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what new game?

After a long track record with GW games im finally getting out. Im planning on keeping 2 of my WIP armys just to give me some modeling work but its time to move on. With time friends move away, grow up, and get bored leaving me with a pile of books and models that are never getting used, but when i trade away my life where do i go in the gaming world.

I was wondering if anyone had played games that incorporated some friends that were not traditionally war gamers. I love the hobby, especially the modeling and friendly Saturday night gaming, but what good is a game without an friend to share it with.

Any ideas folks?

Currently looking at grindhouse games (incursion and the developing Junk), FOW, ATZ...

If you want to involve non-tabletop-wargamers I would look at RPGs, and Ameritrash games like Runewars and Twilight Empire 3.

They have enough conflict and figures to satisfy the wargamer in you, while requiring much less input from your non-wargaming friends.

I'd try Kings of war. if you already have fantasy armies they will work as proxies and the models are cheap and quite simple to paint to a striking color scheme. plus the rules are fast paced and easy to learn with only 12 pages.

Thanks for the fast responses, a much needed break from my midterms.

Our group plays alot of cards, like MTG, VTES and Lunch Money, we are just about to try the Vampire RPG this week.

I looked into kings of war in the past, i was unaware of its short rulebook (great bonus for new players), but alas it strikes to close to fantasy in my opinion, which was my least favorite GW game.

Kings of War rules can be found for free I think. They had them up for the Beta at least.

They play differently than WHFB, and you should give them a shot if you have models.

Malifaux is a good skirmish game with unique mechanics, and interesting characters.
Its very easy to put together a crew and go.

Battlelore can cross the gap between boardgame and TableTop wargame.

Incursion is a good choice if you do not have a copy of Space Hulk, new or old.

I like the Zombies!!! game by Twilight Creations. Place tiles, draw cards, try to get to the helicopter.

I also suggest Cutthroat Caverns. Just a good game.

If you think you can get others in, I would try Warmachine as well. Great game, and preferred over 40k if I have the choice.

I second skrulnik's recommendation of Zombies!!! as a pretty simple and fun hybrid of tabletop "wargame" and boardgame. It's very cutthroat, easy to play/learn, and uses dice and miniatures (included in the box), although I recommend picking up Twilight's "Bag 'o Zombies" to supplement the original box as we tend to run out of zombies before we do tiles.

Talisman is another game that's loads of fun, bridging the gap between RPG's and boardgames, good for an hour or two of play and has miniatures that might actually be paintable. The original did, and I've only played the FFG version once, but remember the minis being pretty decent.

If you like card games, the one I've played for over 20 years now is Family Business from Mayfair Games. The Game of Mob Vengence is okay for 2-3 players, but really shines with 4-6. I recommend NOT playing with family unless you really don't want to be invited to holiday get-togethers - friends tend to forgive game-related backstabbings, family hold grudges forever!

Killer Bunnies, Munchkin, Battle Cattle, Space Hulk, Beer Money (why beat them up for Lunch Money), Grass (every wanted to deal), Talisman, Formula D, Arkham Horror, Zombies!!! or Humans!!! (depending on taste), what ever you end up playing have fun.

I have found some of the new generation of board games to be great ways to indulge my wargaming hobby with people outside of my normal gaming group. Games like Tannhauser or Space Hulk I can get my non-wargamer friends to play.

I second looking to RPGs. They can be really inclusive, and can have the same elements of modeling, strategy and combat that I love from 40k. Right now I have a Star Wars revised game going which has pulled together my 40k buddies, my brother who can't stand 40k, and our wives (who also hate Warhammer.)

The d20 rules set is a great little tactical engine, and it's pretty funny to see folks who would never consider playing a traditional wargame doing clever things on the battlemap.

Talisman is a great game. I'm loving Malifaux, so easy to get into yet it has a lot of levels of mastery to it. I've always wanted to try Zombies, I think that's one I could really get my non gamer people into

Maybe try the DnD board game.

I think you'll have more luck with boardgames than with lighter miniature games. Most people shy away at the idea of collecting models, and won't start even for

Fortunately there's a lot of really good boardgames out there right now. My group gets a lot of play out of Small World, it's simple and fast to play, but has a whole lot of depth. A Game of Thrones is a terrific game, though I warn you it isn't that much fun to be losing, and the game relies on betrayal, which some people might not like. You might also look into co-operative games like Shadows over Camelot, where the players have to work together. Or there's narrative games like Betrayal on the House on the Haunted Hill, where half the fun is in the story you create.

Then there's Diplomacy - it's a classic for a reason.

I gotta throw Last Night on Earth out there just because it's better than Zombies!!!. Great, fun game, with a great theme that baits in friends easily, with a not too complicated rule set. Not a wargame, though.

