Let's Talk Miniature Skirmish Games

No campaign rules in the quick start pdf.

Can you give me a brief outline of it? It looks like the unit stats are on cards, so how are advancements handled? Is there a classic pencil and paper roster to use as well?

Puppet Wars Unstitched is really good for a 2-3p hex-based skirmish game. The style is great, the rules are solid, and the gameplay is fun. It plays quickly too.

If I recall correctly there are three downsides:
- No real cmapaign system.
- Need to get an extra pack of cards for a 3rd player
- Terrain in the set is just little plastic hex pieces

I picked up an extra card set and I pimped out my copy by making terrain pieces out of thimbles, thread, spools, yarn, and such.

Armor Grid Mech Attack is really good for a tape measure skirmish game. Really easy to get into and it feels like a mech battle. Only downsides are no real campaign system and you have to either papercraft (included) or provide your own minis.


Between those two I've never found myself looking for another skirmish game. For campaign play I prefer games like Mice & Mystics or Level 7 Omega Protocol.

Dreadzone sounds kind of interesting, but for me most minis rule sets just aren't that interesting without a campaign system. So for me it's Necromunda or Mordheim. There are two fan-made GW-based skirmish/campaign games: Inquisimunda and Kill Team.

Jeff, let's make Necromunda on tiles happen!

I don't like steampunk at all, but it's an easy prejudice for me to overcome to play Malifaux 2nd ed. I don't have the time to play army-scale games anymore and for me this is the best of the skirmish games. I outline my reasons in more detail in this review on BGG if you're curious:

boardgamegeek.com/thread/1059580/malifaux-excellent

Edit: Forgot to mention that the next book for Malifaux will add a full campaign system.

metalface13 wrote: Jeff, let's make Necromunda on tiles happen!

If I understand Deadzone correctly, that's what it is.

Also Jeff, you might have me interested in a Warmaster/Mighty Empires campaign.

My favorite two skirmish games are Havoc: tactical miniature warfare by Brent Spivey, and the aforementioned Saga. Saga is kind of a skirmish plus sized game (20-35 figures per side) but it's not full army sized.

Havoc (not to be confused with Cry Havoc) is the most interesting skirmish game I've played. It's an indie release and it handles about 12-25 figures. It doesn't care what minis or setting you use (as long as it's medieval/fantasy) but it packs a ton of flavor into the way the different units work. The Giant has an ability called Teeing-Off where he can club a miniature and send it flying. If the miniature collides with other minis in its path it does damage to them.

I love the activation system, the combat is interesting, and there are tons of unit options. It's just astoundingly good and very interesting. PDF is pretty cheap but Amazon has a physical book.

Nothing about a song of blades and heroes yet?

Solid generic rule set that you can use any miniatures with. Your imagination is your only constraint.

Mostly for fantasy, but they do make a more tech version, as well as gothic horror too.

Can be played freeform, or on squares/hexes, so gives more use for heroscape terrain. Simple and fast.

Try this, not sure if this makes it to the final rules:

quirkworthy.files.wordpress.com/2013/09/...ign-rules-public.pdf

Also, this.

quirkworthy.com/2013/09/23/deadzone-campaigns-again/

Another game you want to check is Dux Britanniarum, which is campaign based.

While there has been mention of Deadzone, I'll toss Deadzone's little brother into the mix; Mars Attacks. Released two months ago, it's Mantic's "Deadzone-lite." I opted for this title because I'm a fan of the IP. It's fast, deadly, and pretty light hearted (as in, the black humor of Martians exploding or making explosions & cows on fire.)