We had another two games of modern F.U.B.A.R. to get more used to the rules. I have to say that while a one page rules has significant limitations the more we play F.U.B.A.R. the more we enjoy the surprising amount of subtleties within the rules.

These rules work best with dense but realistic terrain. For the evenings games we set up terrain to depict fighting in the “green zone” with crops and irrigation ditches everywhere.

The first game was between a British Type 2 Fire Team of four men and two Tier 3 “Green” Insurgent units of six men each. Out numbered three to one the British ability to activate and hit what it was shooting at proved decisive. The ability to P.I.D. (positively identify targets) when the Hawke 3 drone was in the air enhanced the ability for the British to hit targets at long range and avoid close combat.

For the second game we added another Insurgent Tier 3 unit to try and even things up a little bit. Again the British were able to pick-off the “odd” Insurgent at long distance, and  this ability to reduce combat effectiveness before the enemy came close proved the difference in the end.

The game was a “near-run-thing” with Dave K’s inability to roll sixes in close combat being the only reason why the British were not overrun.

With the British being surrounded in the grove things were not looking good!!!

With some good luck holding off the Insurgent close assaults, the use of grenades, and a risky final charge into the enemy, the two remaining insurgents were sent running for the hills.

What we liked about the rules was the way they depicted the ability of a small group of modern well trained regulars to out maneuver, out shoot and out fight far greater numbers of green militia in a “stand-up” fight.

 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.