Computer games that would make good wargames.

[Andrew May]

First thing I should say is, I DON'T mean computer games that would make cool minis, I mean ones that would make good wargames.

I'm working in my own rule set at the moment and was quite inspired by the layout etc of old "top down" shooters and it got me thinking  again about what interesting dynamics, mechanics and gameplay could be transferred from the console to the tabletop? I'm really focusing on more "retro" games than modern. Modern games tend to be more "realistic" rather than abstract, I'm primarily interested in gaming rather than simulating "reality" and think there could be a lot to to learn from the way some old games dealt with the mechanics side if things.

I started this topic a long while back on Frothers Unite, there were some interesting responses but I'm fairly sure it was lost in the big crash that happened awhile back. From what I remember there were some interesting ideas. I've done a lot more pondering since but at the time I was thinking about the command mechanic from the game Cannon Fodder and trying to apply the move/shoot/effect sequence from Worms. It's late and my brain is seizing up but I'm sure the LAF collective can come up with some fun ideas.
 

[beefcake]

A simplified version of UFO, enemy unknown. Lots of people on here have had projects of those going as well.

[Knightofspades]

Valkyrie Chronicles have an interesting mechanic where the soldiers shoot at anything that moves in their range during their turn that means you can block off spots on the map just by having lots of models with guns in range of it and that activating a figure that is surrounded by enemy miniatures is suicide.

[Andrew May]

Interesting. I've been playing with ideas for autonomous units in a similar way.

[DoctorPete]

"Laser Squad" was a skirmish scifi game that used action points and allowed a player to save any or all of his actions to cover an area on over watch.  The figure's action point total dropped as he gained damage.  Explosive terrain (compressed gas cylinders, certain storage containers) made wild or erratic shooting dangerous to both sides! 

[FramFramson]

The Total War series seems to have wargames in mind, certainly.

As does the Age of Empires series.

[smokezombie]

I'll second Valcaria Chronicles. In fact my brother and I regularly discuss how VC would make a great system for a Mordheim computer game.

[maxxon]

I really like Valkyrie Chronicles for many reasons, but the activation system is not one of them.

Essentially you get one activation per unit -- but you can use multiple activations on a single unit.

While there is a small penalty for re-activating the same unit in many cases the best tactic is to siphon off activations from the "cheerleader squad" and use them on the units that are in a position (or have the correct equipment) to do something useful. E.g. if you need to take out an enemy tank, your best move is to siphon activations off your infantry and just take multiple shots with your tank.

Oh yes, and it has automated reaction fire. While it works ok, the only new thing about it is the adaptation to the the real-time movement.

The combat system has its oddities as well. Headshots are so much more effective that in most cases it's much better to run up close for a guaranteed headshot rather than engage in a sensible gunfight at range.

I usually play VC "realistically" only activating each unit once, which leads to getting a lousy score.

[Andrew May]

Has anyone tried Command and Conquer in 6/10/15mm?

[sundayhero]

Faster than Light, with solid mechanics, would make an incredible solo tabletop game.

[Daeothar]

A simplified version of UFO, enemy unknown. Lots of people on here have had projects of those going as well.

"Laser Squad" was a skirmish scifi game that used action points and allowed a player to save any or all of his actions to cover an area on over watch.  The figure's action point total dropped as he gained damage.  Explosive terrain (compressed gas cylinders, certain storage containers) made wild or erratic shooting dangerous to both sides! 

Both of these (as UFO basically was a more developed version of Laser Squad, by the same makers). I'd go for it in an instant, as I'm one of the many who have a tabletop UFO project on the back burner...

And I would like to throw a couple out there myself: S.TA.L.K.E.R., DeusEx Human Revolution and Operation Flashpoint for instance.

Granted; they would be squad level games, and the first two would be best suited for skirmish campaigns with RPG elements, but all are excellent games with key elements that could very easily be translated to the tabletop!

And how about Syndicate or Mafia?

[YPU]

Faster than Light, with solid mechanics, would make an incredible solo tabletop game.

Yea I can see that working as a solo or group boardgame, not really a wargame.

[beefcake]

I think Faster than light (FTL) would be great. but as YPU says single person most probably. Still it involves attacking crafts and the boarding of other crafts I would put more emphasis on. It has weapons that you can use to help you out with the boarding parties such as healing bombs and you can always fire your fire-based weapons into the middle of the boarding action. I like the sound of that actually. I may look into coming up with my own rules for it.