Lead Adventure Forum

Miniatures Adventure => Pulp => Topic started by: zemjw on October 10, 2022, 09:04:07 AM

Title: Pulp!: Skirmish Adventure Wargaming (Osprey Wargames)
Post by: zemjw on October 10, 2022, 09:04:07 AM
Just noticed this up for pre-order on Amazon - link (https://amazon.co.uk/Pulp-Skirmish-Adventure-Wargaming-Wargames/dp/1472849639/ref=pd_bxgy_sccl_2/257-6604550-5482550)

Out on December 8

Quote

A set of wargames rules covering heroic adventure and dastardly villains during the early 20th Century.

Enter a world of perilous adventure and explore steaming jungles, desert canyons, and arctic wastes! Brave the perils of nature and discover lost ruins, ancient treasures, and the secrets of forgotten civilizations! Race against rival adventurers and face off against diabolical villains! Take to the city streets and fight back against gangsters, spies, and sinister cults!

Pulp! is a scenario-driven skirmish wargame set during the interwar years of the early 20th Century. Players build teams of bold explorers, daring archaeologists, hardboiled detectives, and costumed avengers - or criminal masterminds and evil geniuses - and dive into a world of fortune, glory. and menace. Suitable for both solo and cooperative play as well as the classic head-to-head mode, Pulp! contains all the rules needed to game globetrotting escapades in this rip-roaring era.
Title: Re: Pulp!: Skirmish Adventure Wargaming (Osprey Wargames)
Post by: Pattus Magnus on October 10, 2022, 04:13:41 PM
Thanks for pointing that one, I am looking for a set of rules for that period. If anyone knows details about the game mechanics, it would be great to hear about that.
Title: Re: Pulp!: Skirmish Adventure Wargaming (Osprey Wargames)
Post by: aircav on October 10, 2022, 04:27:16 PM
Thanks for pointing that one, I am looking for a set of rules for that period. If anyone knows details about the game mechanics, it would be great to hear about that.

Have you looked at Pulp Alley?
They even have a free download of the quick start version of their rules

https://store.pulpalley.com/free-downloads-a/257.htm
Title: Re: Pulp!: Skirmish Adventure Wargaming (Osprey Wargames)
Post by: Pattus Magnus on October 10, 2022, 06:21:20 PM
I have the Pulp Alley intro in my computer. I skimmed it but haven’t tried it yet. Lots of folks have posted fun-looking games, so I probably should give it a try.

Can never have too many rule sets for a period, though, can you?
Title: Re: Pulp!: Skirmish Adventure Wargaming (Osprey Wargames)
Post by: aircav on October 10, 2022, 07:26:36 PM

Can never have too many rule sets for a period, though, can you?

True  lol lol
Title: Re: Pulp!: Skirmish Adventure Wargaming (Osprey Wargames)
Post by: Inkpaduta on October 11, 2022, 02:44:34 AM
Why does everything have to be built around teams lately.
Title: Re: Pulp!: Skirmish Adventure Wargaming (Osprey Wargames)
Post by: zemjw on October 11, 2022, 08:42:32 AM
There's nothing extra on the Osprey website other than some biographical detail on the author

Quote
Marco Arnaudo is a professor at Indiana University, Bloomington, where he teaches classes about games, comics, and military history. He is the author of the volume Storytelling in the Modern Board Game (McFarland, 2018). He is the designer of the narrative game Four Against the Great Old Ones (Ganesha, 2020).

I have (but have never quite got around to playing) a couple of the Four Against xx books, so that could give some clues as to the direction of the rules.

Why does everything have to be built around teams lately.

True, I just hope it's not the group of 10 that GW seems to feel everyone wanders around in  ;D

Annoyingly, that biography just made me aware of Four Against the Great Old Ones, so that'll probably be bought sooner rather than later. Sometimes I feel my hobby is more buying rules than playing games :(
Title: Re: Pulp!: Skirmish Adventure Wargaming (Osprey Wargames)
Post by: StuRat on October 14, 2022, 01:17:39 AM
Amazon tells me that, in the US at least, the paperback is out Oct. 18th 2022.

The Kindle release is set for Dec. 8th.

The lack of any "press" for this doesn't fill me with confidence.

I wonder if it is a pulp version of Rogue Stars - the author has done work for/with Ganesha Games.
Title: Re: Pulp!: Skirmish Adventure Wargaming (Osprey Wargames)
Post by: FifteensAway on October 17, 2022, 06:27:55 PM
With all the existing sets of Pulp specific and Pulp useful sets of rules already out there, this very much seems like a set of rules in need of a reason to exist.  Maybe a bit of Osprey overreach? 

