Rogue Stars - the beginning

Rogue Stars published by Osprey and created by Andrea Sfiligoi, (https://ospreypublishing.com/rogue-stars), is a very dense skirmish game.  Not complex or overly difficult, just crammed with so much information in such a thin book.  I imagine if they had no page limit the book might have been 400+ pages easily.  I am not going to do a review of the game, as there are quite a few out there already and describe all the mechanics perfectly.  In fact, here is a video about how to play: (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P71OHehKktk&t=104s)

Instead I will give my opinions and show what I have started on in preparation to play the game.

Here is the book in all its glory.  It is 64 pages of tightly compacted rpg-lite skirmish goodness.

The book is filled with characterful artwork (much like the cover) and overloaded with so many options, it really is a sandbox and you can design just about anything you want for your teams.  With all the missions, locations, and complications you will have plenty of exciting gaming in your future.

These "official" tokens/markers came from Andrea Sfiligoi himself via Ganesha Games (http://www.ganeshagames.net/product_info.php?cPath=1_58&products_id=311)

The game mechanics rely heavily on tokens and markers.  The majority of the negative reviews pertain to the use of tokens on a gaming table.  Its all about personal preference, as I don't mind using tokens and plan on putting them to the side on the characters' sheets.  Stress, Pins, and Wounds will be used most frequently, the rest of the shown markers are based on certain situations and will rarely come into play.

So I picked through my miniatures collection, trying to make a few random teams.  I was not prepared for how many options were available.  I kept adding and removing traits, weapons, and equipment.  The paper I was writing on is filled with scratches as I changed my mind so many times.  But once I settled into the rhythm of 'looking' at the miniature to decide what weapons/traits it has, things smoothed out some.

Deadzone Enforcers - Theme: Cyborgs, Tactical Discipline:  Opportunity Fire -  Captain (Power Armor, Molecular Slug Thrower, Vibroblade built-in, Veteran), Engineer (Light Power Armor, Assault Rifle, Tech 2, Neuro-jack Array), Heavy Gunner (Light Power Armor, Machine Gun), Trooper (Light Power Armor, Assault Rifle), Assault Trooper (Light Power Armor, Slug Pistol, Vibroblade)  - 201 XP total

Sedition Wars Vanguard - Theme:  Militia, Tactical Discipline:  Cool Under Fire - Sergeant (Light Combat Dress, Plasma Pistol, Vibroblade, Slug Pistol, Veteran, Weapon Master 3, Free Disengage), Sniper (Light Combat Dress, Musket w/ Accurate, Marksman 3, Stealth 1), Medic (Light Combat Dress, Slug Pistol, Molecular Slug Thrower, Medic 2), two Troopers (Light Power Armor, Assault Rifle, Marksman 1) - 201 XP total

Infinity Panoceania - Theme:  Star Cops, Tactical Discipline:  Determined - Repair Bot (Artificial, Nonreactive, Tech 2, Medic 3, Fast 2, Extra Legs 1, Zap Rifle, Neuro-jack Array), Father Knight (Monowire Scythe, Light Power Armor, Weapon Master 2, Veteran, Free Disengage, Electromag Shackles), Jumper (Assault Rifle, Light Power Armor, Slug Pistol, Jump Pack, Medic 1), two Troopers (Assault Rifle, Slug Pistol, Light Combat Dress, Medic 1) - 200 XP total

Infinity Nomads - Theme:  Pirates, Tactical Discipline:  Hard to Kill - Leader (Light Power Armor, Submachine Gun, Veteran, Marksman 2), Sister Knight (Light Combat Dress, Submachine Gun, Slug Pistol, Ambidexterity, Medic 1), Ninja (Light Combat Dress, Submachine Gun, Monowire Blade, Slug Pistol, Difficult Target 3, Weapon Master 2), two Troopers (Light Combat Dress, Submachine Gun, Slug Pistol, Tech 1, Medic 1) - 200 XP total

Reaper Bones Chronoscope - Theme:  Merchants, Tactical Discipline:  Opportunists - Captain (Kevlar, Powered Gauntlet, Molecular Slug Thrower, Veteran, Marksman 2), Engineer (Kevlar, Submachine Gun, Tech 3, Medic 3, Marksman 1), Twin Guy (Kevlar, Zap Pistol, Vibroblade, Fast 1, Weapon Master 3, Difficult Target 1, Marksman 2), Twin Girl (Kevlar, Zap Pistol, Monowire Blade, Fast 1, Weapon Master 3, Difficult Target 1, Marksman 2), Sister Penitent (Kevlar, Submachine Gun, Vibroblade, Weapon Master 3, Free Disengage, Marksman 2), Tome Raider (Kevlar, Submachine Gun, Submachine Gun, Ambidexterity, Fast 1, Difficult Target 1) - 200 XP total

As you can see, there is just so much variety in creating teams.  In my opinion, just like in roleplaying games, character creation is one of the best parts of the game and becomes a mini-game of its own.  I'm sure there are ways to 'break' this process to make ultimate soldiers and odd pairings, but if you stick with the WYSIWYG philosophy (that is: What You See Is What You Get) and design characters based on what they look like, then there won't be any problems.

