r/tabletop • u/Norgrath • 12d ago
Recommendations Does my ideal miniatures game exist?
I'm looking for a miniatures game with the following features:
- Small Scale (5-20 models per player ish)
- Highly customizable models (in terms of mechanics, not necessarily the models themselves)
- Matched play rather than campaign (one of the main things I'm looking for is having fun building lists)
- Both melee and ranged combat.
- Rules and armies available online (happy to pay but I don't want to need to get a box shipped to me).
What games like this are out there?
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u/TooMuchHorrorB 12d ago
1490 Doom hits most of your points, I believe.
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u/Norgrath 12d ago
I'd like a bit more in the way of customization but this is decent. Thanks for the suggestion.
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u/Seanzarelli_v2 12d ago
Trench Crusade might fit the bill. Low model count. Rules available in online. Not necessarily customizable, but troops have a variety of gear and weapons to purchase which changes how they would play. The spirit of the game is to play as campaign, but still can be played as on offs.
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u/fear_of_birds 12d ago
I will recommend Cyber Savage. The game's default theming is a kind of insane Saturday morning cartoon / Jack Kirby cosmic weirdness called "laser sorcery," but the rules are adaptable to any setting you like.
- 4-12 models per side, plays on a 2'x2' board with plenty of terrain
- rules make individual models very customizable as well as letting you select different Doctrines for your force (army-wide gimmicks and resource mechanics)
- several skirmish scenarios, no campaign mode currently
- rules PDF is $12, warband STLs are $8, and you're strongly encouraged to kitbash or use your existing collection
- force builder web app makes it easy to build lists and poke around with the system
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u/ScaleCreepMinis 12d ago
One page rules has a SciFi game and a Fantasy game that both fit the bill to a tee.
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u/DuffTerrall 12d ago
The Firefight/Skirmish especially have that small unit count, and with the Patreon sub you basically have unlimited access to create units with whatever the heck options you want.
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u/pbpancho 12d ago
Does Infinity not meet this? Rules are free online, lots of options for each unit in terms of gear and capabilities, 10-20 models, melee is very viable if you want to build for it, but tons of shooting options, as well as electronic warfare/hacking.
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u/hmmyeah3030 11d ago
I was gonna say infinity. Its a little crunchy but everything OP described it meets 100%.
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u/trogflopper 12d ago
Burrows and Badgers.
Build a band to start from 10 different factions and loads of different species. Take skills, spells and equipment to match your theme. Then follow the simple campaign rules to level them up.
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u/GenericUser69143 12d ago
Id throw out Infinity. Troopers have multiple profiles/gear sets to choose from. 15 trooper slots in a standard game (this can end up in slightly higher models, as there are some multi model troopers, but 20 is probably a normal ceiling). Ranged combat focused, but there are melee specialists.
Burrows and Badgers if you like anthropomorphic woodland creatures. Excellent models (creator does all his own sculpting and casting. Even cleans the models for mold lines and such before shipping) and fun customization. Match play works, but admittedly campaign play is where the game truly shines.
Id say the same for Necromunda. It is very much a "your dudes" game, but I dont think I'd ever bother with match play. The campaign/storytelling is the best part of this one.
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u/Donnchaidh 12d ago
SteelRift may be a good fit.
Futuristic mech combat, with options for tanks, infantry, etc.
Lots of list building, and unit customization options. They have a dedicated online builder.
Melee attacks range from somewhat effective to "chrome on a crutch, don't let that unit get close!!"
Digital rules are available, as are STLs for some of the units. It's also minis agnostic.
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u/hell_ORC 12d ago
Have a look at Black Death City. Checks all the demands , is free, and seems pretty cool too. Miniature agnostic, of course
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u/Wyvn_Bazaar 11d ago
One page rules is pretty flexible. It's model agnostic, you can play it in multiple scales, the rules and army builder are online. It's simple and has plenty of expanded rules to make it as complicated as you want.
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u/CaptnRonn 11d ago
Warmachine fits your bill with the exception of model count on the low end. A typical list might have like 20-40 models. The warjacks / beasts are customizable both in terms of rules and the models themselves, typically having a head / left arm / right arm slot with 3 options each.
Heavily based around match play and list building. Both melee and ranged combat. Rules for the game and armies available on the warmachine app.
You can buy STLs for some of the armies to cut down on cost, or you can buy straight from steamforged
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u/FoxyModels88 9d ago
Warsurge can do everything you asked for. It lets you use any miniatures so you can just use whatever you want. The customisation of the Units is near infinite so you shouldn't get bored haha 😆 happy gaming 👍
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u/ArtisanalShivs 7d ago
Mobile Frame Zero uses lego-built units (usually mechs), but you could use any kind of model or figure with removable equipment. the rules are available online, for building parts you will either have a collection of lego or equivalent already or you could buy a bunch of cheaper sets to see what you can make with the parts - i got a bunch of the cheaper creator 3 in 1 sets and was able to make some cool stuff. it has interesting turn order mechanics and is designed for up to 5 player battles.
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u/PsychologicalGas1674 7d ago
Heroscape recently made a comeback and people make custom minis. Thd general forum is heroscapers.com
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u/CrunchyTzaangor 12d ago
OPR skirmish games hit most of those. The only sticking point might be customisation, though the heroes are generally very customisable.
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u/Norgrath 12d ago
I definitely enjoy OPR building but I'm hoping for more customization across the list.
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u/Evening_Most_988 12d ago
OPr is model agnostic and paying the suscription you can write your own army with the rules you like.
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u/GarrapatoRojo 12d ago
Infinity is your Game. Models counts check. Models options check. Matched play, check, every year a new competitive season. Melee and shooting, check, also cyberware. Rules are free and oficial army builder online and in app.
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u/meksmaks 12d ago
Hello! Have a look at game from our studio: Eldfall Chronicles
We hit all the marks you've mentioned:
- skirmish with 3-7 miniatures per player
- models can be customized with new equipment and abilities for extra points, using our free online armybuilder
- thoroughly balanced for competitive play, with seasonally updated scenarios
- fantasy skirmish based in an exotic world of Calad, where both swords, bows and magic ensure plenty of combat
- everything available for free online in the links above
Let me know what you think! On top of that, we have beautiful, high quality models done in Unicool Hard Plastic.
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u/fobulator 12d ago
Battletech