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NOT FOR TROLLS

I'm at a point in my gaming where playing with my wife, and kids is more important to a super active gaming store, I play 40K and do love it, but to build multiple armies at GW prices makes me die a little,

So I started to look at alternatives and I'm looking for your opinion on why this game is cool.

It's down to this, Deazone, or the maybe the kinda cool looking western game that has popped up recently,

I'm looking for playability, simple to learn/teach but enough depth to keep me involved.
prefer Sci-fi or Streampunk feel,
reasonable army size/cost

We do play X-Wing, Hero Clicks, and many many board games but I love me my Minis =)

anyway have at it

I love infinity, but I'm not sure it fits the "simple/easy to teach" bracket you're looking for.

I think if you were to stick to the quick start rules, at least for the first dozen games or so you would be ok.

You could quite easily pick up 3 or 4 starter boxes from different factions and have a decent amount of hobbying and gaming to keep you going for some time.

Plus the rulebooks are free to download so the start up cost is quite minimal compared to GW.

Agreed that it's not the easiest game to learn.

But, if you're willing to learn the rules fully yourself, you will be able to 'demo' to your family. The basic mechanics of the game are straightforward - my recommendation would be the 'Beasts of War' edition, which you can download for free to get you started: http://www.beastsofwar.com/wp-content/uploads/Infinity-QuickStartRules-V1.pdf

Actually, I've found that it's a very easy game to get non-gamers into as there is little abstraction involved. Ask someone who is playing "so what do you want to do with this guy?" and you'll get answers like 'throw yourself behind a wall and crawl', 'put some covering fire down there', 'have my sniper hit that guy when he runs between the buildings' - the rules let you do all of these things, which will immediately endear the game to anyone who is a fan of games or action movies.

'Depth' wise, you will struggle to find a game that has more. I've played probably a dozen or more wargames across the last 25 years, IMO Infinity is up there with the best of them if you want to flex your tactical muscles. I've been playing for several years but I've still been made to look like a complete noob by some of the mega-minds I have played!

In fact, as well as the starter section on Dakka, the whole section on BoW is pretty useful and gives you some idea of what the game is about if you want to see more http://www.beastsofwar.com/?cat=99&tag=content-getting-started

I'd also actually recommend Deadzone, it's a really nice little ruleset and self contained so you will get up and running a lot faster than Infinity. Of course, nothing to stop you getting that game, using the terrain for Infinity also if you fancy a change - you'll be able to get fully kitted out for Deadzone, a few Infinity starter armies, for significantly less than you would pay for a new 40k or Fantasy army.

Learning it is always dependant on the person. For instance, my 11 year old nephew pointed out to my brother and I that we haven't been using the Lt order at all. He's picked up the rules pretty handily - better it seems than his 30 year old dad and uncle.

Infinity is a great game, and although it does have a complexity to the rules that other games dont neccessarily have. Infinity has a very progressive rules set.

I say that it is progressive, in that the rules build upon themselves.

If you are looking to learn the more advanced game mechanics I would suggest taking a look at the Escalation league packet in the Downloads section of Infinitythegame.com

It' is a format of play that starts with the simplest of the rules, and builds them up over the duration of the league play.

No one can convince you but play a demo game with beasts of war quick start rules and you might start to notice the rules tweaks, thematic stuff and close calls you get make it a really interesting and fun experience.

I like infinity, but it's not the "one" for me.

NO game I've played in the last 27 years has been "the one".

It's ONE of the games I like and will play - but I will NEVER be exclusive to one game or game maker. It's not my "ms right", but it's close enough to a "ms Right NOW".


Poly-game-y is the way I roll.

It's 1A for me. Picking up the rules start at contested rolls and ARO's, at least it was for me. Get an understand of those and you can start to get into the game. Then there are more and more layers above that.

I find its lasting draw in the fact that t is very tactical. More than any other game I have played in many years, you have to be several moves ahead of yourself and your opponent. Like Chess. Some games half or more of your success will come during your opponent's turns.

In terms of game size, even at the highest points allowed (300), there seems to be an unwritten rule to stay within 10 models. Now, at your home, that might be different. But going over 10 models certainly changes the game dynamic.

I don;t know if it matters, but models are among the best in the business. There are a variety of factions to choose from. And the background (though translations are not always smooth) is also highly developed and entertaining.

Now, if you are open to another option, Pulp City is out there as well, and might be slightly more family-friendly. There are no deaths (just KO's), its super-hero based so not everyone is armed, and the rules are also clean and currently free online. http://pulp-city.com/downloads-2/

"Chromedog is always looking out for the future ex-Ms. Chromedog."

Nope. I've got "the one" mrs chromedog. She's a keeper.

She doesn't despise my hobby.
She doesn't even mildly dislike my hobby.
She actively encourages me in my hobby.
She buys me stuff for my hobby and sends me on my way to club days so I can have my "nerd time".

I'm always on the lookout for a new miniatures game, though. Played most of the SF themed minis games over the last three decades, and none really fully satisfy.

 chromedog wrote:
Nope. I've got "the one" mrs chromedog. She's a keeper.

She doesn't despise my hobby.
She doesn't even mildly dislike my hobby.
She actively encourages me in my hobby.
She buys me stuff for my hobby and sends me on my way to club days so I can have my "nerd time".

I'm always on the lookout for a new miniatures game, though. Played most of the SF themed minis games over the last three decades, and none really fully satisfy.

You've been gaming longer than I've been alive, but my Mrs. is the same way. She lets me have my nerd time, and likes to play some games with me.
Warhammer and Infinity(as of four days ago) are beyond her patience to play, but, she loves painting the miniatures for me.

