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Made in gb
Longtime Dakkanaut





I would recommend you look into Infinity and X-wing.

Infinity
Is a really well designed skirmish game. You don't really need to buy anything to play it, as you can find the rules on the Infinity website, and use whatever miniatures you have to try it out. The Infinity miniatures themselves aren't cheap, but they are beautiful, and you only need four or five little guys to have a good game, so it won't break the bank.

X-wing
You shouldn't overlook this game. It's easy to learn, quick to play, and loads of fun right out the box. The starter box is super cheap and comes with 3 ships, so you can have three player games right away. I played it with some friends earlier in the week on a little coffee table, and they had a blast. Also it's easy to get people to play because it's Star Wars, so everyone already knows the characters and stuff. Expanding the game is a bit pricey, but again you can find a lot of stuff on the fantasy flight website to proxy.

There is also a Star Trek version called Attack Wing. Even though I quite like watching Star Trek, I can't say I've ever fantasized about controlling any of the factions so: meh, but YMMV.


This message was edited 2 times. Last update was at 2014/12/12 07:07:30


 
   
Made in us
Decrepit Dakkanaut






SoCal, USA!

 Redbad wrote:
I'm looking to try to find a decent sci fi skirmish game... something that will wrap up between 45min-1h, and can be played on a 3x4 table.

I'm a college student, who is starting a wargaming club.

So far we have a few people playing WHFB, but by far the types of games most people are interested in is sci fi.
I would say 40k.... but this is college... in the USA.


The default answer here is Infinity - the models are beautiful, and the scale squad skirmish.

Or, you could go backward with Necromunda, a true classic, but out of print. Oddly, Necromunda isn't really about the battles, it's about the campaign and the development of the gang.

There are other SF miniatures boardgames that you could play right out of the box:
- Robotech just released, but rules are likely to be a bit wonky.
- Battletech is still kicking around.
- Heavy Gear is supposed to hit sometime next year (we'll see if it's any good).


If you're starting a club, I might suggest the Flames of War "Open Fire!" starter for classic historical wargaming.

Fantasy is a bit tough on a small board, but if you're playing tiny battles of 1,000 pts, maybe it's OK, too.

If you really want 40k (because it does have great variety), you can always play small "Kill Team" games of 40k, using forces of 400, 500, 600, 750 points on that 3x4 table. The boxed starters are quite good values, with decent sized forces for small games on small tables.

   
Made in gb
Joined the Military for Authentic Experience





On an Express Elevator to Hell!!

Another +1 for Infinity here!

Perfect time to start as well, Operation Icestorm is a good starting point, and you have the 3rd edition rulebook a week or two away. I predict there is going to be a big rush of interest in the game over the next few months, built on a big increase over the past few years.

Free download of the rules and the like as well which will be coming next year, so it will be easy to get a large group of you into the game cheaply.

 Redbad wrote:

Automatically Appended Next Post:
I just bought the MERCS rulebook... on impulse.

Hope I like it!
lol

Thanks
Austin


Well at $10 at the very least you will get a good read out of it!

I haven't played but have heard good things from those that have done.

Epic 30K&40K! A new players guide, contributors welcome https://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/list/751316.page
Small but perfectly formed! A Great Crusade Epic 6mm project: https://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/list/694411.page

 
   
Made in us
Krazed Killa Kan





SoCal

Infinity, while good, isn't for everyone though. The main mechanic is unique, but also comes with its own caveats and oddities, just like any game. The heavy terrain requirement and weird stereotypes in space styled armies are just some of them. Definitely worth a try, but don't feel the need to get swept up by it.

   
Made in gb
Joined the Military for Authentic Experience





On an Express Elevator to Hell!!

 Vertrucio wrote:
Infinity, while good, isn't for everyone though. The main mechanic is unique, but also comes with its own caveats and oddities, just like any game. The heavy terrain requirement and weird stereotypes in space styled armies are just some of them. Definitely worth a try, but don't feel the need to get swept up by it.


Why so emotive?

You will either enjoy playing or not, like the look of the miniatures or not. Same with any game, that's it really!

