Help me find a rule set...

[phreedh]

I want to do some scifi gaming. Or actually, I just want to collect scifi lead... but to justify it, I need to tie that in with some sort of loose plan of actual gaming.

The games I want to play are either small skirmish games (ship's crew vs security force, pirates vs smugglers, evil empire soldiers vs aliens in need of cleansing etc etc) or "larger than 40k but smaller than epic" games of organized forces shooting each other to bits with tanks and all. I'm thinking something like Firefly meets Star Trek away teams meets Mass Effect for the skirmishing parts. It's almost a requirement that I can bolt on some sort of campaign system (unless it's already there) but my main requirement is it being customizable. I don't want to buy into a proprietery system with loads of books and a canonized range of miniatures.

Maybe I should check with Dave King regarding Stardred for my skirmishing purposes, but it would be great if the same system could pull double duty.

I've looked at Tomorrow's War and Stargrunt 2, with SG2 being the main contender right now. I've played neither, so would appreciate opinions and other suggestions.

This is for basement gaming for fun, btw - I'm not going to clubs or game shops for my gaming fix.

[The_Beast]

Tempted to ask 'Stardred?', but instead, how about what do you like to play now, and why, and give us a better idea of works for you.

Everybody has canon, but for many, it's just to get folk started. We'll try to steer you away from the ones where canon IS the game.  

Doug

Edit: And by 'we', I'm assuming I'll be watching as closely as you. I'm a vacchead.

[phreedh]

Tempted to ask 'Stardred?', but instead, how about what do you like to play now, and why, and give us a better idea of works for you.

Urrr... thought I mentioned that, but the last few years I've been playing almost exclusively Songs of Blades & Heroes. Accessibility and completely open roster system (I can pick any mini and stat it up within an easily grasped points value system that gives me some balance). I dislike the low granularity of the system though and would prefer something with a little more stats and variables. And scifi =)

Stardred is the (in the works) scifi version of Skulldred, by LAFer kingofdaveness.

[Doomsdave]

Fubar.   I use it for all my SF gaming. 

[Maspalio]

NoLimits system from Wargamesunlimited

http://www.wargamesunlimited.net/

totally free...action system...no U go I go (beurk !)...a point system that allows you to make what you want with what you have or will have  ...you can make your own troops, vehicles and guns...


I tried it...really fun

[phreedh]

Fubar.   I use it for all my SF gaming. 

A bit barebones, me thinks. I'll give it a spin though. Thanks for reminding me, and also putting me on In The Emperor's Name by proxy. =)

[Anpu]

Pulp Alley, it works perfectly for sci fi as well.

[YPU]

Actually ganesha is doing a company size sci-fi game aparently called "stronger then steel" using d10, andreass said d6's didn't allow enough granularity.

[phreedh]

Actually ganesha is doing a company size sci-fi game aparently called "stronger then steel" using d10, andreass said d6's didn't allow enough granularity.

I know, but won't hold my breath for any unreleased Ganesha product.

Still haven't tried Flying Lead though, maybe I should put some of your help to good use on that and have a go.

[YPU]

Flying lead works for skirmish as long as the models your using are not to "out there" It might very well work for the things you describe wanting to do skirmish wise.


For larger games tough, I am very much looking myself at the moment. I very much like stargrunts meta-game like effect with on table off table interaction, much like I like this in dirtside. It however is clearly not written for larger encounters with multiple armoured support on either side.

Personally I am looking for 15mm games so the ruleset I am using right now is gruntz 15mm but it fall short of what I am looking for. Mainly its system of rolling 2d6 for each individual model simply takes to much time.

I have been writing some rules on of my own as I have currently been completely unable to find anything of satisfaction up to date, so I'll keep eye on this topic. 

[YPU]

warengine. it just works for what you want to do.

Could you point me to a source for this outside yahoo? I have a bit of a Hate Murder relationship with yahoo. 

[mcfonz]

Tomorrows war maybe?

I'd also second fubar but suggest you apply to the forums as well as there are expanded versions of it with a suggestion of how to point troops up.

However, if you want a gang sized game there is Necromunda on the GW site or fan made Inquisimunda (or at least thats what my late evening work frazzled brain recalls it as being called.

[Marauder]

Do you need point values?  Lots of systems out there, with a bunch being able to give you point values and others that don't have point values.  Also how varied to troops have to be?  I'm not an expert on SG2 or TW, but I remember skimming them and thinking it would be difficult to make "aliens" really feel significantly different than other troops (or I'm just ignorant and missed it).

Some that haven't been mentioned yet in this thread:

5150 Star Army - no point values but can handle solo play and has campaign type stuff - Two Hour Wargames

Defiance - very high level of detail and churns out point values as well - MJ12 Games

Strike Legion Platoon Leader - Looks awesome need to study it a bit more - Legionnaire Games

PMC2640 - don't know a whole lot about it but has some good reviews - Assault Publishing

Blasters and Bulkheads - Made for "not-starwars" but handles most scifi

Vortex - Seems to handle pretty much everything skirmish with some rules to group stuff together into units, has point values too (but is rather generic so you have to make things more exciting yourself)

-Tim

[phreedh]

Do you need point values?  Lots of systems out there, with a bunch being able to give you point values and others that don't have point values.  Also how varied to troops have to be?  I'm not an expert on SG2 or TW, but I remember skimming them and thinking it would be difficult to make "aliens" really feel significantly different than other troops (or I'm just ignorant and missed it).

I'd prefer rather varied. Think Rogue Trader varied... I'm mainly looking for Rogue Trader, without the clunkiness. Thus, no Necromunda or other GW rule set either. =)

Also, I'm more after future adventure gaming than future war gaming.

Point values aren't necessary, but I said "customizable". I don't play enough to become experienced enough to just "throw something together that feels right". I need the guidance of point value systems to know I'm not setting up two terribly unfair forces when I prepare a game. Now - it can be discussed at length whether any points value system is balanced or not, but that's not the... point... here. =)

Thanks for all the suggestions. Blasters and Bulkheads looks like a strong contender!