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So, more and more lately I have been just not in to GW stuff as much as I used to be. So I decided it might be time to leave this particular company, for various reason, but not miniature wargaming. I don't play any other miniatures game but have always been interested in some of them.

I know there are a few that have seemed interesting:
Warmachine
Hordes
Infinity

What are some others? What of the ones I mentioned?

Some of my stipulations I am working with:
I don't want anything that requires lots of models to play, with most people/tournaments, but if I wanted to, I could.

Sci-fi, Fantasy, Historic or whatever. I don't care about the genre as long as the setting and armies are interesting. Also, ease of play is kind of important.

Sometimes I get little time off and don't want to spend hours on end playing a single game. So something where I could get a few games in and still have time to go out.

Flames of War is easy to get into if you're familiar with 40k since the basic game play and list building is similar. If you like historicals, particularly WW2, I highly recommend it. I would say the modeling and time requirements are similar to 40k.

I don't know much about he skirmish games you mention but if that's the type of game you're looking at, there are a lot of people in my area enjoying Malifaux. It's worth looking at as well.

Been hearing more about this one:

http://www.ancientbattles.com/index_01_AncientBattles.html

Ancients will be getting 3 new rule sets in the next few months. All three are written as WAB replacement games - should be easy for an ex GW player to pick up.

Mailfaux has been getting a lot of good reviews - its a skirmish game and covers just about every style you could want.

I'd look into Battletech. A new starter box came out with 26 mechs, 2 multipart mechs, and everything you need to play for $50. You can pick up other mechs from Iron Wind Metals for around $10 a mech. It's been going strong for 25 years, and I've always enjoyed it.

Malifaux is pretty cool if you are looking for something completely different. Still uses miniatures, and is a skirmish game (similar to Warmachine), but it uses a deck of playing cards instead of dice. Has a really low cost of entry, and even though the models are a pain to put together (they are all metal), they look friggin fabulous.

the company that makes malifaux is Wyrd miniatures, hop on their website and check them out.

Also if you do get into it, make sure you buy the latest edition of the rulebook. The original rulebook had a 14 - 20 page FAQ that went along with it, the new book has all that incorporated into it.

Does it use cards as an actual card thing, or is it one of those games where cards are used... and then goes on to tell you to make sure you have enough cards so that odds aren't actually different than using dice?

I'm going to jump on the bandwagon and tell you to check out Malifaux. Models are scary nice, and there are fewer of them.

you use a basic deck of playing cards (+ jokers), or you can buy a fate deck from wyrd miniatures that is nothing but a deck of playing cards with different suits.

The miniatures each have stat cards, and require certain conditions be met before a spell can be cast, or an attack be made. The conditions vary but for instance :

My mage wants to cast a spell of doom. My mages magic power is a 6, but I need a 13 magic power and a heart suit to cast the spell. I flip the top card of my deck and if it is a 7 of hears or better then the spell goes off.

Of course this is the most basic example I can give ya, sometimes you get multiple flips, or reflips, or modifiers and whatnot. It is alot of fun! The meat of the game comes from getting to know everything your models can do (each model has a crap ton of abilities), and then using your models to create a synergy with your whole gang.

while i've not had a chance to play yet, i've rather liked what i've seen of hell dorado so far (i'm in the process of painting up the westerners starter)

If you want a game with a low model count, cheap to get into, and has a compelling background....I would suggest MERCS, by Mercsminiatures.

Faction sides are exactly 5 miniatures, no more no less. Game rules are very fluid and well thought out, and games last around 1/2 hour to an hour depending on which game you play.

Infinity is also a very good game, with miniatures that are currently (in the Sci Fi genre) unsurpassed! I personally love this game and the fluff.

If you want a complete departure from the norm, you could look at Firestorm Armarda, however this is a battle fleet combat game, but the miniatures are awesome, and blow away almost every other battlefleet combat game currently on the market.

I have to echo Malifaux as well. You will need less than 10 models to play, they are cheap compared to GW metals, add in the new mini rulebook and a fate deck and your total cost is under US$100.

first and foremost i would suggest looking into what other games people are playing in your area

Definately check in your area to see what other games people are playing first. #1 game I recommend is Infinity, fantastically fun and strategic game.

Gotta say that merc game has some nice artwork.

Shame about the prices but it's not too bad I guess.


Automatically Appended Next Post:
A ruleset you could look into is necromunda. I know it's GW but wait a minute.

No real requirements on the models. Most people I know made their own or sourced them from another company. Plus all the rules are free.

I would give a suggestion for warmachine / hordes as long as there are players in your area. The game is not overtly large. Most tournments, which are called steam rollers are played at 3 points. My typical army for that size is a warcaster / warlock, 2-3 heavy jacks / beasts, maybe 1 light war jack / beast. 1-2 units, 1 -2 solo's. But you can really cater your army depending on the caster / lock you pick.