And, yes, you can have too many sets of rules for a period - which leads to dilution of knowledge and players and eventually turning players away from the period (is Pulp a period?).

I know I am swimming against the current but the excessive amount of rules in this hobby, in my opinion, has been a negative element putting up a barrier.  More figures?  Of course.  More buildings and terrain?  I certainly hope so.  More rules?  Enough already - unless it is truly ground breaking or an entirely new period with no adaptable rules. 

Think about it, chess = one set of rules (very popular worldwide).  Monopoly = one set of rules and popular.  I could go on.  Wargaming = ??? 10,000 ??? sets of rules.  That is just plain chaos.  If I were considering the hobby today from the outside looking in and saw that, I'd abandon the thought before it even got started and find another hobby.  Yes, yes, I know, variety and spice and all that - we have that in extremis through figure sizes and various periods and non-periods (sci-fi, fantasy, etc.).  Just too damn many rules for common sense.  [You may now reign down the calumny on my head for such blasphemous thoughts - as long as you've given due consideration to my argument!   :D)
Title: Re: Pulp!: Skirmish Adventure Wargaming (Osprey Wargames)
Post by: tin shed gamer on October 17, 2022, 06:53:31 PM
In all honesty I'd already come across the blurb. It seems worth skimming through ( before buying)  As I've already got Pulp Alley and many of the bits of fluff need to expand it.
It's going to have to be something more special than shiny for me to buy it. As Fifteen's has mentioned There's plenty of established rule systems out there.
I fear it'll be another rule system I thumb through blindly at a show whilst waiting for my friend's to finish waxing lyrical whilst stood around a table. Before it's time for a tea break,or a pint depending on the show.
Much As I enjoy period skirmish games . I'm fatigued by the selection rather than inspired,and I enjoy sculpting pulp miniatures. So it's on my radar just not on my wish list.
Title: Re: Pulp!: Skirmish Adventure Wargaming (Osprey Wargames)
Post by: Doug ex-em4 on October 17, 2022, 10:10:02 PM
I pretty much agree with FifteensAway but I ordered a set anyway! Why? Because I’m concentrating my efforts on 1930s skirmish/narrative type games and I’m not really that happy with what I’ve used so far, which is Pulp Alley. That system just keeps on adding too much in the way of Abilities, Perks, Character types etc so that there’s a Modification overload. Abilities that cancel other Abilities which are then modified by other Abilities - an exchange of shots or a brawl can become a tedious Abilities checking bore. There’s lots of good stuff but for me, it’s got too many bolt-on extras. So the possibility of a cleaner system has been enough to persuade me to make the investment in the Osprey book.

It could be that it won’t be the complete answer but maybe it could be something which combined and influenced by elements of PA, could result in a satisfactory hybrid. Who knows?

Nevertheless, there are definitely too many rules sets out there and, unlike some, I don’t enjoy reading rules for the pleasure of reading them. So in a funny way, I’m not particularly looking forward to getting this new set but I’m just hoping there’ll be something there to latch onto.

If not, expect a set to appear at a bargain price on the For Sale board in the near future. :D

Doug
Title: Re: Pulp!: Skirmish Adventure Wargaming (Osprey Wargames)
Post by: NickNascati on October 17, 2022, 11:11:27 PM
Pulp Alley and Fistful of Lead will both provide great games for the pulp era.
Title: Re: Pulp!: Skirmish Adventure Wargaming (Osprey Wargames)
Post by: zemjw on October 18, 2022, 08:50:57 AM
I've been noticing the proliferation of rules for science fiction skirmish games recently, so I agree to a large extent with FifteensAway.

However, I also struggle to remember traits and abilities during a game (the curse of the solo gamer, having to remember twice as many stats  :(), so I also agree with Doug on that one.

I haven't pre-ordered it yet, as I would like to see some reports on how it plays first. There's another six weeks or so before it's out, so hopefully they'll send review copies to YouTube folks and other "influencers" and we'll get some more details.
Title: Re: Pulp!: Skirmish Adventure Wargaming (Osprey Wargames)
Post by: pauld on October 18, 2022, 10:48:33 AM


And, yes, you can have too many sets of rules for a period - which leads to dilution of knowledge and players and eventually turning players away from the period (is Pulp a period?).