Epic 30K&40K! A new players guide, contributors welcome https://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/list/751316.page
Small but perfectly formed! A Great Crusade Epic 6mm project: https://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/list/694411.page

 
   
Made in gb
Wrathful Warlord Titan Commander





Ramsden Heath, Essex

Some people get scared by lots of terrain I guess?

Should be pretty standard for most games.

How do you promote your Hobby? - Legoburner "I run some crappy wargaming website " 
   
Made in us
Longtime Dakkanaut




Louisiana

 notprop wrote:
Some people get scared by lots of terrain I guess?

Should be pretty standard for most games.


Terrain means money/time/storage.

Kirasu: Have we fallen so far that we are excited that GW is giving us the opportunity to spend 58$ for JUST the rules? Surprised it's not "Dataslate: Assault Phase"

AlexHolker: "The power loader is a forklift. The public doesn't complain about a forklift not having frontal armour protecting the crew compartment because the only enemy it is designed to face is the OHSA violation."

AlexHolker: "Allow me to put it this way: Paramount is Skynet, reboots are termination attempts, and your childhood is John Connor."
 
   
Made in us
The Hive Mind





If you are going to do Kill Team, I'd look at these rules -

http://heralds-of-ruin.blogspot.com/p/kill-team-rules.html

I'm not a huge fan of their campaign stuff but the army lists are quite good and decently balanced.

My beautiful wife wrote:Trucks = Carnifex snack, Tanks = meals.
 
   
Made in gb
Wrathful Warlord Titan Commander





Ramsden Heath, Essex

weeble1000 wrote:
 notprop wrote:
Some people get scared by lots of terrain I guess?

Should be pretty standard for most games.


Terrain means money/time/storage.


So does clothes, booze and dead hookers...

More terrain = better games.

How do you promote your Hobby? - Legoburner "I run some crappy wargaming website " 
   
Made in au
Anti-Armour Swiss Guard






Newcastle, OZ

weeble1000 wrote:
 notprop wrote:
Some people get scared by lots of terrain I guess?

Should be pretty standard for most games.


Terrain means money/time/storage.


There's a variety of nesting terrain pieces available - so this isn't necessarily so. GW's spikes of death stuff is not the only terrain out there.

I'm OVER 50 (and so far over everyone's BS, too).
Old enough to know better, young enough to not give a ****.

That is not dead which can eternal lie ...

... and yet, with strange aeons, even death may die.
 
   
Made in us
Fixture of Dakka





West Michigan, deep in Whitebread, USA

Also lots and lots of papercraft terrain that is super light to store and cheap to make. Some of it is even designed to fold up for storage. The hab-blocks below all fold flat:




I can't remember if it's been said in this thread, but alot like Song of Blades and Heroes, the new game Rogue Planet can be played with any sci-fi miniatures, and can easily be played with less than a dozen figures per side.
http://www.wargamevault.com/product/139359/Rogue-Planet

This message was edited 2 times. Last update was at 2014/12/13 23:48:03




"By this point I'm convinced 100% that every single race in the 40k universe have somehow tapped into the ork ability to just have their tech work because they think it should."  
   
Made in us
Near Golden Daemon Caliber






Illinois

That game sounds kind of neat but I really wish they'd explain how you are supposed to move your dudes and check range with "no grids, rulers, or measuring devices". Still may have to check it out sometime.

 
   
Made in us
Brigadier General






Chicago

 GrimDork wrote:
That game sounds kind of neat but I really wish they'd explain how you are supposed to move your dudes and check range with "no grids, rulers, or measuring devices". Still may have to check it out sometime.


Are you talking about Song of Blades? It uses three measuring sticks for all measurement.

