"Recommended rules for Hivewar / Aliens / Sci Fi Crawl?" Topic

So I finally happen to have a complete 15mm sci fi dungeon and enough painted marines and alien figures. I would like to play something that brings back that old Space Crusade feeling while using modernized mechanics. I went through my pile of rulesets and came up with the following:

Savage Worlds (nice on the RPG side, but maybe to complicated because every weapon uses different types of dice, too fiddly with a complete fireteam)

Gruntz (Totally doable, but maybe not enough choices for close combat weapons, i.e. power fists, chainswords)

In the Emperor's Name (tried it before, didn't like it a lot)

Five Parsecs: Bug Hunt (no real cons so far)

5150 rulebooks (I'm too dumb for the Chain Reaction system)

Gun Crawl (no real cons)

What I would like to have:

Solo playability
Force/Monster construction options
Easy, fluent game experience

Maybe somebody has allready made up stuff like that. I would also be happy about knowing how you statted out your marines and/or aliens in the forementioned games.

Thanks a lot,

Skully

Space Hulk is not an option by the way, because I don't have those narrow corridors (mine are zwo spaces wide)

I've played space hulk type scenarios using 5150 (mostly first edition). Usually my mini-me squad leader was REP 4 or 5 and the remaining squaddies randomly determined by the rules. Don't recall if I used attributes, if I did probably just limited to the leader. I typically used a bug profile for the opposition. Since most of the THW rules are not heavy on the details, it allows quick set up and take down. Be sure to have plenty of cover, corners, twists and turns in your corridors/terrain.

What you have to remember about THW rulesets is that once you get your squaddies into action, the rules tend to take over the action until the fight is over (one side eliminated or withdraws out of sight). I allow myself to choose the reactions of my leader but let the rest of the squad react per the rules/charts. If you can manage to wrap your head around them, the rules are quite satisfying, especially for solo and cooperative play. Also, the rules tend to be something of a toolbox, so you can pick and choose what rules to use and ignore, it's your game after all.

THW has the free chain reaction rules and rebel minis sells the Raptorz ruleset which is a lite version of chain reaction/5150 geared for alien hunts in SF dungeons.

Good luck with your gaming, and remember to have fun.

Tim

Guncrawl is very versatile

You could try Infinity. Rules are free (download here: link ), and there are some 'xenomorph' type aliens already in the rules (the Hungries, Gaki and Preta variations, as well as the Antipodes).

Infinity is pretty unique in that it has Automatic Reaction Orders (any time you activate a model, anything that can see it gets to react, regardless of range) and it allows you to activate the same model multiple times.

Infinity has literally hundreds of different troop profiles, ranging from troops in fatigues all the way up to power armor and even to light mecha (in the style of Appleseed's Landmates).

There aren't any solo rules, but there have been a few variations for solo play written up and posted on the forums.

Thanks for your proposals! I allready had Raptorz somewhere in the depths of my hard drive and will give it a new try just like I will do with Guncrawl.

Infinity was not on my list yet, I will surely get the rules!

Skullhamma – Try the updated Chain Reaction 2018. Smoother mechanics and I can answer any questions you may have. They are just a little different; it's not you.

Just so you know, Raptorz is much more detailed than the new CR.

link

But if you decide that they work of you, then 5150: Missions – Infestation or BUGS – Into the Tunnels fit the bill.

Hi I've use the 5150 for nearly everything and totally dumb it down/ simplify it every time. Its so robust that it works fine when reduced to a couple of lines of rules.

Thanks a lot!

@Ed: I own quite a lot THW rule books and enjoy reading them from time to time or to steal some clever ideas for other rulesets. I understand the rules in theory and you always answer questions quickly and well explained. But when I PLAY them, I always feel like I'm doing something wrong… So, sorry. It's not your great rulesets, it's really ME. :)

@Maxshadow: It's not the crunch that I fear. I would even go for the old armor and impact values for my games. :)

I have played a first quite enjoyable mission with GUNCRAWL and was very pleased. Once you have made stats for characters, monsters and weapons it plays very well. I will gladly share my stuff with people who are interested in this ruleset.

Please do so SH,(zrunelord at gmail dot com) thanks.

Always nice to see what people cook up, especially solo rules.

You might be interested in this terrain.

link

Ed thanks for CR 2018 👍👍👍. Looks nice & compact. Can't wait to give it a try.

Z

Ps. Good to know. I have just discovered that when i simply copy/paste a link on TMP using an Android tablet , works . Whilst trying to post a link using [url/] command line does not.

@Zrunelord: Mail has been sent!

Thanks SK 👍👍👍

Z

I would recommend Future War Commander Rules. Hope it helps.

As always, comments are appreciated.

Take care

Andy

@Skullhamma – Nah man, it's not you. The rules can be quite different from others so it's natural to think that when you start. No worries, you'll find something that you like.

@Ed: I actually tried again and played the same scenario I laid for GunCrawl with chain reaction 2015 and weapon rules from 5150 Star Army. I read some answers on my questions in the THW forums again (Thanks, Squidlord!) and managed to get back into "normal" actions doing the rest of the orginal movement etc. after In Sight and Reactions. First time the game felt being played correctly and even better: The marines won!