[You may now reign down the calumny on my head for such blasphemous thoughts - as long as you've given due consideration to my argument!   :D)

Not quite calumny but my opinion varies

 - for example how many books do you need to read, songs to play, films to watch?  Should literature have peaked and stopped at Shakespeare, cinema at Citizen Kane and music at Brown Girl in the Ring?

There are only 26 letters (in my alphabet - others may vary), a handful of musical notes and limited narrative genres but nevertheless there are millions of each enjoyed by millions of varied individuals.

I suppose I collect rules and enjoy reading almost all of them.  How many I play is an entirely different matter but it is a very important part of my hobby enjoyment. 

Variety, as you rightly say, is the spice of life.

I shy away from acronyms but YMMV seems apt.

Title: Re: Pulp!: Skirmish Adventure Wargaming (Osprey Wargames)
Post by: pauld on October 18, 2022, 10:51:26 AM
By the way if it's not obvious this is a no brainer purchase for me.  :)
Title: Re: Pulp!: Skirmish Adventure Wargaming (Osprey Wargames)
Post by: zemjw on October 27, 2022, 12:43:07 PM
I haven't read it yet, but the new November issue of Wargames Illustrated has an interview with the author of the game. Hopefully that will provide a bit more information on what to expect
Title: Re: Pulp!: Skirmish Adventure Wargaming (Osprey Wargames)
Post by: CapnJim on October 27, 2022, 05:50:45 PM
I haven't read it yet, but the new November issue of Wargames Illustrated has an interview with the author of the game. Hopefully that will provide a bit more information on what to expect

Looking forward to reading that.  I've been hovering on getting into traditional pulp stuff (although, I do already have a bunch of 1920s/1930s gangster stuff...), and maybe this will nudge me over the edge.  Like I need another genre to paint/game... :D 
Title: Re: Pulp!: Skirmish Adventure Wargaming (Osprey Wargames)
Post by: nicknorthstar on November 07, 2022, 06:19:35 PM
Hi Folks

North Star are taking orders for the Pulp! game now.
https://www.northstarfigures.com/prod.php?prod=16901 (https://www.northstarfigures.com/prod.php?prod=16901)

If you order before the 17th of Nov, we'll add a free Biggles figure with every copy. It's not a new figure, some of you old timeys might have it in your collection, but it received very limited release. Does anyone remember what it was first released for?
It's designed by Mike Owen of Artizan Design.

I've not seen the rules yet, but I have read the WI interview. Very interesting, but the author doesn't give too much away about the rules mechanics.

We're super keen to see these rules of course, in case you didn't know we're the UK end for Bob Murch's Pulp Figures https://www.northstarfigures.com/list.php?man=186&page=1 (https://www.northstarfigures.com/list.php?man=186&page=1) and we have the Artizan Design Thrilling Tales range: https://www.artizandesigns.com/list.php?man=12&page=1 (https://www.artizandesigns.com/list.php?man=12&page=1)
And of course Copplestone Castings, a range full of early 20th Century eccentrics https://www.copplestonecastings.co.uk/ (https://www.copplestonecastings.co.uk/). Maybe Pulp! could be used for some adventure games in the world of Mark's Little Soldiers? https://www.copplestonecastings.co.uk/list.php?cat=23&page=1 (https://www.copplestonecastings.co.uk/list.php?cat=23&page=1)

Nick
Title: Re: Pulp!: Skirmish Adventure Wargaming (Osprey Wargames)
Post by: tin shed gamer on November 08, 2022, 04:51:55 PM
Nick,
I've ordered a copy mainly because I never take my own advice when it comes to my own toy's.  As you mentioned it'll be interesting to see how the mechanics play and if they'll work comfortably with in my Settings ( plus I'm getting withdrawal symptoms. At Partizan I bought little more than a coffee and a cider.)
Title: Re: Pulp!: Skirmish Adventure Wargaming (Osprey Wargames)
Post by: redstarnyc on November 23, 2022, 02:25:41 AM
I enjoy my quest for the perfect rule set.  I'm glad there are so many out there - it shows the hobby is flourishing.

