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This is Killykavekommando and Pinoypower (held against his will ) bored on a Thursday and willing to try something new. We (meaning I) decided that we should try out Infinity, the tactical game.
So, we have our paper cut-out miniatures and a black and white rulebook. Now, it's time to learn how to play. The rules seem confusing, so we'd like you guys to help us out in learning how to play. For one, how far is movement supposed to be? How do you measure for shooting? Etc?

I am playing the Ariadna, while Pinoypower is playing Yu Jing, and we're both using the starter packs (paper stand-ins). Are these good to learn how to play with? Would it be easier to use other forces?

Thanks, killy

First you should check out the how to play videos. Well make thing clearer and it will be easier to answer. Like for movement you can move the first number for half a order (short move) and the second number for the other half of the order (second short move). But, you always use the first number for movement, the first time you move during a order. So if you shoot first you with half the order (Short Skill) you can still move you first movement number with the second half of the order (short move).

But, more important and likely to get more help faster is posting in the subforum 3 down from this one.

Okay, thanks. I've watched the tutorials, but I still can't find the stats for each unit. Where can I find them?

Infinity the Game web site.

Under download there are 2 rules downloads get both, and there are 2 army list downloads get them both too. One is the rules and army list from the core book the others are from the second book, you well need them both.

Thanks, I'm gonna do a first game in a week or so.

There's also the army list builder which is great:
http://infinitythegame.com/dt_army/

Everything is pretty much automated.

If you're just starting out, the commonly accepted points-value is around 150. Due to this you'll have 3 SWC to play around with. "SWC" is a special weapons cost that some heavier or more exotic abilities/weapons have that ingeniously inhibits spam-lists.

As a quick run-down:

MOV = Your movement value in inches. First value is how far you move as your first short order. If you use another short order to move, you additionally move the second value.
CC = Close Combat value. Roll under this for a success in CC.
BS = Ballistic Skill value. Roll under this for a success in shooting.
PH = Physique. Roll under this value for orders such as climbing, jumping, etc.
WIP = Willpower. Essentially an analogue to 40k's Leadership. Roll under this to successfully resist scary things or successfully use doctoring skills.
ARM = Armor.
BTS = Essentially 'armor' against unconventional attacks such as hackers or biological weapons.
W = Wounds. If this reaches zero, you're down but not 'dead'. Docs may still heal you.
AVA = How many of this guy you can take in an army list. Total means any.

There's also the Infinity Wiki. If there's anything from guns to skills to equipment that you see and don't understand, shove it into the Wiki.

Avoid hackers, camouflage, impetuous troops, mines, and maybe even grenade launchers for the first game or so. Remotes are also a bit advanced because they require you to take a hacker. Feel free to 'cheat' a bit and take them for now without a hacker.

For your first game...

Just watch the first 3 rules tutorial videos.
One player use just 3 Line Kazaks and the other just use 3 Zhanshis, Just basic line troops.

Fill a 24"x24" table with dense terrain and deploy in small 8" zones the three miniatures.

Make a face to face roll using the WIP value of your figures to decide who goes first. That would be "the guy who rolls closer to 13 and not higher wins".

The active player will have 3 regular orders in his first turn. This means that he could make just 3 manouver like: Move+Move or Move+Shoot

Juts play this match to figure out the basic game mechanics. Focus on Range and Cover, understand Active and Reactive turn.

After this battle, it could take like 30 minutes while reading the rules.... try something bigger.

Thanks, do tactics truly vary between armies? How should I play Ariadna? I've been reading up on the rules, but I don't understand exactly how close combat works. Is it essentially the same as ranged combat, just using different characteristics? Also, how do weapons affect shooting?

Close combat essentially is the same as shooting but with different stats. Note that some units that are MEANT to get into Close Combat have skills that make them operate differently such as Martial Arts.

Also note that once you charge into CC, your opponent still gets an ARO. That ARO could be fighting in close combat, or it could be shooting you before you get into base-to-base. Don't rely on close combat unless you know what you're doing.

Here are other beginner things to look up that are often missed:
- You can perform something caused a "Cautious Move". This should ensure your guys die much less during your turn.
- This is emphasized often. Put TONS of terrain everywhere.
- A declared ARO can occur at any time during movement. If an enemy moves from half-cover, out of cover for a moment, and ends fully concealed,.. you can declare an ARO to happen at the most advantageous time: when the enemy is fully exposed.
- Hug cover at all times. You don't get cover unless you're in base contact with something. Cover is really really important.
- Understand how face-to-face rolls work.

As for how Ariadna works, they're special in that they have no high-tech such as TO Camo or Hackers or Remotes (they technically have Traktors, but meh). I wish I knew how to play them myself; can't help you too much there.
The more successful or 'fun' lists I've seen utilize Airborne Deployment (essentially deep-striking) and Camouflage. Avoid camo for your first few games, but understand that Ariadna is really really good at getting tons of the low-level camo stuff.

Ah okay, so would my first games using car stock stand-ins be okay, as in would I get the full experience?
Also, are 40k ruins okay for terrain, or should closed-top high tech buildings be used?

Something that will also help immensely is the army builder. There are a few available, but the best one is done by a group of guys called Devil Team. There's a link to it on Infinity's official page.

It can be confusing at first, but it gives every stat and special ability for every miniature all in one spot. You can also click on special abilities and it will auto load the page to the Infinity Wiki and give you an instant description.

Sweet! So, what if you are in base contact with cover, but an enemy mini shoots you from the other side. Do you still gain cover benefits?

