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Miniatures Adventure => Future Wars => Topic started by: Vinlander on December 03, 2009, 06:27:52 PM

Title: Beamstrike
Post by: Vinlander on December 03, 2009, 06:27:52 PM
Hi all,
       Anyone around here play 'Beamstrike'? I've tried a couple of solo games and find it a decent little system. I'm wondering what other people's thoughts are...

Anyone know of any fansites/blogs I could look at?

If anyone wants a look-see, you can download the game here:

http://www.neilandannettec.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk/beamstrike.htm

Cheers!
Title: Re: Beamstrike
Post by: Dewbakuk on December 03, 2009, 07:03:37 PM
What kind of game is it?
Title: Re: Beamstrike
Post by: commissarmoody on December 03, 2009, 08:34:49 PM
yeah what is it? LOL
Title: Re: Beamstrike
Post by: dijit on December 03, 2009, 10:08:31 PM
The only thing I really know about it is from TMP which seems to be having a 15mm frenzy at the moment, it sometimes gets named after they've run out of other rulesets, like stargrunt and FAD4.
Duncan
Title: Re: Beamstrike
Post by: Ruarigh on December 03, 2009, 10:42:23 PM
Beamstrike is a sci-fi skirmish rules set that takes its inspiration from Imperial Commander with a little Laserburn thrown in. It is aimed at individually based figures and copes with around 50 figures a side or so. There are some notes on a game we played on my blog with a few thoughts about the rules:
http://ooh-shiny-complex.blogspot.com/2009/06/beamstrike-battle-summary.html (http://ooh-shiny-complex.blogspot.com/2009/06/beamstrike-battle-summary.html)
The rules are freely downloadable and there is excellent support on the Beamstrike Yahoo group. The chaps running with this project have done a very good job of staying true to the spirit of Imperial Commander, which is an excellent rules set in its own right, while expanding on the material that was available in Imperial Commander.
Title: Re: Beamstrike
Post by: Vinlander on December 03, 2009, 10:59:53 PM
Ah yes, I remember those batreps. They looked like great fun!

Very nice paintjobs Ruarigh, I quite like particoloured upper torso armour against the more conventional military green battledress. Anymore action on the Bwendi front since?  ;)
Title: Re: Beamstrike
Post by: Ruarigh on December 04, 2009, 03:51:52 PM
No recent action. Since the Bwendi Republican Armoured Troop (BRAT) beat off the perfidious Albion Defence Forces (Albion DufFors), things have been quiet. We did have a scrap on a larger scale using FutureWarCommander and our 6mm armies, but no Beamstrike or Imperial Commander. Both rules sets are on the list of games due to be played, but other things keep getting in the way. We really need more time for gaming. Once a week is not enough to play everything that interests us before we are too old to pick the figures up.
Title: Re: Beamstrike
Post by: keeper on December 04, 2009, 04:58:55 PM
I've used Beamstrike for some solo gaming, and I've got a couple of GZG mechanised platoons painted up and ready to play - just struggling to get the lads I game with to plan a sci-fi wargame!

CoC again next week! (not that CoC is bad - I just need more scifi!) :D
Title: Re: Beamstrike
Post by: Vinlander on December 07, 2009, 03:15:27 PM
Seems we're in the same boat then.

Welcome aboard!  ;)
Title: Re: Beamstrike
Post by: keeper on December 07, 2009, 08:40:12 PM
I forgot to mention that there is a Yahoo group for Beamstrike which is quite active and has some interesting files uploaded there too.  Worth signing up if you haven't already, Vinlander :)

http://games.groups.yahoo.com/group/Beamstrike_Sci-fi_Game/
Title: Re: Beamstrike
Post by: dijit on December 08, 2009, 03:51:22 AM
How small games can beamstrike handle? Could it be used for small scale skirmish games with a reasonable amount of detail/character? This is my only problem with 15mm that the minis seem to loose character and I'm afraid the rules would too.
Title: Re: Beamstrike
Post by: keeper on December 08, 2009, 03:36:13 PM
As small as you want.  IIRC the Beamstrike rules encourage you to flesh out background to your heroes and there is nothing to stop you taking a small unit of your heroes against a small unit of enemy heroes.  Only played it solo with small forces, but I've had quite successful 5 vs 5 games on my own in an hour.

You don't get huge amounts of details like you would if playing GW Inquisitor or Anschluss' Through Smoke and Fire - in Beamstrike gunfire is lethal if it hits you and it can get through your armour.  As with any ruleset, especially a free one like Beamstrike, grab a copy, scan through the sections of interest and look at the tables and see if it is the sort of game you want to play.

