Sci fi rules

So I have been doing some noodling with the basic concepts for my sci-fi rules.

I spent some time discussing the idea of using a D10 but after some thought I think that I will be using a 2D6 mechanic, similar to Warmachine. In fact I will be pulling a few idea from Warmachine as it is probably my favourite skirmish(ish) system on the market.

The benefit of a 2d6 system is that it has the same wider range as a D10 but it offers two things that a D10 doesn't. It is more predicatable in that you can assume an average role to determine what your most probably outcome is. A D10 has a linear outcome of results in that a 10 is just as likely as a 1. In a 2D6 mechanic the higher and lower results are much less likely than the average result. This allows gamers to determine their outcomes with some predictability. This also allows the game to have a lot less random results. Fewer improbable hits, fewer improbable misses and in general a game where the dice can sometimes give heroic results or dramatic failures but aften give more average results. The random nature of the dice is less a factor.

So here are some basic points about the game.

Stats

ST - Strength: The unit's physical strength either natural or augmented
DF - Defense: How difficult the unit is to hit by melee or ranged fire
AR - Armour: How tough the unit is and how difficult it is to damage the unit. Either physical survivability or actual armour
FT - Fighting: The unit's melee combat ability
SH - Shooting: The unit's ranged combat ability
CD - Command: The unit's ability to withstand the effects of combat or to influence other units
AP - Action Points: The number of points that the unit can spend when it is activated to perform actions. Each action, unless noted, requires the expenditure of one Action Point.
SP - Speed: The unit's base speed in inches. This is the distance it can move when it spends an Action Point to move

Actions

Move
Charge
Aim
Fire
Attack
Special Action
Special Attack
Rally

Game process

Marker Phase
Remove all markers from units still on the table

Initiative Phase
Roll for initiative

Action Phase
The player who won initiative determines who starts to activate units first. Then starting with the first player, each player takes turns activating two units , one after the other. The activating player must complete all their actions with the current unit before activating their second unit

More Iron Warriors

I managed to pick up a few more minis for the Iron Warriors army from eBay last night. Sadly my internet connection died and I missed out on three other auctions from the same person which would have added another 20 or so painted Iron Warriors to the force.

I did manage to get a Rhino, six painted Obliterators and another bolter equipped squad so I can safely stop picking up Marine and now expand the force with some Raptors and fill out the Havoc squad I am building.

I have a 1500 point test force that I want to try out at our next 40K game. Something that might even be able to take on Jamie's Tau :-)

First 40K CoD game

Jamie, our local Tau player, came over the other night and we had the first game using the new Cities of Death terrain I built. I used my newly acquired Ork minis against his Tau and got slaughtered.

I played a generic list that I had created for my Orks and didn't specifically tailor it to play against the Tau and I learned a few lessons about what to do and not to do against them. So next time we play there will be a few more mobile units, no Dreadnought and some Lobbas on the table.

The terrain worked out well but I need to work on creating some more scatter terrain that uses the same theme to help fill the table out more. I am also going to try and work on creating some walkways to add to the table to create some more visually interesting terrain as most of the table is a little flat at the moment.

Cities of Death terrain

I finally managed to get the first of my Cities of Death terrain pieces done. Click the photos to enlarge them.



I am going to work on another four or five pieces so I can fully fill a 4' x 8' table or really pack in a 4' x 6' table. These didn't turn out too bad and I learned a few thigs about assembling terrain peices this size so I hope that the next set will turn out a bit better.



I have to say that I went through far more sand than I thought I would and I also used a lot more craft paint as well.