Chicago Skirmish Wargames club. Join us for some friendly, casual gaming in the Windy City.
http://chicagoskirmishwargames.com/blog/


My Project Log, mostly revolving around custom "Toybashed" terrain.
http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/list/651712.page

Visit the Chicago Valley Railroad!
https://chicagovalleyrailroad.blogspot.com 
   
Made in us
Fixture of Dakka





West Michigan, deep in Whitebread, USA

Mostly range is just line of sight with modifiers to attack based on the gun type versus the target type, and movement is based on each action point letting you move in a straight line until you hit a change in scenery (like from open to difficult, or stopping when you would leave a woods section. The limit on it being overpowered (zooming around the table) is that if you opponent has actions points they saved from their last turn, they can interrupt you with special counter-actions, kind of like old school 40K/Necromunda used Overwatch. There are at least 6 different counter-actions you can perform, like Counter-Charging, Dodging ranged attacks, countering Psychic powers etc.

The "no measuring" is hard to explain without reading the book, as it is closed tied up with how several of the mechanics interact, from line of sight, the type of unit being attacked (basically light medium or heavy, light being a Space Marine, Medium being a Terminator, Heavy being a Dreadnought) modifiers like cover and size, the fact that skill checks are not simple success/failure results, but can actually result in a partial success, etc.

This message was edited 1 time. Last update was at 2014/12/14 00:34:25




"By this point I'm convinced 100% that every single race in the 40k universe have somehow tapped into the ork ability to just have their tech work because they think it should."  
   
Made in us
Near Golden Daemon Caliber






Illinois

Ahh, ok that sounds a bit better, as long as there are guidelines for how much scenery and all that to keep it making sense and no flat-out running across the map.

The whole holding points back and using them to react is almost akin to Infinity's ARO set-up, at least from the sound of it.

So it's basically a small enough area that even a pistol can shoot across the map, it mostly matters if the target is in cover, and how big/tough it is. Fair enough, may have to pick up the book for a read some time.

Eilif, I was curious about that Rogue Planet game which was mentioned just after Song of Blades was mentioned. That's another one I'm gonna have to check out.

 
   
Made in us
Fixture of Dakka





West Michigan, deep in Whitebread, USA

Yeah, it's one of the few systems that I can think of off-hand that acknowledges that the table area used in standard 28mm scaled skirmish-level games is well within a pistol's range by any competent shooter, rather than everything looking like it's being handled with Napoleonic war ranges.

This message was edited 1 time. Last update was at 2014/12/14 00:37:34




"By this point I'm convinced 100% that every single race in the 40k universe have somehow tapped into the ork ability to just have their tech work because they think it should."  
   
Made in us
Dakka Veteran





Florida

This game is sounding sweeter and sweeter to me.

\m/ 
   
Made in gb
Fixture of Dakka







Well in Deadzone a standard pistol range is 3 squares, with long range doubling to 6 squares. The board is 8 by 8 squares. So its not quite the full board but near enough.

The game is great fun and the terrain looks awesome.



Another good thing is, if you intend on playing as either the Enforcers or the Plague, you don't need any extra purchases. While there are other models to buy for both factions (including proper plastics for enforcers soon), the game is played at 70 points while the starter set comes with 100 points plus of models for both factions. - so plenty of variation in the starter set.

Oh and I can't forget to mention Deadzone Contagion. Want to make Deadzone more fun?

Just add zombies.

   
Made in us
Brigadier General






Chicago

 GrimDork wrote:

Eilif, I was curious about that Rogue Planet game which was mentioned just after Song of Blades was mentioned. That's another one I'm gonna have to check out.


Gotcha.
I was curious about that game as well. The cover art was quite evocative. However, one of our members is writing a sci-fi game "The Dogs and the Dust" so I've decided to wait for that. The Beta should be out soon. You can see a batrep and some details about the rules here:
http://chicagoskirmish.blogspot.com/2014/12/the-dogs-dust-homebrew-sci-fi.html?showComment=1418440365161
I've not tried it yet, but a couple of the club members have. It's got a cool dice pool activatin mechanic, a simple reaction system, and some other cool features, but reportedly is still quite fast playing. The whole club is giving it a go next month.

Chicago Skirmish Wargames club. Join us for some friendly, casual gaming in the Windy City.
http://chicagoskirmishwargames.com/blog/


My Project Log, mostly revolving around custom "Toybashed" terrain.
http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/list/651712.page

Visit the Chicago Valley Railroad!
https://chicagovalleyrailroad.blogspot.com 
   
Made in us
Shas'ui with Bonding Knife





 Redbad wrote:
What is the buy-in for a game like infinity?