Me i recommend Blood Bowl.Board game dont need alot of space or minis.I have no problem with non wargamers with this because it appels to the sports fan.Also the video game Players.I usually start the by showing them the video game.Also the cost of a team is cheap compared to wfb or 40k.I got a kick ass new necromancer team for under a hundred bucks with star players from g.w.By G.w standerds cheap or ebay for around 30 for starter team.

Settlers of Catan and other similar games usually get people involved.

My only advice would be (just in case you had considered it) Do not get rid of your books and minis. I got rid of a load of mine ages about 22 because I thought I wasn't going to use them again. Now aged 32 I'm regretting loosing a lot of my old OOP marines.

Yep, I agree with the Capt there, I did exactly the same thing, except I was even younger when I stopped. I had so many damn models back then and when I started again it was painful seeing how much people will buy rogue trader models for!

Non gamer types and gamers too will have fun playing a good game of Risk.

The Zombies games are fun as well.

Dez wrote:Talisman is a great game. I'm loving Malifaux, so easy to get into yet it has a lot of levels of mastery to it. I've always wanted to try Zombies, I think that's one I could really get my non gamer people into

Zombies is brilliant, especially when you combine it with Humans so you can have people playing as the Zombies

So your hoisting up the white flag because your letting your friends dictate what hobby you should have? I think you should stick with it personally. I havent had a friend who plays any type of wargame since I moved 5 years ago. Its rare to find anyone in my area who likes this type of stuff, but my pasison for it is high, the releases that GW is putting forth have never been better, and I think its a real exciting time to be into it; especially considering the speculation of whats in store for next year! If you like ot do it, stay with it, eventually someone will will come along, a new friend, who has an interest in the game.

I've never had luck getting friends to play any type of board game or RPG. When I need my fix I just go down to the local hobby store on game night. I'm lucky that there are a lot of good ones in my area with active groups.

Organizing gamers is like herding cats; I just play WoW. It's there anytime I want to play and don't have to put up with anyone; much.

The key to getting non wargamers involved iis games that don't require much buy-in, and can be learned quickly and played in around an hour with a minimum of rulebook checking. The following games are quick to learn and play. Also they're cheap (from free-8 bucks) PDF's and you can get all the figures you'll need (you probably already own suitable figures for most) for two players for less than 30 bucks.

1) Song of blades and Heroes (SoBH). http://www.ganeshagames.net/fantasy/ A warband size (6-12 models per side) fantasy ruleset so simple that non-gamers can pick it up almost immidiately but has enough tactical aspects to keep wargamers interested and an activation mechanic that makes every move count. My group has been playing it for a couple months and we love it.
More of my thoughts on it here: http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/list/318492.page The best 5 bucks you will ever spend on gaming.

2) Wastelands: Another fast play Warband size game. This one is a free download and has a post-apoc setting. We played this one last week and it was as fast as Song of Blades, but with a different mechanic. Has a great variety of charachters and warbands to chose from all differentiated by deceptively simple profiles. Road Warriors, Scavengers, robots, corporate troopers, gangers, cults, Mutants, etc, etc.
My review of it here: http://theminiaturespage.com/boards/msg.mv?id=212420

Both of the above games are discussed/reviewed/batte-reported on one of our group member's blogs
http://rpgdiehard.blogspot.com/
We Played SoBH with a non-gamer a few weeks ago and she loved it, and we have two non-gamers joining us this Sunday to play Wastelands and SoBH. I'll let you know how it turns out.

Lastly...
3) Mech Attack! This game even comes with it's own 2.5d printable mech figures! It's clearly meant as a simpler alternative to Battletech. It incorporates most of the features of battetech (Similar weapons, heat buildup, a much simplifed damage grid) with much fewer stats, faster mechanics and a pretty cool damage system. I haven't played it yet, but am rebasing Mechwarrior clicky figs for it for a future game session. Supposedly it also plays in less than an hour. http://armorgridgames.com/

Glad to see you're starting Vampire roleplay.

I play Vampire the Masquerade. It's great as an introduction to gaming as most people get the setting (the world of darkness, our world through a shadowy lense) and know about vampires enough to get by. The 'dot' system of character sheets and the use of only 1 type of dice (the d10) makes it all very easy to grasp.

Hoping to play vampire RPG tonight. And for all you VTES players, you should PM me about my vampire cube... We need a fourth man!

I really like the board game style war games like incursion and space hulk(which i own! Woot!). I really like the simple movements and measurements as they cut down on arguments and make it an enjoyable experience. I haven't managed to get my friends into it yet due to a packed semester.

