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I was wondering if I should start Infinity. I have several questions I would like to ask if I want to start playing Infinity. Here are my questions:

1. What type of game is this? Is it squad based or army based?

2. Does this game require a lot of models? I am asking because some of the models look relatively expensive and I am not sure if I could afford a lot of models.

3. Do I need to like manga or anime to like this game? I ask because I am honestly not a big fan of either of those.

4. Are the rules extremely complicated? I want to know because I plan to teach a friend how to play because no nearby store/club play or even sell Infinity.

5. How big of a board do I need to play this game? The biggest one I have is our dinner table (which is only temporary) which is 6ft x 4ft.

Those are the only questions I could think of. Thank you everyone!

1. Its 'skirmish' scale, so you have an army of generally <10 dudes who move about on their own most of the time

2. Most armies are <10 models because you essentially get penalized in many situation for going higher than that. Maximum you could possibly take would be like 60 but that would be a pure joke list. Price wise I know that I can get a metal Kommando from GW for the same price as almost any Infinity dude... and the infinity dude can be 50% of my army while the Kommando is like .5% - the game is far cheaper overall

3. Nah, its just an aesthetic on some of the models, nothing else. There are entire factions that don't look Japanese at all. You can take an 'proper' army and go about smashing baka gaijins and their loser animu if you want. One army has werewolves which I love to murder at every opportunity for a similar reason.

4. They're pretty simple, it is however a lot better to have someone show you the game rather than learn it yourself from a book

5. Game is typically played on a 'small' board, the same size recommended for 1k points of 40k.

If your just playing your mate then you can easily change anything to your liking. However, with just one other player I'd generally advise against starting *any* wargame

Conscious that I will reply, and someone will beat me to it!

Will do my best to answer the questions

1. What type of game is this? Is it squad based or army based?

2. Does this game require a lot of models? I am asking because some of the models look relatively expensive and I am not sure if I could afford a lot of models.

Small Spec-ops teams taking each other on. If you've played Necromunda you will have some idea of scale, although possibly a few less minis in Infinity. Miniatures operate independently (most of the time), probably anything from 5-6 miniatures up to about 20, with 8-12 being around average. Cost wise you can start with a starter pack (which are around £30 RRP here in the UK, maybe a US-based poster can let you know the price there!) Yes, like any game you can spend a lot of money if you are inclined, but you can play the game (as it is intended to be played) for around £50 - starter set, and 2 or 3 blisters. Rules are downloadable for free from the official website, which helps reduce costs.

Only caveat I would add to this is the terrain necessary to play the game - they advise no more than 8" between each cover element, making a crowded table, and much more terrain coverage than most mass-battle systems. I ended up collecting and making terrain with a friend, which helped with cost and time, but it is an element that has to be factored in to Infinity.

3. Do I need to like manga or anime to like this game? I ask because I am honestly not a big fan of either of those.

Even though anime/manga has been a big influence on certain parts of the design aesthetic of the game, I'm going to tentatively say 'no'. Certain factions, and sub-factions, have more anime-style minis. It depends on what part of anime/manga you don't like; most people like the tremendously intricate and cool looking big robots and heavy armour units, contrast with the knickers-wearing, part animal-girl creatures with implausibly big hair. Both of these things are lifted straight from anime in a lot of cases, but generally the former tends to be a lot more popular. But, yes it is perfectly possible to play the game without any of the latter, cute-pokemon style minis (some factions have more of these than others, some almost none at all).

4. Are the rules extremely complicated? I want to know because I plan to teach a friend how to play because no nearby store/club play or even sell Infinity.

Anyone who has played 40/WFB/Warmachine will comfortably be able to pick up the game, and I can say that with confidence as I've taught a number of people with that gaming background how to play. There are certainly some complex special rules (some of which are immensely cool.. this isn't just extra re-rolls and modifiers for the sake of it) but these can come in later. I would recommend you start with Beasts of War starter rules set which show the basics and allow you to get a feel of the mechanics, which in my view along with the minis are the biggest selling point of the game http://www.beastsofwar.com/wp-content/uploads/Infinity-QuickStartRules-V2.pdf

Anyone who hasn't played a wargame can also learn easily, and again this is something I have personal experience of. The reason for this is that the rules don't have much abstraction, and are quite intuitive. Guy runs in between some buildings? You've never played a game before, but you want your sniper on the rooftop to have a crack at him when he runs across. Guy shooting a machine gun at you? Throw yourself flat behind the wall. In this game you can do those things.