Title: Re: Pulp!: Skirmish Adventure Wargaming (Osprey Wargames)
Post by: nicknorthstar on December 01, 2022, 09:00:37 PM
Hi Folks

The Pulp rules are in. We'll start getting the pre-orders out of the door tomorrow.

https://www.northstarfigures.com/prod.php?prod=16901 (https://www.northstarfigures.com/prod.php?prod=16901)
Title: Re: Pulp!: Skirmish Adventure Wargaming (Osprey Wargames)
Post by: grendal on December 03, 2022, 04:17:26 AM
I'm seeing it drop in price on Amazon before it's released. I am curious to see some reviews.
Title: Re: Pulp!: Skirmish Adventure Wargaming (Osprey Wargames)
Post by: Warren Abox on December 03, 2022, 05:28:40 PM
Guerilla Miniature Games guy has a review vid up today which finally provides some answers.

https://youtu.be/QC9jERsq1ss
Title: Re: Pulp!: Skirmish Adventure Wargaming (Osprey Wargames)
Post by: Commander Roj on December 03, 2022, 05:52:06 PM
Thanks. I’ll have a look soon and see if it offers anything new or better than Pulp Alley.
Title: Re: Pulp!: Skirmish Adventure Wargaming (Osprey Wargames)
Post by: Psychopomp on December 03, 2022, 06:37:59 PM
I've watched the GMG review, and as a primarily solo wargamer these days, I'm very disappointed. Looks like another Osprey Blue Book system so generic as to be bland, with four or five tiers of hero/unit that you buy a few perks/edges/abilities for and some slapdash scenario creation rules and examples.  The closest thing to something recommending this game over Pulp Alley is you don't need any decks of cards for this game.  That's...not much, especially if you already own cards for Pulp Alley.

The biggest sin, in my eyes, is despite Osprey's book blurb reading, "Suitable for both solo and cooperative play as well as the classic head-to-head mode, Pulp! contains all the rules needed to game globetrotting escapades in this rip-roaring era," according to my pause-fu, it looks like the only allowance for solo is two lines in the introduction effectively saying that a single player can just play all sides to the best of their ability and rely on the dice mechanics to provide unpredictability. Which is, of course, the complete lack of solo support in game rules. You can play any game solo by playing both sides yourself!

I was hoping this game would give us at least rudimentary AI rules, which is the bare minimum expectation these days (especially since the pandemic) for claiming your game to be "suitable for solo play". I was hoping for this in order to give it an edge over Pulp Alley. (Pulp Alley solo rules provide a new deck to compensate for the lack of an opponent to play cards against you, but still rely on you to play the NPCs as if you were a second player.) But as it is, Pulp Alley provides more customization of your forces, more robust scenario support even in the corebook, and at least they go as far as publishing a Solo Deck to adjust the base game for easier solo play.

I find myself very glad I didn't give in to the temptation to pre-order this book.  I'm a pass on it, unless some supplementary rules are published to add more oomph to the rules and actual solo/co-op support.
Title: Re: Pulp!: Skirmish Adventure Wargaming (Osprey Wargames)
Post by: NickNascati on December 03, 2022, 07:17:10 PM
Pulp Alley works great solo.  The special solo deck keeps things random.
Title: Re: Pulp!: Skirmish Adventure Wargaming (Osprey Wargames)
Post by: Doug ex-em4 on December 03, 2022, 11:18:01 PM
Pulp Alley works great solo.  The special solo deck keeps things random.

Pulp Alley works well solo so long as you play a Pulp Alley style game. Yes - I know; that’s pretty self-evident. But if you want a more generic style solo skirmish game with several groups and with subordinate characters more developed than merely supports to the group leader it can get quite clunky. More developed characters equals more Abilities and working out the effects and counter effects can get tedious for a solo player. It did for me, any how.

I don’t have particularly high hopes for this new set but the least of my concerns is the lack of solo rules; it’s not difficult to make your own. My hope is that they contributesomething even if it’s only inspiring artwork.

Doug
Title: Re: Pulp!: Skirmish Adventure Wargaming (Osprey Wargames)
Post by: Redmao on December 04, 2022, 05:12:48 PM
I got the book from Amazon and there is no solo or even coop rules. It just says on page 4 that the unpredictability of the Activation System and dice rolls will keep the Solo player surprised.
It's disappointing as the back of the book actually mentions that it is suitable for solo/coop play. I bought it expecting some specific rules and tables. Not just, hey, play both sides.
Title: Re: Pulp!: Skirmish Adventure Wargaming (Osprey Wargames)
Post by: Kevin on December 04, 2022, 06:35:05 PM
I have to agree with Psychopomp amd Redmao!  The statement that it is designed to be used for solo or cooperative play is very disingenuous, bordering on a deliberate lie!  It no more caters for solo play than any other set or rules.  In fact, considering that players takes turns activating units (IGOUGO), it's even more predictable than say Fistful of Lead or Bolt Action!
Very disappointing.  There's nothing innovative in the rest of the rules either.
Title: Re: Pulp!: Skirmish Adventure Wargaming (Osprey Wargames)
Post by: Doug ex-em4 on December 04, 2022, 06:45:06 PM
I have to agree with Psychopomp amd Redmao!  The statement that it is designed to be used for solo or cooperative play is very disingenuous, bordering on a deliberate lie!  It no more caters for solo play than any other set or rules.  In fact, considering that players takes turns activating units (IGOUGO), it's even more predictable than say Fistful of Lead or Bolt Action!
Very disappointing.  There's nothing innovative in the rest of the rules either.