I have played cut-throat caverns. And that was most certainly a fun game.

Zombies!!! seems like a great cheap game to get my group into but it looks like there some mixed opinion on the game and i cant quiet seem to find out how the game works and plays. I say id have to veto ATZ however because I am just not down to make that kinda world.

For a while i batted around of building my own game, either a spacehulk zombie/imperial gaurd game, or modifying the rules of battle fleet gothic into a maritime fantasy pirate-esq game.

Like others mentioned easy rules and cheap buy in is key.

Id like to thank everyone for their input, while it seems a little like a free for all, i really am looking at all games mentioned.

Id also like to thank some of the older guys for their input on saving vs selling models. Its a great point one i hadn't fully considered, but the majority of my models are plastic and assembled so i question their value a few years from now.

malfred wrote:Maybe try the DnD board game.

Just to clarify, mal, are you meaning D&D 4th Edition, or the Castle Ravenloft game?

Twoshoes, the issue isn't the value of the models for sale as such, more the fact that I've had to replace them when I have found people to start playing with again. If you have the option to store them rather than sell them I'd always lean towards that option.

Im sure many on here will scoff at it, but try Heroscape. I like it, so do my wife and son.

Some of the stuff can be hard/expensive to get though.


Automatically Appended Next Post:

Capt_Bowman wrote:Twoshoes, the issue isn't the value of the models for sale as such, more the fact that I've had to replace them when I have found people to start playing with again. If you have the option to store them rather than sell them I'd always lean towards that option.

Ill agree completely.

I also thought of another option...there was a game about 10 years ago called Shock Force. Its similar to 40k, but simpler and quicker play. The fluff is pretty stupid IMO, but the game play is pretty good, and its got one great feature...full creation rules for troops, vehicles, weapons, etc. You can make any army from any genre or time period with it. Copies can be found here and there for fairly cheap. Hell Ive got a couple rule books, I could possibly part with one if you were interested.

Second that. I used to be a rep for them and did demos for a time. I really liked the opposed dice rolls mechanic.

Having said that though, like any creation system it was very easy to break the game if you wanted too (Apaches for example). Wish I could find my rule books for it but I'm afraid they are long gone since they would make a pretty tight ruleset for a good Old West type game.

If you are looking at a RPG, you might want to look at Deathwatch, from FFG. It's set in the Warhammer 40K universe, so you might be familiar with that already (I'm not sure which game system you collect). That way, you can still keep a toe in the hobby, while doing something different. The rules aren't complicated or difficult to run, and you can use miniatures you already have in the combats (though you do not have to do so).

You also might want to look at the Castle Ravenloft board game, as some others have suggested. It has miniatures, so you could continue to paint if desired. It also uses a lot of the core concepts of the 4.0 ruleset, so you can use it as a bridge to full contact D&D if you want to do so. The other great thing about Castle Ravenloft is that it has multiple scenarios (like Space Hulk), is playable without a referee or pre-game night preparation (like Space Hulk), and accommodates a variable number of players (unlike Space Hulk). I love Space Hulk, but it has two big downsides for me. It is really set up to be a two player game out of the box, and there is no advancement at all, where Castle Ravenloft allows you to acquire treasures and benefits from your winning combats.

Warning Deathwatch is a gateway drug to full blown WH40K addiction.

One D100 and you could find yourself needing a hit of MOAR SPACE MARREENZ. Just one sprue, honestly guvnor..........

For a different suggestion I would offer something outside the realm of gaming (if trying to get non gamers involved, why not go outside the box a little yourself!) I find real world martial pursuits are very fun, and that a lot of gamer minded and normal folks think so too, many just need the nudge of a friend wanting to do it with them:

I have gotten ex gamers and non gamers involved in some martial hobbies that relate only vaguely to gaming and were still fun for me:

Join a Dojo, I had great experiences with both Judo and Aikido!

Fencing: What a great workout an hour of Fencing is, they have to be good friends for negotiation in a game with 6 feet of real steel between you both!

Shooting, buy a pistol and find an indoor range, most indoor ranges will allow shooting 22s as well, and it's a great year round indoor hobby, also guns are a good investment, they appreciate and maintain value, unlike miniatures. Theres a load of history to be learned here also, I have some great discussions with people in stores and ranges about all sorts of military history!

Arena Soccer! In my area there's an arena soccer stadium, and it's a blast, and also good exercise, we started an office team too, and its a great way to network, and good exercise!

Cycling is fun too, given the right season (now not so much) but I use to cycle to the hobby store and back taking a pack, and bringing back my purchases, fun stuff, I got friends from work to ride with me as well as gamers seeking to fit the profile a little less, heh.

Good luck!