"best scifi skirmish game" Topic

hey all, I'm looking for recomendations on a good rules set for scifi skirmishing. I'm looking for rules that allow multiple players playing their own factions/units (not just multiple players playing on two opposing sides). I'm looking for something with a good level of detail and some fun options to make the game exciting (i just picked up Saga as an example, they have an awesome battleboard system which makes things interesting).

I'd like to hear suggestions along with why you like the system you recommend!

Killzone – and it's expanded version Combat Zone – sound like what you're looking for.

Tomorrow's War

There is no such thing as the "best" scifi skirmish game IMCO, but there are many good ones. Based on your very succintly expressed wishlist, one of those that might fit the bill would be Defiance: Vital Ground from Majestic 12.

It's perhaps mean for a little larger games than you'd prefer but it's quite scaleable once you put a little thought into what you're doing with it. Also, it doesn't inherently cater for three+ -way battles but again it's doable with minimum fuss.

More stuff (including relevant further links – scroll to the end of the [short] page):
heros.netai.net/html/DVG.html

Another vote for Tomorrow's War.

Scope of game and type of sci-fi is a very important consideration.

Scope
Are you looking for a warband size game with each charachter activated and moved alone, a squad based game, or some combination?

Type
Are you looking for a hard Sci-Fi or a sci-fantasy game?

Ordinarybass beat me to it.

oops, I did forget to mention scale. I'm basically shooting for warband sized games, 4-10 figures per player with 5-6 being typical. 28mm scale.

i would check out spacejackers' homebrew "throwdown"
maybe not available yet, but looks promising( he also has a set called gutcheck)
also freeware post apocalyptic , wastelands

Thorlongus, do you have a link?

Whst kind of setting? Military, human-only, gangs, etc.?

Hoping to find something somewhat generic but I'm looking for a set to use with my alien vs predators vs people figures.

My favourite sci fi game using forces of that size would be Infinity. True, it's tied to a specific range of figures and background, but there's quite a wide variety of unit types and weapons, so it should be possible to use the existing profiles as "stand-ins" if you don't wish to make up your own stats.

Off the top of my head, Colonial Marines types could be represented by a selection of the Ariadnan infantry units, Predators by something like the Combined Army Anathematics and Aliens by Combined Army Hungries. That's just without altering any of the existing unit profiles; by tweaking the special rules or weapons, you could make them more appropriate.

Plus, it has the added advantage of being free, so you can check it out for zero outlay.

wasteland rules
link
gutcheck/and throwdown
link
link
wasteland has a really good campaign system
oops almost forgot
in the emperors name. by makers of fubar…excellent campaign system and was going to have versions for non gothic scifi
iten-game.org
also worth a look .. mutants and death ray guns

Try Rezolution or Infinity.
Both are really neat systems, but of those two, I like Rez better. But its a tough fight.

Guncrawl by Mel Ebbles, but now available at WorldWorksGames:

link

Wide variety of stats and special rules, plus the ability to create your own weapons. It's made for indoor games on a grid, but could easily be adapted to outdoor/non-grids by sustituting 1" for 1 square.

What about some of the rules for pulp gaming? Anything out there suitable for scifi gaming as well?

I'm mostly looking for a rules set with some character. I like systems that use cards for various things or allow for the players to pull of some interesting stuff. Mainly, i want something more then just pushing some models around and rolling dice, if that makes sense.

Gruntz! gruntz.biz

or Stargrunt (which is free) link

Grabula, if you're looking for a warband sized game with character development and individual figure activation, I'd give Two Hour Wargames' 5150 a look. I think those rules fit what you're asking for to a tee (I haven't played Bulkheads & Blasters, but I've heard great things about it, too).

Best,

Shawn.

I second Shawn from Ambush Alley. 5150 from Two Hour Wargames. Lots of support and "add-ons" available on the web too!

gruntz hands down.

Blasters and Bulkheads available at Wargames Vault. It is based on the Goal System, like Chaos in Carpatheia. It has a Character creation system, and a very effective henchmen creation system. It can be used for all types of SciFi skirmish games, from military vs military, to Dr. Who vs Daleks. Very versitile. Plays with a few to around 25 miniatures.

Another possibility is Savage World Showdowns, a free game from Pinnacle Entertainment. Very versitile rules that you can use for any period or Genre. Again, a few to 25 or 30 miniatures per side.

I love GRUNTZ and Stargrunt but I think they're both focused on larger forces than the OP is asking for.

I'd go for 5150. It's a borderline RPG in its detail… lots of options. Very versatile.

Also, .45 Adventures and it's offshoots like Fantastic Worlds would be a good option. They're great at presenting scenario-based games that tell a fun story.

Infinity is my go-to game for up to 10 models per side. Rules are free, and the game is balanced well enough that you really can take just the models you like the looks of and make a competitive army!

Based on your specs, I'd suggest:
In The Emperor's name: Based loosely on fubar, it's a great open ended system. The creators were going for a 40k feel in terms of the warband and scenario lists, but it's quite generic.

If you would like to have hero charachters, but also a few bands of henchmen/mooks , check out the goalsystem games such as Blasters and Bulkheads.

Wasetlands is also a great choice. Strait up beer and pretzels fun. I used the most recent version "wastelands" in an even more stripped down mode to run a convention game last weekend and had a blast.

5150 for the way you are moving . I like tomorrows war but as a sis versus side game

Wastelands is good and has heavy loss rate ( at least when we done multiplayer) Guncrawl was another interesting suggestion that would work well.The ealier combat zone recommendation is really good and may suit you request seems to play well with other players better.

40K but you need to go back to around 1992-1993 before GW destroyed the game.

But since they did go with…

Tomorrow's War.

Two Hour Wargames also has a pulp adventures set.

Looking at tw hour wargames, which 5150 set is the base set?

Star army is the"base"for 5150…but I would look at the free chain reaction 3 for how it all works and give you an idea of using it for what you want…and the Yahoo group is great for help and finding what your are looking for and making the rules fit your needs

I definitely agree with McBane. THW is definitely an acquired taste. Some folks love it and some can't stand it. Chain Reaction 3 is free and is the same basic rules engine as 5150. If you like CR3, you'll probably love 5150. If you don't, then 5150 would not be a good purchase for you.

I grabbed in the name of the emperor and chain reaction to peruse. 5150 star army or whatever appears to be a mass combat system?

5150: Star Army is for larger battles but 5150: New Beginnings is for the smaller gang/warband/entourage focused games.

Is New Beginnings a stand alone? I seem to remember there was a 5150 base game, red and white border on the cover…

Not anymore. Just two separate (but compatible) rules sets, New Beginnings (man to man, low level, good for gang warfare, smugglers and pirates, squad on squad games) and Star Army (platoon or larger is my suggestion). As the setting of New Beginnings (kinda dystopian-but-not-exactly post-cyberpunk city/colony world) affects a lot of its coolest rules (like the campaign system) it can take a little adapting for other settings. But its really good for all SF. Combining it with Star Army is also good-- allowing you to play small scale military games or 'zoom in' on the protagonists while playing the larger fight with Star Army.

Chain Reaction 3 is more like New Beginnings than Star Army in its current form. I'd say that even if you don't like CR 3-- especially for platoon level or higher game-- you could in theory like Star Army… the In Sight test, for exmaple, works entirely differently. I'd still say get CR 3 first but don't assume the rules are the same, as they're quite different.