POLL: Ideal "Universal Handshake" Game? (Round 1)

Rhoderic III and counting observes...

In your ideal world, what would be the undisputed "universal handshake" game of the miniature wargaming hobby? In other words, the game that every hobbyist would ideally dabble in – quite apart from any other projects and interests they have in the hobby – to the extent that they know the rules and have at least one painted army/warband/fleet/whatever for it (or several, if it's a game where only certain faction match-ups are allowed). The game for which the average hobbyist would naturally bring a standard-sized force (and some terrain and possibly a playing surface, if needed) to any hobbyists' get-together for potential pick-up battles, even with strangers.

This is a question not only about your personal favorite game, but also about which game you would find most practical and serviceable for that purpose, taking into account factors like ease of painting/collecting, ease of learning the rules, ease of lugging around, broadness of appeal, and suitability for the imperfect conditions of most pick-up gaming sessions.

It has to be a miniatures game. It would be peremptory of me to disallow "no opinion" or "there shouldn't be one" as answers, but I ask you to keep in mind that this question is about your fantasy of the miniature wargaming hobby ideal.

Myself, I think I'd want it to be Aeronef. The rules are simple and beer-and-pretzel-oriented, gameplay is fairly fast, the models are easy to paint (and even relatively easy to scratchbuild for those who want to take that approach), Brigade Models has a large and ever-growing range (and there are other sources for models as well), it's fairly cheap, fleet-building is free-form (there's a ship construction system and no defined factions), no terrain is needed, the setting is open-ended and fantastical enough for pretty much any match-up to feel reasonable without being a case of "there is only WAR!", it also allows fans of history to play around with historical elements, and the easygoing premise of gentlemens' wars in the big blue sky is hard not to like. In the words of Tony from Brigade Models, their Aeronef range has been a constant strong seller for 15 years, which keeps justifying new releases. Everyone should have an Aeronef fleet, says I. The only downsides are that it's usually played on a 6' x 4' table, and the production values of the rulebook might turn some people off. Personally, I'd love to see a sleeker-looking 2nd edition Aeronef rulebook.

My second choice would be Song of Blades and Heroes in 28mm, and my third would be either Dreadball or Tomorrow's War in 15mm played with small forces on a small board. I'm aware DBA in 15mm might be the most realistic contender in regard to its actual popularity and its suitability for casual pick-up games, but personally I'm not too fond of the visual aspect of it.

Poll set up by  Editor in Chief Bill  , based on this pre-poll discussion.