Cancel now before it’s too late or wait until I’ve read it then sell it cheap on LAF? Life is full of difficult choices :D

Doug
Title: Re: Pulp!: Skirmish Adventure Wargaming (Osprey Wargames)
Post by: Umlaut on December 05, 2022, 03:12:27 AM
The book is $17 on Amazon. Price of 3 coffees. I will give it a shot or no big deal.
Title: Re: Pulp!: Skirmish Adventure Wargaming (Osprey Wargames)
Post by: The Bibliophile on December 05, 2022, 05:32:31 AM
I had been looking forward to these rules for months. Received them this week, and the best part of the package in the cover illustration. Rather rudimentary mechanics and bland profile/roster choices. Very little here that captures and conveys pulpy fun, sadly. I may play a quick game before making my final judgement, but the rules, Osprey’s now tired templatized approach, and lax editorial shaping and copy editing doesn’t leave me clamoring to get it on the table.
Title: Re: Pulp!: Skirmish Adventure Wargaming (Osprey Wargames)
Post by: Doug ex-em4 on December 05, 2022, 01:13:31 PM
I had been looking forward to these rules for months. Received them this week, and the best part of the package in the cover illustration. Rather rudimentary mechanics and bland profile/roster choices. Very little here that captures and conveys pulpy fun, sadly. I may play a quick game before making my final judgement, but the rules, Osprey’s now tired templatized approach, and lax editorial shaping and copy editing doesn’t leave me clamoring to get it on the table.
Mmm - doesn’t sound too hopeful. Looks like I’ll have to keep on trying to mould Pulp Alley to my own liking.

Doug
Title: Re: Pulp!: Skirmish Adventure Wargaming (Osprey Wargames)
Post by: tin shed gamer on December 05, 2022, 08:35:51 PM
I was mildly looking forward to my copy arriving.But since everyone one in the vaguest of uniforms is on strike or going on strike in the UK I'm not holding my breath of reading through them anytime soon.( Northstar email on 02/12 saying they'd been dispatched.So it's in the laps and sulks of the postal gods.)

I've ready some very contradictory reviews of them. But it's that always the way. So I'm still on the fence as to whether they'll be used to gather dust or to roll dice with
At the moment I'm inclined to replay the Pulp Alley  ' Get to the plane !' scenario for a Christmas game .Than grind through a game with these over Christmas . If of course they actually arrive in time :?
Title: Re: Pulp!: Skirmish Adventure Wargaming (Osprey Wargames)
Post by: StuRat on December 06, 2022, 05:47:33 AM
Surely the Christmas game should be, "Get to the Sleigh!"
Title: Re: Pulp!: Skirmish Adventure Wargaming (Osprey Wargames)
Post by: Commander Roj on December 06, 2022, 05:59:59 PM
...and the best part of the package in the cover illustration. Rather rudimentary mechanics and bland profile/roster choices.

I think the cover is some exceptional artwork. I wouldn’t mind it as a poster.
Title: Re: Pulp!: Skirmish Adventure Wargaming (Osprey Wargames)
Post by: spacecowsmith on December 06, 2022, 08:13:37 PM
I picked up a copy from Waterstones as a pre-order.

The artwork is the best part of the game to be honest, I found the rules themselves pretty generic with a couple of little elements which were fun but its pretty bland stuff to be honest and feels like a bit of a missed opportunity by Osprey Games as it could have been so much better with some actual effort put into it.

The examples of play are also incredibly boringly illustrated which is rather unfortunate. I'll be sticking with We Can Be Heroes which is much more characterful.

The lack of solo play option is also a really poor show, especially as they tooted all about it in the blurb and then to have the content being "just play both sides" is pretty bad.

