40K Any good at skirmish level?

[ulverston]

Hi,

I have a scenario hat I want to work through but it only has a dozen or so figures per side.... would the 40K shooting mechanic work? Has anyone else used 40K in this small a game? I am not in a rush as I still have a building or two to construct... using something I am familiar with would be easier and cheaper than buying into a new ruleset. I look forward to seeing what you chaps have done.

[Hobgoblin]

I'm not familiar with any iteration of 40K after the first, but that works just fine for small skirmishes. You can plug 40K weapons and armour into Mordheim (all the rules are online here), which is a nice skirmish-specific iteration of Warhammer (detailed rules for falling, jumping, etc.).

[pixelgeek]

One Page Rules has the Grim Dark Future Firefight rules which you might want to check out

https://www.onepagerules.com/games/grimdark-future-firefight

There is also the Space Weirdos rules

https://caseyg.itch.io/space-weirdos

[Citizen Sade]

It has been years since I played 40K but I suspect that low figure count skirmishing could be a bit dull. Considered using the old Necromunda rules (there was a free community edition knocking around before GW re-released it) or Inquisimunda/IQ28? The mechanics would be familiar and there would be added chrome e.g. pinning, overwatch, sustained fire and out-of-ammo rolls.

[Aethelflaeda was framed]

Or you could use Spacehulk rules. I still play them and they are a good tense game. Special rules for non-terminators and hybrids with weapons already in existence means any 40k figs probably can be dyi-ed in.

[v_lazy_dragon]

2nd Ed 40k formed the basis for (old) Necromunda formed the basis for Shadow War Armageddon skirmish game?
Any of those should be *fine* (not necessarily the best, but cover all the things you'd expect to see); honestly not sure on  later flavours of 40k.

[ulverston]

Thanks for the pointers Guys! I will certainly have a look at the one page rules, I do have the Necromunda rulebook but decided it was a bit too in depth for what I would be doing. Thanks again.... I am off to the One Page rules website!

[Aethelflaeda was framed]

One Page Rules has the Grim Dark Future Firefight rules which you might want to check out

https://www.onepagerules.com/games/grimdark-future-firefight

There is also the Space Weirdos rules

https://caseyg.itch.io/space-weirdos

Thanks for pointing these out, the grim dark rules look pretty damn good and i had never heard of them.  struck me as much like Song of Blades and Heroes or Fistfull of Lead…but free!

Space Weirdos i have played and the rules are fun but can be a bit fiddly in the combat rolling resolutions.

[Daeothar]

Grim Dark Future (Firefight) rules are really good and concise. These are the rules we use over here to get our 40K fix, without actually having to resort to playing 40K.

We find that some of the flavour is lacking, and some units might behave different from what you might have been used to them doing in 40K, but overall, the experience is great.

Fast play, no confusion, easy looking up of the rules (most will be on one page after all ) and there's also a robust army/warband creator on their website.

I'm most definitely a fan...

[Darkson71]

If you want to keep the GW vibe going, Necromunda 1st edition or Kill Team would both work a lot better for a skirmish game than 40k, which hasn't really worked for skirmish since 1st ed!

Outside of GW, and in addition to those listed above, check out Space Weirdos, Stargrave (especially if you want some progression) or Mars Code Aurora.

[mendoza]

We play 40k with 7tv rules. 

[Redshank]

Or you could use Spacehulk rules. I still play them and they are a good tense game. Special rules for non-terminators and hybrids with weapons already in existence means any 40k figs probably can be dyi-ed in.

I have fond memories of old Space Hulk.

Are the rules still available anywhere?

EDIT: a quick google sorted me out, please ignore.

[Seal]

We have been using the One Page Rules for a number of years now. As others have already said, they are pretty darn good. I’m a fan.

[Infojunky]

heh, 1st edition 40K works fine in that range....

We played a bunch of it with 5 to 10 figures per player back in the day.

But mind you that edition was very "roll-play" in flavor.

I walked away and thought about it, Necromunda is also a good set of rules, or at least the 1st edition which what I have played the most of.

[Sakuragi Miniatures]

I haven't played it after 4th edition but I don't see why the shooting mechanics wouldn't still work. Last week I used Pulp Alley rules with 40K minis, that gamed just fine.