Beamstrike is also very open to house rules and customisation.  If you're feeling that its almost OK, if only ... then change whatever you don't like for a different rule you like better.

I'm going to stop now before I start rambling, but I think you get the idea I like the Beamstrike rules for 15mm gaming :)
Title: Re: Beamstrike
Post by: Vinlander on December 09, 2009, 11:42:13 PM
 I'm a member of that group already Keeper!!  :D

 Good bunch with a lot of great resources.

Anyone have any experience with 'Imperial Commander' then? How do the two stack up?


Title: Re: Beamstrike
Post by: Ruarigh on December 10, 2009, 05:41:48 PM
Here are some notes about, and a battle report for, Imperial Commander.
http://ooh-shiny-complex.blogspot.com/2009/05/imperial-commander-nostalgia-fest.html (http://ooh-shiny-complex.blogspot.com/2009/05/imperial-commander-nostalgia-fest.html)

Imperial Commander does not have the same range of vehicular rules as Beamstrike, but plays in a similar manner, which is unsurprising because Beamstrike draws its inspiration from IC. Having played both, I prefer the feel of IC over Beamstrike, but I like the additional rules that Beamstrike supplies. I am not sure why I prefer IC, but I think it has to do with using inches versus centimetres for movement. Strange, eh? It could also be because IC focuses on the infantry and does not use vehicles much, and, finally, I think that IC has the nostalgia value. I played IC to bits in the eighties and sporadically through the nineties, so coming back to it is like settling into a worn and tatty but familiar chair. It is comforting!

FWIW, both games are probably equal in terms of game play, but Beamstrike draws on and expands IC into new territory, as well as clarifying a number of issues that occur in the IC rule book.

Hope this helps,
Ruarigh
Title: Re: Beamstrike
Post by: Vinlander on December 10, 2009, 07:12:49 PM
Hmmm. Food for thought. ::)

I have the Beamstrike rules already and have given them a try. As a Christmas present to myself this year I ordered the Imperial Commander rules as well as two small forces from 15mm.co.uk (Imperial and Redemption). I really do enjoy the "retro" look of the minis. The whole quasi-arcane "science fantasy" asthetic has always turned my crank.

I'm looking forward to trying out IC and seeing for myself how they compare! I'll post a batrep if I can get hold of a decent camera...
Title: Re: Beamstrike
Post by: Ruarigh on December 10, 2009, 10:05:41 PM
Please do post a report. I would love to see someone else playing the rules. I also have vast quantities of Imperial and Red Redemption figures left to paint, so it might inspire me. I could do with some inspiration.
Title: Re: Beamstrike
Post by: Vinlander on December 13, 2009, 06:11:54 PM
I played another solo game last night (Saturday is usually gaming night with my group but there was nothing in the offing this week due to staff Christmas parties and whatnot) and thought I'd post an account since people have asked (I apologise for the lack of pics but my camera doesn't have a macro setting). A simple take-and-hold mission set against the neverending backdrop of inter-corporate warfare during the Imperial era. The two forces consisted of:

Company- 2 fireteams, each of 4 combat employees, one heavy support employee and one company lieutenant. The force was led by special character Orson Xymox.

Mercenaries- 3 squads, each of 4 riflemen, 1 gunner and 1 officer. The force was led by 1 merc battlesuit trooper (who are leaders as well).

I'm not very good at recounting turn-by-turn-who-rolled-what but I shall attempt to recount the events of last night's game interspersed with narrative. Here goes:

 * Orson Xymox surveyed the depot through his helmet’s MAG-reticle.  One squad of merc troops stood sentry atop the hill where the small power generator was situated. They appeared to be well equipped, sporting newly issued tactical battledress with integral ballistic plate and well maintained assault rifles which they handled in a way that indicated they knew how to use them. The squad leader conferred with a figure clad in Nakatomi type-6 powered armour which looked to be packing a support Gyrobolter. 'Must be the boss' he thought 'to be sporting that kind of kit.' He switched to tactical overhead and looked at the tacsat image of the area. Another squad lurked behind a small hillock on his left while a third waited in a similar position on the right. 'Tsk tsk, has no imagination this one. This won’t take long.' He tongued his helmets comm to squad address; “Alright lads its going to down like this: Singh, take your lads around the right behind that big rock formation and get their attention. There’s a squad out there behind the small hill and you’ll be exposed to fire from the generator position so move quick. Ledebur, move your team up the left behind the mesa and flank them. You’ve also got a squad in front of you so be sharp. I’ll go up the middle and draw their fire. Questions?” There were none. “Well then, last minute checks all around. We move in five. Remember the shareholders back home!”  *

 The initial turn saw the Company troops moving up each flank using large rock formations for cover. There was some brief fire exchanged and the merc squad holding the generator hill suffered casualties which resulted in supression. The leader jumped about and hit nothing. The remainder of the merc fire was ineffective. 

