Editor in Chief Bill | 29 Jul 2016 11:51 a.m. PST |
Starship Troopers was recently voted one of the Top Five military sci-fi books of all time. Sadly, the Starship Troopers game from Mongoose is no longer available. Should it be republished? |
evilcartoonist | 29 Jul 2016 11:59 a.m. PST |
But isn't the Mongoose game based on the movie? (Admittedly, I've never payed it.) If we're wanting a game based on the book, I'd vote for the old Avalon Hill game to be reprinted. I prefer the idea of one MI in his suit, alone, to cover miles of terrain against multiple enemies, all on his own. Almost like a reverse Ogre game. |
Winston Smith | 29 Jul 2016 12:05 p.m. PST |
I have heard that that game is in a classic legal mess. I could be wrong. Solving that, sure bring it back. But cast the plastic in some polymer that normal plastic cement would work with. Who is the idiot that decided to cast the figures in ABS, which needs a special cement found only in obscure hobby shops, and is probably "known in the State of California to cause cancer"? What was wrong with good old plain polystyrene, like most hard plastic models are made from? So, sure. "They" should bring it back. But it has a lot of problems to clean up first. |
15mm and 28mm Fanatik | 29 Jul 2016 12:06 p.m. PST |
The Mongoose game isn't based on the Verhoeven movie; it's based on the CG-animated TV series. Rebel Miniatures own some of the sculpts I think. Maybe they can republish it as a KS project if they can get the rights. |
DisasterWargamer | 29 Jul 2016 12:22 p.m. PST |
Would love to seebthe old 1st edition Avalon Hill game updated Perhaps a skirmish version as well as mentioned above |
Garand | 29 Jul 2016 12:23 p.m. PST |
My gaming buddy got a starter box back when it was released, and I assembled all of the figures for him. I didn't have any issues gluing them together with MEK. As for the game, IIRC indeed it is based on the CG animated series…but I believe that was based on the movie to begin with…? Damon. |
Garand | 29 Jul 2016 12:28 p.m. PST |
To actually answer the question though, I don't think so. The game might have been good (we playtested it, and I don't recall any glaring issues). But IMHO the universe as presenteed in either the book, movie, or show is pretty limited with not too many playable factions (in the game I think it was bugs, "Skinnys" and MI only). Use the rules for an original game with more factions, and that might work, but then wouldn't have the name recognition of Starship troopers… Damon. |
Buckeye AKA Darryl | 29 Jul 2016 12:43 p.m. PST |
If someone would make 15mm minis based on the book, I would be in. I know there has been a lot of proxy talk and folks can come close using Khurasan and Ground Zero Games, but an actual dedicated to the book range would be stellar (see what I did there? starship? stellar?) bwa ha ha Troopers (GZG):
Troopers (Khurasan, while cool, doesn't fit the book descrption for me in terms of suit size):
Skinnies:
Bugs (I do not think these really capture the book feel…spiders, not crabs!):
And, as for rules, perhaps the AH game as mentioned, or maybe something like Tomorrow's War or a Two Hour Wargames set. I think, because both have reaction phases, they would work well. |
Martian Root Canal | 29 Jul 2016 2:12 p.m. PST |
Sony has the IP for the Arachnids. Mongoose Matt is on here and can address the legal issues if appropriate. I think the system could be republished as something else other than Starship Troopers. As for what the game is based on, it is a hybrid of the book, the original movie and the subsequent CGI series (which if I recall the rights to which are owned by Sony as well). Rebel Mike owns some of the molds (which are now called something else). I believe the plastic molds are gone/were destroyed or something. Again, Mongoose Matt could address this. |
Ed the Two Hour Wargames guy | 29 Jul 2016 2:24 p.m. PST |
5150 Star Army has that covered and has for years. Here's an AAR with a couple of hundred Bugs. link I've got a line of 15mm Star Army minis coming out soon and Bugs could be on the list.
Buckeye AKA Darryl has it right. A good reaction system works best for the tension of a Bug fight. YouTube link |
Mako11 | 29 Jul 2016 2:42 p.m. PST |
Seems like a good idea, since it was such a large flash in the pan, back in the day. Rules could be a bit better, and agree with the issues I've read on the whole plastics selection issue for the minis. That was unfortunate, and caused more than a little kerfuffle. |
etotheipi | 29 Jul 2016 4:13 p.m. PST |
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Ironwolf | 29 Jul 2016 5:46 p.m. PST |
I enjoyed the rules and the game. How ever I'm not a modeler so I sold off the Mongoose plastic kits and bought 15mm GZG figs for troopers and for bugs I used 10mm Pendraken figs. If I remember correctly Mongoose's rules and miniature line covered the Movie, the Book and the CGI series. So you could play either or or mix them when building your units. I liked how they did it. Again only thing I didn't like was the plastic kits. |
The G Dog | 29 Jul 2016 6:49 p.m. PST |
I still play with the rules and the figures. |
Sir James | 29 Jul 2016 6:57 p.m. PST |
The book is one of my all-time favorites. The movie had nothing to do with the book (other than the title). The game was so-so….but, yes, was based on the movie not the book. I have a ton of the ST stuff…and would LOVE to see it become popular again. :) |
Hafen von Schlockenberg | 29 Jul 2016 8:38 p.m. PST |
I'd rather see a game of "Bill,the Galactic Hero", the Anti-ST novel. "What is this,Bowb Your Buddy Day?" "Every day is Bowb Your Buddy Day." Granted,in 28mm,the Chingers would be a bit hard to see. . . (Note:nothing "naughty" up above,just must be Double Post Hour here on good ol' TMP:) |
John Leahy | 29 Jul 2016 9:20 p.m. PST |
