"HALO Fleet Battles?" Topic

Is anyone playing this? I bought the starter set, put together about half the ships, and quickly moved on to other things. Since that time I've seen both notices of clearance sales for this game, and announcements for new product.

So that leads me to ask, is this game doing ok? Is anyone playing this game? How is it in your area?

It never took off at my FLGS. They have two of the initial Fleet Boxes on discount gathering dust.

In fact they don't carry ANY Spartan products.

In my area, everyone seems to be waiting for the 15mm ground HALO to be released.

Never played the video games extensively.

Was there ever a space combat game on the console?

They made the geek podcast circuit rounds announcing the game, all the hosts acted like it was a YUGE deal, and I was completely underwhelmed by the sound of it. I hope it goes well, but seemed like a long shot. Maybe you've got to be a total HALO insider to know much about it?

I picked it up, not a Halo fan.

Looks very interesting on the formations, but I never got it going. Truth is, for what looks like a board game, there's a lot of building and, for most folk, painting.

I got the big Hummie ship together, and interest sort of faded.

Not everyone who plays miniatures will go that route just to give a try, viz X-Wing et. al.

Doug

It's not a particularly good rules set. You could call it "historical" but the issue is that the Covenant warships are either simply overpowered or the UNSC ships are underpowered.

It makes for very lopsided games. Once you factor in the maneuverability of the Covenant ships the game only gets worse for the UNSC fleet.

Of the 10 or so games we have played only 1 has turned out to be anything but a marginal human victory. The Covenant wiped the table with them the other 9 games.

Interesting comments on the issue of game balance – based on the comptuer games it seems that the Covenant did obviously wipe the floor with humanity on a regular basis – so game balance is probably 'accurate'. Though in the original game Pillar of Autmun with onboard AI (according to the Halo wiki a much modified light cruiser) managed to trash 4 Covenant vessels despite being outnumbered, though apparently the Covenant couldn't use torpedoes to avoid damage to Halo.

Frankly if you're going to get trashed 9 times out of 10 I can't see people queing up to play the UNSC fleet. (KInf og hoping the ground combat game is a little more balanced – though again to be 'accurate' the Conventant should be difficult to beat)

I think retailers have been burned by Spatan so are staying away.

That said, I'll have my final boxes at Little Wars this weekend marked down….

Sounds about right to me then, play wise.

I would imagine aliens should win most battles.

We have 4 players in my club.

Yeah 'historically' the UNSC was pretty much outnumbered, outgunned, had a lower tech base and seem to have unsurprisingly lost every major space battle against the covenant.

I was surprised therefore when they went with the spaceships first, most halo fans probably have more of a desire to play the ground actions in which the UNSC at least was able to take on the Covenant, although the Covenant generally won in the end and glassed the planets anyway.

Well, its fine for one side to be inherently better than the other – as long as the points system used to determine 'fair' battles takes that into account.

I've got the game, but haven't played it. Its a good looking game, and I like the minis. It also has boarding combat, which while a bit silly in real terms definitely fits the game universe.

I'd think that the Spartans would have a big edge in boarding combat vs the Covenant. You'd think that would be one way to get some game balance back – if the more numerically superior UNSC could close they could do some real damage.

But I'm glad they did the mini line. I'll take them and use them for another system. :D

Since its release, Ive seen only a couple of demos and one 'game' actually being played. It just doesnt seem to have taken off.

As for the minitures, I love the USNC ships, the Covenant, eh, not so much but they do have that 'alien' look so it works.

I have to say if one side (USNC), has been 'wiped' from the board 9 of 10 games. That sounds as if the "Cov" has a "one shot one kill" weapon ability. I find that very suprising.

As *ROUwetpatch.. points out, from the intro of the original game; alone their ONE cruiser manages to destroy / disable 4 or 5 Covenant ships.
However if the 'Cov' is that powerful, it seems your only hope to have a 'fair' game, would be to give Earth forces a 9 to 1 ship count.

Personally, if I had some 'disposable cash', I'd start looking for some earth ships "just to have". I think the Carrier would be great for conversion as a battleship class vessel.
Then either find another rules set or simlpy come up with some.

As for the minitures…

Wow, PTG, thee and me, but we're way in the minority from all the conversations I've seen.

Now, I have to admit the paint jobs I've seen on Covenant ships have been AMAZING, less so what have been done with USNC.

But, I don't paint, so I compare stock to stock.

Doug

*TheBeast
The Cov mini's I have seen were painted really well. As said, I think the USNC ships look great, but pretty clear there wont be anymore.

Didnt anyone Play Test these rules?
If one side is that lop sided, youd need a Hollywood "Jedi" to save your a**.
And if they are.. WHY would you even put that game out there without making some changes?

If you read the Facebook page and Forums lots of people seem to think and complain the USNC are over powered. Played the game several times my son and I really like it.
Seems like terrain, board size, and setup have a lot to do with battles. If you have to much terrain the Cov ships close and beat the USNC. If you have open table the USNC long range really beat up the Cov. So a good balance is needed IMHO.
Spartan are supposed to be doing a review and look at the balance issues. But when who knows.

And I say they're all starships, and starship models can be adapted to pretty much any starship combat system! So I say if ya likes 'em, buys 'em and paints 'em whatever way you like:

Just sayin'…

Leland R. Erickson
Metal Express
metal-express.net

DGT123
If you read the Facebook page and Forums lots of people seem to think and complain the USNC are over powered.
Spartan are supposed to be doing a review and look at the balance issues. But when who knows.

The USNC being "over powered"? Hmm, thats the first time I heard anyone say that.

BlackWidowPilot
So I say if ya likes 'em, buys 'em and paints 'em whatever way you like.

A M E N!! and Thank You.
Dont just buy it cause "its THE game" right now.

Thats a great looking fleet you got there.

Personal formula for the "perfect game club/group"
Get 5-6 friends (not die hard gamers), friends, who enjoy gaming. Pick 2 or 3 games you all like.
And as long as any 2 can show up, you can always have a game day.