Recommend me a Ruleset

[Golan2072]

I'm looking for a good ruleset to run a wide variety of wargames with.

My needs are:

1) Relatively simple and easy to learn. I want to play wargames with my spouse, and she likes her rules light both in RPGs as well as in wargames.

2) Works well with 15mm, my favorite scale.

3) Covers a wide range of modern and futuristic settings. I want to use similar rules to play WWII, Ultra-Modern, Post-Apocalyptic and (relatively 'hard') Sci-Fi games.

4) Suitable for relatively small engagements on the squad or platoon level - about 8-40 figures per side plus a few vehicles on a table of about 3' by 2' (100cm x 60cm).

5) Tactically and strategically interesting. I want a ruleset that will present the player with interesting choices to make.

My current favorite is USE ME, but I might want something a bit more complex, and I'm VERY open to suggestions.

[commissarmoody]

Check out Ambush ally, force on force and there sci-fi version called tomorrow's war.
http://ambushalleygames.com/

ask them on the forums if you have any questions. The rules use a sliding value of dice to represent quality of troops and moral. And works from WW2 up to the present, and the Tomorrow war covers light and hard sic-fi Its also is an open scale but designed at for 15-40mm.
I hope that helps.

[Gluteus Maximus]

5150 or Chain Reaction 3 from Two Hour Wargames. They both tick all the boxes you've specified.

[Golan2072]

I didn't like the way CR 3 was laid out and explained; is 5150 and/or NUTS! better laid out and better explained?

[Argonor]

Ganesha Games' 'Flying Lead' and 'Mutants and Death Ray Guns' might fit the bill. No 'hard sci-fi' supplement yet, though, but there's a weapon generator available for making all kinds of guns and stuff.

[matakishi]

Um... Crossfire?
Tactically challenging, no measuring, no rules to look up after a game or two, 30 figures to a side as a comfortable maximum, will easily work on your table size with 15mm figs.

WWII: http://www.matakishi.com/crossfire.htm
Modern: http://www.matakishi.com/operationrunningdeer.htm
Sci Fi: http://www.matakishi.com/xenomorphgame1.htm
Horror: http://www.matakishi.com/hellfire.htm

No you don't need to multi base if you don't want to, yes you can play with 10 figures a side if you want, no it doesn't work well with more than two players, yes the vehicle rules need changing (the simple fix is on my site) yes non wargamers understand it and enjoy it. (Operation Running Deer won most enjoyable game at BLAM 2009)
yes I go on about it, no I don't plan to stop.

Any questions, just ask

[AndrewBeasley]

Just be aware Crossfire is hard to get hold off - http://crossfire.wargaming.info/2011/where-can-i-get-crossfire/#more-55 is the up to date listing

Failing that try:
pz8 http://panzer8.weebly.com/rules.html
fubar http://thegamesshed.wordpress.com/2010/06/17/fubar-one-page-sfmodern-rules/

but if I was you I would stick with Use Me - they work and are simple to use...

Andrew

[Froggy the Great]

I am quite fond of FUBAR - http://thegamesshed.wordpress.com/2010/06/17/fubar-one-page-sfmodern-rules/

1pg.  Free.

[basaint]

Agree with Froggy.  Fubar is one page

[Eldorf.Dragonsbane]

5150 or Chain Reaction 3 from Two Hour Wargames. They both tick all the boxes you've specified.

I have to agree with the Chain Reaction system by Two Hour Wargames. With Chain Reaction you can play anything from  Fantasy to Victorian Steampunk to Pulp to Modern Warfare (WWII on) to Zombies to Sci Fi. If you want to further expand your games THW offers various games based on the rules system, 5150 for a Sci Fi setting, All Things Zombie for a Zombie/Post Apocalyptic setting (with After the Horsemen coming out soon to expand the PA setting), Larger Than Life for Pulp, FNG for a a Vietnam/Post Vietnam setting, Nuts! for a WWII setting, ect... Another plus with the Chain Reaction System is you can play the games Solo, Cooperatively, or Against each other.

I myself play primarily All Things Zombie (also known as ATZ, have played it in both the 1st and the current 2nd editions), though I do have copies of FNG and the older version of Nuts (it is now on its second edition), that I occasionally bring out for when I want to play some military warfare (sqaud vs squad). I also have a copy of Dead Heat: Professional Zombie racing, and will be getting Qwick (another Post Apocalypse game. in which you are part of a "pro" sports team for the game of Qwick). Both Dead Heat and Qwick can easily be integrated in a game of ATZ or After the Horsemen (when it comes out), matter of fact the ATZ supplement I, Zombie introduces a condensed version of Dead Heat, along with pit fighting for use in your ATZ games along with a method for gambling (betting on the games).

Now any Chain Reaction game does have a slight learning curve since the mechanics are different then most games. In Chain Reaction (and the games based in it) a lower die roll is the best result for certain rolls/actions, yet others you want to roll the higher roll. Once you have read through the rules, play a couple mini games where you are focusing on one of the mechanics/rules, such as one on one Ranged combat, one on one melee, the add another figure so its two on one, then slowly add more of the mechanics until you have a solid grasp of how the game play works. Doing this you should be able to have a solid grasp of the rules before your first full game, and as you play more you will have to refer to the rules and tables less and less (though keep the QRS with the main tables ready there will be times where you will need to refer to them, especially if your playing a different character type then you normally do, ie a Ganger instead of a Survivor in ATZ).

[NickNascati]

I do like both 5150 from Two Hour Wargames, and FUBAR.  However, my current favorite is Firefight 2.0. from Alternative Armies. Definitely a 2 player game, quick and fairly easy to pick up.  No vehicles at present though.

[timlillig]

I have been enjoying WarEngine lately.  I think it would work for you.
http://warengine.darktortoise.com/index.php?title=Main_Page

[Deathwing]

I have to say FUBAR is pretty cool.  Not to taste for a few things, but there are definitely some neat concepts that are going to be looted.

Joey

[raskal]

One of my favorite is Gruntz.
http://www.gruntz.biz/

[Pentaro]

I like FAD a lot. It's the easiest and fastest game I know, and more realistic than most SF games (which is good if you like that). Take a look:

http://www.freewebs.com/weaselfierce/