"15mm Skirmish Minis Recommendations" Topic

Hi guys,

Just a quick question – I'm a total newbie to this kind of thing so was after a very basic skirmish miniatures game for me and a friend to play. I quite like the idea of 15mm scale due to space restrictions (and wallet restrictions!).

So far, the ones I've seen most about are Force on Force, and Gruntz. I'd rather have a proper rules book, rather than a PDF but this isn't compulsory (the USE ME system sounds good, but I don't know much about how it plays).

I absolutely love the Khurasan models though, and I think I've decided on a modern US v Afghan Middle East theme ( link

Being a complete newbie at this, it seems like moulding the rules to suit your figures and creating stats for them appears to be part of the fun – but I really don't know where to start with this. I've seen that Gruntz Barracks is apparently in the works, but I don't know how far along this is.

What do you think? As I say, I'm after a skirmish game (perhaps 3 squads of 4 guys each), Modern Warfare, 15mm, not too complicated or expensive, and fairly swift to play. I'm not really keen on vehicles and would prefer one miniature per base if possible.

Any help would be much appreciated!
steve o

I know you want a book vice PDF but try FUBAR, it's free, it's a one page print and they have stats for Khurasans stuff.
4th Edition Core Rules: PDF link
Khurasan Minis FUBAR rules: PDF link
My own mod of FUBAR with a dose of Ambush Alley called Bush War FUBAR: link

FUBAR Forums: link
FUBAR Webpage: link

Thanks very much – I had a look at the one page rules, and I don't know, it all just seems very confusing to me! I think I need a "Wargame for Dummies" ruleset! :\

You might want to look at the latest edition of Chain Reaction. Those rules are also free from 2 Hour Wargames but they are also PDF.

I like Force on Force for the modern rules set but you can also use Arc of Fire which is a good rules set supported by a YAHOO group. I have played both and like them. They also provide rules for armor so they are more than just infantry rules.

Force on Force uses a lot of interuptions/reactions to movement. Arc of fire is a rules set where you move and fire then your opponent moves and fires. Different approaches but fun games in under 3 hours.

FUBAR.

If you are looking for 'Wargame for Dummies' FUBAR is the one.

Main thing is its only a single page so the game takes a lot of making decisions based on what is reasonable. So it only works as long as there are no rules lawyers playing. Other sets of rule cover most scenarios but you end up with a tomb of hundreds of pages and will still get questions that arent covered.

I think yo have a great idea -you should pick up the rules and some miniatures just as you've planned and have at it.

I have plans to do the same thing but with the Flying Lead rules and some figures from Rebel miniatures.

We play Force on Force using singly based 15mm figures. The majority are Peter Pig although we have a few Rebel Minis and QRF. I think Peter Pig makes the nicest US troops but their range lacks any good Middle Eastern opposition.

Next up for painting are more Americans and Afghans from Flytrap Factory and some more Afghans from MJ Miniatures.

Steve-o, I also play 15mm Moderns. Highly suggest you check out the following modern ranges:
Flytrap Factory,
Peter Pig (US Marines),
Eureka (Modern Russians & Chechen Insurgents).

Wicked, thanks guys. Is the general consensus that Force on Force (Ambush Alley) is the "best" ruleset to play with 15mm?

I guess by "best" I mean the easiest to follow! I've read a few sets of downloadable PDF rules and found myself utterly bamboozled!

A buddy of mine suggested Bolt Action, but I believe that's more suited to large-scale warfare, whereas I'm really after smaller battles with 10-15 individually-based guys each.

I brought the whole set of F On F and gave up after several attempts to get into it.

Your initial post said you are a complete newbie, in that case I think you will have problems getting into F on F. Download FUBAR (free) and just set up a couple of fire teams, each of a few figures and follow the rules, 10mins later you will be playing without problems. Once you get the hang of that game you can move onto a much more complex game like F on F.

Thanks Mike, I had a look at FUBAR but it seems to assume too much. It's almost too brief, too basic. It doesn't really seem to explain anything!

Have you tried Flying Lead? I keep hearing good things about it..?

I have to echo that I read FoF and was a bit intimidated to try and play it without having someone teach it to me.

They have Quick Start rules for FoF now, which might make it a little easier to get into?

link