Battlespace by Table Salt Games

[josta59]

Somehow I missed it when a solo miniatures game with a card-based system and great AI rules came out a few years ago and got really popular. Talkin' about Battlespace. I finally heard about it this week because a new version came out, which is 4-5x the cost of the original. I'm mostly interested in the game mechanics and cards, so I got the original at Wargame Vault.




It's made for the fire team level because each individual operative has its own stats, details, and gear, like a role-playing game. I haven't played it yet and am already thinking about how to turn it into a quick platoon-based game by giving most soldiers the same stats and gear.

I didn't like the cards so I wrote my own on index cards. And I condensed the rules into eight pages that I printed on four sheets. Simplify!

Ok, I have everything set up, and it's time to try this baby out.

[Whiterook]

Dec 21, 2023 20:37:22 GMT -5 josta59 said:

Somehow I missed it when a solo miniatures game with a card-based system and great AI rules came out a few years ago and got really popular. Talkin' about Battlespace. I finally heard about it this week because a new version came out, which is 4-5x the cost of the original. I'm mostly interested in the game mechanics and cards, so I got the original at Wargame Vault.




It's made for the fire team level because each individual operative has its own stats, details, and gear, like a role-playing game. I haven't played it yet and am already thinking about how to turn it into a quick platoon-based game by giving most soldiers the same stats and gear.

I didn't like the cards so I wrote my own on index cards. And I condensed the rules into eight pages that I printed on four sheets. Simplify!

Ok, I have everything set up, and it's time to try this baby out.

Ooooooh, I’ve never heard of this one, either! I was curious, so I popped over to check it out! (found here). It certainly is intriguing, and for $9 (down from $12), a good deal, even if you have to print/assemble your own cards up. I’ll probably pick it up, too.

[Whiterook]

Additional cards (such as gear) can be downloaded here

[josta59]

I haven't enjoyed it, and I'm surprised so many people do. The AI needs a lot of work. I played two games and they both culminated in a huge melee involving every model on the table, so it became a pure dice game. The hand to hand combat rules are terrible, and the AI system is set up so the enemies will inevitably end up in melee with the player's soldiers. How this was designed so badly and yet is so well liked, I don't understand.

I also didn't like that elite soldiers can easily miss at point-blank range with a machine gun because I didn't roll 9 or higher with a d20. That makes no sense.

It does have some interesting tools that I incorporated in a game of Quik Frik (my own rules) today, and that was fun. From Battlespace I kept the sitrep and enemy cards, as well as the maneuver card. I like those.

[Whiterook]

Dec 26, 2023 18:55:58 GMT -5 josta59 said:

I haven't enjoyed it, and I'm surprised so many people do. The AI needs a lot of work. I played two games and they both culminated in a huge melee involving every model on the table, so it became a pure dice game. The hand to hand combat rules are terrible, and the AI system is set up so the enemies will inevitably end up in melee with the player's soldiers. How this was designed so badly and yet is so well liked, I don't understand.

I also didn't like that elite soldiers can easily miss at point-blank range with a machine gun because I didn't roll 9 or higher with a d20. That makes no sense.

It does have some interesting tools that I incorporated in a game of Quik Frik (my own rules) today, and that was fun. From Battlespace I kept the sitrep and enemy cards, as well as the maneuver card. I like those.

Have you ever looked at Battlefoeld Evolution? It’s on a massive sale at WargamersVault right no, though Jan 2nd. See here …I own the hard copy and it’s very versatile beyond the BE minis, which I also have some that I use in my Stargate SG1 gaming.

[Whiterook]

Just saw a couple updates on this game…

There’s a fan made Vietnam War variant available on the Battlespace Facebook Group… it’s a private group which I joined this morning, and once admitted, I’ll be able to check it out in the groups’ files



Also, it looks like Modiphius will be making a hardcopy game sometime in early 2024, which is on preorder for just north of $45, found here.

      

Still considering a purchase… the Vietnam variant really swung my vote more towards a purchase.

[josta59]

Dec 26, 2023 20:31:21 GMT -5 Whiterook said:

Dec 26, 2023 18:55:58 GMT -5 josta59 said:

I haven't enjoyed it, and I'm surprised so many people do. The AI needs a lot of work. I played two games and they both culminated in a huge melee involving every model on the table, so it became a pure dice game. The hand to hand combat rules are terrible, and the AI system is set up so the enemies will inevitably end up in melee with the player's soldiers. How this was designed so badly and yet is so well liked, I don't understand.

I also didn't like that elite soldiers can easily miss at point-blank range with a machine gun because I didn't roll 9 or higher with a d20. That makes no sense.

It does have some interesting tools that I incorporated in a game of Quik Frik (my own rules) today, and that was fun. From Battlespace I kept the sitrep and enemy cards, as well as the maneuver card. I like those.

Have you ever looked at Battlefoeld Evolution? It’s on a massive sale at WargamersVault right no, though Jan 2nd. See here …I own the hard copy and it’s very versatile beyond the BE minis, which I also have some that I use in my Stargate SG1 gaming.

I've known about Battlefield Evolution for a decade or so, but I never tried it. For one, now I'm really focused on solid solo gaming with a good AI, which was why I had to check out Battlespace. For two, armor-focused games just don't seem realistic as tabletop games unless your table is the size of a bedroom or you're using micro-armor. And I'm more interested in infantry games anyway. But thanks for the reminder that it's out there!