As a tip of the hat to Lee I saw this over at Big Lee's Miniature Adventures and thought I would give it a whirl myself.
Traveller
Traveller should probably at one two and three. Maybe four and five as well. When I came across it, it was the only thing that could distract me from Star Wars. Whilst not the first game I played it is the most inspirational. It hooked me on role playing and got me into wargaming. It is the one game I want to keep playing and playing. Frequently updated to capture the gaming ethos of the day it has a broad appeal. It's a game that everyone likes to play around with and develop their own universe. It's even spawned a phrase to describe that very activity. Space ships and lasers what more could you want. This is what started me down the SF ground combat angle and later starship combat. From here I went to Starguard, laserburn and even 40k for a while.
Traveller should probably at one two and three. Maybe four and five as well. When I came across it, it was the only thing that could distract me from Star Wars. Whilst not the first game I played it is the most inspirational. It hooked me on role playing and got me into wargaming. It is the one game I want to keep playing and playing. Frequently updated to capture the gaming ethos of the day it has a broad appeal. It's a game that everyone likes to play around with and develop their own universe. It's even spawned a phrase to describe that very activity. Space ships and lasers what more could you want. This is what started me down the SF ground combat angle and later starship combat. From here I went to Starguard, laserburn and even 40k for a while.
Aftermath
This is another RPG that has become a tabletop experience. Every time I have a bad day with the boss, I console myself with the knowledge that they wouldn't survive the apocalypse. From here I went to the Fallout computer game and then to gaming the post apocalypse on the tabletop. As a game it's a little intense and detail bound but as a source material for post apocalyptic gaming there is no better. Post apocalypse is a big gaming aspect for me and Aftermath is where it all began.
This is another RPG that has become a tabletop experience. Every time I have a bad day with the boss, I console myself with the knowledge that they wouldn't survive the apocalypse. From here I went to the Fallout computer game and then to gaming the post apocalypse on the tabletop. As a game it's a little intense and detail bound but as a source material for post apocalyptic gaming there is no better. Post apocalypse is a big gaming aspect for me and Aftermath is where it all began.
Conspiracy-X
Again another RPG. A classic modern horror game with ghosts, psychic powers and even the odd zombie. This is what dominated my life as a referee for about four years and like Traveller is still something I want to go back to. I wanted some figures for the game and this is what eventually started me down the 15mm route. From a few figures that were needed for the game I eventually expanded the range. Now all games I run and most of those I play in use 15mm and eventually I will have enough 15mm fantasy.
Again another RPG. A classic modern horror game with ghosts, psychic powers and even the odd zombie. This is what dominated my life as a referee for about four years and like Traveller is still something I want to go back to. I wanted some figures for the game and this is what eventually started me down the 15mm route. From a few figures that were needed for the game I eventually expanded the range. Now all games I run and most of those I play in use 15mm and eventually I will have enough 15mm fantasy.
All Flesh Must be Eaten
I had always loved zombie films and this made me want to game it. I started in 28mm and have down shifted into 15mm. It made me think more about the zombies and how they might actually act and what varieties they make take. This spurred me on to doing some terrain which has become part of the big terrain box.
I had always loved zombie films and this made me want to game it. I started in 28mm and have down shifted into 15mm. It made me think more about the zombies and how they might actually act and what varieties they make take. This spurred me on to doing some terrain which has become part of the big terrain box.
Cars with guns. Who hasn't wanted to
blow fifty rounds through the guy that just cut them up. A very
simple cheap game that turned tabletop gaming into a real treat for
me. It was also the first game where I started making terrain albeit
very simple terrain.
Harn
The best fantasy game in existence IMHO. This spawned the biggest painting binge I have ever had. Combat feels like combat. Magic is hard but powerful. You actually feel like you are in a medieval world.
The best fantasy game in existence IMHO. This spawned the biggest painting binge I have ever had. Combat feels like combat. Magic is hard but powerful. You actually feel like you are in a medieval world.
Tunnels and Trolls
This is where it all started for me. This is the first game I got. It's a system where fun is more important than realism. Stats and rules are minimal making it fairly quick play. As a more mature gamer it probably doesn't hold it's appeal. As a kid, it offered the solo dungeon before fighting fantasy came out and what a lot more involved than fighting fantasy ever was. I still get the books out ever few years and run through a book or two. Fond memories.
This is where it all started for me. This is the first game I got. It's a system where fun is more important than realism. Stats and rules are minimal making it fairly quick play. As a more mature gamer it probably doesn't hold it's appeal. As a kid, it offered the solo dungeon before fighting fantasy came out and what a lot more involved than fighting fantasy ever was. I still get the books out ever few years and run through a book or two. Fond memories.
Although I had done a fair bit of
wargaming before I found Command Decision, it was CD II that really
got my wargaming juices going. I even got into competitions which I
haven't really done since. About fifteen years ago I got into playing
CDII Spanish Civil War in 15mm after seeing a range of figures from
Peter Pig. I look at the figures I did back then and think how far my
painting has come since then. If you are looking for an alternative
to Flames of War that has much greater realism and on a bigger scale
I would still recommend this.
Stargrunt
I only ever played this once but it must be one of the most read books I have. The rulebook is in pieces from wear and tear. As a game it wasn't all that but as a source of inspiration it was fantastic. It has such a fine background for a game of this age and worked a lot of classic SF into the game. A nice war game but again superseded by current games. The figures for it which are available again now were fantastic at the time. The Dreenoi were particularly good and have been seen on a few websites over the years.
I only ever played this once but it must be one of the most read books I have. The rulebook is in pieces from wear and tear. As a game it wasn't all that but as a source of inspiration it was fantastic. It has such a fine background for a game of this age and worked a lot of classic SF into the game. A nice war game but again superseded by current games. The figures for it which are available again now were fantastic at the time. The Dreenoi were particularly good and have been seen on a few websites over the years.
Flames of War
As a game system this isn't the best
but battlefront figures are really nice. This was another system that
pushed me into 15mm gaming in a big way. Some of the terrain I use
now was designed for the random terrain system for FOW and the books
have had a big impact on my terrain building. . Not a game I really
play any more and some figures I should get around to selling some
day but fond memories and a good motivator to getting things done. I
am a little bit disappointed with Battlefront who seem to be making
the same decisions that workshop was making twenty years ago.
Some honourable mentions
Force and Force and Tomorrow's War is
what is driving me at the moment again in 15mm. Nice simple realistic
rules that can be used for a variety of combat environments. This is
what is driving me at the moment. If this question was being asked in
about two years I would guess that it would be closer to the top of
the list. Savage Worlds is another RPG but one that lends itself to
tabletop gaming and having forces of figures rather than just
characters. Nicely generic and easily enough to pick up. 7TV is a
game I have recently picked up along with 7ombie. This is a game
which is as much about putting on a good show as the rules and the
figures. Laserburn is another game from back in the day. It inspired
me in tabletop role playing in a skirmishing kind of way and very
much a forerunner of 40k.
Thanks for the Shout-Out but credit where credits due, this idea started over at the Frontline Gamer Blog and has been picked up by several people.
ReplyDeleteInteresting selection of games and just goes to show that one man's meat is another man's gravey! I never played Tunnels and Trolls for instance but that's probably because I never saw it on sale. Traveller has always intrigued me but it didn't inspire my friends so we never played it as a group.
Good list and some great games though.
Cheers Lee
ReplyDeleteI am not sure I would recommend Tinnels & Trolls anymore than I would D&D. The meme is a nice idea tho. Thanks for the idea