5. How big of a board do I need to play this game? The biggest one I have is our dinner table (which is only temporary) which is 6ft x 4ft.

The game is designed to be played on 4x4, up to 300pts (which is generally regarded as the full, standard game size). You can play 6x4, but you'll need a lot of terrain - other than the odd themed game would probably say the 4x4 is a better size.

Hope that helps!

Yes you should .

1) model based
2) about 10 models per side, can go up to 16ish for horde list.
3) No
4) base rules are simple once you learn them, start small and simple. All the toys are fun but you need the learn the basics first.
5) 4x4 board, you will need a lot of terrain.

Have fun and buy what you like the looks of, you can in this game.

Greetings

Infinity force typically consists between 10-16 models per side, more is possible but generally somewhere from 10 - 16 models.

You don't need to like anime, though this isn't exactly true since I don't know what's your dislike with the genre. Infinity borrows certain aesthetics (such as TAG, HI, wacky pal bots design) and tries to remain colorful. Suffice to say the style is more "anime-ish" as it's not exactly direct copy and you can see other thoughts have been put into it. The setting itself is sci-fi, no psionics or other similar wizardry, maybe dog warriors from Ariadna but that's just being picky.

The rules are quite complicated but it's quite rewarding to learn them. I recommend starting with Quick start rules and slowly working your way to full rules, all the rules are free on the game's website.

Corvus Beli site:
http://www.infinitythegame.com/infinity/en/downloads/

http://www.infinitythegame.com/infinity/downloads/rules/%5Ben%5DRules.pdf

http://www.infinitythegame.com/infinity/downloads/rules/%5Ben%5DRulesHS.pdf

Quick start rules:
http://www.infinitythegame.com/infinity/downloads/rules/%5Ben%5DQSR-PF-A4.pdf

Miniwargaming posted a battle report, though it has some mistakes, it should give you a feeling how the game plays:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dkc44o-XW74

Your dinner table is sufficient. We mostly play 4' x 4'. The biggest problem is actually terrain as you need a lot of it.

Thank you everyone!


Automatically Appended Next Post:

 Dakkamite wrote:
However, with just one other player I'd generally advise against starting *any* wargame

Well I generally just play it casually (much like how I play board games) with friends and family. Then again, I haven't played a single match of any wargame. I hope that one day, my FLGS (which is in another city entirely ) will stock it. Thank you for the advice!

I don't know if infinity is the easiest game to casually play with friends and family as the learning curve is a bit steep.

 cincydooley wrote:
I don't know if infinity is the easiest game to casually play with friends and family as the learning curve is a bit steep.

I guess I'll have to see how things turn out!

 cincydooley wrote:
I don't know if infinity is the easiest game to casually play with friends and family as the learning curve is a bit steep.

Right.. it's never, ever going to have the same level of approachability as something like a board game, or a wargame/boardgame (Super dungeon explore, space hulk, bloodbowl/dreadball that kind of stuff).

But, starter rules + a couple of basic guys (3 line infantry, 1 'special' weapon) works well to start. And.. you get out what you put in and all that!

Just a note on table size - 6x4 is also recommended by Corvus Belli. It creates a different style of game, however. Ranges get pushed out so even sniper rifles struggle to be in their effective range bracket from the get go, so it requires a lot more movement strategy.

It's definitely not something you'd do every game, but it creates a very different feel for the game.

Well everythings been pretty much answered so Ill just pitch in with that you'll be fine to start up with just one other to play with. Its what I did and in one afternoon the rules were pretty much sussed out, plus there is quite a bit of diversity in playstyles so I'm not even bored of him... yet. Eventually I may go explore for others, I'll see I guess. All I suggest is that you have internet access the first few times you play. The online wiki is very useful; true, the rules are also in the rulebooks, but it can be easier to search for that one rule you remember reading last week that might help rather than flicking through pages for ages. Stickied as the top of this forum is stuff to get you started as well.

If you are looking for others to verse, there may even be one near you. Who knows
https://infinitypeople.herokuapp.com/

Do you want to?

If yes--start!