Forum adverts like this one are shown to any user who is not logged in. Join us by filling out a tiny 3 field form and you will get your own, free, dakka user account which gives a good range of benefits to you: No adverts like this in the forums anymore. Times and dates in your local timezone. Full tracking of what you have read so you can skip to your first unread post, easily see what has changed since you last logged in, and easily see what is new at a glance. Email notifications for threads you want to watch closely. Being a part of the oldest wargaming community on the net. If you are already a member then feel free to login now.

I'm semi-interested in Mantic's Firefight... But I want to learn from people who've played it what's good and whatnot before I buy into it.

Anyone got experience?

No experience yet but my copy is on its way, so hopefully soon.

played the Beta and really liked it
my copy is still on the way as I ordered via FLGS

but you could ask here:
https://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/list/300/801267.page#11352118

and there is also a Goonhammer article:
https://www.goonhammer.com/firefight-second-edition-starter-set-the-goonhammer-review/

 kodos wrote:

but you could ask here:
https://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/list/300/801267.page#11352118

A mistake there - the reviewer says it is IGOUGO when here https://www.manticgames.com/news/firefight-second-edition-your-questions-answered/ Mantic says it is alternating activations?

IGoUGo is not the opposite of AA
It just means that during your activation, the opponent is doing nothing (not even rolling saves), except for deciding which models he removes first
but your activation only last for 1 unit

edit: PS: exception here are reactions to a charge, if the target unit is not pinned and un-activated (yet not all units have access to reactions)

It's hard to say, it's a bit of a reworking of the original ruleset, moving from D6s to D8s.

My copy arrived yesterday. Some initial thoughts:

The 40k lineage still pokes through in places, but this ruleset feels influenced by the OnePageRules game Grimdark Firefight. That's not a bad thing - that game is fast and sleek. The number of stats feels right - unit strength is explicit, for calculating ownership of objectives, height is also given as a number (low walls are 1, humans are 2, each floor of a building is 4). Most stats are roll-over, and expressed as e.g. 5+.

Like Kings of War, the Armour Rating is expressed from the attacker's point of view as "exceed this number to score a hit", so 6+ is tougher than 5+. With other stats, a lower value is better.

There's a decently small number of universal special rules (keywords) that seem to do sensible things. Not too many rerolls or modifiers - several just negate an existing rules penalty for shooting at things or moving over difficult terrain.

There are command points and orders (stratagems) but they don't seem to dominate. More of a "keep one for the right moment". They regenerate each round, a base force will average around 3. There are 2 universal orders (to un-pin units or force a second activation), each army has another three, and each leader has one unique to them. You may want to keep command points free to un-pin units at the end of the turn.

Alternating activations, each allows 2 short actions or 1 long. First turn initiative is the winner of a recon roll-off. In subsequent turns, the person who finished activating first gets initiative. You can spend a command point to make a second unit activate, but no more - and in tight games, you may be handing initiative to your opponent next turn.

Seven armies, most easily proxied if you don't like Mantic models - although I do. There seems to be a decent range of options for each, and heavy weapons look to be reasonably available. A definite scifi feel to them - several units have the "antigrav" keyword, which negates movement penalties for difficult ground, low walls and so on. Enforcer armies lack ground vehicles - they are drop troops supported by aircraft.

The £75 Strike Force boxed sets, with 4-6 units, a couple of support options (jetbikes, walkers) and a vehicle provede a normal-sized 1000-point game. A big game is 1500 points and may require an extra 1-3 unit purchases.

Hard to say without playing a game how tough vehicles are. Vehicle rules are nice and simple.

Each faction appears to function differently, with different strengths and weaknesses. One thing slightly lacking is vehicles - Mantic only has 10 (I think) base scifi vehicles, plus another 3 or 4 sold separately as variants. Three of the armies use variations on the same 2 vehicles.

On the other hand, plenty of jetbikes, monowheel cycles and walkers in the army lists. Also, Mantic vehicle kits are great - thick plastic, easy to build and paint.

The background and 16 scenarios (8 battle, 8 narrative) give a good rationale for the kind of battles that will be fought - small-scale actions to grasp or protect vital resources, or even just get out with your lives.

