I have been looking for a set of fun miniatures rules to use my old 25mm West End Games Star Wars miniatures with.
The F.U.B.A.R. set of rules looked promising, with their Unit and Hero cards making it even more attractive. The way they incorporate “The Force” into their mainstream rules was excellent and very simple.
The full set of F.U.B.A.R.rules can be found on their website at:
https://fubarwargames.wordpress.com/
If you are not familiar with the term “F.U.B.A.R.”, I suggest you google “Military Slang Terms” for an explanation, or try:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_military_slang_terms
I was hoping to have the Star Wars figures and “Hoth” terrain ready for the next game at my place, but when one little pig “went to market” this happened a week earlier than expected. Not to be deterred I quickly swapped from the Star Wars variant to the F.U.B.A.R. Afghanistan version as this would allow Dave K and I to get a feel for the general game mechanics.
We had two great games, the first between two sections of British SAS and a heap of Tier 3 Afghans. The game lived up to its name with the SAS failing three times to activate (three consecutive ones on a D6in a row) – a real F.U.B.A.R. moment!!! Despite the slow start the ability to activate, the additional fire power, and a sniper made quick work of their enthusiastic but inflexible enemy.
The first scenario we played was “UAV Down” where both sides were trying to recover pieces of a wreaked UAV that was carrying “Hellfire” missiles. Both sides recovered one piece of wreckage but unfortunately the concentrated SAS firepower destroyed all of the Afghan units.
The rules played well and we particularly liked how the accumulation of suppression points made a unit harder to activate. You were often on the horns of a dilemma – do I take a casualty or a suppression point?
The second game was just an old fashioned “shoot-em-up” with both sides using seasoned troops. Learning from the first game that the Afghans could not stand toe to toe in a fire fight, Dave K. moved quickly into close combat.
With a man down, three suppression and fighting in the open these British were going to be in trouble.
Holding on grimly they were supported by the second squad attacking from the rear. In the end only British were left standing, but the casualty points made for a decisive Afghan victory.
All in all a good set of rules which I think will do well for my Star Wars games. For modern gaming I will stick with the “Too Fat Lardies” Chain of Command rules.
I look forward to posting in the next few weeks about how Darth Vader destroys the Rebel Heroes and the alliance before the rebellion gets started.
Thanks for the battle report. I’ve never really “got” the FUBAR rules, so I’m glad you had a good time. For me, I like a set of rules from the Songs of … series called Flying Lead for a not too complex modern rule set.
Hi Dave,
Nice to hear from you again. Just downloaded the “Flying Lead” rules. I will have a read over the next few days. I chose the FUBAR rules for Star wars because of their one page rules which fitted the style of gaming I was after for the genre.
Normally we use “Too Fat Lardies” Chain of Command rules. There modern supplement “Fighting Season” is coming out later this year.
Be interesting to hear what you make of them – perhaps all I need for FUBAR is to play, not just a read-through. 🙂
Dave,
Another FUBAR battle report out. I am liking these rules more. There were a few things we missed during our first play, which when used made for a smoother game. Whilst they will not replace fighting season as my preferred option, if you do not have time for a 3 hour game or, like us, playing mid-week after a day at work, FUBAR do not create a “brain freeze” and still provide a good game. Ideal for a small patrol game or a “rescue the heroine” type game. We have agreed to try some scenario specific games over the next few weeks.
David