War Panda | 18 Aug 2014 2:50 p.m. PST |
I ask the question because up until relatively recently almost all of my games (WWII) have been at least Company or multiple Platoons but as of late I've tried a few different squad based skirmish games* and loved them. I can't remember having as much fun with any larger games. Of course a big advantage is the much faster gameplay and less prep work. I've just tried two and very different experiences but both very enjoyable. I'm curious want has been your all time favourite Skirmish set and why. Do you prefer detailed rules or fast playing? *My definition of skirmish here is single based minis with a squad or less (Edit)**perhaps larger if thats your experience… |
MajorB | 18 Aug 2014 3:06 p.m. PST |
7TV. Short, simple, endlessly adaptable. |
Henrix | 18 Aug 2014 3:06 p.m. PST |
"a squad or less"? So fewer than 10 figures? That's very small scale engagements. At that scale probably Flying Lead, by Ganesha games, if were talking WWII or later. If we're talking a little larger than StarGrunt, easily adapted to modern technology. And I wished I had played more games of Force on Force. Excellent game. |
Weasel | 18 Aug 2014 3:11 p.m. PST |
Necromunda probably. The simple idea of keeping track of your crew over multiple games is one of the best gaming experiences we ever had. |
snodipous | 18 Aug 2014 3:30 p.m. PST |
My favorite skirmish game by far is Force On Force, though it wouldn't be great with a single squad of figures per side. For smaller actions, a good choice is Operation Squad. It has a simple action/reaction system similar to that in FoF, so nobody is ever sitting about waiting for their turn. I have the vehicle rules but haven't tried them. I believe there is a modern version of the rules as well. |
War Panda | 18 Aug 2014 3:39 p.m. PST |
Is FoF where one unit (squad or less) activates or reacts to the enemy but Operation Squad each squad member acts or reacts individually? |
Tekawiz | 18 Aug 2014 3:51 p.m. PST |
I like THW Nuts for it's solo capability. It's highly replayable and unpredictable not to mention the fun narrative it creates. |
Irish Marine | 18 Aug 2014 4:14 p.m. PST |
Battleground WW2, FOF, The Sword and the Flame |
Pictors Studio | 18 Aug 2014 4:36 p.m. PST |
I really like Infinity for very small actions, like squad on squad. The game plays well and is very cinematic in how things happen on the table. There are no real stats for WWII stuff, or historicals in general, but they are easily created. |
Tom Reed | 18 Aug 2014 5:12 p.m. PST |
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ordinarybass | 18 Aug 2014 5:40 p.m. PST |
I have a few. I prefer fast playing to "realistic". In fact, our club "Chicago Skirmish" plays mostly skirmish rulesets of the SciFi and Fantasy variety. Here's some of our favorites. -Song of Blades and Heroes -In The Emperor's Name (haven't gotten around to trying In Her Magesty's Name, but it's the same rules.) -Nuclear Renaissance. We've begun to branch into larger rulesets, but always games that put speed of play and ease of rules over complexity and detail. |
Dave Crowell | 18 Aug 2014 5:52 p.m. PST |
Two Hour Wargames titles are definitely high on the list due to excellent solo playability. I am currently playing on of my favorites, Red Ops 5, zombie clearing room to room. Published by Rebel Minis. Think of the opening of the original Dawn of the Dead and you've got it. I also like Ganesha Games, particularly Mutants&Death Ray Guns for old school PA wackiness. I have just discovered USE ME and they seem quite promising, although I haven't played the, yet. We enjoyed Me rotunda a lot in college, there is so,etching about tracking a gang and watching its rise and fall. |
GGouveia | 18 Aug 2014 6:02 p.m. PST |
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John the OFM | 18 Aug 2014 6:59 p.m. PST |
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snodipous | 18 Aug 2014 7:13 p.m. PST |
