Copyright 2005 T. Sheil & A. Sheil  All Rights Reserved

Shambattle

Knightly Fightly

A Game for Toy Knights

Over 40 years ago, the center of my birthday gifts was a large tin castle that came packed with silver and gold knights. I also received bags of multi-colored knights and horses to augment the castle.  It was absolutely fantastic!   Playing with knights and castles was plenty of fun.  My friends and I made up our own games.  They were fun, if crude.  Even then, I hoped for a better game for toy knights.

 After reading Shambattle: How to Play with Toy Soldiers last year, I realized that it was possible to make a great knightly game for children of all ages.  Keeping the best aspects of the Shambattle Game, the rules were adapted for a fun-filled game with knights.  Even better, the new game could also be played with toy Vikings and with Robin Hood's merry men.  The game could also be played as knights against Monsters!  We call this new game Shambattle Knightly Fightly: A Game for Toy Knights.

The Knightly Fightly Book describes the game and all its rules.  The playing field's pieces can be made from colored construction paper.  Of course, you also need dice and  plenty of toy knights.  You can buy bags of plastic knights at many toy stores.  Of course, you can also play with the more expensive painted knights, or even antique toy knights like those shown here.

The Game Itself

Knightly Fightly is played on a 3' by 5' "Map" that can be laid out on the floor.  For each level, the map is a little more complex.  The map has towns, roads, woods, swamps and a river.  Players move their armies of knights in turn.  They use roads, cross bridges and move through the woods.  Once they meet up with the opponent's knights, the battle begins.  The armies fight man to man.  They also use archers and catapults.  But don't worry about flying arrows or stones!  In this game, nobody actually shoots anything.  We won't get a toy arrow in the eye, nor break our toy knights.

For those with broader interests, it is easy to have a battle with Vikings.  Players can also play Robin Hood against the Sheriff of Nottingham.  

One of our innovations allows the introduction of Medieval monsters. With Knightly Fightly, it is possible to re-enact great episodes of legend. Players can face almost any monsters of their choosing, be they drawn from myths and legend, or from popular literature such as Lord of the Rings and Three Hearts and Three Lions.. Knightly Fightly is a versatile game that covers all aspects of Knightly combat!

In Knightly Fightly, you can send forth brave knights to attack the castle of a wicked prince.

You can have your brave knights fight giants, ogres and dragons

The knights charge!  

With Knightly Fightly, you can lead the charge wit han army of heroes in shining armor!

Knightly Fightly is also a great way to introduce young people to miniature wargaming

Knightly Fightly is:

  1. Easy to Learn

  2. Easy to Play

  3. Safe and Inexpensive

  4. Playable by children from age 5 up

  5. Enjoyable for children and adults, due to levels of play.

If you would like to get a copy of Knightly Fightly: A Game for Toy Knights, click here to go to our Milihistriot Books and Publications page

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