Galactic Scuffles with Fantastic Scuffles

For the last wargaming night of the year, Andrew and I caught up for a chat and a pint, talked through the immediate project for 2026, and played a sci-fi game of Fantastic Scuffles with weapons and traits sub'd out for guns etc for a laugh. Anyone familiar with Fantastic Scuffles will hopefully be able to see the basic parallels and this may well be something that is made an official free download in future. 

Three characters and two fireteams of the Flores Minor Ranger Corps (halflings in space) went up against six characters from a zealous band of witch hunters (space witch hunters!). 

The FMRC were led by Skipper, a 'tactical', supported by the 'recon' Sarge, and 'pychic', Psych. The two fireteams were identical (Alpha and Bravo), each containing four cannon fodder, one with assault pistol and grenades, two shotguns, and one heavy machine gun.

The imaginatively named witch hunters were led by a tactical, Lady Mace, supported by three other tacticals: Heavy Bolter, Chainsaw Guy, and Flamer. They also had a psychic, Savant, and recon, Cherub-with-Spear.

The table consisted of some trees and overgrown ruined buildings. Forgoing objectives, we just deployed in corners and started rolling dice! 

The swift moving Cherub started the encounter by launching himself across the killing zone to stab Sarge pretty viciously, causing three wounds before a shot was fired. In response, Fireteam Bravo stumbled through the trees to unleash an ineffective torrent of hot lead in his direction, before Skipper stepped in with his combined powered sword and augmented gauntlet to actually cause some damage.  

While most of the FMRC were thus distracted by the flying baby with a stick, Chainsaw Guy and Flamer advanced more cautiously into the middle of the table. Chainsaw Guy took a heavy beating from Fireteam Alpha's heavy machine gunner, but then Lady Mace called down and orbital barrage killing both shotgun-armed halflings in the fireteam. 

The explosion of halflings caused the heavy gunner of Fireteam Alpha to make a run for it, which was just as well as his fellow team mates were then engulfed in flames thrown out by Flamer's flamethrower.

Things were looking grim for the wee rangers, until a grenade and some cannon fodder shooting wounded Flamer, weakening his resolve and allowing Psych, the halfling psychic to get into his mind. Exerting her will, she was able to convince him to turn his flamethrower on his own friends, killing Chainsaw Guy outright.

Between Heavy Bolter's heavy machinegun fire and psychic bolts flung out by Savant, the FMRC were falling like tiny space flies. But then Flamer was finally gunned down and as Lady Mace advanced to bring some melee pain, she was met by Skipper who parried her attack and gave her an augmented uppercut. 

The zealots were now down to just two characters - Heavy Bolter and Savant. Making use of the cover and her own small size, Psych snuck up to within range of Heavy Bolter, getting into his head and causing him to take a Resolve test in sudden fear. As he ran from the table, Savant decided that he liked his limbs where they were and gracefully departed the table, leaving victory to the Flores Minor Rangers.

A bit of a chaotic game, but such a great laugh!

Wishing everyone a fun-filled 2026!