Now I just need to play a game or two to really see how things work.

Miniature conversions and bitz-mashing

After receiving my Mantic Crazy Box 2016, I wound up with some miniatures that needed to be spruced up for some sci-fi skirmishing.  As well, there were some left-over bits itching to be glued together to make something.

Here was a Dreadball guy that I turned into a heavy machine gun toting beast.  It kinda reminds me of a Warzone HMG Trencher (http://www.displacedminiatures.com/images/3.img.1287691960ImperialHMG.JPG)

This Veer-myn Dreadball player received some weapons from his kin, now he can spread joy with toxic fire.

The Forge Father Dreadball player now has a little pistol and a HUGE axe (from Kings of War Salamanders).  Size matters when your entire race is shorter than everyone else.

And the Orc Dreadball player now has some cobbled together mega-ray-death-gun, prepare for loving.

I was able to make 'something' out of the random Mantic Battlezone stuff.  Its an industrial platform with crane and a staircase.  Hopefully it holds together.

Last, but not least, is the Forge Fathers' fast attack hover craft!

You can see an excited Forge Father piloting this odd craft.  It kinda has an aircraft carrier deck.

This view you can see the magma cannon and the anti-gravity boosters on the bottom of the craft.

This side has the autocannon.  Nothing spreads cheer faster than thousands of rounds of bullets.

Mantic Crazy Box 2016

I received a very intriguing package from Mantic Games recently.  Each year Mantic Games sells a special Crazy Box, filled with random miniatures from all their different games.  This year is especially crazy, as there was a chance one of your boxes may come with an even more valuable prize.  I ordered the Crazy Box Bundle which gives me a box of fantasy stuff and a box of sci-fi stuff.  And I got a big prize in both boxes!!!

Fantasy Crazy Box

The big prize is the dragon from Dungeon Saga's expansion Tyrant of Halpi.  The expansion is $49.99, not sure how much the dragon itself is worth, but its a hefty chunk of plastic.

These are some abyssal demons from Dungeon Saga's Infernal Crypts expansion.

And also from Dungeon Saga the orcs and goblins of the Warlord of Galahir expansion. 

This big boy is Grokagamok, an Ogre hero of Kings of War.  Value $14.99.

This is an undead skeletal dog handler, which could only be purchased with Mantic Points.  Sadly I do not see him available any more. 

Kings of War chariot (without driver).  Value ~$19.99.

Kings of War - Forces of Nature - Salamanders (5)

Kings of War - Forces of Abyss - Succubi (5)

Kings of War - Forces of Abyss - Lower Abyssals (5)

Sci-fi Crazy Box

The 'big' prize in this box is the Deadzone compilation book "Containment Protocols".  Value $10.99.  I was able to read the book on our family vacation.  There were some good and some mediocre stories, but overall it was nice to have a little background in the Deadzone universe.

A very random group of Mars Attacks miniatures; two from the Novas Vira Militia and the flaming cows from Civilian Slaughter.

Deadzone - Plague - 12 Plague Mutants, 2 Plague Hounds, and an Aberration (he's $19.99 himself)!

Dreadball - one guy from Midgard Delvers, Trontek 29ers, Skittersneak Stealers, and Greenmoon Smackers.  I don't play Dreadball, so these guys will all be modified for sci-fi skirmishing.

Deadzone - Marauders - 2 Commandos, 2 Goblin Snipers, and 2 Mawbeasts.

Deadzone - Asterians - 1 Overseer and 3 Cyphers.

Deadzone - Forge Fathers - 5 of the old Steel Warriors models 

Deadzone - Veer-myn - 2 Nightmares and a Night Terror ($19.99 himself)!

Deadzone - Battlezone Scenery - Landing Pad Sprue B and I think an Urban sprue that has a crane.

Thoughts on Mantic's Crazy Box 2016

I really like the Crazy Box concept.  It suits my current interests of gathering a variety of miniatures without having to purchase whole armies.  With that being said, its inevitable that you will get something that you have no interest in using.  But for me, I just see that as an opportunity to do some kit-bashing and conversions.  As for the value in each box, I think they were fantastic.  I tried to put prices up for the higher value items under the labels of the pictures.

Out of the fantasy crazy box, I think I like the 5 Salamanders, 5 Succubi, and 5 Lower Abyssals the most, mostly because they came on sprues so I could design them how I want (I love having creative freedom when assembling miniatures).  The dragon is cool too, he's a monstrous paperweight and I'm limited on dragons in my collection.  I don't care for the other Dungeon Saga miniatures since I already have them.

I think I will get more use out of the sci-fi crazy box however.  I've already got plans to incorporate most of the Deadzone miniatures into either Rogue Stars, In the Emperor's Name, or FUBAR.  Even the Dreadball minis will be converted accordingly.  The Mars Attacks miniatures are my least favorite.

One negative feedback about the Crazy Box, and it can be a major or minor complaint depending on your point of view, but there are NO bases for the miniatures.  NONE.  ZERO.  That means I need to order bases for all these guys, which is an inconvenience.