Depends on exactly how the models are situated. You'd have to play it by ear for each instance this comes up. Shouldn't come up too often...

killykavekommando wrote:Sweet! So, what if you are in base contact with cover, but an enemy mini shoots you from the other side. Do you still gain cover benefits?

No, the cover needs to be between the models.

The 40K ruins need there windows boarded up and you need to learn the value of going prone. Otherwise you will get shot to hell. While open warfare is rare, it's not unheard of so there are ruins.

No you do not. Base-contact-with-cover only matters from the side(s) it clearly protects you from. Also cover only protects you if it covers the majority of your body. If attacked from an exposed flank, cover wouldn't be concealing enough to be allowed.

Additionally, you can go Prone:
http://infinitythegame.wikispot.org/Prone

Absolutionis wrote:No you do not. Base-contact-with-cover only matters from the side(s) it clearly protects you from. Also cover only protects you if it covers the majority of your body. If attacked from an exposed flank, cover wouldn't be concealing enough to be allowed.

To correct this a bit, you must be in base to base contact with the piece of cover you wish to claim cover from, it must by a form of hard cover (not a bush), it must be at least Knee height, and it must be blocking line of sight to at least 0.000001% of the model it's self (AKA must be blocking a portion of the model).

killykavekommando wrote:Ah okay, so would my first games using car stock stand-ins be okay, as in would I get the full experience?
Also, are 40k ruins okay for terrain, or should closed-top high tech buildings be used?

Really? full experience? you are talking about using paper models, paper terrain and want the full experience of having an infinity game?

IMHO a full Infinity experience would be reading the fluff, making an army list with the miniatures I have a play in a decent table, I will call that a full experience.

For a decent gameyou will ned lots terrain that provides total cover, at least 9 pieces that any miniature can use to hide behind.

I'm starting to draft a list mainly focusing on line Kazaks, just to keep things simple. I've found some good tutorials on how to make legitimate terrain (i.e. not 40k or card stock), so I'll be making some sci fi condos and garages for use in games. I'm also going down to my FLGS to see if they sell any Ariadna. Thanks for all the help guys.

P.S. Are there any Infinity novels? I'd like to know more about he fluff. That whole AI gentle overlord thing is really cool.

As far as I know, the only sources of fluff right now are the two rulebooks.

Yup, just the rulebooks at the moment. The community has pleaded for a graphic novel for some time though.

Oh, but that doesn't mean there can't be fan fiction! ;P

There are actually some really funny comic-book spreads (fan made) on the official forums, I believe translated from the original Spanish.

Had a quick look but couldn't find the thread unfortunately (one of the other guys who posts here might know of it!)

As long as it's not furry slash fiction then knock yourself out.

Be really careful using 40K ruins for Infinity - that's how I started playing it way back when and it was a woeful Sniper fest where nobody could walk an inch without dying.

So I'd suggest you treat any walls, no matter how holed and ruined as blocking LOS until you get terrain that actually block LOS.

If you find your games completely dominated by snipers, missile launchers and heavy machine guns then you don't have enough terrain.

No matter what we tell you, you won't have enough terrain - it's a huge change of mind-set from 40K in the amount of terrain, and the type you need.

It's a great game though, you'll love it. You can just use boxes and books and paint pots (great barrels) as good terrain for Infinity, if you want to try out the mechanics and won't be upset by the look.

Pacific wrote:There are actually some really funny comic-book spreads (fan made) on the official forums, I believe translated from the original Spanish.

Had a quick look but couldn't find the thread unfortunately (one of the other guys who posts here might know of it!)

Found it! This was the only one I could find that is appropriate to post, if you take a look at the link there are a load more http://www.infinitythegame.com/forum/showthread.php?tid=85



Completely agree with quozl though, you need as much terrain as possible, and preferably LOS blocking,

I'm loving this game! Now just to make some 'real' terrain!

Now, I'm wondering what the best kinds of lists are MG lists? Sniper lists? Lots of weak guys? What else?

killykavekommando wrote:
Now, I'm wondering what the best kinds of lists are MG lists? Sniper lists? Lots of weak guys? What else?

Aaah. Now we come to one of the most important aspects of Infinity:

It's not your list. It's you! Or (my favorite):



Lots of weak little guys will get you killed. Lots of weak little guys and a big guy will get you killed. SWC - Special Weapons Cost - keeps you from taking all MGs or all-Snipers.

Anything lists.

Really, just make your team out of the models you think are cool. Drop all pre-conceived notions you might have gotten from GW games.

I'm looking at a few line Kazaks, a line Kazak hmg, and a few vet Kazaks. My Lt. will be a vet Kazak until I get something stronger. I'm kinda going for a ranger kill team vibe. What do you guys think? Should I arm a vet Kazak with a GL?

Even a weak guy can take down a TAG with a lucky shot (crit) that's the beauty of it.

Took out one in a game yesterday with combi-rifle crits from 24" inches away (distracted him with one unit so he would turn to face them, then moved two other guys up with a co-ordinated order out of his LoF and shot him in the back.) I was needing 3s to hit him. 4 dice, three 3s.

Bait and switch is annoying, and rear armour isn't any weaker than front, it's just he can't shoot you back (most times) if he has to use his ARO just to turn around.

Haha great, bet that got a nice cry of consternation from your opponent!

Nothing at all to stop you going for that kind of themed army, and then adding or removing individual units to fine tune it. One of the beauties of Infinity, the game is cheap enough to play that it doesn't matter so much (and there are no truly awful units, so you can always go back to other units later on just for some variety).