What are the strengths of each wargaming system? (tabletop)

[Alex]

I have always been interested in wargames, and I always found the warhammer setting interesting. However, I never played it before, but a friend got some miniatures and he wants to game with me and a few other guys. However, I have heard that the new warhammer rules aren't exactly the best.

I wanted to know what you people think are the strengths of the games you know. It doesn't have to be warhammer per se, any wargaming system you feel worth mentioning is welcome.

 

[LCJr.]

Years back when I was still active in the hobby I was on good terms with the manager of the local hobby store. I asked him about Warhammer and it picked up one of the Codex's and showed me packaging GW uses. Everything they do is designed to separate you from your money. If a squad can have 5-10 figures it'll be packaged 4 figures to a pack or less. They won't come in a 5 pack. In other words if you want the minimum or maximum squad you'll end up having to buy more figures than you need. Think about it they write the rules and they package the figures and they make sure the numbers don't match up.


As for suggestions I suppose that depends on what interests you. Ask around and see what else is popular in your area. Try to find something that doesn't force you to buy miniatures from one source.

If you have any interest in ancients and medievals I'd recommend Armati or one of the De Bellis series(DBA, DBM and DBR). Fields of Glory looks like it might be good but is a little overpriced and overmarketed in my opinion.

 

[kingcomrade]

They all suck and supporting any of the companies that produce puts you in league with the terrorists

 

[uhjghvt]

the strength of not playing warhammer is that you aren't condemned to being eternally shunned by the opposite sex

 

[Topher]

I play Heroscape, it's cheap (for tabletop), simple and fun. It doesn't require a major investment and the large sets come with terrain that you can use to build your own maps, the map making offers almost infinite freedom and the maps can be used with many other tabletops games.

Goolge it for the official site and check out www.heroscapers.com

 

[mahdi]

It's one step below LARP. Quit now, your life is better than that.

 

[Lord Rocket]

Don't listen to these limp wristed faggots. RPGs came out of wargames and you owe it to yourself to know your roots.

I am not, however, going to recommend any games to you. You would be better off going to your local wargaming club and asking around - this method has the advantage of also letting you know what people are playing and how they're playing, so you won't necessarily have to overspend (or - god help you - get stuff that's incompatible with what other people are playing). In my experience, people with odd hobbies are usually very happy to answer questions.

 

[Vaarna_Aarne]

You would be better off going to your local wargaming club

DON'T.

 

[Lord Rocket]

Do. If only to see some fatties.

 

[Vaarna_Aarne]

Which is precisely why you shouldn't. The Curse is only strikes you if you go see the fatties.

 

[Destroid]

Warhammer fantasy is a very fun wargame to play, much better than 40k I feel due to the strong emphasis on positioning.

This is because most of your troops (except some with special abilities) have to walk around in a big block and they get some pretty severe penalties if they get charged in the sides or rear, whereas in 40k everyone can just wander around wherever. That said, 40k has better miniatures and lore.



Some of their small games (Necromunda, blood bowl etc) are good fun too. I havn't really played anything but GW games unfortunately, so can't speak for any of the other systems. Except Battletech, but thats not very good.

 

[LCJr.]

Well if you get caught playing a wargame by a member of your preferred sex just look them straight in the eye and say "Hey baby, I play CRPG's too.". You're guaranteed to get laid then.

 

[Fez]

Well if you get caught playing a wargame by a member of your preferred sex just look them straight in the eye and say "Hey baby, I play CRPG's too.". You're guaranteed to get laid then.

 

[Vaarna_Aarne]

Warhammer fantasy is a very fun wargame to play, much better than 40k I feel due to the strong emphasis on positioning.

This is because most of your troops (except some with special abilities) have to walk around in a big block and they get some pretty severe penalties if they get charged in the sides or rear, whereas in 40k everyone can just wander around wherever. That said, 40k has better miniatures and lore.

In terms of overall tactics, Fantasy easily takes the cake. But the game suffers (for some at least) from the high amount of tables to roll and the occasionally tedious task of arranging formations. But the emphasis on specialist units and "that special turn" make it great. Also, having Leadership as the ultimate stat in terms of battle outcomes kicks ass.

On the other hand, 5th edition 40k moved into that direction as well and is now the better game IMO. The added tactical approach (hugging ground, tank ramming, fighting over cover, running, less god-heroes, more Leadership emphasis, penalties for complete melee wipe-out etc) and crushing of Math-hammer was great. The faster pace, more value for ordinary Troops, cover-centric blitzkrieg gameplay and the epicness of the lore just work damn well as an overall package. And of course, the sweet miniatures as well. Another good point is that the Codices lately have been great improvements. The new Daemon Armies is a great make-or-break army with heavy use of gambling the match from the start.

But the most important thing with GW products is to buy the big packages. Those save you a lot of money from their ridiculous prices.