"6mm battalion level rules?" Topic

Decided to dig out my old renegade legion minis and actually paint them up, now there's no way I'm going to use the actual rules(1 attempted play years ago taught me it's not good for more than a couple of tanks) so are there any nice modern rule sets that allow around 40 or so basses a side with a bit of crunch but hopefully not lots of record keeping or lots of makers following the models around, I love epic but need a bit more hard sci fi

O Group from Reisswitz Press/Too Fat Lardies

Striker II or Dirtsde 2

5150 Battalion Commander maybe? I haven't tried it myself yet.

Try to find Dirtside rules from Ground Zero Games.

Try to find Dirtside rules from Ground Zero Games.

Find them here:
link

I am back to the hobby after a 30 year break and looking for similar, a set of rules ideal for 6mm, frankly with the feel of the old Striker rules (universe and tech wise) but playable. Frankly been looking hard at the original Squad Leader rules as a possible starting point but here is my limited take thus far.

I would suggest giving the Dirtside rules a try. Can't beat the price. Could you please post your thoughts if you try them. I am on the fence wrt them but appreciate others takes, especially the I like or I don't like aspects which sometimes I miss when just reading the rules. Thank you.

Although I loved the original Striker rules they were designed to allow player characters to interact with their mercenary forces. The equipment design and force design rules still make it worth getting them but frankly toss the actual game rules. Too in the weeds. I also have and read Striker II and it doesn't cut it in my mind. I also have Iron Cow and again something just didn't click. Took a quick look to see if I could see it but no. Again I have a few titles in the Strike Legion series but they lost me right away when the unit has to stay within 1" of the (unknown unit size but between squad and platoon) leader or lose contact. No rules for communications or such. So why do all these high tech troops have to be within shouting distance for cohesion? Again they lost me quick.

For Sci-FI 6-12mm I'd offer the following; I recommend them all to try; each is a quality game, with their own "quirks" that you'd have to try to suit your taste:

Polyversal-Collins Epic Wargames. You basically build your force from the ground up using their free Polyversal Online Arsenal after you purchase the game. Easy to use, stable platform. Allows you to print their special polygon unit cards. Lots of weapons and traits to choose from. Good for combined arms, and you can throw in your Battletech mechs. Neat command system, fairly "hard" sci-fi, but does feel like a WW2 game sometimes. Combat resolution rolls take some getting used to..Fits your battalion level requirement quite well and probably the closest to what you are looking for; 40 bases would not be a problem with this system.

Battle Suit Alpha-Wiley Games. Not a BN level game/say platoon/company; really only 4-8 individual units per side is best. Really more of a Battletech light game, but allows you to build a combined arms force. Mechs are the star of the show, but plenty of rules for other ground and air forces. Easy system to learn and use, like above, build your own force. Fun, not quite beer and pretzels but close enough. Can play easily 4-6 players, each with their own unique force.

Horizon Wars Midnight Dark (updated from the original rules)-Precinct Omega. Again, not quite BN level, but 10-15 units max (elements could be stand ins for platoons). Little more complex than BS Alpha, but once you get the hang of it, pretty fun. Good combined arms, build your own force; again Mechs are the most customizable…but a small mech force can easily be beat by a larger combined arms ground/air team.

Steel Rift, Death Ray Designs. Again, a mech centric game, but you can build light vehicle squadrons into the game system, again, highly customizable. Probably farthest to what you are looking for, but I recommend it nonetheless. Their new line of customizable mechs and vehicles are HIGHLY recommended; some of the best mech/vehicle designs currently on the market IMO.

Of course, Battletech Alpha Strike if you want to use your vehicles as stand-ins for in-universe vehicles. I think it is a great game, but not really a BN level game.

Had a look at dirtside and remember I did play it once back in the 90s and was instantly put off but the chit damage system, so not sure about them ,5150 battalion commander I can't seem to find, polyversal sounds interesting but will be a maybe due to price, see fft3 had a set called railgun2100 but only dead links now, considering laser storm and iron cow

We generally liked to play multi-Company/Bn level games with our 6mm sci-fi. Games of maneuver warfare, using combined arms, etc.

Maggot +1

"hard" sci-fi, but does feel like a WW2 game sometimes

Yes, we felt the same way when we played 6mm Sci-fi/Epic games. We liked it that way. Sci-fi but not DnD/LotRs happening in the far future. I.e. more Hammer's Slammer less WHFB/WH40K …

Might look into the Use Me 6mm Science Fiction rules from Alternate Armies. At $5 USD can't go too wrong. Not very many design options.

I played so much WRG Armor and Infantry in the form of the US Army Dunn Kempf rules that I wish that they had extended them to a real sci-fi instead of stopping at early 21st century. I had routinely played and managed games with up to 100 models on one side (on 8ft by 8ft tables).

FWIW there are a number of pretty good 6mm SF manufacturers today …

And we played Dunn Kempf a few times when I was in the Army, '79-'90. It was Not too bad … We did have a pretty good time, as well as learned generally.

There were a couple of specifically designed Computer type games/exercises that we did too. For certain exercises. As a senior CPT I was sent to Bragg to be the Bde Cdr. It was a pretty good experience …