   * He hit the ground at an awkward angle, his armour’s autogyros compensating and keeping him upright. Just. From either side he heard the tell tale popping that indicated a firefight was in progress. He paused a moment to check his tacsat display. Singh’s team were trading fire with the generator’s garrison and seemed to be getting the better of the exchange. As he watched a Merc was punched off his feet by a burst from the team’s support weapon. 'I love the 227 NuGatling'  he though as he watched the gunner spin the barrels in order to cool them 'I really should mount one on this beast.' His own Dreadnought suit sported a pair of sunguns, high power thermal weapons which could melt the side off a tank. You had to be almost point-blank though. Hitting power bought at the expense of range. He triggered his over-the-shoulder rack and sent a missile down the field towards his opposite number, the power armoured leader of the merc detachment. He cursed silently as it missed, his enemy powering away on his jetpack thrusters, sending a spray of bolter fire towards Ledeburs’ team. Hmm Orson grunted as he watched the bolt rounds hit nothing 'Fires wild. Amateur.' *

  Turn two saw some intense firefights on the right flank of the Company's advance. The mercs defending that flank had worked their way up to the base of a small hillock behind which a company fireteam was sheltering. The ensuing exchange saw the mercs wiped out to a man and the company  men down to three remaining, one of which was then potted by the merc leader from across the field. The company men passed their quality check however and bravely held their ground (motivated by thoughts of their bonuses no doubt). The left flank force continued to advance exchanging fire the whole time with the mercs facing them which, once again, the company men got the better of. During all this, Xymox himself jumped into the objective compound and proceeded to fire his missile pack at the enemy battlesuit but missed.

Company turn three saw the right flank fireteam holding their position and trading ineffectual fire with the remains of the merc squad around the generator. The left flank firefight resulted in the bulk of the mercs on that flank being taken out in exchange for one company man. By the mercs turn three there was little left of the merc force (four riflemen and the battlesuit). Faced with an unscathed dreadnought suit and two intact (if somewhat thinned out) company fireteams, the mercs chose to ground arms.
The research station was firmly in company hands!

*Orson made a short hop to the top of the compound entrance in order to survey the field with his own eyes. The scattered handful of Mercs that remained had thrown down their weapons when he had powered into the yard, to within sungun range of the survivors. Singh and the sole other survivor of his team, the gunner, covered the Mercs while Ledeburs and his team checked out the compound entrance and the vehicles parked nearby. Of the power armoured leader there was no sign. 'Well' he thought to himself 'the board will be pleased despite 50% casualties.' Indeed they would too. The proceeds off the fruits of another corporation’s research were considerable given the savings on R&D overhead spending. Far more than enough to offset the monetary losses they had suffered in the form of six dead combat employees. At least their families would be looked after. Orson cracked his armour’s helmet and breathed in fresh air (or as fresh as the mildly chlorinated air of Yahd-7 ever got). Looking around again he felt the satisfaction of a job well done. 'Objective captured intact, acceptable losses, high return on investment. Yessir, the board will be pleased.' *

It was a fun little game. Points weren't exactly on as I was just fooling around myself so I threw down with what looked good. Company troops tend to be of higher quality than those of other forces and better equipped so a few more mercs wouldn't have hurt. BS is a nice snappy little system with some simple mechanics that allow for pretty quick decision to be reached. I have some imperial and redemption troops coming in the mail and am looking forward to more BS action in the future (hopefully with photos!).  :D
 
Title: Re: Beamstrike
Post by: keeper on December 13, 2009, 07:24:20 PM
Quote from: Ruarigh on December 10, 2009, 10:05:41 PM
Please do post a report. I would love to see someone else playing the rules. I also have vast quantities of Imperial and Red Redemption figures left to paint, so it might inspire me. I could do with some inspiration.

