"Most Obscure Sci-Fi Rules You Play?" Topic

What is the most obscure, unknown, no-one-has-ever-heard-of, published science-fiction ruleset that you actually play?

I don't mean "own" – I mean that you play. More than once.

By "published," I mean something that regular gamers could have purchased or downloaded. Not your Uncle Gary's ruleset that only 3 people have ever played.

erm….'Slishfully' speaking….it would have to be:

Starfaring:

link

Sunder the Stars (space fleet battles) – link Available as free download in the (dramatic pause) download section.

Al | ravenfeastsmeadhall.blogspot.com

"Sizzling Starships" by Crunchy Frog. Well, I've played it more than once. Very simple, fun little pew pew pew game.

After that, maybe Mechaton, the stumpy Lego robot game.

I insist, by the way, that G.O.B.S! is not obscure, but well known and loved. Do not disabuse me of this notion.

thegobspage.com

Close to 30 years ago, I used to play "SpaceQuest." Does that count?

Rob

I'd say, Terminus V, by Scorpion's Nest Tactical Gaming. It's typically hyped as post-apoc, but I've played it as sci-fi many times. I like it because it can be easily customized, and has all kinds of rules for logistics, comm, weather, campaigning, roleplaying, and so on all in one book (no supplements required). Oh, and supports multiple scales too and doesn't require system-specific miniatures.

Star Childe's (?) Sabot and Laser. I played it a time or two using micro armor and FASA Renegade Legion grav tanks. It dates from the early '90's is and quite a clunker compared to modern games.

Not really obscure or unknown but I've been playing late-night games of Mayday against a friend online.
Most of my really obscure endeavors are in fantasy/horror RPGs.

Based on market exposure over the last decade, ALL of the SF games I play are obscure, with the possible exception of Battletech.

Quad-S by powercell games

Defiance: Vital Ground is quite obscure, I've noticed (-:)

But for that matter, almost all other games I've played recently rarely get a mention here, with the exception of Infinity which is also, surprisingly, rather popular in Finland.

G-cav SF ground combat rules by gzg

I've just started planning on a project to play "Space Marine" again, the rules published in 1977 by Mark Ratner.

Mike

Warp War Microgame, maybe not too obscure.

The ONLY Sci-Fi rules I have played:

Striker II

Come to think of it, I have really only played three sets of rules (as Miniatures Games at least):

The above mentioned rules, Field of Glory and some other rules set that I cannot recall the name of. It used elements like FoG, and it had units, but there was a little more detail, and the bases were called Elements.

I'll have to ask tomorrow night after finals what it was.

Would playing a rewritten homebrew of "Blasters & Bulkheads" count as being obscure? ;)

laserburn,

does that count as obscure? Still a simple, fast moving and fun game after all these years.

regards

jim

Star Frontiers: Knight Hawks, a hex-based chit wargame introduced as a spaceship supplement to the Star Frontiers RPG. It can also be played as a minis game.

Glacta came out just after Star Wars

G-Cav by GZG complete with 25th anniversary additions.Still my favorite for mass combat played at company + battlegroup level.

Spacefarers GW
Combat 3000

My own designs. I am really enjoying the VSF Mars world that we created.

We have also done a system using DBA mechanics called Distant World Battles. We use a combination of vehicles, mechs, aircraft and infantry from several companies. Designing playable and psedo-realistic army lists have been cghallenging. I have played this the most.

Does Fantastic Worlds count as obscure?

Star Fleet Battles. Ok, I don't play anymore, and the setting isn't obscure. But the rules are dense and seriously obfuscated.

Serious answer is Fat Messiah Game's Vesuvius Incident. I need a new set of counters, is there a scan of the countersheet somewhere?

Command Horizon.

(sorry.. had to get a dig in.)

Obsure on (1) TMP? Or (2) in Game shops? Or (3) to the general public?

if 1, then: …?… probably nothing, we are a pretty diverse group.

if 2, then: Many, many games…

if 3, then: Warhammer 40K (rogue trader, of course)

I still Play Flash Point by Virtual Fusion… :)

MegaTraveller Referee's Companion mass combat rules with miniatures.

Sorry to say it would have to be Hot Spot (sorry Bill – understand if I get DH'd)

Wait to you see next years version…

Starfleet Wars, published by Superior Models in 1977.

Our own.

Von Trinkenessen where did you get your copy of G-Cav by GZG complete with 25th anniversary additions from?

Lasergrenadiers – published in 1990 and released at the Origins gaming convention that year.

Okay I've played Command Horizon and Warp War and Starfleet Battles and used to have a copy of Star Frontiers--so now most things I've played are "obscure."

Yay.

Rob

Phoenix Command sci-fi supplement, which was the ultra-fin version of Living Steel, another obscure, but brilliant, Leading Edge game. One of the few games i've played where kinetic weapons had the edge over lasers….the hell with high PEN values, we want DC….no SALM, sadly….

Starguard. It's the granddaddy of all sci-fi miniatures ground combat systems, having originally been published back in 1974. While it had a fan following in its day, it seems to have since evolved into a secretive cult following, with loyal adherents hiding amongst us practicing their diabolical ways playing games with human troopers in powered armor that mimick Heinlein's descriptions in his classic novel Starship Troopers, light infantry with laser rifles and jetpacks battling space lizards with disruptor guns and telepathic bugs intent on devouring the universe.

I still play Starguard every now and again. I still have figures -repainted to my current standards or thereabouts- dating back to my high school days. Every now and again, I make something new for my Starguard hordes from some recyclable item, just for old time's sake.

Leland R. Erickson

Have Played or are playing?

Have is Cyborg Command….

Rollerball … sorry, I meant to say "Rülerball"

Dirtside. Original rules, not II

My group plays WarEngine/Shockforce fairly often and Full Thrust a few times a year.

They aren't super-obscure at TMP, but everywhere else they are greeted with "what's that, is it like warhammer 40k?" or "I think I remember seeing that game at gencon back in the 90's…".

Of course we get similar reactions to our games of In the Emperor's name, Tomorrow's War, Mech Attack, Wastelands, Future War Commander and Song of Blades and Heroes. All of which are "obscure" to 99% of FLGS denizens.

@ Von Trinkenessen where did you get your copy of G-Cav by GZG complete with 25th anniversary additions from?

Ditto this request from me…

Cobalt-1