But overall, I like Mantic's Crazy Box.  And depending on how they arrange things next Christmas, I might have to order another bundle.

Deadzone - sci-fi miniatures assemble!

As I look to the future; with Rogue Stars from Osprey in late December and Harder than Steel from Ganesha Games sometime next year, or as I think of Double Tap by One Page Rules and In the Emperor's Name and FUBAR by Forge of War, I have come to the conclusion that I'm severely lacking in my sci-fi miniatures collection.

With this serious injustice to my meager miniature stockpile, I have searched for ways to inexpensively augment my horde.  One option I discovered was the starter boxes for Deadzone from Mantic Games.

I picked up three starters; Forge Fathers (Dwarves in Space!), Veer-myn (Ratmen in Space!), and Marauders (Orcs in Space!).

Due to a slight error, I was sent the faction booster instead of the actual starter, but it contains plenty for my needs regardless.  Here is a big cannon-tank thing, a couple engineer/pilots with tracked drones (which I put weapons on), and a couple motorcycles.

Here are the grunts of the Forge Fathers.  I made a sergeant stand on an orc head while holding a maul and one-handing the rifle.

I made one of each special/heavy weapon and one hussar.  Then there are the Brokkrs, which would make great space pirates or miners or engineers or scouts.

The Veer-myn, space rats.  I made one of each type of rat ogre then the two progenitors/leaders.  The giant drilling machine is a cobbled together contraption from random bits, I love constructing stuff out of leftovers.

The swarm of Veer-myn.  Up front are the 12 pistol/knife wielders, then three heavy weapons, and in the back are the rats from the Project Pandora boardgame.  

The Marauders, or Space Orcs.  The two big guys I outfitted each with heavy ranged and close combat weapons, instead of making them only one type.  Then there are the four mutant dog-things and goblin snipers.  The fourth goblin sniper was supposed to look like he is scared or running away, so I modified him to look like he is sneaking up instead.

And the Orc horde.  In the back are the Marauders I picked up many moons ago, they have pistols and close combat weapons, along with two heavy weapons and a couple with power claws.  The Marauders up front are more like commandos; with rifles, shotguns, and a guy with a flamer.  The commando captain has some kind of power spear thing.

At this point, I have plenty to use for sci-fi games.  Coupled with the Sedition Wars' Vanguard, Deadzone Enforcers, Infinity Haqqislam/Nomads/Panoceania, and miscellaneous Reaper Bones Chronoscope minis, I should have enough variety to play anything.

Now I just need to paint....alot.

Triumphant return!

Been absent for a while, but now I have returned with all new reports and pictures too!

First up was a game of One Page Rules' Grimdark Racing.  (https://onepagerules.wordpress.com/portfolio/grimdark-racing/)

My son and I enjoyed the game.  Fast and easy rules.  Reminds us a lot of Mario Kart racing, nothing wrong with that at all.

My son played the Rebels (snowspeeder and X-wing) while I had the Empire (Tie Fighter and Tie Bomber).  We used them all as Skimmers.

The Tie Fighter led the way and would maintain the lead the entire three laps.

   

This was the start of the second lap.  The Tie Fighter had a commanding lead and I used the Tie Bomber as a wrecking ball and prevented the Rebels from getting close to the leader.

 

End of the third lap.  The Tie Fighter crossed first, X-wing second.  

Next up, my son and I decided to give One Page Rules' Kill Team a test.  (https://onepagerules.wordpress.com/portfolio/one-page-kill-team/)

I played as the Orks (Warpath Marauders) and my son played as the Space Marines (Deadzone Enforcers).  I really enjoy the simple approach from the One Page Rules.

Orks to the left, Space Marines to the right.

WAAAGH!  Orks advance, and get shot along the way as usual.

As you can see, many Orks did not make the trip across the battlefield.

The end of the match.  I lucked out in slaughtering many Space Marines with the Orks' brutal close combat abilities.  But after four rounds I lost, with most of my force decimated by Space Marine gunfire.

And finally, my oldest daughter played my son with One Page Rules' Skirmish (https://onepagerules.wordpress.com/portfolio/one-page-skirmish/)

Using Reaper Bones miniatures we attempted to create a couple possible warbands based off of the Warhammer Fantasy army lists.  My son went with the Tomb Kings (lots of undead naturally).  And the daughter chose Wood Elves.  Tallying up the points and upgrades was quite a chore.  In the end, point wise, the warbands were even.  As far as model count, the Tomb Kings undead severely outnumbered the Elves.

My daughter faces my son across the battlefield.

The Tomb Kings's undead shamble onto the scene.

A couple Wood Elf archers are able to set up on a tower in the deployment zone of the Tomb Kings.  They were able to rain down terror from their high vantage point.

This is the remainder of the Wood Elves.  Vastly outnumbered by the undead.

Skirmish has a whole load of special abilities to keep track of, as you can see my son looking at his reference sheet.  But by the end of the game, he was victorious.  The leader of the Wood Elves was slain and their warband decimated by the never ending undead.