It looks awesome!
Thanks
Austin



In terms of models, not much. Infinity is largely a skirmish sized game, so 50-100 in minis and you should be good to go to play at least small to smallish sized games.

That said, Infinity requires TONS of terrain. Tons. If you are like me, where you like to buy high quality terrain rather than make it, this can skew the buy-in significantly.


Automatically Appended Next Post:
 Kilkrazy wrote:
 -Loki- wrote:
Nobody has recommended Mercs yet? It really fills the cheaper side and faster gameplay, getting finished in under an hour. Plays on a much smaller board, and even does away with list building for the most part. Each side picks 5 models from their faction and gets playing.


Ditto MERCS.

The rulebook is on sale ATM for only $10.

There are I think six factions now with different playing styles. A box set of a faction is $65 including usually six figures, the necessary rules cards and some dice.



Mercs is also a fantastic game. The one issue i have with it is scale ; it basically doesn't scale. That said, its fun as fething hell.


I'll also Echo Xwing. If you like starwars, and some of your favorite scenes are the dogfights, this is a great game. The expansions are elegant in that the cards and upgrades you get can be used with all your other stuff (which is a super smart idea). When you play, i highly recommend playing the dog fight music from the first three movies (temporally speaking, not chronologically) for a more cinematic experience. Really great game, i'm gifting a starter of it to my seven year old son as his introduction into mini gaming. The rules are simple and intuitive, and the game is slick in that the longer the game goes on, the faster paced the action becomes (which is not something many games can claim).

This message was edited 3 times. Last update was at 2014/12/21 00:17:25


 daedalus wrote:

I mean, it's Dakka. I thought snide arguments from emotion were what we did here.


 
   
Made in id
Fresh-Faced New User




Just discovered I can't delete my account in DakkaDakka, so will be erasing (as much as I can) all traces of my presence here.

This message was edited 1 time. Last update was at 2015/07/08 07:11:19


 
   
Made in us
Krazed Killa Kan





SoCal

Last Saga is a good recommendation. It's still getting up and running, the rules are pretty rough, but the factions are getting developed and they have a lot of good sculpts.

Their full site is at:
http://last-saga.rocketgames.co.uk/p/main-page.html

The rules right now are definitely not like infinity. The only similarity is size of battle. Their sculpts are closer to the chunkier models, but still have details and actual anatomical form.

This message was edited 1 time. Last update was at 2014/12/30 07:42:12


   
Made in us
Missionary On A Mission





Infinity. Free rules, great starter box (models, terrain, dice and tokens), and small model count. The company is also responsive and appreciative of its players. It's Art direction is anime inspired, which can turn off some people. But the models are well detailed.
   
Made in us
Battlefield Tourist




MN (Currently in WY)

Since this is the type of thread where you just shout out your favorite games I will add....

Tomorrow's War

Here is why:
1. Very active game participation for all players
2. Small model count
3. Miniature agnostic
4. Focus on troop quality and not gear
5. Can be played on a 2x2 board
6. All scenario based- no lists

Support Blood and Spectacles Publishing:
https://www.patreon.com/Bloodandspectaclespublishing 
   
Made in ca
Posts with Authority




I'm from the future. The future of space

Tomorrow's war is great. It definitely breaks from traditional ways of handling things to get the level of interactivity it has. I found that when I played it with people with a lot of 40k experience, they had to unlearn a lot.

Balance in pick up games? Two people, each with their own goals for the game, design half a board game on their own without knowing the layout of the board and hope it all works out. Good luck with that. The faster you can find like minded individuals who want the same things from the game as you, the better. 
   
Made in us
Sybarite Swinging an Agonizer




Charleston, SC

I also throw in my vote for Infinity as well. I have played a number of skirmish games and never found myself particularly interested by them, but one demo of Infinity and I am hooked. Fast paced, tactical, expansive, and dynamic.

 
   
 
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