Is FoF where one unit (squad or less) activates or reacts to the enemy but Operation Squad each squad member acts or reacts individually? That is correct. |
Sergeant Paper | 18 Aug 2014 7:28 p.m. PST |
I like NUTS! and its variants, because it provides realistic outcomes to realistic tactics. |
Frederick | 18 Aug 2014 8:25 p.m. PST |
We have an old set of fast-play home-grown rules that we like for skirmishes |
DsGilbert | 18 Aug 2014 8:53 p.m. PST |
I enjoyed Battleground WW2, and TRWNN also. |
Acharnement | 18 Aug 2014 9:20 p.m. PST |
Shockforce is a lot of fun- easy, customizable, with both players involved in combat. And the first edition is available free online. TMP link I am following this thread with interest and would like to second the OP's request to provide "Why" you like a certain system. |
Pedrobear | 18 Aug 2014 9:29 p.m. PST |
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Baron Trapdoor | 18 Aug 2014 10:49 p.m. PST |
For modern/ultra-modern warfare so far Force on Force takes my cake! |
Lion in the Stars | 18 Aug 2014 11:50 p.m. PST |
For a game where each model acts individually (for the most part), Infinity. Stick with 20 or fewer models per side, life will be good. For larger engagements (reinforced platoon per side, or platoon versus insurgents), Force on Force/Tomorrow's War. I like the Ambush Alley engine so much that I tried to make a pre-1900 colonial warfare version… |
MHoxie | 19 Aug 2014 2:22 a.m. PST |
Arc of Fire by Skirmish Publications is pretty good for skirmish games, with all (most) of the optional rules in play. Force on Force is also good. |
Inner Sanctum | 19 Aug 2014 2:28 a.m. PST |
Ganesha Games all the Way Flashing Steel pirate games that matched our LARP experience Flying Lead for everything else from VSF, modern cops to Daleks. link says it all: |
Bill McHarg | 19 Aug 2014 2:43 a.m. PST |
Fistful of Lead. Great gunfight skirmish game. |
Bezmozgu7 | 19 Aug 2014 2:55 a.m. PST |
I prefer the realism end of the spectrum and Final Combat is the best WWII and modern (SOF Warrior) skirmish rules I've played for realism combined with playability. In my experience the best skirmish games comprise no more than two squads to a side at most and a true 1:1 scale terrain representation. |
PiersBrand | 19 Aug 2014 4:44 a.m. PST |
The original Ambush Alley that then led to me writing the original Ambush Valley. Most fun modern skirmish games I have played. For WW2 I use Normandy Firefight by my comrade-in-arms, Warwick Kinrade. |
dbander123 | 19 Aug 2014 5:13 a.m. PST |
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corporalpat | 19 Aug 2014 6:44 a.m. PST |
Ganesha Games series for squad level, The Sword and the Flame for larger games. |
SpuriousMilius | 19 Aug 2014 7:29 a.m. PST |
I prefer skirmish to larger scale games & I've run many skirmish scenarios at cons & for my gaming group, but I use more than a single set of rules: For Dark Ages, it's "Pig Wars"--fun, fairly quick & simple. For Elizabethan skirmish, Border Reivers & Barsoom I use my modified version of "Mordheim" which suits me for "sword & pistol" games with a range of characters from dolts to heroes. For Pirates I've got quick simple home-brewed rules. For Prohibition Era Gangsters & Early 20th Century I like THW "Chain Reaction" rules with its range of weapons & variable activation & response mechanics. For my Zombie games I choose THW "All things Zombie" for the same reason. |
jefritrout | 19 Aug 2014 8:39 a.m. PST |
Funnest I ever played was Wally Simon's "Modern Warfare Skirmish" which we called Pillowfights. I still have a copy of this gem from the late 70s. |
Testpilot | 19 Aug 2014 8:51 a.m. PST |
Tomorrows War (basically the Ambush Alley engine I think) is very very good. Chain of Command is truly excellent. For both games however must be considered that they do not yield their charms easily and take some time getting used to. |
freewargamesrules | 19 Aug 2014 9:09 a.m. PST |
Arc of Fire and IHMN for me. Used IHMN from Pulp, to Aliens, Dr Who and Sci Fi. |