The one gap for me is a Rebs list. The line is not available in HIPS, includes some of Mantic's oldest restic models, and is clearly not ready for the "big time". Recruit-level GCPS marines or Forge Father Brokkr lists cover that somewhat, not to mention Plague forces when it all goes wrong, but the background focuses on colony worlds, research labs and mining operations facing attack - I just feel that a "scrappy underdogs" list is needed.

The Lancer tank is missing from the GCPS list, but there's no model for that yet either.

Speaking of HIPS models, Mantic gets a lot of mileage out of the few plastic kits it does have for the game. The GCPS marine box, for example, provides for 4 troop units in the list. With resin upgrades (in the Deadzone boxes), it forms the base for another 4 specialist units. So army lists feel fleshed out, more than you might guess from the options on the Firefight store pages.

Overall - looks like a lovely, straightforward game that's smooth to play. It certainly looks like it will play like a battle game, and there's enough flavour in the army lists, keywords and faction orders. It feels pretty much complete as it stands. The missions and background place the game in the context of ownership squabbles on the frontier, rebellions and hijacking (there really are rats in the walls...), corporate skulduggery, militarised xeno-archaeology and dodgy bioweaons research gone wrong.

^ I have edited my OP, I would generally consider it AA rather than IGOUGO per se. The irony is actually it was an autocorrect of IMHO to IGOUGO which tells you plenty about the acronyms my phone has learned.
I agree with Momotaro about the lack of Rebs content, though equally the lack of Nameless puzzles me, especially with psionics referenced in the core rules.

I haven't played it yet, but I love what I'm seeing on YouTube and in articles. Especially the terrain rules having a designated size rather than true line of sight. -- TLoS is a concept that is sometimes unpleasant depending on the opponent.

I usually dislike special command abilities or stratagems in my war games, but I like the way command abilities are handed here. There are just enough abilities to give some faction flavor without requiring players to stick their heads in the rules every turn. I also really like how they only affect units in range of commanders, since this adds more depth to their role (instead of just being inspire aura generators).

On an unrelated note, stratagems are one of my most hated gameplay mechanisms from modern 40K rules.

I've played one little game, and I liked it. It's fairly fast and the rules don't feel overwhelming. The command abilities aren't too crazy too.

cpugeek13 wrote:
I usually dislike special command abilities or stratagems in my war games, but I like the way command abilities are handed here. There are just enough abilities to give some faction flavor without requiring players to stick their heads in the rules every turn. I also really like how they only affect units in range of commanders, since this adds more depth to their role (instead of just being inspire aura generators).

On an unrelated note, stratagems are one of my most hated gameplay mechanisms from modern 40K rules.

Strategems are the main reason I don't play 9th edition 40K. You hit the nail on the head here.

If Firefight can equate some command and faction flavor without ruining the game I think it has a lot going for it.

cpugeek13 wrote:
I usually dislike special command abilities or stratagems in my war games, but I like the way command abilities are handed here. There are just enough abilities to give some faction flavor without requiring players to stick their heads in the rules every turn. I also really like how they only affect units in range of commanders, since this adds more depth to their role (instead of just being inspire aura generators).

On an unrelated note, stratagems are one of my most hated gameplay mechanisms from modern 40K rules.

Agree with every word!

Yeah, and interestingly my kids feel the same way. The game is more accessible, smoother and just more fun

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PXovUjvcC2M

Good coverage here

I understand they learned from Deadzone (which is my fav sci fi game) and used that as a model for simplicity, alternating activations, the d8, etc. All of that means I've preordered the rules, and will give it a try when it comes.

I have no interest in playing 40k. I've tried it several times, and it just wasn't fun for me.

It plays like streamlined Deadzone, so I reckon you are golden

UniversalHead just posted an unboxing and rules discussion:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4BlU_GcrT9Q

I'm entering this realm as well. Liked the models and the streamlined rules. Got a Deadzone starter for Enforcers and will split the new box with a friend

Excellent to hear! I've just painted up my Enforcer starter force here (with a few wee extras).