Battlesystem

[4] The first edition set contained rules with beginner and intermediate levels of complexity, four battle scenarios, a guide to miniatures, a number of cardboard figures, and over 800 counters.

[4] The first edition of Battlesystem was sold as a box set which contained:[5] The Rulebook is divided into four parts, allowing three levels of play.

[6] The third part, "The Intermediate Game", adds missiles, artillery, cavalry, individual Heroes, special formations and terrain effects.

[7] The fourth part, called "The Advanced Game", allows for magic, flying, weather, night battles and special monsters.

The first edition Battlesystem set was designed by Douglas Niles and Steve Winter with a cover by Jeff Easley, and was published in 1985.

[11] Musson thought that "no self-respecting DM will want to be without the Battlesystem rules", although he found the other contents of the box of somewhat mixed value.

[12] He felt that as a supplement to the D&D game, "the Battle System does what it sets out to do and does it very well; it may not be as detailed as some fantasy wargame rules, but it is adequate for the requirements of most role-players and can be used quite easily by anyone familiar with D&D or AD&D".

[12] Davis concluded by stating that "Battle System deserves to be given a chance, but I'm afraid that it may have priced itself out the market from the start.

[13] The book features glossy, full-color photos of painted miniatures, many of them staged in elaborate battlefield dioramas.

[13] Photography was by Michael Weaver and Ral Partha Enterprises, Inc. for the battle scenes, and Dick Kahn Studio, Inc. for the rules diagrams.

[14] The 1992 Dragon Kings hardcover book, for example, included Battlesystem options, even though game designer Rick Swan considered them "useful but nonessential".

Gone from the original game are the math-heavy combat tables, the awkward base sizes, and the quarter-page unit rosters; they're replaced by streamlined bookkeeping systems, cleaner attack procedures, and a plethora of clever options.

[13] He also felt that any players "willing to swallow the compromises inherent in the system will find the basic rules elegant and satisfying".

[13] He felt that while it was not unusual to roll a lot of dice to resolve a single combat engagement, "the system is preferable to the dreary bookkeeping required by too many miniatures games".