First up, the forces:
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| Sepulvedan Resistance from Khurasan - please excuse the leaning wall in the background. I rushed that together for photos. |
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| Khurasan Sepulvedan Control Forces |
Now, you may have noticed I only have 3 figs for one side. Yes, that is a problem. It won't be until May that I order my next batch from Khurasan, most likely. So, in the meantime, I can try to find a satisying 3-5 aside skirmish system, that ideally can go up to 10 aside and a vehicle- perhaps some kind of RPG Lite. Risus, I'm looking in your direction.
The complete list of contenders:
- Chain Reaction: Final Version
- Chain Reaction (aka Girls & Guns, or is it Guns & Girls?)with the Received Fire rule from MG-42 (I know, I know. I keep trying to find a way to like this game) and the star rules from CRFV.
- Six Gun Sound (1st ed.) - I read somewhere that a space opera is like a Western set in space. Well, these rules are set in the West - what if I mod them for space?
- USE ME -
not really intended for such low figure counts, but I don't see why it couldn't do it.I was grossly mistaken on this. It handles low figure counts as a matter of course. - FUBAR -
ditto.Not really intended for such low figure counts but I don't see why I couldn't do it. - Blaster (a more generic version of In the Emperor's Name)
- Risus or some home-grown variation
- Unbelievably Simple Role-playing System (similar to Risus in the mechanics)
- IN-RADIC (the skirmish bits, not the decision engine) - I find this system as is works fine for up to about 5 per side, but breaks down after that. Modifying activation to a card draw, each card = 1 fig, works, although at that point it's not the same game is it?
- Gut Check!
- and the long shots: Mutant Futures and Star Frontiers: Alpha Dawn, Digitally Remastered ed. (unless I buy a copy of Alpha Dawn on e-bay first)
All of these are free, save two and they were $5 pdfs.
I intend to play a set of 3 simple scenarios with all the rule sets to see which works best for me, although I may whittle some away before I set a mini on the table. More details once play testing begins.
Go for USR ;)
ReplyDeleteIn seriousness, I haven't played many of those systems (although I invented one of them) but I enjoy Chain Reaction for skirmish games.
Hi Scott, thanks for stopping by and commenting! I'm on the fence about Chain Reaction. The games just go so fast and there's so much dice rolling - but I do love the reaction system, which is why I keep trying to find a way to make CR work for me.
ReplyDeleteBtw, I've done some limited testing of USR for a miniatures skirmish a few times now. And, I just ran a dungeon crawl using USR. I'll write up my reactions in more detail in a post later, but so far, I really like the way both types of games have played themselves out.
Cool! I never really thought of using USR for a skirmish game, but I can definitely see it. My favourite skirmish system at the moment is Song of Blades and Heroes - such a great set of rules. I tend to prefer skirmish games over full scale battles.
DeleteHello DH,
ReplyDeleteI recently ran a comparison WW2 scenario between the free rule sets Chain Reaction, Fubar and Paper Tigers. My focus is on platoon level games, so CR is too small scale and I needed to retro-fit the vehicle rules from version 2.0. If I understand correctly, we have similar feelings about THW rules: in theory they are great, but they are difficult to apply. For the time being, I think I will stick to Fubar, hoping that Spacejacker's Throwdown solves all my solo gaming problems :)
BTW, doesn't Ganesha Games have a ruleset to fit in your list of SciFi candidates? I never played their systems, but I liked the rule sets I read.
I am looking forward to see more of your comparative scenarios!
Evandro
Hello Evandro, thanks for the comments! I liked FUBAR for WWII too as well, and I've been meaning to try Paper Tigers for some Eastern Front games.
ReplyDeleteYes, I think we're on the same page about CR. I really want to like them, but it just never works that way
I think every solo player is waiting for Throwdown!
Ganesha does have two sets that would work from what I understand, both Flying Lead and Mutants and Death Ray Guns. I've not tried either, although I've played Blades and Heroes (which I enjoyed). Both sets are on my list to acquire, but I keep spending my hobby budget on miniatures. :D