"Beyond...Antares order dice thought." Topic

So I am sitting here putting order labels onto blank dice and got to thinking. I am not sure if anyone else has mentioned this before. But anyways…

So how about differing armies a bit by having dice with only certain orders on them?
I am new to Antares so I don't know the factions yet. But what about a melee faction that has 1 die in 2 or 3 that lacks a Fire order and instead has Run twice. A static stand and shoot faction with a like number of dice with two Fire orders and no Run.

I have yet to actually play a game of Antares, but have played a dozen or so games of Bolt Action and a couple games of "Bolter Action". So understand how the order dice work. I was thinking this idea would be great for Ork and Tau types.

You would still want to have like half to 3/4 of the dice be normal. But I think this would be a colorful way to add even more tactical thinking to the game.

Any thoughts?

The only fly in the ointment is that orders tend to be deliberate and not random.

Orders maybe deliberate, but I am referring to species that have pretty hard wired natural instincts.
Basic Ork Boyz (or whatever your barbaric race of choice) want little more in life than to rip apart enemies with their bare hands.
Tau (and such like) will gladly stand their ground to lay down covering fire for The Greater Good.

As I said, I am not talking about replacing all the order dice in the bag. Just enough of them to force a player to think and use their forces as their "fluff" describes them.

Also since you pull the die before you pick your unit, it still gives you enough control over your forces.
Pulled an "Ork Run Die", but don't have any unit that could use it? You can always "burn" the die by giving a unit of Grots a Down order (sneaky gits have have gone to ground like the cowards they are). Maybe your Shoota Boys can use the Advance order that the die still allows. This die just means your Lootas are too busy shouting to be able to take their shot, maybe on the next pull they will have it all sorted out.

The idea has merit. And if you're customizing your own die anyway, give it a try.

roving bandit,

That is if you think Orks are all like GW Orks.

I don't follow that and Orks are not as dumb as you think.

Yes they would much prefer to get in and bash some heads but will also shoot when they need to.

Oh and I have 130 Grots so they are going to get struck in or else because they are nothing but Cannon Fodder.

The point of my examples are that MOST gamers when they hear Ork they think melee and when they hear Tau they think shooty. Of course there are exceptions.

Okay if you don't like Orks as a GENERIC EXAMPLE of a close combat force, than how about some kind of Xenomorph Bug guys.

I say give it a try and let us know if you like how it turns out.Tinkering with rules is a fun aspect of the hobby.

OP, the dice sound a lot like Star Wars Imperial Assault, my favorite skirmish system. You can download the rulebook for free.