"Recommend me some 6mm Sci fi rules" Topic

Hi,

I'm looking into getting into 6mm sci fi and I'm looking for some rules recommendations. I'm currently reading Laser Storm but what else do people like?

A few things I'd prefer – although not essential
Blasters, jets packs and big stompy robots rather then hard near future sci fi
Something at the 'beer and pretzels' end of the spectrum (well tea and biscuits as it is over here)
preferably not IGOUGO, some sort of alternating activation would be preferred
ether lots of army lists or the ability to design my own units
something with a physical book would be nice but not essential
preferably not a one roll system were I roll one dice and that does my hitting/wounding/damage all on one – I find them quite dull

So what do you recommend?

Cheers

Horizon Wars?

Horizon Wars or Ganesha's Mighty Monsters, whilst written mostly for giant monsters it has good rules for mechs as well. A good fun game.

I would second Horizon wars given your preferences.

We've played several games now of LaserStorm and really like it. Epic Armageddon is very good as well, but prefer LaserStorm as I like activating more than 1 unit as in Epic, it's faster, and the points system lets me easily make up any units characteristics and use minis from many manufacturers. Currently my Ogre and it's escorts are fighting some Renegade Legion Grav Tanks. Hope you have fun with it😄. link

Hi Andy

You could try our KR16 rules, which are available as a free download at cpmodels.co.uk

Mark

E:A, and yes, Unit Activation is the best system. IGOUGO is not really a very good a system anymore …

@Calico Bill
yes I like the look of Laser storm so far – do you know if there is a forum or community page anywhere me googlefu hasn't turned anything up

I'm currently in the process of building a few not tau units for it (with a view to buying some Okami chaps from onslaught miniatures) and I'm just wondering if anyone has already beaten me to it to save me the time?

Cheers

I have long been seeking such a thing. I had hopes for Horizon Wars, but it didn't do it for me. They just don't make much sense. Also, the layout is a mess, and Osprey's making it the more expensive "deluxe format" was an incredibly stupid idea. It's a rinky-dink ruleset bloated by lots of needless, uninspiring fluff. But that just my two cents.

Dirtside is good but I am not a big fan of the chit damage system. Although some of my friends really like it.

You could also customize Netepic to be non-GW based.

Actually, I don't disagree with The Beast entirely.
HW is padded with unnecessary chrome and could have fitted into their blue book format with tighter editing. Underneath, it has a simple game engine with alternate activation and reaction fire, and get to roll d12s.
There is a force creation system and a range of scenarios.
Mecha seem to rule, very difficult for conventional forces to beat them (that's my excuse anyway).
I have a not Tau force using the OTCs from Onslaught.
Not tried any flyers yet. Currently building a bug swarm using the beta rules.
You could buy a second hand eBay copy cheaply and check them out for yourself. Some YouTube reviews around also.

Cheers,
Wilf

GDW Striker is promoted as 15mm

but game scale is 1:1000
not 1:100

so 6mm would work better IMHO

Actually, I don't disagree with The Beast entirely.

It doesn't sound like you disagree with me "entirely".

I liked the d12 system initially. I'm all for rules that don't cling to d6's when something else would work better. But -in a way I can't exactly remember- it doesn't differentiate two entirely different shooting variables. "To hit" and range? I suppose it sells as a fast-play/streamlining choice, but it makes it hard to realistically reflect different unit types. And IMO the attractively simple "threat level" points system doesn't really work. I dunno, on the surface, it would seem to tick all my boxes, but I just find the rules disappointingly inelegant.

And there are no cover mods. At all.

And I own a copy. And you can bet your backside Osprey wishes they had made it blue-book format. It would have sold a heck of a lot better.

Sorry Andy, but nothing I know of. On page 4 of the rules he lists a forum site for all his games, but little there for LaserStorm. Google in LaserStorm and you'll eventually find army/stat lists for Space Marines, Tyrannids, Eldar, & IG.
It's a real pity the rules didn't get more publicity when they came out. It's the best non-skirmish sci-fi set I've ever played, and I've tried almost all.😄 He has done up army lists for two of the factions in his own background, one of which is still available. What is desperately needed is something like Future War Commander did and make Army lists and stats for all the Epic GW, Ogre universe, and other sci-fi backgrounds. LaserStorm is an excellent set of rules woefully under publicised.😳

It doesn't sound like you disagree with me "entirely".

Crap- that made no sense- that's what trying to do too many things at once will get you!

Hi Andy,

Future War Commander has all of these requirements.

Not sure if it will be re-published. You may be able to find second hand copies.

John

A reasonably-priced PDF of FWC is available at Wargame Vault:

link

I assume it will at some point get another edition like Blitzkrieg Commander recently did. Does Pendraken make sci-fi minis?

Hi Beast,
No worries 😊
I liked the simple game engine with the combined factors to hit.
The defender then gets to save to remove some of the hits.
No excuse for the lack of cover rules, had to be addressed in an errata sheet.
FWC sounds interesting,
Pendraken make some limited sci-fi in 10mm, mainly bugs, humans, zombies, and tripods. And ECW, but that's a whole different topic…😉

Cheers,
Wilf

Thanks everyone
Calico Bill yes laser storm seems really good, shame it doesn't get more support

I used to own the horizon wars book but sold it on, I cant remember why but I must not have liked it for some reason

I'm now currently looking at Net Epic and also NetEA
which is slightly confusing, are they 2 separate systems?

The site Tactical Command link
has info on both. Probably has the rules to both as well. Lots of Epic Armageddon battle reports done by PFE 100/PFE200 and me. You tube also has some good Epic Armageddon videos. Scroll down for other 6mm scale games.
The two are seperate, as is Epic 40K. I've tried them all. I find Epic Armageddon the best, but all have good points. Why I prefer LaserStorm is that any model can be used and you're less locked in to the 40K universe. With Epic, there is no point system for building your own units. The card system also makes play faster with the same result. Future War Commander was fun, but I didn't like Igo-Ugo turn sequence and stands had only 1 fire factor instead of seperate ones vs tanks or infantry.

Tactical Command is your best place to find everything Epic and 6mm Sci-fi in general. Been a member there from over a decade. Highly recommended site !

I find Epic Armageddon the best,

Agreed if for no other reason it has Unit Activation and not IGOUGO …

I also like FWC and Strike Legion too …

And yes, Pendraken does make some nice 10mm Sci-fi …

Epic Armageddon is looking like the best contender so far – might even see if I can get hold of an old/2nd hand copy of the rule book

just trying to work out where in the UK I can get proxies for the Tau super heavy's from. Also no riptide in the EA Tau army list makes me sad :(

As stated Future War Commander covers all items listed. In addition to the PDF version a soft cover print on demand copy can be purchased at
link

Striker and Striker II are old school. They have design rules. Activation goes in phases, so it's a broken up IGOUGO — sort of I U I I followed by U I U U to make a complete turn. 1:300-ish miniatures work well on the 1:1000 ground scale.

Dirtside is slightly less old school. You alternate activations, and just about every dice roll is opposed, so everyone is always engaged. Scale is like Striker. I think it's free from GZG.

Alien Squad Leader?

Anyone tried TFL's Quadrant 13 in microscale yet?
Company level, stated to be capable of use in multiple scales, has rules for personal flight packs and giant robots…