I don't have a batrep for you Ruarigh, but I can supply a picture of some of my Red Redemptionists :D

(http://www.cheddarmongers.org/prod/gallery2/d/9919-3/Redeptionis+Force_front.jpg)
Click pic for a bigger image (http://www.cheddarmongers.org/prod/gallery2/d/9917-1/Redeptionis+Force_front.jpg)
Title: Re: Beamstrike
Post by: Ruarigh on December 13, 2009, 07:38:13 PM
Excellent report, Vinlander. It's always more fun reading narrative reports.

Thanks for the pic, Keeper. It's always interesting to see how other people paint their Redemptionists. I shall have to post some pics of my own once I have painted or repainted them. The ones I have that are painted were done in the mid-eighties and they look it! I then have 100 or so that are completely unpainted. Red primer and dip should do it!! ;)
Title: Re: Beamstrike
Post by: keeper on December 13, 2009, 07:41:31 PM
Looking forward to your photos already Ruarigh :D
Title: Re: Beamstrike
Post by: Vinlander on December 15, 2009, 01:03:12 PM
Great looking minis Keeper! Do you have any closer shots?
Title: Re: Beamstrike
Post by: keeper on December 16, 2009, 09:10:26 PM
Quote from: Vinlander on December 15, 2009, 01:03:12 PM
Great looking minis Keeper! Do you have any closer shots?

Nope.  But I have an evening in by myself - I shall go and take some! :D
Title: Re: Beamstrike
Post by: keeper on December 19, 2009, 09:42:53 PM
Sorry for the delay.  Real life keep just getting in the way of The Hobby!

Anyway, with apologies for my ability to take photos of 15mm minis:

(http://www.cheddarmongers.org/prod/gallery2/d/23891-1/Command.jpg)
(http://www.cheddarmongers.org/prod/gallery2/d/23894-1/Troops.jpg)
(http://www.cheddarmongers.org/prod/gallery2/d/23897-1/PowerArmour.jpg)

Off to work on my photo-fu, which seems to be in complete fail this month! :(
Title: Re: Beamstrike
Post by: Vinlander on December 21, 2009, 02:03:22 PM
Aaaah, cool :)

When mine arrive (this week hopefully) I'll get a few done up and post some pics (after I borrow JET's camera  ;D ).
Title: Re: Beamstrike
Post by: Ruarigh on December 21, 2009, 11:34:39 PM
You may have seen these before, but here they are again, until I can take new pictures of other stuff of mine. The pics were taken during a Laserburn game we played.

Imperial Officers
(http://i188.photobucket.com/albums/z263/Ruarigh/Assault%20on%20Bunker%2017/ImperialOfficers.jpg)

Imperial Black Guard and Geeks
(http://i188.photobucket.com/albums/z263/Ruarigh/Assault%20on%20Bunker%2017/BlackGuardandGeeks.jpg)

Imperial Troopers
(http://i188.photobucket.com/albums/z263/Ruarigh/Assault%20on%20Bunker%2017/ImperialTroopers.jpg)

The Rebels
(http://i188.photobucket.com/albums/z263/Ruarigh/Assault%20on%20Bunker%2017/TheRebels.jpg)

The Traitor
(http://i188.photobucket.com/albums/z263/Ruarigh/Assault%20on%20Bunker%2017/TheTraitor.jpg)

Assault on Bunker 17 in game shots
(http://i188.photobucket.com/albums/z263/Ruarigh/Assault%20on%20Bunker%2017/DSCF0012.jpg)
(http://i188.photobucket.com/albums/z263/Ruarigh/Assault%20on%20Bunker%2017/DSCF0024.jpg)
Title: Re: Beamstrike
Post by: keeper on January 05, 2010, 07:12:12 PM
That is just awesome :)  Love the imperial uniform colour!  And did you make that layout yourself? Looks excellent!
Title: Re: Beamstrike
Post by: Ruarigh on January 05, 2010, 08:56:56 PM
The photos are a bit shiny really but I was lazy and did not pose the figures, etc.

