deep. Hal Thinglum's Civil War Project inspired this idea for which I am grateful.

One simple set of rules that I enjoy to Gary Camardo's Groans of the Britons in the November 1986 issue of SAGA. Bob Black's Norman, Saxon, and Viking rules are good: they were in MWAN Volume 5, number 2 and with some minor adjustments make a wonderful skirmish gains.

Richard Davidson's 1066 rules are also a good sot for a battle set in this period. Any number of rules will work including WRG 7th ed., Pig Wars, Knighthood and the Middle Ages, etc.

Figure Availability

In general any western barbarian type figure such as Saxons, Goths, Picts, Scots, Irish, even some late Roman figures thrown in will fit into this Period's warbands. Some of the 15mm figures that I use are the Thistle and Rose early Welsh, Scots-Irish and Picts for the Rank and file warriors, there are a variety of poses and equipment in each Pack. Their Clovis figure makes an excellent Chieftain with his horse-tail helmet and shirt of mail he comes mounted and directing his troops. The Scottish cavalry (both heavy and medium) do well for mounted warbands. Essex figures are beautifully detailed and proportioned and each Pack comes with a variety of poses. The are sold in packs of eight foot and four mounted figures and they also sell them in DBA armies which is ideal for starting a warband. 1,000 point armies are also sold. Alliance makes some good late Roman and Gothic figures, the foot figures fit in well with Essex but the horsemen are small and look out of proportion when standing next to other 15mm manufacturers horsemen. Donnington figures are nice, I have only seen some of the ancient British, but from advertisments the Goths look good too. I have not examined any appropriate Minifigs figures yet but I'm sure they would fit in quite well.

Historical Background
Battle of Arthuret
Campaigning with the Men of the North
Wargaming the Men of the North
Jumbo Map of North (extremely slow: 655K)