freewargamesrules blog

The other day I purchased the Warcosm from Precis Intermedia. They are only $6 as a PDF download.

Steve Holland and I played the two starter scenarios that came with them, we found they played very well. Quick and bloody.

Each side rolls a dice and the lowest roll moves one of his ships first then the other player moves a ship and players alternate moving ships. When all movement is done the player with the highest initiative then shoots with one of his ships first. Players alternate shooting until done.

Each ship is represented by 4 lines of stats that show the shields, plate armour and hull (called frame). Drives: hyperdrive, tactical and manoeuvre. The third line shows subsystems (e.g. Point Defence Systems etc) and the fourth line are the weapons.

Shooting mechanism is by use of rolling a target number on a D10 depending on the range of the target and the weapon used. If hit the target may roll to see if the shields etc absorb the hit or they go through. Some weapons ignore shields and are applied to the frame.

The rules have 4 scenarios with plenty of ships to get you started and a ship construction section. These rules are definitely are going to be become my rules of choice. They remind me of the old Starfire rules before they over complicated them.

I have written an excel spreadsheet to help calculate the construction of ships.Download Spreadsheet

A new version of F.A.D. has been released. Whats new:

Campaign rules
Scenario system that factors in your army’s stance, aggression and the importance of pre battle scouting

Points cost formula
An intriguing “force priority” system to generate random forces. Pick your parameters and the system will generate a force that matches those choices.

Opportunity fire to control and deny ground
A number of new traits to further customize your units

Rules for demolitions and psionics
A task system suitable for any non-combat actions like hacking, repairing and negotiating.

Vehicle morale
Vehicles further have been reorganized and integrated into the main rules

Hidden movement, scouting, and minefields and much more.

My good mate Craig Cartmell started writing some Sci fi rules on the old freewargamesrules forum.

These were born out of a frustration of GW 40K rules. He has since moved the rules onto his blog and named the rules Forge Of War. I recently received this message off Craig:

1. Kyle has added prototype force lists and weapons’ stats so that people can get playtesting with their 40K armies.
2. Adam has produced some AT-43 stats and lists and intends to add more over the next week or two.