The layout is made by rescaling and printing out the floors from the WWG Mars Station set. The doors are from Ebbles Miniatures. I stuck the floors to foamboard and cut out the sizes that I needed. I had intended to have more 3d terrain to add to the set (beds, desks, etc) but I got bored of cutting and foldings so we just played the game. I can always add more 3d stuff to it next time we play. The floorplan is in pieces that I can put together in a variety of ways, so it could become a space station or an asteroid mine or anything like that. I had intended to actually build Bunker 17 but I decided that the 2d approach with 3d props was more flexible and useful.
Title: Re: Beamstrike
Post by: keeper on January 06, 2010, 04:04:54 PM
Thanks for the info Ruarigh :)  I might have to give that kind of terrain a go!  I've done the same with 2mm fantasy before.  Don't know why I didn't think of rescaling :D
Title: Re: Beamstrike
Post by: Ruarigh on January 06, 2010, 05:57:16 PM
FWIW, I scaled it all in photoshop so I have a sheet of flooring 12 squares by 12 squares that will fit on an A4 sheet when I print it out. At full scale the floors are 7 squares by 7 squares with each square being 1" wide. I rescaled to 60% of original size, which gives squares that are approximately 15mm wide. I find that a scale factor of 60% works well when translating from 28mm to 15mm terrain. If you do not have photoshop, you could do the same in GIMP (free), or just set the scale factor in Acrobat when printing the sheets. The last method is not as efficient in terms of paper usage, but works well enough.

I have been working on a 15mm town set for modern games and plan to do something similar for sci-fi, but just need an extra 50 hours in every day and the ability to go without sleep for years on end while still maintaining my focus on the projects at hand! ;)
Title: Re: Beamstrike
Post by: keeper on January 06, 2010, 08:06:13 PM
Yeah, I know what you mean :)  'Tis why I've got a garage full of miniatures!

I've done a similar thing converting 1/72 scale to 28mm size terrain, and vice versa.  Got GIMP and Paint Shop Pro.  Just never thought of doing it for 15mm minis, like the fool I am! ;)
Title: Re: Beamstrike
Post by: Vulture on January 16, 2010, 12:20:27 AM
Hey Ruarigh
Great photos, and commentary from your Beamstrike game on the 13th !  :)
You got any Dreadnought troops in your collection ?  When they are tooled up with double barrelled weapons and shields there's not much than can stops these guys !   :D
-
(http://inlinethumb33.webshots.com/44704/2270025980099353463S600x600Q85.jpg) (http://good-times.webshots.com/photo/2270025980099353463adKMvK)
-
(http://inlinethumb58.webshots.com/45945/2990873840099353463S600x600Q85.jpg) (http://good-times.webshots.com/photo/2990873840099353463MzZNnr)
-
Kind regards

Vulture
Title: Re: Beamstrike
Post by: Ruarigh on January 16, 2010, 10:39:41 AM
Love those dreadnoughts, Vulture. I have one dreadnought figure in the collection. I plan to paint it and use it as Colonel Throckmorton P. Gladiolus' personal armour suit. It cost the Bwendi army most of their budget for the year, but the Colonel is happy with his new purchase! :)

I might be tempted to get some more dreadnought troops if I ever get what I already own painted, but other projects are occupying my time at the moment.

Cheers,
Ruarigh
Title: Re: Beamstrike
Post by: Vulture on January 16, 2010, 11:16:15 PM
Quote from: Ruarigh on January 16, 2010, 10:39:41 AM
Love those dreadnoughts, Vulture. I have one dreadnought figure in the collection. I plan to paint it and use it as Colonel Throckmorton P. Gladiolus' personal armour suit. It cost the Bwendi army most of their budget for the year, but the Colonel is happy with his new purchase! :)

I might be tempted to get some more dreadnought troops if I ever get what I already own painted, but other projects are occupying my time at the moment.

Cheers,
Ruarigh

I've modified most of my Dreadnoughts by cutting off the weapony (apart from the tubes on the helmet) that was integrated into the suit, and giving them either twin missile launchers, twin heavy lasers or twin heavy bolters; all of which were adapted from the vehicle robo-turret you can buy.  I've done a couple of one-offs as well, like the figure on the right here that has a gyrobolt mini-gun :)
-
(http://inlinethumb59.webshots.com/44666/2995647400099353463S600x600Q85.jpg) (http://good-times.webshots.com/photo/2995647400099353463pTVPRG)
-

Cheers

Vulture
Title: Re: Beamstrike
Post by: Vinlander on January 20, 2010, 01:32:57 PM
I do like those old TTG figs. I have my order finally but haven't had any time to sit down and paint. Aaargh! >:(

Ruarigh, any chance of some more Bwendi action any time??

Title: Re: Beamstrike
Post by: Ruarigh on January 20, 2010, 11:09:26 PM
We certainly plan to fit in some hot Bwendi action at some point, but I am not sure when we shall be able to fit a game in. It will get written up when we do though.

Cheers,
Ruarigh