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I noticed that therequite a few companies out there that create just the models. How do you know what games they would be good for?

By...looking at the models, thinking "that would be cool to use" and just using them? I'm not sure if i'm missing something here or if you need to be a bit more specific what you're after?

It's quite obvious that I'm new to this. I just didn't know if they were made for certain games and I was just missing it or what. I want to get into a good sci fi game with more than just troops. I would like to get into something with both vehicles and machines to go along with the troops, I just don't know where to start. I have seen quite a few that I like, I just don't know what to use.

Ah my mistake then! Most the influx down at the bottom of the forum comes from people moving away from 40k/fantasy, feels a little weird to get genuinly new hobbyists down here

Anyway, it really depends. What kind of game scale and size are you looking for? Genre too, and what particular models have caught your eye? (For instance you'd get a different answer if you pointed out some micro scale space fleet ships as opposed to some fantasy orcs or something).

Probably 28mm, I like the enforcers and corporation from Mantic. Some of the vehicles from rebel minis, some minis from hitech, I like some of the 40k but the pricing is pretty high. I like the more human factions.


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I will definitely get deadzone though

cajun_duck wrote:
It's quite obvious that I'm new to this. I just didn't know if they were made for certain games and I was just missing it or what. I want to get into a good sci fi game with more than just troops. I would like to get into something with both vehicles and machines to go along with the troops, I just don't know where to start. I have seen quite a few that I like, I just don't know what to use.

Companies make miniatures without games for a many reasons.
1) To sell to people just like to collect and/or paint miniatures.
2) Some miniature lines live on while the games they originally came form have died. (Kryomek, Void, Vor, Spacelords, Fantasy Armies, CAV, Shockforce, etc, etc). Sometimes the manufacturer will continue to make the minis, sometimes the molds will be bought by someone who things there's a market for the minis apart from the game. Sometimes the same minis reappear in a new game (Killzone minis reappeared in Combat Zone by EM4, Rogue Legion mechs reappear in CAV:SO)
3) Many games are written without the publisher having the ability or desire to create a specific line of miniatures. Often times (though not always) these rulesets are termed "generic" because they are aimed at being used with any miniatures. Sometimes they include lots of army lists, sometimes they have a mechanic wereby you create the stats for the miniatures and sometimes both. So many miniature makers make miniatures expecting that players will use them in these these type of games.
4) RPG'ers often like to use miniatures in their games or just have a mini to represent their charachter
5) Sometimes a company will make a minaiture deliberatly (though not usually stated as such) to be used in another company's game. There's dozens of companies making minis for GW games that aren't GW.

As for what game or what minaitures, we need a bit more detail. There are dozens of rules/games out there and even more lines of minaitures, but we'd just be throwing our favorites at you. Let us know...
1) What scale of game (how big should the figures be)
2) What scope of game (how many figs and vehicles per side?)
3) What genre. Hard sci-fi, Sci-Fantasy, Near Future?
4) Anything else you would like to specify. Rules complexity, Background included, etc, etc...

I am guessing around the 28mm scale
A far as scope, something that can maybe start small and grow
Genre, hard sci fi to near future
Nothing too complex to start, but I also like the idea of creating my own stats
Background would be good
It is for both me and my wife to get into it
Thanks for all of the help you guys are giving me

Deadzone by Mantic (pending release) may be a good place to start. 28mm, you can start small and build up. I've heard nice things about the background. The models you buy for Deadzone can be used for games of larger sizes in Mantic game's own "Warpath" set of rules if Deadzone starts feeling too small.

Infinity is also very popular. The rules can be pretty complex, but I think you can play with just the quick start rules until you get the hang of things. Still 28mm. Again, you don't need many models to play games.

I thought 28mm was the norm. What size is mercs because those look pretty sweet. The conversions also really interest me. Ii would do all of this for both gaming and because just the modeling looks like fun.

28mm is just -a- scale, not THE (we don't want the historicals bringing their wrath down here).

