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Because I've heard that GW Wargames sort of suck butts, and other ones are much better.

So what'd be a good place to start?

What do you want out of the game? Tight, competitive rules? Beautiful miniatures? Affordable minis and large scale battles? Sci Fi? Steampunk? Fantasy?

 BobtheInquisitor wrote:
What do you want out of the game? Tight, competitive rules? Beautiful miniatures? Affordable minis and large scale battles? Sci Fi? Steampunk? Fantasy?

Bolded the bit I REALLY want.

Sci-Fi or Steampunk would probably be my most preferred genres, but really, I'm in it for the game.

Even though I don't play it, tight competitive rules combined with a sci-fi / steampunk aesthetic one game system jumps immediately to mind - and, fortunately, it's one of the most popular ones.

I'd recommend you check out "War Machine"

Ooh... Pretty...

Edit: Do they have a website or someit? And are the rules free, or must I pay cash for it?

I don't know too many details about the game myself, however their website is: http://www.allnewwar.com/

And the manufacturer is "Privateer Press"

And it looks like they have at least a tutorial version of the rules available:

http://files.privateerpress.com/allnewwar/Prime-Digest-Rules-2016-v2.pdf

The base rules for MkIII are free now.

If you're interested in it, I recommend going to a game shop and seeing if they have a Warmachine community, and if they do see if they have a Press Ganger; that's a volunteer who basically fosters a Warmachine community. If they do, introduce yourself and say you're interested in the game, they'll likely give you a demo game and can answer your questions. Even if they don't have a PG, they can likely point you to whoever coordinates the Warmachine events and set up a demo game.

Wayniac wrote:
The base rules for MkIII are free now.

If you're interested in it, I recommend going to a game shop and seeing if they have a Warmachine community, and if they do see if they have a Press Ganger; that's a volunteer who basically fosters a Warmachine community. If they do, introduce yourself and say you're interested in the game, they'll likely give you a demo game and can answer your questions. Even if they don't have a PG, they can likely point you to whoever coordinates the Warmachine events and set up a demo game.

I'll check my local non-GW store. Thanks!

Guild Ball was written by a couple of big Warmachine players, and that definitely shows through in the DNA, but if anything it's tighter (due not in some small part to it being a young game so there's fewer variables just yet.)

There's a two player starter coming next month, I've started a thread in N+R, plus all the rules (and even paper tokens and miniatures, as well as all the player cards with their individual stats) are free on the website.

Otherwise X Wing is also very solid, with free rules and a decent value starter, proxying the upgrades is the way forward for friendly games to avoid costs spiraling, and there are several online list builders that feature the text of all of them.

If you are playing in a store sitation (rather just with friends at home) i'd ask around and see what the rest of your community plays to start with as it's a lot easier to pick up and get games with something there is a local scene for

If you're starting from scratch trying to bring friends into something new

warmachine (a very tight rule set that seems to suit competitive gamers)

Malifaux much more background driven, but with a real steampunk flavour

Gates of Antares... from the people who wrote a lot of the early 40K rules (bolt action in space)

Maelstroms Edge, from the hands of Dakkadakka owners

 JNAProductions wrote:
Because I've heard that GW Wargames sort of suck butts, and other ones are much better.

So what'd be a good place to start?

Infinity is also well worth a look.

http://www.infinitythegame.com/index.php

It's a low model count sci-fi game. Probably the most technically brilliant rules set out there (my opinion- although it's not my go-to game, infinity represents my favourite rules set), and some of the most gorgeous sci-fi models out there (if not get best altogether- again, my opinion) To boot.

Ultimately though, you should look into what games are played in your area. That should be your first concern. No point buying into a great game If no one plays it!

Infinity
Dropzone/fleet Commander
Malifaux (hit or miss on this one)
WarmaHordes

Now Dropzone Commander is more in my own personal wheelhouse. It's good on the whole tight/competitive rules things. However, it is a lot more traditional sci fi than steampunkish.

Dropzone is a universe more similar to say, Command and Conquer - Or my preferred example, Mass Effect. Though there's a bit of a Halo-esque feel to it too. (On that note, there are Halo tabletop games out there, but they are very much in a state of flux at the moment. - Something worth keeping an eye on for say, this time next year)

Deadnight wrote:
Ultimately though, you should look into what games are played in your area. That should be your first concern. No point buying into a great game If no one plays it!

This is the big one. When you go into a GW store, you can expect that people there play 40k and Age of Sigmar, because that's what GW lets you play in their stores.

When you go to an independent FLGS, they may carry a dozen games. Some may get played at the store, some may sell well but get played in garages or clubs around the area. If you are intending to play at the store, before you buy anything, go to the store and ask the staff and/or community there what they play. Ironically, you might find they all play 40k or Age of Sigmar and you're no better off.

There's an inverse to that though - nobody will play anything new until somebody takes the first step.

