Quote from: Sable Wyvern;885516If you can, take a look at the Book of Battle for Pendragon.

I was going to say that. Pendragon may be a good choice. It's more abstract (and less detailed and time consuming) than what Skarg described for battles but more detailed than systems that abstract things to just a few rolls. And it is possible to follow the flow of the battle that results from the system. Though the downside is it assumes a medieval style, fairly rigid order of battle somewhat reminiscent of what was used for battles in the board game Kingmaker.

Some other old solutions:
Chainmail - a grandfatherly miniatures system that includes PC-like heroes. It was foundational to D&D. TSR later came out with a few other miniatures rules, but I can't speak to their adequacy.

En Garde and Flashing Blades have very abstract battle rules. But the rules include several nice features.
(1) The PCs - as unit leaders - can actually influence the battle outcome.

• En Garde has a nifty system where each level of command e.g. Army/Brigade/Regiment/Battalion/Company rolls in turn with higher levels affecting the chance of success of lower levels. So if you army commander is Alexander the Great that's good for your success and survival as say a company Captain. On the other hand if your superiors are dunces...not so good. and their commander's abilities influences their ultimate survival.
• Flashing Blades allows a unit commander at any level to attempt a brilliant tactical maneuver which has a minor (but significant in a close battle) affect on the battle result.
• Flashing Blades also suggests specific objectives a GM might include - possibly a minor adventure of its own - that the PCs can attempt such as capturing or killing an enemy commander, taking or holding a bastion or salient, etc. Success with the mission has a similar impact as a successful brilliant maneuver.

(2) The PCs can choose one of three danger levels e.g. Foolhardy, Normal, or Cowardly. Those both affect damage and survival as well as awards and promotion.

(3) Some tables for outcomes including promotion, decorations or notice, damage, survival (including that of your superiors - helpful if you are looking for promotion), and plunder.

• Flashing Blades also includes a table to roll for an opportunity to encounter (and capture) enemy officers or flags or defend your own flag. Pendragon uses something similar.

After reading it: the Book of Battles for Pendragon is where it's at. Exactly what I wanted.

I have not come across the rules for The Dark Eye rpg that was anything close to what I remember in my youth, so I suspect it may have been a ruling by the GM at the time. I remember that battle fondly. (Damn you, nostalgia nonsense!)