What's hot?

[Dungeon Lord]

I have finally gotten in a position to buy into a new system or maybe a board game... I won't starting an "army" with lots of minis. But a squad/skirmish/fleet system would be doable.

So my question to you gents is, "What's hot? What are people getting into now?" Obviously, I don't want to start something and only get to use it once or twice.

[job]

My observations (Nagoya-based) are:

40k is back in Nagoya and strong.

Fantasy will be very popular again in a month or so.

If the league gets off, Blood Bowl will be very popular on Friday's here. (There are quiet a few new players along with the old hands.)

Cutlass still seems to hum with continuing interest.

Flames of War is played predominantly by MtP and I. Ashmie, Voss and ToD have a strong interest in the game, too, but are busier then the former.

Black Powder has a solid group of players who are interested, but most of the armies are under training.

Warmahordes is popularly followed by many but is played less often then say 40k or Fantasy.

I think MtP and Prim will probably give you a pitch for Maliflaux. I think there are a few more players playing this game.

Jus and Konrad are trying to start interest in Mordheim.

Strange Aeons has its proponents.

There is also a fleet game Prim and Enniu have been trying to start up. (Dystopian Wars.)

Dust tactics is a fun squad game, but currently Prim is the only guy with a collection.

My 2 yen is go with what sparks your interest. If you want a skirmish level game with opponents, I think Cutlass and BB will be the most popular. Maliflaux is an interesting system. Warmahordes might be the most popular of the above, but it is a bit bigger then a "skirmish" game in most cases.

[Primarch]

Blood bowl, Mordheim and Necromunda I am sure you are familiar with.
Strange Aeons is played by Konrad and Ennui (though Ennui is leaving Japan soon to my knowledge).
Dystopian Wars is played by me and Ennui, but I wasnt that sold on the system.
Uncharted Seas is played by myself and Spevna and it is really simple and easy to play.
Warmachine/Hordes has a big following in the Japanese community and MiJ, Tod, Underdweller and Voss all play it. Danguinius is also running a mini tournament at NagoyaHammer this year.
Malifaux is played by myself, kojibear, Mike, Tod, and MiJ
Black Powder is cheap but requires 100 models to start with, probably not the best choice.
Dust Tactics you've played, but only I currently have models.
Flames of War requires hundreds of tiny models and is played by Job, Mike, Tod, Ash and Voss. I have an army but I am not sold on the game.
Cutlass is played by myself, job, tod, Underdweller, Badruck, kojibear, Mike and Kondo san.

I guess a lot depends on what you are interested in and the amount of work you want to put into it. There are loads of games to choose from with varying degrees of interest from everyone.

[me_in_japan]

I'll throw my vote in for Warmahordes or Malifaux. The latter requires fewer minis, but the former is better supported locally, and is (IMHO) a better game.

[Admiral-Badruck]

From what I know of you Dlord. There are a few games that I would suggest.

First and foremost: Ctulass it is heaps of fun. The rules are easy to understand. There is progression and (most importantly ) it is pirates. Guns, blades and loot. I am really keen to play it. Perhaps when you come buy we can convince Prim to come over and demo it. The rules a much better than those of the GW equivalents. Crazy dice rolling can reall add a feeling of story telling.

Another fun game the is for only the mature gamer is Black Powder. The only trouble is... It's not really a skirmish game. But I got into it for less than ¥7000 there are a lot of models to paint. I can't wait to play a whole game of it with the French; using my best French accent to give orders should be as annoying as my Orkish slurs in a game of 40k.

Looks like plenty of folks like the warmahords I adore some of the models and I abhor others biggest problem is the whole game is built for power gaming and the brb even supports power gaming.

I would like to put in a plug for a game that many people love and. Regular old Warhammer FB.
I really like it it takes up less space than my 40k armies and right now there are mor Games of FB being played than everything but 40k. ( this may or may not be accurate ). I know the turn off is lots of models but with some really cool rank filler one need not sell his kids to get in to the game.

[Dungeon Lord]

Thanks for all the suggestions guys. I was thinking something like Malifax due to the different playing system and few models required. I liked uncharted seas when I played, 'cause it had ships and again, a different style.

Not too sure on Cutlass. It was an interesting system too, but seems a little simple and plain unless you had some cool terrain (which Prime does) or scenarios.

[Dungeon Lord]

Those Malifaux gremlins look cool too!

[me_in_japan]

others biggest problem is the whole game is built for power gaming and the brb even supports power gaming.

Sorry, but WHAT?

What game were you playing? Cos in the war machine rule book there's this big bit at the front all about playing fair, not rules lawyering, and generally encouraging people not to power game.

[The Other Dave]

others biggest problem is the whole game is built for power gaming and the brb even supports power gaming.

Sorry, but WHAT?

What game were you playing? Cos in the war machine rule book there's this big bit at the front all about playing fair, not rules lawyering, and generally encouraging people not to power game.

Well... (I know this is tangential, but) it probably depends on what you mean by "power game." It definitely recommends not pulling punches in your list-building or playstyle, and the game is definitely designed and balanced around that philosophy. Different from the issue of sportsmanship, playing fair and rules lawyering (which isn't such a big issue in warmahordes on account of the rules tend to be, y'know, well-written and clear and junk), but there's an up-front stated assumption that everyone will be bringing their A game. Which means making as powerful a list as you can, and using it in as effective a way as you can, which could certainly be called power gaming.

And this can cause a real problem with new players (and I think it's what happened to Badruck when he tried the game out) - if you have someone who knows the game's ins and outs, knows their army's strengths and weaknesses, choosing a powerful force with good synergy and using it well (all of which, again, is explicitly encouraged and expected by the designers), against a stone cold newbie using a starter box, the newbie will get annihilated, and it can be off-putting.

(That said, I recommend the game. It seems to fit DL's criteria - you can play with a small model selection, and you can find a game most anywhere.)

[Dungeon Lord]

others biggest problem is the whole game is built for power gaming and the brb even supports power gaming.

Sorry, but WHAT?

What game were you playing? Cos in the war machine rule book there's this big bit at the front all about playing fair, not rules lawyering, and generally encouraging people not to power game.

Can't say I have much experience in War Machine, but at the end of one game I watched (you were playing that one MIJ) I think it was Ennui who described it as a bit like Magic the Gathering where you work out combos and play to your strengths.

So I don't think the Admiral is at all off the mark. It looks like it is a battle of wits, not a story based system trying to play out a scene. Which isn't bad. It just ain't the Admiral's cup of tea. I suspect The Other Dave is right in his assessment.

When I was a lad, I enjoyed a battle wits and trying to out play my opponent. But nowadays I reckon I would get a bit fed up with the constant "one upping" and pissing contests that brings with it. Again I think War machine would be a fun game against a fun opponent (even if they bring their A game), but crap against someone who is in it to just to try and crush a less experienced player.