FUBAR game testing

I have been on the look out for some cool new systems I could try out and play using the miniatures I have in my collection. Thanks to my mate from Poland, who pointed me in the right direction I found this awesome game system. FUBAR is a one page system. Yes, all the rules you need to play are on one page A4. There are obviously some other bits and bobs and you have to download and print a bit more A4 pages than one, but still, the guys managed fit everything into a very compact print. So, yesterday my mate Mike and I tried to play our first game. He used his colonial marines lead by Snake, yes the Snake from Escape from LA, not the Metal Gear Solid one. I used a mixture of Warzone's Bauhaus models and Hasslefree Miniatures.

Before you you start playing the game you need to make sure both of you know what kind of expertise your guys are and what kind of weapons they use. The FUBAR system categorises troops into four different training levels: Green, Seasoned, Veteran and Elite. Depending on the level it is easier to activate and do stuff with them. Also, the more experienced the troop, the more suppressed models they can have, but more on that in a while.

The game itself plays in a way very much different from what you are used to in 40k or even games like Malifaux. It is an alternative activation idea, but with a twist. Basically both players roll to see who goes first, then the player that won chooses a unit to attempt to activate and makes his roll. If successful he activates his unit and then he has got a choice of continuing to activate another unit or let his opponent have a go. This mechanic is really cool and it allows a lucky roller to move all his units at once. Also, it's not without drawbacks; after he moves all of his units his opponent is free to do whatever he wants almost unopposed. What if a player fails to activate his unit? Well, they thought about it too: the unit that failed his activation roll is On Guard, on overwatch if you wish. They can shoot at anything moving in their line of sight.


The gun combat in FUBAR is a bit tiring as almost any unit hits on 6's if you use any covers. We used our troops as Veterans and in the densely covered by buildings board almost all the times our models were in a +2 cover save. This +2 is added to your skill when shooting, to make it harder. Let's say your guys are Veterans, they successfully shoot people on 4+, you add +2 and you only hit them on 6+. It can take a while to kill someone, especially that there is Suppresion that saves your guys from dying most of times. 

All in all it looks like a properly developed system. It is a fourth edition after all. They have got plenty of other systems covered, you can use this system to play even with 15mm miniatures and in eras like WWII and Vietnam, I am big fan of both. I would strongly suggest you go and download the rules and at least have a look at them. I am big fan of skirmish rule systems and I really enjoyed playing this one. Oh, did I mention it's free?

Till later gang!