Alternative WWI Science Fiction Gaming

[Richard]

Is there any games for playing an alternative version of WWI similar to VSF / steampunk? I have tried searching google and this forum but if you are not sure what you are looking for it is easy to miss.

[Bogdanwaz]

I've run a Weird World War 1 game at several conventions in the US, I've posted some reports on my blog here:

http://bogdanwaz.blogspot.com/search/label/Word%20War%20I

I used the Astounding Tales! pulp rules together with the large battle supplement I wrote for Astounding Adventures #3 supplement.  Both can be purchased from Pulp Action Library:

http://www.pulpactionlibrary.com/Products.php

Also, there is a supplement for the Savage Worlds RPG called Kaiser's Gate that adds fanastical elements to WW1:

http://www.rpgnow.com/product/104514/Kaisers-Gate?manufacturers_id=62

[Richard]

Thank you for your reply I'll have a read through at some point. Does any of this tie in with a range of 28mm figures or vehicles?

[n815e]

15mm

http://www.architectsofwar.com/allquietonthemartianfront.aspx

[Bogdanwaz]

I used 28mm for my games.  There isn't a single comprehensive Weird WWI line of figures and vehicles in 28mm that I'm aware of. 

Most of the figures I used came from regular WWI lines, primarily Old Glory, Brigade Games, and Great War.  Most of the vehicles I used were scratch built or modified kits. 

There's a small line of fantasy world war I figures from Black Hat Miniatures:

http://www.blackhat.co.uk/online_shop/index.php?cPath=121_196

There are some figures here and there that add a weird science to WWI, like these from Brigade Games:

http://brigadegames.3dcartstores.com/German-Chemical-Heavy-Troopers-I-2_p_1031.html
http://brigadegames.3dcartstores.com/German-Chemical-Support-Troopers-I-2_p_1032.html

You can also find some useful figures in most Pulp lines.

[Steve F]

Years ago, a company called "Over the Wire" put out a game and a small 28mm miniatures range called "England Invaded".  That's the only pre-packaged Weird WW1 miniatures game I can think of.

Weird WW1 is a bit trickier than VSF: for the latter, a common thread is to take internal-combustion-engine creations like tanks and aeroplanes and retrofit them to the steam age.  But WW1 actually did have tanks and planes, of course.  So you are left with outright SF (death rays, robots) or the supernatural (Angels of Mons etc - Titan's Doctor Who comics recently mashed them up as the Weeping Angels of Mons - or the Black Max, who, as British comic readers of a certain age will remember, kept a giant bat in the fuselage of his Fokker Dr1).

One idea I have toyed with from time to time is Rommel vs Dracula.  Rommel really was an officer in the German and Austrian armies' Romanian campaign of 1916-17.  Scarab Miniatures' Great War range has a suitable character figure for him.  It was the lack of 28mm WW1 Romanians that put me off last time I considered this.

Some other potentially useful ranges in 28mm are the assorted armed women in WW1 uniforms that are available: British and (historically justified) Russians from Minifigs, and Germans from Hinterland.

Edit: I forgot to mention: Hasslefree has a range of Halflings in British WW1 kit, while Eureka has WW1 Germans with rocket packs.

[Bogdanwaz]

There are some interesting vehicles in Zombiesmith's Quar line too:

http://www.zombiesmith.com/products/royalist-chyweethl-light-tractor-28mm

[Diplomatist]

The Pulp Action Library are working on something called Weird Trench Tales, but I don't have any further details.

http://www.pulpactionlibrary.com/

[Richard]

Thank you all for the useful information it is an idea I am mulling over at the moment to do with a steam horse I am developing someone suggested I should also aim it at the weird wars section and the only period I could think of was WWI but had not heard of a specific game, now I know why. I think I will get some WWI cavalry figures on the weekend at Partizan if I can find some and have a play with the concept.