"Rules for a convention game based on UFO" Topic

I am looking for a simple easy rule set for a 7 player convention game – based on the 70's TV show UFO – 3 players defending moonbase and 4 Alien players attacking

Please share your comments and ideas

Each Alien player gets a UFO and a squad of 10 Aliens
(we might have to recycle dead aliens/UFOs)

Each Moonbase player gets a squad of Astronauts, an interceptor, a moon hopper & a missle tank

District 13 from 2 fat lardies.

Or you could easily convert a popular rule-set and just not tell you convention guys that instead of firing an M1 Garand or an M16, he's shooting the MST3000 slug thrower.

There are Alien Invasion by Matakishi. His UFO page is at:
matakishi.com/shado.htm

The rules:
link

We actually built one: knock yourself out.

werelords.com/ufo/index.htm

We ran it at loads of shows : Colours, Crisis in Antwerp, Sheffield Triples to name just three.

John T

Loved that show! Where can I get some interceptors?

in 15mm 1/100th or so: Konami on ebay. But take your wallet to the gym first…

When we bought the nine UFOs and three interceptors for the game we were paying 20% of what they are fetching now.

I still think they are good value (interceptors regularly go for £25.00 GBP) for a painted model but I suspect I'll be outvoted.

Konami do a nice set with lots of models including three interceptors with launch bays in about 1/200th but that set is even more expensive (though you do get a lot of Moon Shuttles, Moon Mobiles and other goodies).

In a bigger scale (28mm or so) look at Product Enterprise sets. But take your wallet to a better gym (last set I saw on ebay was £250.00 GBP for one interceptor and one UFO).

They are lovely but that's insane.

If you want to paint them in that scale, old Dinky diecasts can be stripped (metalic green? what were then thinking) and painted and are good value for around £20.00 GBP each in reasonbly complete condition.

UFO's are harder to source: SHED did a resin one back in the day…

John T

I remember playing that UFO game at Salute 199something. I also remember a frustrating movement system for SHADO mobiles where you advance plotted your movement only to find that one of your fellow players ended up plotting his movement straight into the back of you, totalling both mobiles.

Ah, ubercommando: the 3rd millenia version that we did over the last ten years is a completely different rule system. We've never yet finished the mobiles component to everyone's satisfaction but the space interception and swing by from Sky1 works a treat and is pretty fast: it was developed specifically for convention play.

John T

Try JT's rules.

GZG does some nice, 15mm Light and Heavy Vacc Suit troopers, which can be used for the Aliens and Humans, respectively. They match up well in size with the Konami Mobiles and UFOs.

Sadly, no really good options for Moonbase Girls, or SHADO Security troopers on Earth (in any scale), but it's not for my lack of suggesting it, ad nauseum (along with copious photos included for inspiration to wanna-be sculptors).

Any good source for a Moon Hopper?

I have yet to find one, other than the really small one in the UFO Collector set sold on eBay, which is really to small to be of much use (especially since there is no matching, very small scale UFO in the set, IIRC).

Would love to see some Mobile rules for a ground-based game, as well as rules for Skydiver vs. UFOs in undersea battles.

Mako thanks for the suggestions – sadly it appears that JT's rules only cover Interceptor vs UFO in space combat – this is a ground assault on moonbase with interceptors as air cover and the UFOs as armed transports.

I'm pretty much set for the minis – no need for moonbase girls – if they left the command ball they'd be in space suits

For infantry I'll be using the way way old Ral Partha Galactic Grenadier minis for both Moonbase Astronauts and Aliens – they are smallish 15mm figs sculpted by Tom Meier back in the early 80's – very finely detailed and beautifully cast – based individually on pennys

There are only a few poses appropriate for my needs – for the aliens I painted up 40 figs altogether – using the 2 & 3 fig from the left on the top row and the fig to the far right on the top row

For the Astronauts I painted up 30 of the 2 & 3 minis from the right on the top row

For the 3 interceptors & 3 Moon Hoppers – I'm using the ones from the Konami Ultimate UFO collection.

link

I have the larger interceptors as well but the smaller ones look better airborne on the table – the Moon Hoppers scale pretty well with the Astronauts/Aliens & the earthbound Mobiles as they aren't super huge vehicles to begin with – 1 came with the set – picked up the other 2 on ebay before prices went through the roof.

The UFOs are Konami as well

Leaving me to scratch build the missle tank

gonna use one of the larger clicky battle tanks and scratch build the turret

all comments ideas appreciated

I've got a 'mobiles in the forest set' in the works but not a moonbase attack set.

I'll be really keen to see how you get on!

John T

Thanks for sharing your details, DSF. Sounds good.

I was hoping someone would release a Moon Hopper vehicle in 15mm, or larger scale.

I suspect the pipe-rigging of the landing gear prevents that for all, but the most dedicated modeling enthusiast. I have seen plans on scratchbuilding one, but again, the landing gear complexity has prevented my even starting the project.

I can't imagine if one was made, permitting anyone to handle it, due to the possibility and likelihood of damage to such a fragile design.

"…no need for moonbase girls…"

Just means more for me.

Looking forward to seeing your Mobile rules John, if you care to share with us.

I've been considering developing some as well, in addition to the Skydiver vs. UFO Undersea Combat rules too, just for grins.

Mako – I too would love a moon hopper in 15mm. Resin body & white metal legs.

We can but dream…

John T