Recommendations for a Bug Hunt?

[6milPhil]

I'm getting a few bugs and troopers together and I'm looking for recommendations for both bugs and fast rules.

On the bug front I've noticed rebel miniatures do a few and the Eureka/GZG ones thanks to another thread. Any other suggestions?

I'm also looking for fast play rules, similar in simplicity to Akula's range of AR:SE rules, you know a couple of A4 sheets, preferably with lots of explosions and opportunities to go "Pew. Pew-pew-pew.".

[AKULA]

I'm also looking for fast play rules, similar in simplicity to Akula's range of AR:SE rules, you know a couple of A4 sheets, preferably with lots of explosions and opportunities to go "Pew. Pew-pew-pew.".

Depends when you are planning a game - i've got alien rules on my todo list for after Salute.... 

[cheetor]

I did some playtesting of the Ganesha Games bug hunt ruleset "Swatters" over the last couple of months.  It uses the Song of Blades and Heroes engine, except that it uses squads rather than individuals.  Swatters is a bit more stripped down and lean than even than the other fast play games.  We have been having good fun with it, lots of "pew-pew....Aiiieee!" noises.



The rules are being designed for use with the lovely Khurasan Space Demon range, but it worked just fine with the 28mm bugs from various manufacturers that I have access to.



The main problem with recommending this low cost, quick to play set is that it isnt available yet (although it is nearly finished now, with the rules fully complete and only scenario and unit tweaking left), but if you get through your projects at the same rate that I do then the game should definitely be available by the time that you get the figures painted up

If you are not set on a specific scale then I think the Khurasan 15mm stuff is the way to go miniatures wise.  Its a fantastic range for bugs and bug hunters.  I am tempted to pick up a few to use as larval bugs for my 28mms, just because the figures look so nice to paint.

[6milPhil]

Depends when you are planning a game - i've got alien rules on my todo list for after Salute.... 

Well some of my shopping for it will be at Salute, so if those could be ready say... a week later?

Cheetor, sounds good I'll keep an eye out for them. I'm going 28mm for figures, but of course 15mm bugs are still suitable. I was just about to whinge about Khurasan's site being closed but delighted to report it's back!

[AKULA]

Well some of my shopping for it will be at Salute, so if those could be ready say... a week later?

well....obviously a great deal of thought and rigorous playtesting goes into every pile of AR:SE I write, before it gets written down on the back of an envelope....

 

I guess I could have something ready for you by then.... 

Are you going to be using Fenris' Sulacco tiles for your table, or do you want to be endlessly measuring movement, range etc...?

[6milPhil]

Mines going to be more SST than Aliens, not least because there aren't any aliens available, but I bought a few boxes of SST the other day. The measuring will be easy, bugs charges, troopers run away, those which don't die... 

[zorg]

I'm using THWs 5150 Star Army rules for my bug hunts, and I think it works pretty well. You need to balance bugs/humans by gut feel, since there are no points, but it's easy to get the hang of, and the game runs smoothly.

[aliensurfer]

I'm using THWs 5150 Star Army rules for my bug hunts, and I think it works pretty well. You need to balance bugs/humans by gut feel, since there are no points, but it's easy to get the hang of, and the game runs smoothly.

you also need someone who knows the THW rules inside out to explain them, I've a couple of sets, yet the layout is poor regards explaining rules and the order it gives you the info.

Tried a game with a mate, we ended up (probably cos we mis-read it) with one guy firing, the other making a reaction return shot, to which the original shooter made a reaction return shot, and it went on as neither of them died, and both kept reacting. Like I say, probably us, but not the easiest set of rules to get into the THW range. However, there is the fact I am pretty thick so others might have  much more ease with them 

[aliensurfer]

forgot to say, despite my inability to understand them, I have since got more of them and enjoy reading through them, and there are some good ideas in there. I wasn't knocking them at all.

[n815e]

There's always the Starship Troopers rules from Mongoose.  Not too simple but not too difficult and they give a fun and interesting game experience.

[workerBee]

How simple is your idea of simple?   

For almost everything involving platoon level combat I still like Stargrunt II.      

Looking into using the "net centric" (my words I forget the actual wording in the book) rules of Force on Force/Future Wars for telepathic bugs in larger battles but I suspect that is not simple for your purposes.   

Gracias,

Glenn

[zorg]

you also need someone who knows the THW rules inside out to explain them, I've a couple of sets, yet the layout is poor regards explaining rules and the order it gives you the info.

Definitely! The rules are unclear and very short on some points, and unnecessarily longwinded on others. I wouldn't have gotten along with them when I was younger, at all.

That said, these days I game with relatively relaxed guys, and it's not too important who wins, as long as we have fun (well, I lose that often, I better have that attitude). On that basis, it's usually not a problem to solve any rules problems; and after a few games (and after explaining the rules a few times), I think we have a rather smooth game.

But I totally see your point. THW is productive, Ed has nice ideas, and I like the complexity level of his games - but the layout is suboptimal.

[6milPhil]

The THW sound too complex, the Mongoose SST might work but I think you have to buy a few various volumes, I'll have a look at Stargrunt though. Thanks for all the tips. 

[manatic]

I'm currently using Ganesha Games' Flying Lead rules for my scifi gaming. Quick, easy, customizable, cinematic and very nice in general.

[mcfonz]

FUBAR has a sci fi edition. Free, one side of A4. The aliens are nasty, you'll need your marines to carry quite a punch.

If you want to make the aliens even nastier, give them the guerrilla fighter rules as well. None start on the table. They can be placed anywhere on their successful first activation.

I'd suggest a couple of house rules such as not being able to move on their first activation - or that they have to appear out of sight if that makes sense.

Also what I have done is add a stat so there is a bit more to differentiate between good shooters and good combatants.