"Pulp Sci-Fi rules suggestions?" Topic

I've been getting into Mars Attacks recently but, as my collection grows, I'm feeling the need to move it from the grid playing area to a 'real' wargames table. As such, I'm looking for rules suggestions. Rules need to handle:

Normal soldier types
Heroes
Vehicles
Flying saucers
Giant robots
Mutant beasts

And preferabley be quick playing but with some depth of decision making.

Any ideas?

Gruntz (though it's aimed at 15mm and would need minimal tweaking).

Clash on the Fringe should have everything you need up to about 25-30 figs per side.

GASLIGHT.

It Came From Beyond The Still is supposed to be pretty good. link

A couple of other options are Chaos on Cronos, part of the Supersystem line, and Fantastic Worlds by Rattrap, though it's a more detailed game than what you may be looking for.

Take a look at Rogue Planet.

Another vote for Clash on the Fringe or for smaller fights, 5Core.

GASLIGHT.

You've done some unit stats already, right, Buck?

Not a suggestion: wondered if you'd looked at Retro Raygun, folks that did War Rocket. More 40's Pulp than the 50's that Mars Attacks makes me think of, but…

Doug

Clash on the Fringe should serve you right.

Normal soldier types – lots of those. 12 or 14 alien races (I forget), several ready-to-use profiles and you can build your own

Heroes – Yup. Heroes get advantages in almost every way though they are certainly not immune. Uses a damage table instead of tracking wounds.
We distinguish between leaders and heroes too.

Vehicles – Yup. Consistent mechanics with how infantry works and there's quite a few types including grav vehicles, walkers and all that.

Flying saucers – A big grav vehicle?

Giant robots – Walkers can stomp through units and tear things up good.

Mutant beasts – Animals AND big monsters are both covered by the rules.

Want some campaign rules where your characters progress and an optional points system? Got that too yo.

LIttle green aliens? The "Slaver" race is just that. Rules are written for pulpy scifi too. REaction fire has been toned down and melee is a viable option (though not super common). The feel mechanically is similar to Rogue Trader or a larger scale Laserburn.

link

You may try PULP ALLEY.

pulpalley.com

It pretty much has all you ask for, and is a quick, FUN game.

I highly reccommend it.

Hope that helps.

Pulp Alley for sure.

Have only read Rogue Planet and Five Core. They seem pretty solid but I have no on-the-table experience.

Might want to look at something like Osprey's Fistful of Kung Fu. We tried it for the first time the other night and it was a blast.

Clash or Fivecore

Thanks for the suggestions everyone.

So far I'm leaning towards Clash on the Fringe. Some of the others look like great rules to try out but would need a bit of work to fit around the Mars Attacks setting.

Retro Raygun looks interesting if it could work for modern Martian invasion as well as a retro future.

I already own GASLIGHT so I should have thought of that from the start!

I'm also thinking of the USEME Sci-Fi rules, which seem generic enough that I could make everything fit.

Anyway, lots to consider. Thanks again!

A number of very good sets of rules were recommended. If you go with GASLIGHT, you should join the Yahoo group. There are lots of folks there to help you with stats and house rules for robots, ray guns, vehicles, etc.

Buck

Thanks, Buck. I might just do that!

How did you like Mar Attacks on the GRID?

I really enjoy it. It is a fun light game, but not stupidly light. The grid works fine. Sometimes I just want other options though!

Look at Chain Reaction 2015 twohourwargames.com/free.html It is a free set. I have 5150 Star Army which is an SF ruleset which amplifies Chain Reaction. I use the Grath for the Martians. I also use New Hope City, After the Horsemen and Nuts all of which use the Chain Reaction system. After the Horsemen has stats for Troys crossbow, Nuts has organisation for a WW2 Infantry unit, as I use the retro troopers.

Chain Reaction has actual "greys" in the 5150 books.

Thanks. I use chain reaction/5150 for various things and am looking for something different for this project!