The game plays very straight forward. Beat up the opponent and win. Nothing more, nothing less. Games are supposed to be short and bloody. Most tournments take 3-4 hours pending turn out and cost $5 to enter. The game does not require painting, but its encouraged.

I love the game, I moved over from 40k / WFB because I lost heart in 8th edition, and I was 40k'd out after playing for 10 years. Its great to. I have a army transport and you can usually fit 2 armies in there for WMHD or warmahordes as some call it. The quick start rules can be download from privateer press. It is a cheaper game, them GW games, however if you like it you'll find its easy to collect multiple armies quickly.

Malifaux is a great game, for all the reasons stated previously. Plus, the games can go by in a flash.

Hordes is really fun too, but there can be a considerable investment.

I've been researching Dystopian Wars, I bought a starter set and the rulebook. It's alternative history steampunk, and it's also not that bad to get started in monetarily.

I'll second the Battletech recomendation.

I have recently bought a few Infinity models for use in my IG army, which has spawned an interest in the game itself.

From what I can tell, it seems a very fun skirmish level game, although it seems that it could become quite complicated very easily.

I'd say base it off what people in your area play. Not much use picking up a new system if you've got no one to play it with and learn the rules. Maybe head to a local independent hobby shop, ask when their miniatures night is, and see what's popular...

Near me, it's Warmachine/Hordes. I've picked it up, and it was a really good decision, I think, since I can actually get weekly games in!

I really like Uncharted Seas by Spartan Games myself. I have to suggest however you ask your principle opponent what appeals to them as well.

Aside from the recommendations to find out what appeals to your gaming group/primary opponent, I have two suggestions:

1) Historicals; DBA (a popular ruleset for ancient wargaming) requires about 2 dozen models for an average size game, or if you want to go 6mm, they are incredibly cheap and fast to paint. I purchased a large British Napoleonic army and large French Napoleonic army for about $250 (that was the price for BOTH armies), both consist of roughly 1,000 models and have required a fraction of the time to paint that my WH armies took. Another bonus of historicals, they work for dozens of rule sets!

2) Write your own game. This is the approach I'm taking, both with my historicals and 15mm Sci-fi. You know what you want in a game (number of models, scale, how long it takes to play), if you have a regular opponent that would get on board this approach can be a lot of fun!

Warmachine and Hordes.

You'll never look back.

Another recommendation for FoW. I played it in the wake of GW after I got interested in wargaming again at 17. Great rules, lots of control of the field and terrain. Models are cheaper and the reduced size in mm makes lugging an army around town a breeze.

Flames of War is my first recommendation, just due to the high quality of rules, rule support, models, customer service...

Ok due to everything GW isn't doing right (except models, which GW does quite well)

Secondary...Warmahordes (Warmachine &/or Hordes). The game system is decent and the models are pretty neat, covering a wide set of tastes from steampunk to...whatever the heck Retribution armies are supposed to be, lol

I throw in another vote for Battletech. It isn't a straight minis game like the others, it is a simulation. There are abstractions in the rules for ease of game play, and as long as you can do simple math (addition and subtraction) and read some charts, you can play quickly and easily.

Thanks for the replies.

I have had intentions and considered what others play in my area. Currently I am not sure but I am researching. My principle opponent, my brother, right now might be the only person who would consider playing with me. We have both talked how we just don't play any GW game anymore but still like having reasons to hang out and play war games.

I am really interested in Infinity. I had mentioned in another section that I liked Haqqislam. But if the response is low for players in the South West Michigan area, might be a second choice.

Malifaux I am currently researching and liking the minis a lot. Still have to read the background.

Warmachine I have admired for a long while and have some reading to do.

Basically I am going to be reading the recommendations of everyone on here. Although I have played 40k for a while...I can count on one hand how many times I have actually played. So I am not as suave with the rules as I may have come off.

Thanks and keep the info coming!

Do you want to use your GW models?

Check out Two Hour wargames:

http://www.angelfire.com/az3/twohourwargames/index.html They have both fantasy and Sci Fi games that allow the use of any figures, and I know players on their forums have GW type army lists. They also have their basic rules for free...

Also check out Ambush Alley Games:

http://www.ambushalleygames.com/ Their 'Tomorrow's War is great, as is their set for moderns, Force on Force. Note, I play test for them so my opinion may be biased.

Another set that gets some good reviews is FUBAR, which also has stats to use GW figs. http://thegamesshed.wordpress.com/2010/06/17/fubar-one-page-sfmodern-rules/ again, a free set.

There are PLENTY of alternatives to GW out there.

Jake

If you want rules go here, Ive taken a few over the years and made them fit the type of game I want to play, plus free rules means more money for minis...

http://www.freewargamesrules.co.uk/

Warmachine seems solid.


Most of all though, don't sell your GW stuff to fund this. Even if you are happy short term-----you'll probably be back. And then you'll regret selling your stuff.