Judging by the lack of advertising or indeed effort to get folks talking about it, I can't help but wonder what Osprey Games is doing. I think I'll be holding off picking up any more of their blue books...
Title: Re: Pulp!: Skirmish Adventure Wargaming (Osprey Wargames)
Post by: frd on December 07, 2022, 05:13:32 AM
Shame to hear that the game is not great, and the solo side is non-existent. I was excited when I first found out about those rules especially because of the solo aspect advertised in the blurb.

I'm familiar with the author from his boardgames reviews and was really hoping that he will bring something new to the table - maybe some solo mechanisms from all those board wargames he plays? I was ready to get the book just to check out the solo stuff... and now this.
Title: Re: Pulp!: Skirmish Adventure Wargaming (Osprey Wargames)
Post by: Easy E on December 07, 2022, 04:09:09 PM
I think I'll be holding off picking up any more of their blue books...

Well, these are always hit and miss. 

There are some great ones like Dux Bellorum, The Rampant series, Ronin/En Garde, Fighting Sail, etc.

and then there are less great ones like On the Seven Seas, Broken Legions, A World Aflame, etc.

For the price, they are worth the risk for me.
 
Title: Re: Pulp!: Skirmish Adventure Wargaming (Osprey Wargames)
Post by: BaronVonJ on December 07, 2022, 08:41:29 PM
Wargames Soldiers & Strategy gave it a glowing report. I was a little more skeptical.
Title: Re: Pulp!: Skirmish Adventure Wargaming (Osprey Wargames)
Post by: CapnJim on December 07, 2022, 09:53:10 PM
I'm a bit skeptical, as well.  BUT, I will likely get them.  I'd rather get them and be disappointed, than not get them and find out they're the cat's meow...odd logic, I know, but...
Title: Re: Pulp!: Skirmish Adventure Wargaming (Osprey Wargames)
Post by: Commander Roj on December 08, 2022, 01:33:36 PM
Wargames Soldiers & Strategy gave it a glowing report. I was a little more skeptical.

Guerilla Miniatures Gaming too seemed to like it, although I don’t think they had played it through at that point.
Title: Re: Pulp!: Skirmish Adventure Wargaming (Osprey Wargames)
Post by: Easy E on December 08, 2022, 03:50:16 PM
Yeah, Ash jokingly refers to his own reviews as "Man Reads Books" so he typically has not played them at the point he reviews them.  They are more giving us a look at what is inside and some initial impressions than a full-on, fully playtested review.   
Title: Re: Pulp!: Skirmish Adventure Wargaming (Osprey Wargames)
Post by: pauld on December 09, 2022, 09:51:52 AM
By the way if it's not obvious this is a no brainer purchase for me.  :)

Well they arrived and I have skipped through. ... but alas nothing grabbed me.  Quite uninspiring and generic I felt.

Nice pictures and maybe a few ideas I can steal but I can't honestly see myself bothering to actually play a game.

I too know the author from board game reviews and remember he has said in the past that making and painting miniatures is not something he's into so perhaps the aesthetics are not important to him and he wants oven ready out of the box playable toys.

I think that lack of passion spills over into the rules. 

I generally buy all the blue books whatever the genre/period and enjoy reading if not playing all of them but this, in my opinion, is one of the weaker ones despite it theme (which is a favourite of mine but to be honest is very lacking). 

In summary - if you're looking for a good pulpy, exciting, thematic set of playable rules then move along.  If however, you are a completionist (guilty)  or want some pretty art and a generic skirmish rule set then this may be for you.

Title: Re: Pulp!: Skirmish Adventure Wargaming (Osprey Wargames)
Post by: Doug ex-em4 on December 09, 2022, 05:33:49 PM
Right - that’s it. After the almost total negativity, I’ve crumpled in a heap and cancelled my copy just now. Amazon are in the process of preparing it for despatch so it may be too late, in which case it’ll go back unopened.

Doug
Title: Re: Pulp!: Skirmish Adventure Wargaming (Osprey Wargames)
Post by: Storm Wolf on December 09, 2022, 08:14:05 PM
I must admit I read the big-up in Miniature Wargames and from that I thought Meh!

No real mechanics descriptions, and very bland characterizations of its tropes (and I don't like that word >:D).

So more of a little-down  lol
Title: Re: Pulp!: Skirmish Adventure Wargaming (Osprey Wargames)
Post by: jetengine on December 10, 2022, 08:33:41 AM
I too was disappointed in the rules. Hideously generic with little content. I'm kind of surprised Osprey put this through frankly, I've found better rulesets online for less then £5.