I'll say Infinity is quite worth trying at least three or four times. It's a perfect replacement to MTG for my friend and me. We use to love deck building and seeing if we could outwit each other. Unfortunately, I lost interest in constantly buying new cards and later researching new cards. I don't mind casual deck building but he has a lot more patience than I do to actually see the combos that come out. Infinity seems to satisfy us both. He gets to constantly list build and I can focus on using the same list better and better.

It's been less expensive than 40k, but it's not at all "the one"

 remilia_scarlet wrote:
It's been less expensive than 40k

Hahaha. I got into Infinity because it was cheaper than 40k.

Now one of my cupboard shelves looks like this.



It's cheaper until the game hooks you. Then you just end up throwing money at CB.

Woah, is that a new Tohaa TAG on the far right?

Down here in NZ infinity is far cheaper than 40k, even after they hook you and you start your fourth army...

 -Loki- wrote:

 remilia_scarlet wrote:
It's been less expensive than 40k

Hahaha. I got into Infinity because it was cheaper than 40k.

Now one of my cupboard shelves looks like this.



It's cheaper until the game hooks you. Then you just end up throwing money at CB.

I built a 150 point army for less than $100

can't do that with GW (✿¬‿¬)

 remilia_scarlet wrote:

 -Loki- wrote:

 remilia_scarlet wrote:
It's been less expensive than 40k

Hahaha. I got into Infinity because it was cheaper than 40k.

Now one of my cupboard shelves looks like this.



It's cheaper until the game hooks you. Then you just end up throwing money at CB.

I built a 150 point army for less than $100

can't do that with GW (✿¬‿¬)

That's my point. You start out because it's cheaper than buying a GW army.

Then you buy another box because you want to use 2 of the mdoels. Then another because you like them and might use them some day. Then those three blisters because they'd be handy. Than that TAG because feth yeah. Then you start eyeing another faction. Then you buy a starter and a few blisters. Then you buy another box...

Once Infinity gets its hooks in, it's a cruel mistress.


Automatically Appended Next Post:

 Dakkamite wrote:
Woah, is that a new Tohaa TAG on the far right?

The one you see a shadow of in the far left would be more fun.

-loki- wrote:

Then you buy another box because you want to use 2 of the mdoels. Then another because you like them and might use them some day. Then those three blisters because they'd be handy. Than that TAG because feth yeah. Then you start eyeing another faction. Then you buy a starter and a few blisters. Then you buy another box...

Once Infinity gets its hooks in, it's a cruel mistress.

It's not near as cruel as legacy mtg, but I know what you mean. I just wanted a couple models to build and display, and then an army, and then I ordered a few more boxes, and then a few more to start a garage. I have a problem. (◡‿◡✿)

I'm fortunate that lately I've turned my attention to terrain.

I need to get off my ass and start building terrain. I'm too dependent on my LGS providing it for me.

Terrain is just as addictive as the models. At least you can built it yourself for bugger all though.

All I've got is a dozen or so crudely constructed square buildings, made from cork tile. But god knows as soon as exams are over I'll be putting up a whole city of these ugly things

I'm already planning a second board using Plastcraft Bourak terrain and other desert terrain. I haven't finished buying my city terrain yet, let alone actually painted it.

I work in spare parts at a car yard, I've been hoarding the warranty parts that would otherwise have been binned for a few months now. I have no idea how I'll make terrain out of some of the crap I've accumulated but I am sure someone could make an amazing table out of it :/

 jonolikespie wrote:
I work in spare parts at a car yard, I've been hoarding the warranty parts that would otherwise have been binned for a few months now. I have no idea how I'll make terrain out of some of the crap I've accumulated but I am sure someone could make an amazing table out of it :/

Indeed! I work at a dealership, and there are so many weird things I have kept to use as terrain. We should compare notes!

Okay, I've tried to learn the basic rules for Infinity and I'm pretty sure I've got them down now. If you're looking for simple gameplay, I'm not so sure Infinity is the way to go. Now, if you just like the figures though, I'd say that Infinity has got some of THE best figures on the market. For non-boutique mass market figures, they just cannot be beat.

I would say that if simple is what you're looking for, check out Ganesha Games.
http://www.ganeshagames.net/
I've been on the lookout for small scale skirmish games with simple rules and most bugger it up somewhere along the way. Ganesha actually gets it right. Their games are small scale with very simple and very easy to learn rules. I'd say start with their base game, A Song of Blades and Heroes. It's geared towards fantasy, but the great thing about it is that you can use whatever figures you want. Combat is pretty heavily abstracted, so there's no need to differentiate between a crossbow and a laser rifle. So, you could get that rulebook and use Infinity figures with it and you're set. If you want more in-depth and more shooty, try out Flying Lead, their more or less modern game or Mutants and Deathrayguns, which is sci-fi. Both games use modified versions of the SOBH rules, so they're all pretty simple to learn.

Thanks for the recommendation Barzam - I've read about that game so many times, just need to damn-well download the thing..

 Dakkamite wrote:
Woah, is that a new Tohaa TAG on the far right?

Down here in NZ infinity is far cheaper than 40k, even after they hook you and you start your fourth army...

I currently have 3 forces, with a 4th one waiting to be built.. Yes, this game can get very expensive!

But, I also know people who are complete cheap-skates and play the game, without the obsessive-collector side, so at least you have that option.

I've got a friend who plays Aleph. All he has so far is the vanilla starter, the Myrmidon box, the Myrmidon Officer, the support box and now the Post Humans box. He's quite content playing the game with just those (and has kicked my ass with just those). He buys something new very rarely - we've been playing now over a year and that's all he's bought.

Compared to my collection above. We started at the same time.