Razor78 | 09 Jan 2015 7:06 a.m. PST |
OK so I have a bunch of 40K stuff, (mostly Eldar, Space Marines, and Imperial Guard) but I haven't played 40K in forever and don't plan on it anytime soon. What I'm looking for is a skirmish style ruleset that has a more realistic/ historical feel to it(if that makes sense). Any suggestions? |
Black Cavalier | 09 Jan 2015 7:13 a.m. PST |
I dont know about realistic or historical but there's In the Emperors Name. It's specifically 40k skirmish & pretty much the same mechanics as the very popular In Her Majestys Name rules. The same authors created ItEN 1st and then turned into IHMN. |
Norman D Landings | 09 Jan 2015 7:39 a.m. PST |
Grenadier's 'Killzone' is available gratis on the wonderful freewargamesrules.com Near-future setting, but the mechanics are so straightforward you can easily adapt it to cover anything you might have. |
Pictors Studio | 09 Jan 2015 7:40 a.m. PST |
FOR small scale sci-fi skirmish you won't do better than Infinity. infinitythegame.com THe rules are a free download. They are very realistic. You will have to make up your own stats but there are already rules for power armor and probably most things in 40K will have something similar in Infinity. I'm probably going to use Infinity to do some Warhammer 30K stuff with small groups of models. |
Dale Hurtt | 09 Jan 2015 8:09 a.m. PST |
No Stars in Sight is called "hard" science fiction and not science fantasy, but there was a recent AAR using Tau and Kroot versus Imperial Guards using those rules. I was intending to use those rules for my WH40K collection too. Previously I used a variant of Song of Blades and Heroes which I developed and had a pretty good time with it. What you like in skirmish gaming would really determine what you might choose. Do you like a lot of detail (figure stance, hit location, etc.) or abstraction? |
ordinarybass | 09 Jan 2015 8:12 a.m. PST |
How big a skirmish do you mean? If it's realism you're after then THW's 5150 or Tomorrow's War will give you a much grittier game based around reaction-style play. Tomorrow's war still operates with squads at about the platoon level. IIRC 5150 does squad or individual activation depending on how you play it. INMN is alot of fun, but I don't think it's a realistic or historical feeling game. Also worth checking out if you're willing to do squad based platoon battles would be Bolt Action which many folks have adapted for 40k, or the sci-fi version "Beyond the Gates of Antares" which you can currently get for free from Warlord games. |
SBminisguy | 09 Jan 2015 8:45 a.m. PST |
There are several variants of 40K for 5150 in the Fan Files section of the Two Hour Wargames Yahoo Group. While Ed moved to his own hosted forum, a lot of people still use Yahoo, and to post fan files and such. link |
Red3584 | 09 Jan 2015 10:36 a.m. PST |
What about Laserburn…after all it's where it all started… Haven't played In the Emperors Name but IHMN Which was derived from itisagreatset so it'd be worth checking it out. |
Lion in the Stars | 09 Jan 2015 10:54 a.m. PST |
Infinity will be wonderful for 10-20 models per side. More than that and things will get ugly. Another possible weakness is that Infinity doesn't really have any vehicle rules. The big mecha (called Tactical Assault Gear or TAGs) are bigger, faster, better armed infantry. Make no mistake, I love Infinity and recommend that you download the rules (hey, they're free!), but it may not be quite what you want to game. Infinity rules and templates can be downloaded from: infinitythegame.com/archive.php (though you're limited to Spanish and English for languages right now) My standby for games with more than 10-20 models per side is Ambush Alley/Tomorrow's War. It's notably more abstract than 40k, and it assumes that the training of the "nut behind the buttplate" is vastly more important than whether he's carrying a brand-new 6.5mm HK416 or a 50-year-old AK. That said, Tomorrow's War does have rules for different weapons, rules and a guideline for creating your own aliens, vehicles, air support, etc. Also, Ambush Alley games have a significant level of "Fog of War" random events. |
LaserGrenadier | 09 Jan 2015 11:04 a.m. PST |
Take a look at the LaserGrenadiers rules in my blog at lasergrenadier.wordpress.com. They are extensive, but easy to play. |
javelin98 | 09 Jan 2015 11:10 a.m. PST |
Combat Zone from EM4 Miniatures is a pretty decent ruleset that is also cheap! It uses individual action points for each model, so is well-suited to small unit actions. The rulebook, templates, and reference sheets run £7.15 GBP on their website. link |
Mr Canuck | 09 Jan 2015 11:17 a.m. PST |
You might want to also check out STARGRUNT II. I can't find you a link as I'm at work (and we're blocked from some sites), but according to Google, the rules should be available as a free download also. Did find this old TMP thread about the rules, though: TMP link |
ordinarybass | 09 Jan 2015 11:44 a.m. PST |
Stargrunt can be downloaded from link |
Norman D Landings | 09 Jan 2015 1:15 p.m. PST |
What was I thinking… there IS a 40k skirmish game! link Campaign rules, force lists, the lot. Absolutely free, too. |
Citizen Kenau | 09 Jan 2015 1:16 p.m. PST |
Stargrunt II gets one of my votes (and its free). Tomorrow's war is even better (but not free). |
etotheipi | 10 Jan 2015 3:00 p.m. PST |
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TheGaffer | 12 Jan 2015 3:26 p.m. PST |
And of course, GDW Traveller – Mercenary for that classic fast play feel. |