skirmish

Battlefield Horizons: Endless Conflict is a set of free wargames rules for 28mm science fiction games.

From the intro and overview:

Battlefield Horizon is a 1:1 miniatures skirmish game using 25/28mm figures. The rules can handle two or more players per battle – I’ve had up to 6 players. The rules to stat out figures from your collection are included, and there is a sizable list of special abilities for troops and weapons to actually make force “A” play differently from force “B” on the table. What a novel idea!

Overview

A figure represents one trooper, creature or vehicle. They may operate as part of unit or independently. Each figure is able to perform its own actions even when in a unit, so there is tactical flexibility. Each figure has 5 stats: Movement, Close Combat, Ranged Combat, Protection Value and Morale Score. The first is your maximum movement in inches and for the last 4, you roll the number assigned to that stat or less on a D10 to succeed.

The turn is handled in ordered phases: Initiative, Movement, Mystic, Shooting, Close Combat and then Command. The winner of the Initiative roll gets to determine the turn order for that turn. Movement is done by each player in order of Initiative. Mystic actions (magic/psionics/etc.) is also done by each player in order of Initiative.

Shooting is next and it is simultaneous, so all shots are declared before any dice are rolled with causalities removed at the end of the phase. Roll the figure’s Ranged Combat stat or less to hit. The target gets to make a roll against its Protection Value to prevent taking damage from a successful hit. Close Combat is handled in the same manner.

The Command Phase is last, and is where any command rolls are made due either to kills or non-damaging hits. A roll of equal or less than the figure’s Morale Value is a success, otherwise the figure may run to nearest cover or try to flee off the board. Turn is now over, so star a new turn.

I’m not usually a big fan of “Move, then Fire, then Melee, then Morale checks” kind of games, but this one works quite nicely because of the mix of simultaneous and non-simultaneous phases. Throw in an interesting initiative mechanic and a stat creation system with lots of options, and I became a fan. Give it a try!