Based on the cartoon series first, then the movie. I have the 28mm range. I started working on it in 6mm. I think that's a better fit. Gzg bugs, action fleet tankers and so on. |
martin goddard | 30 Jul 2016 1:32 a.m. PST |
The novel was great. martin |
Winston Smith | 30 Jul 2016 5:38 a.m. PST |
I didn't have any issues gluing them together with MEK. Which kind of makes my point. You knew enough to use MEK. Regular modeling cement didn't work, nor did CA. |
Weasel | 30 Jul 2016 8:59 a.m. PST |
I didn't like the figures but the rules were pretty decent. I even liked the D20 RPG version and I usually can't stand D20 games. |
Vigilant | 30 Jul 2016 2:36 p.m. PST |
Don't understand the problems with the plastic you are talking about Winston. Mine went together without any problems using bog standard superglue. Always enjoyed the game, loved the book, enjoyed the original movie and the animated series – shame they ran out of money before finishing it. |
Dances with Clydesdales | 30 Jul 2016 5:10 p.m. PST |
I had no problem with CA on the SST plastics. I used the thicker gap filling, maybe that helps. I like the 28mm miniatures and the Mongoose rules aren't bad. Though it would be interesting to have a set that follows the book. |
f u u f n f | 30 Jul 2016 8:49 p.m. PST |
The Starship Troopers rules would morph into Battlefield Evolution and the later games bearing that title (World at War & Modern Combat). I do believe the Rogue Trooper game as well as Judge Dredd each use sort of hybrid system of Battlefield Evolution and Gangs of Mega City 1. |
VVV reply | 31 Jul 2016 4:29 a.m. PST |
The rules were fairly simple and I sure that lots of others would do the trick. ST the film did not make any military sense. The book did, so I would go with playing a game based on the book. |
Lucius | 31 Jul 2016 6:05 a.m. PST |
I'd like to see the Avalon Hill game re-done. And I've got the perfect miniatures! link Grenadier Star Soldiers, 1976! |
Chuckaroobob | 31 Jul 2016 10:04 a.m. PST |
I like the super heavy suits they released; Cougars and Grizlys IIRC. I think the Grizz in particular would be good for book style Mobile Infantry. I'd love to see a book style mini game published! I still have the old AH one. |
capncarp | 31 Jul 2016 2:10 p.m. PST |
Lucius--got those. They were a move in the right direction (anything that looks like a Mecha needs to go over with the Mechas), but they lacked a bit in the animation department. My heart still goes with the old Minifigs Spacesuit/armor troops from 1977. The GZG troopers above look pretty good, though. |
Mute Bystander | 01 Aug 2016 5:05 p.m. PST |
Galactic Grenadiers for MI. |
Mute Bystander | 01 Aug 2016 6:12 p.m. PST |
So those old miniatures in my collection are Grenadier Star Soldiers? Cool! |
HammerHead | 12 Aug 2016 9:56 a.m. PST |
Hmm I bought the miniatures box from the states and my first impression we're and still are worth the money. I took some to a club meet and someone said oh I have some of those.But he left before we could organise a game.With a bit of tinkering I always thought there was a fair game there. Should they bring it back,to be honest, there are too many other games zombies, bolt action and even now konflict 47 higher on gamers list, many were not born when the films came out. |
Part time gamer | 30 Jan 2017 3:08 a.m. PST |
I loved the look of the game, but never got it. The cost of what new games were and even more so now, I made the rule to play a 'demo' before investing in them. My one issue w/ the miniatures, while they (the MI) looked great, IIRC they were not 'multi-pose' models. This became the tip of the iceberg for me regarding Mongoose. By choice, bad luck or uncontrollable circumstances they began what's become (to me) a pattern of NOT following thru on projects. ST ACTA as another example, that was in conjunction w/ ADB. IF any part of this game is caught up in a battle over IP rights, basically forget seeing this come back. Just try to get friends to try the game or find others online that live nearby to met at your LGS and game w/ whatever you might already own. |
Mithmee | 30 Jan 2017 7:46 p.m. PST |
Just think that GMT needs to get a hold of the old AH game and give it the good old update. Had a copy of the AH version years ago and remember the slaughter that happened to a two platoon force that had some bug heavy weapons pop up in the middle of one platoon. |
Bob Runnicles | 31 Jan 2017 2:42 p.m. PST |
The old AH boardgame is what got me into board wargaming back in 1978 – still got two copies of it including my original one, love it to death. It was going to be redone a while back by L2 Games (and was going to be called 'On The Bounce') but that fell through when L2 packed up shop. Not sure who has it now. |
starship trooper | 01 Feb 2017 12:08 p.m. PST |
The old AH boardgame scenario set-ups, using one MI suit, alone, to cover miles of terrain against swarms of Arachnids, gives the flavor of the book, in either 6mm or 15mm. Just need to use a different reaction based combat resolution system to escape IGO-UGO frustrations. Use LAMI squads landed by Dropship as Combat Engineers Discovering Arachnid tunnel complexes with listening devices & a physic "Special Talent" adds a nice puzzle to the game AH magazine published several subsequent additional scenarios with K-9 squads, borers & breachers for entering & clearing collapsed tunnels, which fleshes out the game nicely |
Judge Doug | 02 Feb 2017 9:02 a.m. PST |
Starship Troopers: still one of the finest miniatures rulesets ever written. Andy Chambers' magnum opus. So many complaints about wanting to do book MI from people that are unfamiliar with the miniatures game – it had both light infantry from the film, powered suits from the CGI TV series, and powered armor from the books. It was awesome playing a 2000 point game with three MI in suits, each with a mini-nuclear missile, against about 100 bugs on the table. |