Assassins and Templars: A Ruckus Game is a narrative-heavy tabletop skirmish game. It was inspired by the release of the book Assassins and Templars: A Battle in Myth and Blood, written by Dr Steve Tibble, and published by Yale University Press, in September 2025.

Assassins and Templars (A&T) is a game that uses the same rules engine as Never Mind the Ruckus, published by Wargames Illustrated, which was in turn influenced by Andy Callan’s ruleset, Never Mind the Billhooks. Steve, and Ruckus author Mike Peters shared a vision to produce a game based on the conflicts and adventures of two notorious rival factions who lived and fought side-by-side in the Holy Land during the 11th to 13th Centuries: The Latin crusaders of the Temple Mount, the famous Knights Templar, and the Nizari Ismailis Hashshashin, the infamous Assassins. The history of these two religious orders has become legend. Steve’s book on the subject delves into the rich history of the period, its people, protagonists and its violent clashes. Mike’s game takes that narrative and creates a dynamic game in which readers become players, and legends are retold in tabletop battles.

A&T: A Ruckus game allows players to step into the boots or sandals of a Captain and take charge of a small Retinue of Templars or Assassins, then lead them through challenging, story-driven, fun-laden skirmish encounters.

The Ruckus rules are suited to both quick pick-up games and lengthy campaign clashes, and they feature mechanics that ensure no two games are the same. Character generation and advancement, along with scenario-driven gameplay, bring a treasure trove of gaming opportunities. The rules prioritise having fun over simulating warfare or seeking complete period accuracy, but you will find that the game dovetails neatly with the fabric of Steve’s Assassins and Templars book, enabling players to weave tabletop stories from the history.

Your retinue awaits, and your adventures are about to begin…