I suspect I should of known something was up when the creator essentially made a comment saying "Pulp isnt a set genre" when it bloody well is! Yes, it's got multiple sub genres  but it's more then just a tone
Title: Re: Pulp!: Skirmish Adventure Wargaming (Osprey Wargames)
Post by: pistolpete on December 11, 2022, 03:03:39 PM
I was curious about possibly getting this as an option from pulp alley but nothing anyone has said is making a compelling case for me.  I saw the GMG review and it didn't seem good enough.  "Warband" doesn't sound pulp to me, and construction sounded vague too.  Does anyone know of any play through, demo?
Title: Re: Pulp!: Skirmish Adventure Wargaming (Osprey Wargames)
Post by: Bowman on December 13, 2022, 11:56:02 AM
My copy arrived yesterday via Amazon.

A quick read through and I’ll concur with the opinion of the others. A poorly conceived and executed set of rules, easily the worst I’ve read from the Osprey blue book series.

Luckily, there was some minor damage to the spine so I’m returning it for a full refund to Amazon. If the rules were better I’d have Amazon replace it. But no.

I’d be interested to see if anyone has read the book and has decided that this is the Pulp ruleset for them.
Title: Re: Pulp!: Skirmish Adventure Wargaming (Osprey Wargames)
Post by: tin shed gamer on December 13, 2022, 12:26:17 PM
I'm still waiting.I mean it's only been eleven days since I got Nick's conformation email.Got to love the GPO lol
Title: Re: Pulp!: Skirmish Adventure Wargaming (Osprey Wargames)
Post by: zemjw on December 13, 2022, 01:46:21 PM
I'm still waiting.I mean it's only been eleven days since I got Nick's conformation email.Got to love the GPO lol

I ordered twice from Hasslefree during their most recent sale. Both orders were dispatched at the same time (why they didn't consolidate them, I have no idea). The second order turned up eight days after the first o_o

Post is all over the place just now  :(
Title: Re: Pulp!: Skirmish Adventure Wargaming (Osprey Wargames)
Post by: nicknorthstar on December 13, 2022, 02:05:22 PM
Hi Tin Shed
Drop us an email, we can find the tracking number for you. But I know where it is, on a big pile of undelivered mail.
Nick
Title: Re: Pulp!: Skirmish Adventure Wargaming (Osprey Wargames)
Post by: tin shed gamer on December 13, 2022, 09:00:06 PM
I will do Nick.
It was ment as amusing rather than a grumble. I'm well aware how bad the post is .
I sent Dag's a sculpt with next day delivery it arrived last Friday despite being posted the Friday before,and being noted as out for delivery on the Tuesday.
Title: Re: Pulp!: Skirmish Adventure Wargaming (Osprey Wargames)
Post by: AzSteven on December 14, 2022, 03:14:29 PM
I was concerned my lack of enthusiasm when I got the rules was based on the high quality of some of these recent Osprey hardback games (Lion Rampant, Frostgrave, Stargrave etc).  The small blue book seems so weak compared to those in terms of physical presence :)

It might have some use as a simple skirmish ruleset, so I will probably give it a try with my gaming group.  We usually do Pulp or 7TV for this genre, but both of those sometimes require a bit more prep than a quick pick-up game allows for.
Title: Re: Pulp!: Skirmish Adventure Wargaming (Osprey Wargames)
Post by: tin shed gamer on December 16, 2022, 06:59:31 PM
Firstly,
A quick nod to Nick. True to his word Nick sent me the tracking details . For the last couple of day's it's come up as will be updated as soon as we attempt delivery.  Sat down tonight and checked at 6pm still the same response. Figured Hay Ho it'll be the strike still doing me a mischief. 6.05pm knock at the door. Here it is.( Checked again it's still marked as not out for delivery  ::) )
I've just had a quick flick through glancing at pictures and tables/ charts.
The first thing I noticed several if not all of the Pulp Alley miniatures photos are Bobs photos. In so far as they're one's he's used and posted long before the rules.
So for me it doesn't bode well. When you can't even be bothered to have your own photos staged for the solo purpose of illustrating the points and the rules.
It just put me in mind of the teenager cutting and pasting in a Wikipedia page into their homework. Because they think noone will notice.
The other thing I noticed is just how abruptly it stopped. For a second you wonder if there's pages missing.
So I'm going to sit back and read them this evening. Hopefully their slightly more use than a fire lighter.
Title: Re: Pulp!: Skirmish Adventure Wargaming (Osprey Wargames)
Post by: Mammoth miniatures on December 19, 2022, 03:43:03 PM
Osprey have released a solo expansion.
Apparently they never meant for solo rules to be mentioned in the core book and any mention of them was an oversight, so they have released some solo rules via free PDF to fix the issue.

https://ospreypublishing.com/uk/osprey-blog/2022/pulp-solo-and-cooperative-rules-free-download/

"We recently released Pulp! by Marco Arnaudo and have been delighted to hear how much you’ve all been enjoying playing it so far. With that said, we wanted to address an issue that was picked up post-release.

