Battlespeed is a French miniatures game, complete with paper figures, rules buildings and dice. You can get the demo version for free.
BattleSpeed is a miniature game with fighting taking place in a world where wars have become reality show.
Holographic television channels show live the battles in which oppose all species of the universe. Among these tele-reality “BattleSpeed” Carnage on holochaîne Network, is regarded by most addicts holovision: holo-adds.
In the game, you’re a head of unit and head unit combatants. When you play a game of BattleSpeed, you participate in a “bonus” of this issue. Carnage Network transmits your battle in the entire universe. Beyond political reasons ... Only account your victory. From it depends on the celebrity of your unit, allowing you to recruit new candidates for suicide.
Win! And ye shall know the glory. Lose! And your unit will sink into oblivion.
Mega Minis has released the previously commercial Star Mogul Salvage Crew as a set of free wargames rules.
From their announcement:
You are the owner or star mogul of a newly formed salvage crew. Fifty years ago a pathogen annihilated most of the colonies of the outer rim. Those whom are brave enough to stake their salvage claims to this lost or abandoned property could make a fortune. All you have to do is grab the salvage and stave off other salvage crews with force if necessary.
This game includes 56 pages of basic rules and 29 pages of other material including the following.
25mm and 15mm ranges in inches for firing and movement.
2D paper miniatures of a basic starter Salvage Crew (Team Yellow and Team Blue).
2D drop zone and debris salvage templates.
3D wooden crates for use as scenery
Six sided die results
Starter Salvage Crew Rosters and examples of how they are created.
Background material on the universe, weapons, and equipment.
We will begin introducing more free rules, examples of game mechanics, encounters, and general mayhem starting in May of 2011.
These aren't exactly free wargames rules, but if you already own a set of Warhammer 40K, this is worth checking out. Jervis Johnson has provided this page of colonial amendments to Warhammer 40K. These also would be a good way to introduce fantasy and science fiction wargamers to historical miniatures games.
Warhammer Colonials!
Gut Check is a set of free wargames rules for 15mm science fiction battles. What makes it unique, I think, is that it’s designed from the start for solo play. The author lists its features:
Designed from the ground up for solo play
Fast playing and zero bookkeeping
Uses normal 6 sided dice (Usually rolled no more than 2 at a time)
Uses activation rolls modified by battlefield conditions for turn sequence
Seamless Over watch and suppression effects built into system
Use any miniatures
Played on a Hex grid for convenience, but could be played with little fuss on a standard table
Miniature Wargaming is part of the "adventure games" hobby, which includes r ole p laying and board games. Wargamers recreate battles on the tabletop with toy soldiers, like a more complicated game of chess. Models range in height from 6mm to 28mm tall, with 15mm and 25mm being the most popular. There also is a growing interest in toy soldiers and military models, such as the 1/32 and 1/35 scale plastic soldiers from Conte, and Marx.
The most popular miniature wargames are fantasy and science fiction based, such as Warhammer, Warhammer 40K, Warmachine and The Lord of the Rings. World War II games such as Flames of War and Axis and Allies are new favorites. Other favorite historical periods include Napoleonics, the American Civil War, and ancients, such as Romans or Greeks. Other gamers enjoy miniature naval wargames, recreating battles like Trafalgar, Jutland and the Coral Sea.
Hobbyists research historical periods and paint their tiny soldiers in accurate uniforms. Others develop "historically realistic" rules sets or build scale battlefield terrain using model railroad techniques.
For pictures, visit the gallery.
Some of the bigger hobby companies are Games Workshop, which produces Warhammer, Wargames Foundry and Old Glory Miniatures. Wizards of the Coast produces several lines of pre-painted miniatures games, such as the Star Wars and Dungeons and Dragons miniatures games, and a historical game with pre-painted miniatures: The new Axis and Allies game. Wizkids produces a fantasy collectable miniatures game, such as the Mage Knight and Heroclick fantasy games, the science fiction games MechWarrior and Rocketmen, as well as the quasi-historical Pirates of the Spanish Main.