Phil Hall | 19 Aug 2014 10:17 a.m. PST |
Milgamex games published a set of skirmish rules called Sword and Spear back in the 70's. It was a skirmish level game for ancients and was a lot of fun to play. We converted it to Tolkien using the then new LOTR figures from MiniFigs. |
magokiron | 19 Aug 2014 11:50 a.m. PST |
This days I found that most skirmish games I really prefer, uses NO POINT SYSTEM. And over all of them, shines PULP ALLEY. With the "vanilla" rules, a league can be as small as 2 models, or as big as 14, but this may change if you get the additional supplements. There's NO IGOUGO, all players uses THE SAME special rules, and the variation and caracterization of your league is pretty much endless. PLUS, the system includes "campaing mode" if you want to play linked games and see how your league gains more members and/or better skills. Finally, you can get the FREE "starter version" to see if you like the game before buying the complete ruleset (and even that only costs around USD$10.00). link Hope that helps. |
grommet37 | 19 Aug 2014 12:06 p.m. PST |
Lion in the Stars wrote: I like the Ambush Alley engine so much that I tried to make a pre-1900 colonial warfare version… I'd be very interested in seeing that. FoF is the one ruleset that I'm familiar with, and I'm starting a 28mm FIW skirmish project. I plan to try a large variety of rules, and play a large variety of encounters. PiersBrand said: The original Ambush Alley that then led to me writing the original Ambush Valley.Most fun modern skirmish games I have played. I need to get a copy of both of these titles. I saw a semi-recent thread on the AA forums about flintlock FoF, which had one respondent referring to Ambush Valley for statistics on bow ranges. I'd like to try to put together some rules for Ambush (Mohawk/Ohio) Valley. Testpilot testified: Tomorrows War (basically the Ambush Alley engine I think) is very very good. I really enjoyed reading FoF. When I get back to the 15mm SF project I started, TW will be the ruleset I use. I also picked up the Cold War Gone Hot and Classified supplements, just to read, and possibly use as scenario generators. Terrement wrote: Many different by THW as they work well, have a great AI for solo play and they take your godlike control away from you. Based on your recommendation, and that of quite a few others, I picked up both Long Rifle and Muskets & Mohawks for my (28mm, thanks for that too) FIW skirmish project. I just got them yesterday and started reading last night. I have a feeling THW is going to be my new favorite engine. Also, I see TSATF recommended so often, I guess I'm just going to have to buy these rules as well. |
War Panda | 19 Aug 2014 7:02 p.m. PST |
I actually had an old copy of Operation Squad that I thought I bought a few years ago but never used. Well I just play tested it and while I really like the activation mechanic for me there seemed like a lot of dice rolling. MG42 rolls 3 dice +1d6 in most circumstances and then add the skill of the firer minus -whatever the cover is for the target (in the example case 2 d6's.) and that seven times! Just seemed like an excessive amount of dice rolling and math… |
Howler | 19 Aug 2014 9:02 p.m. PST |
It's a toss up between Rezolution, Dark Age, Mordheim, and Necromunda. Every game I've played with these rules, win or lose, was great fun and all kinds of unexpected twists occur. |
etotheipi | 20 Aug 2014 2:27 a.m. PST |
Quick Intermediate Level Skirmish. Why? Well, I worked on it for several years to make it what I think is enjoyable in a wargame. So what do I think is enjoyable..? Plays quickly. No tables, charts. Free (yes, the publisher likes that people can buy it and play without paying me anything). Huge amount of variability in combat ratios. Lack of lots of rules = focus on playing the game rather than gaming the play. |
Weasel | 20 Aug 2014 9:42 a.m. PST |
It's worth noting that having a points system does not mean you have to USE said points system :) |