Unfortunately during the publishing process a reference to solo and co-operative play was included in the description for the book, which was not removed before publication despite these play modes not featuring in the final game. We’re really sorry that this happened and have been working with Marco behind the scenes to make this material available to you as soon as possible to ensure that everyone can play this game in these modes should they wish to do. A huge thank you to Marco for dropping everything to get this sorted!"


Seems like quite a glaring oversight but since my copy hasn't turned up yet I can't say how glaring. Having just read through the 4 pages of solo/co-op rules I have to say I'm not optimistic about the core game.
Title: Re: Pulp!: Skirmish Adventure Wargaming (Osprey Wargames)
Post by: zemjw on December 19, 2022, 03:56:09 PM
It's mentioned on the back cover and "Key Concepts" on page 4, so pretty glaring lol
Title: Re: Pulp!: Skirmish Adventure Wargaming (Osprey Wargames)
Post by: Easy E on December 19, 2022, 04:55:14 PM
Those tight word counts to hit 64 pages strike again! 

Title: Re: Pulp!: Skirmish Adventure Wargaming (Osprey Wargames)
Post by: CapnJim on December 19, 2022, 06:54:47 PM
Well, I got mine, and have read through them.  I'm not put off by them, but I'm not hyper-excited by them either.  There were a few editing issues in them, and no vehicle rules whatsover....

I think I'll see about my weekly gaming group playing them this coming Wednesday.  I think i can come up with vehicle rules that fit within the spirit of the game, as the scenario I have in mind involved 1920s US gangsters robbing a mail truck (guarded by US Marines)....

I'll post a battle report, and a few thoughts on the rules, in my thread here after we play Wednesday...
Title: Re: Pulp!: Skirmish Adventure Wargaming (Osprey Wargames)
Post by: aircav on December 19, 2022, 08:07:04 PM
Osprey have posted on instagram/facebook & posted the following:

⏬ Pulp! Free download - Solo and cooperative rules ⏬

We recently released Pulp! by Marco Arnaudo and have been delighted to hear how much you’ve all been enjoying playing it so far. With that said, we wanted to address an issue that was picked up post-release.

Unfortunately during the publishing process a reference to solo and co-operative play was included in the description for the book, which was not removed before publication despite these play modes not featuring in the final game. We’re really sorry that this happened and have been working with Marco behind the scenes to make this material available to you as soon as possible to ensure that everyone can play this game in these modes should they wish to do. A huge thank you to Marco for dropping everything to get this sorted!

Download it here: https://bit.ly/3FM81mi

So, with that, we’re very pleased to make this available to you now as a free, downloadable PDF. We will be posting this in all of the forums that we’re active in but would encourage you to share this with your friends and fellow players.

Once again, we’re incredibly sorry that the information about this game was incorrect on release but hope that you enjoy playing the game with these new modes.

Please note that the description has now been amended and will be corrected on the print version in our upcoming reprint.

Many thanks,

Team Osprey Games

https://ospreypublishing.com/media/2zub02zz/pulp-solo-and-coop-rules.pdf (https://ospreypublishing.com/media/2zub02zz/pulp-solo-and-coop-rules.pdf)

Title: Re: Pulp!: Skirmish Adventure Wargaming (Osprey Wargames)
Post by: tin shed gamer on December 19, 2022, 09:38:33 PM
That would explain why it feels like pages were missing  lol
Title: Re: Pulp!: Skirmish Adventure Wargaming (Osprey Wargames)
Post by: Umlaut on December 23, 2022, 09:30:06 PM
Received my copy and gave it a read-through. Strangely disorganized, low in flavor and completely missing any section on individual character creation -which is kinda the ‘meat and potatoes’ of pulp play. Feels like more than just the solo and co-op rules got dropped. Core mechanics include testing for activation and unit cohesion. Not really my bag so think I will pass.
Title: Re: Pulp!: Skirmish Adventure Wargaming (Osprey Wargames)
Post by: Easy E on January 05, 2023, 04:12:13 PM
Just got my copy, so I hope to have a review in a couple of weeks.  lol