If you're after 28mm scifi, both deadzone and infinity would be excellent choices. Infinity I wouldn't recommend anything but light conversion work though, from what I know of it the models aren't as er, "sturdy" (i.e, tree limbs) as 40k models, metal is hard to work with if you're new to it, and wysiwyg is very much needed in the game.

Another thing to consider is generic rule sets. In Her Majesties Name is something around $20 I think? Skirmish level, however the theme of the book is victorian steampunk it gives the formulas for unit creation allowing it to fit to any setting really, including sci-fi.

If you're looking for something to escalate into, give Tommorows War a view too, not skirmish based however typical games can easily run 2-3 five man units and a tank or apc or two.

Mercs is 28mm I believe, and if you disregard the initial starting price (about £110 or so for a rulebook and two starters) the boxed sets are pretty damn good value considering you get every mini for your faction in it.

If you were ever a Judge Dredd fan it may be worth looking in to that, it recently got a new 2 player starter set out I believe, and I THINK the rules are available as PDF for free.

 doc1234 wrote:


If you're after 28mm scifi, both deadzone and infinity would be excellent choices. Infinity I wouldn't recommend anything but light conversion work though, from what I know of it the models aren't as er, "sturdy" (i.e, tree limbs) as 40k models, metal is hard to work with if you're new to it, and wysiwyg is very much needed in the game.

If you were ever a Judge Dredd fan it may be worth looking in to that, it recently got a new 2 player starter set out I believe, and I THINK the rules are available as PDF for free.

Infinity is not that heavy wysiwyg, a fair number of models just have CCW showing and can be used as any range weapon load out. While CB has basically said other like FO model will likely never happen.

OP Infinity a great game just start small if you go for it and build up to all the rules. Judge Dredd is also a good choose, not as good in rules or even close in models to Infinity, but hell of a lot of fun and simple enough where you can start with all the rules. Hell getting into both is still less then one army from another game company.

Basically 90% of companies that make 15mm figures are making them for generic rulesets. Especially sci-fi figures. Rebel Minis is an especially good example.

@noir my bad! Had thought with the same model types having different loadouts it was important for not mixing your bolters counts as flamers or whatever.

OP AegisGrimm raises a good point. 6mm is very affordable too, and works well with stuff out of scale. 28mm robots suddenly become giant fighting mecha, and things like 6mm artillery makes for fairly good drone field guns.

cajun_duck wrote:
I thought 28mm was the norm. What size is mercs because those look pretty sweet. The conversions also really interest me. Ii would do all of this for both gaming and because just the modeling looks like fun.

28mm is one of the most popular scales for fantasy and sci-fi gaming, but it's far from the only scale.

As far as I know Mercs is a bit bigger. Many of the newer warband sized skirmish games (5-10 figs per side) are using figures that are in the 32mm scale. The scale measurement traditionally (though there are variations) means the height from the sole of the shoe to the eyeline. This makes it easier to compare height without having to take headgear into account.

As far as a game based on your recomendations, I think that as others have said, Deadzone would be a great suggestion. It's just about to be released. I've read the rules and it looks to be small in model count and fast playing, with rules that are not too complex, so beginners should be able to jump right in. I'm eagerly awaiting my deadzone shippment!

Infinity is also a great suggestion. More complex in rules, but it has a nicely developed background, some of the best quality sci-fi miniatures of any game, and a good number of factions to choose from. It also has been around a while and has an established track record.

If you eventually want to try fantasy, I'd suggest Song of Blades and Heroes. It doesn't have fluff/background, but it comes with alot of statted units and lets you stat your own. It also uses any fantasy figures (there are thousands of fantasy miniatures currently avaialble) which might help your wife get into gaming since she can pick whatever miniatures appeal to her most. It's also only 8 dollars.

thank you for all of your help and suggestions. But I think 15mm and 6mm would be way too small for the modeling side of things for me personally.