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I'm not sure if this is the correct forum (apologies if it isn't) but I'm wondering what - if any - tabletop wargames there are that encourage players to scratchbuild or kitbash their own models. I understand that Warhammer 40K used to be like this in the early going, but it seems like the competitive circuit and business model have increasingly discouraged players from doing this.

I recently learned of the game Gasland that uses this sort of mechanic, and I know the unofficial Inq28 does as well, but I would love to know what other options are out there with higher model counts. Skirmish games are great, but I love squads and vehicles. I think it would be awesome if there was a game in the scope of a 1000pt 40K game with an open sandbox modeling mechanic.

There are a lot of model-agnostic rule sets, like Frostgrave or the One Page wargames, where you can essentially "counts as" all kinds of minis into a few different classes. Gangfight just had a KS for a ruleset designed to allow players to use the models they want to choose to play everything from fantasy to Weird West to Space Opera. As an incurable kitbasher with an eclectic collection, I am really looking forward to trying it out.

Kings of War is pretty open to this. It helps that it uses blocks of infantry and does not use a true-line-of-sight system, so modelling for advantage doesn't really exist as long as you can get your stuff onto the right-sized trays.

Hmmm, sounds like somewhat slim pickings. Maybe I'll have to write my own rules though the only problem with that is finding others to play your game with you.

Most of the Osprey Wargames are mode-agnostic, and thus allow a pretty wide range of conversion options.

 Valander wrote:
Most of the Osprey Wargames are mode-agnostic, and thus allow a pretty wide range of conversion options.

I didn't realize they had so many games! Not sure where to start. Do you have any recommendations?

Pulp Alley and A Song of Blades and Heroes are both agnostic type of miniature skirmish games. Pulp Alley has you form a league of characters usually about 4 to 10 models. You use various abilities to represent what a model can do outside of a normal shoot and brawl stat. The quickstart rules are available for free on War Games Vault and the PDF for the game is around $10. If you like it though, I do suggest that you get the Leagues expansion (also $10), it has the expanded league creation rules that offers more abilities and such over the base game.

Advance Song of Blades and Heroes only uses two stats and all the other items used to determine what a model can do is based upon traits that you buy. I have the main book and it's gamma worldish counterpart. I have read them, but never actually played either. Another option would be Rogue Stars written by the same author.

cweg127 wrote:

 Valander wrote:
Most of the Osprey Wargames are mode-agnostic, and thus allow a pretty wide range of conversion options.

I didn't realize they had so many games! Not sure where to start. Do you have any recommendations?

Depends on what kind of setting you want to do, really.

Among the ones I've read and/or played and liked:

1. Gaslands. Oh my, Hot Wheels modded into Mad Max style and damn good system actually. If you ever liked Car Wars, this is the spiritual successor to that.

2. Dracula's America. Neat campaign system and "weird west" setting. Several other minis lines out there you could use (I use Wild West Exodus) and you have some freedom with some of the weirder stuff for sure, plus vampire cowboys.

3. Scrappers. Post apoc skirmish with campaign. Supposed to be WYSIWYG, so conversion options a go-go. Plays decently too.

4. Last Days. From Ash of GMG, zombies. Use whatever models you want. Again, good skirmish game with campaign rules.

5. Horizon Wars. Only reason this is lower is because there isn't too much "conversion" potential, but you can use whatever models you want really. Great system for 10mm/8mm/1:150(N scale). I use a mix of Planetfall and Dropzone stuff for it.

I've looked through several others, but haven't really played them much. Dragon Rampant is a reasonable fantasy-light kinda game, En Garde is an interesting sounding pirate swashbuckling game. One of the good things about a lot of the Osprey games is they're pretty cheap, so you can kinda pick a setting and just go for it.

I highly recommend Gaslands and Frostgrave: Ghost Archipelago. Convert and kitbash to your hearts delight in the Post Apocalyptic future, or a Tropical Fantasy setting.

Anything in the Pay What You Want section of the Wargame Vault.

This is Not a Test
Nuclear Renaissance
Advanced or normal Song of Blade and Heroes
Frostgrave/Ghost Archipelago

What are you into genre wise?

 Easy E wrote:
Anything in the Pay What You Want section of the Wargame Vault.

This is Not a Test
Nuclear Renaissance
Advanced or normal Song of Blade and Heroes
Frostgrave/Ghost Archipelago

What are you into genre wise?

Genre wise I'm open to most things. I tend to favor sci-fi and post-apocalypse over fantasy because the themes feel darker and grittier. Lord of the Rings would probably be the only example of a fantasy setting with the sort of aesthetic I'm attracted to.

I love the open concept of Gaslands and definitely plan on giving it a spin - pun intended - I just wish it was in a larger scale to allow for greater modeling detail.

Ideally I'd love to find a game that's a bit larger than a skirmish, but not so large as 2000+ pts of 40K. So far there have been a lot of interesting suggestions, but nothing that quite hits what I'm after. I'm currently in the process of writing some rules for an extended campaign of 40K, and once I'm done with that I have a feeling I will be setting out to write rules for my ideal kitbashing/ scrachbuilding wargame.

Apocalypse Earth... I think that is what it is called.

What about "one page rules" game system. They are mainly designed with GW minis but they could easily represent anything.

cweg127 wrote:


I love the open concept of Gaslands and definitely plan on giving it a spin - pun intended - I just wish it was in a larger scale to allow for greater modeling detail.

You can play at larger scales, you just have to adjust the size of the movement templates you print out. I think they even gave recommended sizes for larger things in the book. If not there, then definitely in the Facebook group.