What are the best rules for Sci-Fi Solo Play ?

[Graleth]

Hi folks,
          I'm initially thinking of Planetside skirmish type rules. I might as well specify two categories - Free and commercial. I'm mainly interested in free stuff. I already have WH 40k, Starship Troopers, Chain Reaction 3.0 (I have got the Beamstrike, Heavy Gear, Hammers slammers (Lite) and Necromunda rules -  not had chance to evaluate them yet),  but you can still comment on them.

Thanks in advance for your input.

Graleth

[zaapark]

Chain Reaction is more geared for solo play.  I saw a post on TMP about - Fubar, UseMe, and Fast & Dirty. I have played Fast & Dirty several times and I don't know how easy solo play would be.  Don't know anything about the other sets but if you poke around TMP some folks have done some reviews on the other rules.

[capthugeca]

I've not come across anything better than the Two Hour Wargames engine for solo.

[blacksmith]

I mostly do solo gaming and THW products are unbeatable for that IMHO. CR 3.0 is really good for solo and cooperative playing. Here in my blog you can see a short four scenarios campaign using CR3.0 (start from bottom and up): http://javieratwar.blogspot.com/search/label/Battle%20Reports.%20Chain%20Reaction%203.0

[Lord Kermit of Birkenhead]

Could take a look at beam strike, also "freewargamesrules.co.uk", lots of free stuff there. There is at least 1 version of space crusade.

IanS

[Kassad]

"Gut Check!" This set of free solo rules appears really promissing. I don' t play it yet but I'm preparing the needs scenics (the game works on hex-mate) for a test. Also I don' t know if I can put here a direct link to rules, but a research on the web (Gut Check! Solo Skirmish Game) sure help you.
"Fubar" is a very nice wargame IMHO and a partially random choice of the orders in game could make it suitable for solo game.
The best solo SF games IMHO was Leading Edge "Aliens" but unfortunately is out of production from long time. I played a lots of funny and challenging games with friends or solo. you can find the rules on boardgamegeek but no scenarios maps.

[Maenoferren]

Normally I use savage worlds for everything I am afraid 
HAve used Necromunda, Mordheim and the ALiens ones for solo play though

[Graleth]

Hey folks,
         I am on the Two hour wargame Forum, (I do like your posts Blacksmith, keep up the good work) I just wanted to make sure I was not missing something good through ignorance and thought you guys would be impartial in your judgement.

Zaapark- I will check thouse out.

Capthugeca- Me too.

IanS-I will try that link, thanks.

Hi Again Kassad - Gut Check is another new one to me, it keeps on getting better. Aliens sound fun, i will see if I can grab the  rules.

Maenoferren, I have not tried savage worlds yet but might use my lizard men army in Mordheim.

Food for thought.

Graleth

[Maenoferren]

I forgot to say Savage worlds is basicallly a role play set of rules, but easy to tweak, I am runninga Firefly game for some mates using the rules. Work really well. SO far we have done Pirates, fantasy, pulp, Victorian, WWII and WWI, space - traveller, Firefly and tales of the sprawl. I also use them for my dinosaur hunting games so as I said quite versatile 

[Graleth]

Firefly was a great series, cut down before it could mature. At least we got the film. Not impressed with the look of the RPG rules though, did not buy them. I've not seen the savage worlds rules. But I may try the post- apocalypse genre at some time.

Graleth

[O Dinas Powys]

You can get a taste of Savage Worlds with the Test Drive rules for free here: http://www.peginc.com/downloads.html

The Showdown Rules in the second box are the Minature Wargames version.

[Kassad]

You can get a taste of Savage Worlds with the Test Drive rules for free here: http://www.peginc.com/downloads.html

The Showdown Rules in the second box are the Minature Wargames version.

Thank you! I like the generic, free-form rules. I want know more about Savage Worlds..... free download sure help me. Also thanks to Maenoferren for the suggestion.

[Maenoferren]

The firefly rpg rules are okay I bought them second hand an am converting them to SW as we speak. Savage Heroes has a set of conversions up but these were written pre the film.

[Luddite]

Necromunda rules

Depending on the scale of your skirmishes, you'll have to go a long way to beat these.

GW 'core' rules suck but theyr 'specialist' games like Necromunda tend to work really well, especially in campaigns.

[Kassad]

GW 'core' rules suck but theyr 'specialist' games like Necromunda tend to work really well, especially in campaigns.

I totally agree. Epic (in any incarnations) is the wargame I played more times. Men o War and Warmaster are very nice games. Is a pitty that GW don't support Specialist no more.
Necromunda and Mordheim played in 10mm sounds cool.