Infinity has a good ruleset; I haven't played any of the other games mentioned.

If you like big stompy robots, then Battletech is also a good system; the rules have not changed significantly in twenty years. If you prefer a more modern take on the game, Alpha Strike makes larger-scale games more manageable and turns it into a true table-top game rather than a map/ board game. I haven't played this version of the rules, but I've heard nothing but good from those who have.

There's this at the top of the forum:
"Alternate games you might enjoy, from the DakkaDakka community"
http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/list/369662.page

And I can recommend Mantic Games' Deadzone - and the starter has enough to not only start playing, but also enough to allow some flexibility. (The box has armies that have more points than are needed for a game... so you can do some picking and choosing.)

The Auld Grump

I'm fond of Bolt Action, though that's WW2. They do have a sci-fi game, Gates of Antares, though I haven't had a chance to give it a try.

Warmachine has some great-looking minis, but their rules kinda scare me - of what I have played, it's 40K amped up to 11 - not the direction I seek in a game.

The Marvel Superheroes game from Knights Models. Some retailers have a hard time getting it, but it's low model count, wonderful sculpts, and you can use Magneto to throw buildings around. The rules are tight and solid, and it really has the feel of playing a 90s superhero comic: very over the top. But again, I stress a tight ruleset.

I say retailers have a hard time, but eBay has everything. And at good prices.

If you like tight competitive play, steampunk and having a big community of gamers is important to you then Warmachine is definitely your best bet, especially if you want tournaments. Warmachine is second only to 40k in terms of having a large community of gamers and the rules are sooo much better suited to competition play than anything GW has done.

Infinity would be my second suggestion. You aren't going to find the same kind of tournament scene and the community is a bit smaller, but its the most popular Sci-fi game that isn't 40k.

For myself, I generally prefer games so obscure they make Dropzone commander look like 40k. Examples would be Song of Blades and Heroes, Mech Attack andDragon Rampant, with occasional forays into more common games like Alpha Strike and Kings of War. However, for those taking their first step outside of GW, who don't want the pressure of having to build their own community from scratch, going with one of the more popular games is definitely recommended.

How about X-wing and to a lesser extent Star Trek Attack Wing?

X-wing and AoS seem to be designed with recruiting in mind. Mantic is a great company with good games.

Make sure that whatever you get into is being played in your area.

 DarkBlack wrote:
X-wing and AoS seem to be designed with recruiting in mind. Mantic is a great company with good games.

Make sure that whatever you get into is being played in your area.

Um... Is there another thing AoS stands for? Because all I know from that is Age of Sigmar.

JNAProductions wrote:

 DarkBlack wrote:
X-wing and AoS seem to be designed with recruiting in mind. Mantic is a great company with good games.

Make sure that whatever you get into is being played in your area.

Um... Is there another thing AoS stands for? Because all I know from that is Age of Sigmar.

I am sure he is talking about Age of Sigmar. I believe the poster is trying to say that AoS is trying to recruit new people into a fantasy brand new type of miniatures and setting.

Well, screw Age of Sigmar. Tried it, didn't like it. Plus, it's a GW game.

Mantic's models can be hit or miss, but their rules a solid. Kings of War is a good system for playing mass fantasy battles, Deadzone is a nice SF skirmish, and I enjoy Dreadball. Frostgrave is another good one-- low model count, and if you have any fantasy models from any maker you are pretty much ready to play.

 JNAProductions wrote:
Well, screw Age of Sigmar. Tried it, didn't like it. Plus, it's a GW game.

Mantic then, KoW is pretty much the opposite of AoS.

 JoshInJapan wrote:
Mantic's models can be hit or miss, but their rules a solid. Kings of War is a good system for playing mass fantasy battles, Deadzone is a nice SF skirmish, and I enjoy Dreadball. Frostgrave is another good one-- low model count, and if you have any fantasy models from any maker you are pretty much ready to play.

I don't have experience with most of the other rulesets (though I'm really looking forward to Warpath) but definitely agreed as far as KOW. WHFB fans will find it a bit abstract, but it's a very solid and fun to play set of rules that focuses more on tactics than list-builing. I personally love it.

Also Mantic fans -and to a certain extent the company itself- seem to be quite welcoming of alternate models as evidenced by the fact that their Rulebook and "Uncharted Empires" Supplement contain army lists that are very clearly -if not explicitly- designed to cover other company's armies.

Warmachine is the best alternative you could choose.
When the 7th ed came out, our gaming started WMH. We had already some decent players incl. a press ganger.
It has a tight rule set and tournaments are supported by steamroller.
I suggest to start with a WM faction instead of Hordes one. Focus management is a bit easier than fury management. Cygnar or Khador are good factions. Cryx has been nerfed, while Cyriss is not what it supposted to be. Menoth or Retribution would be alternatives. But I have not much experience with/against them.