I've had a little bit of involvement with the second edition of the 7TV ruleset by
Crooked Dice mainly did a bit of beta testing for it earlier in the year played some solo games and co opted my good friend Pulp Citizen into a couple of games. The most recent one being last Tuesday.
The Beta rules are available free to playtest still though I think an update is due as they are starting to finalize and lock down everything ready to go into production with. The rules themselves are a printer friendly version but include everything you need to play the game with the exception of miniatures and dice :P
Free Beta Rules
The new game engine is more slicker and the characters all have there own playing cards which you can sleeve (mine are obviously printed myself) the cards have all the information you need to use them including the ratings (points cost) of the star or extras. Building up casts for games is a breeze now just pick a ratings total and then pick your cards and numbers.
Theres a lot less statuses now and it makes the game run smoother and faster because of it. Combat is all based on a strike roll vs a target defense stat. Both sides roll a d6 adding the defense then the attacker rolls a d6 adding the strike score and needs to equal or better that target roll to score a hit (or whatever the weapon does).
The game itself has a countdown deck rather than a set number of turns. Each Countdown/Finale card has a random event on sometimes a benefit and sometimes a negative. Typically on a 4x4 table you have 10 Countdown and 5 finale cards randomly selected from a deck. The finale cards at the bottom and the countdown on top. Each player as there turn comes about draws a card or if they choose to selects two cards but this makes the game end quicker.
Gadgets still play a part in the game and each side gets a random selection chosen from the deck at the start of the game. They include pen guns, sleeping gas jet packs to name a few lol!
Players now use plot points this is generated by the total number of models in there cast divided by 2 rounded up and Stars and Co Stars add an extra point per character. These are then used to activate your characters increase numbers of dice rolls add bonuses, use gadgets play events etc. There are new leadership ability's and your extra's can be formed into units so that if there in close proximity you can activate a squad for half the number you would normally need. This is a great mechanic and adds a tactical edge as you deploy and move your casts across the table. You also have a pool that you can build up from turn to turn so saving precious points for when you really need them.
Winners are resolved by victory points for capturing objectives, injuring/removing Stars/Co-Stars from play and victory conditions dictated by the scenario's your playing. Each Scenario also a Directors cut involving a Maguffin counter (story telling device thanks for letting me know what it was Pulp Citizen).
The game we played the other night was around 40 ratings played on a 3x3 (roughly) table with my new industrial terrain.
The Heroic cast and the Attackers in the scenario we played.
Flamboyant Agent
Dependable Deputy
Angel of Justice
Marksmen
Army Soldier Squad with Corporal (5)
Marksman
Army Dog Handler and 2 Attack Dogs
The Villainous cast and the Defenders.
Evil Mastermind
Mad Scientist
Double Agent
Metalnaut
Failed Experiment
Minion Squad with Commander (7)
The scenario we rolled up randomly was 'The Hit' and Pulp Citizen as the Villainous cast chose to defend. As the Defender the Villains gain a VIP extra who they had to defend and I as the Attacker had to take down the VIP.
The game ran quite smoothly and we only had to refer to the book a few times and things were quickly resolved. The game lasted around 2 1/2 hrs and was a bundle of laughs. Final score was 8 victory points to 5. Pulp Citizen's Mad Scientist managed to annihilate my Flamboyant agent and disable and later take out my Angel of Justice (Capture bubble) as well as capturing 3 out of the 5 objectives. There was some great cinematic moments with the mad scientists timely use of a jetpack, climbing suckers and capture bubble gadget cards.
I managed to axe (break) the Villainous cast by shooting all of his minions despite several returning to the table with the Evil Masterminds endless minion star quality. I literally nailed the VIP on the final turn burning through all my spare plot points to boost my soldiers rifle shots netting me some vital victory points in the final turn though that was cut and dry as the Evil Mastermind used a medical kit to negate the first hit!
I need more weird stuff especially for the Heroic Casts I've dug out some scientists and inventors to paint up for them. Expect to see plenty of 7TV Spy Fi themed stuff in the coming months as I have been bitten by the bug at the moment :)
7TV Second Edition is now up for pre order from the
Crooked Dice Webstore its planned release date is early January sooner if possible. At the moment the pre order has a 20% discount on the boxed game as well as upto 50% off some themed starter casts for it which include a number of figures that aren't released as yet but planned for later in 2016.
The Preorder is open until 29th November 2015.
I've got the pre order of the boxed game in and I ordered some extra counters to play bigger games. I can't wait until January as usual from Crooked Dice it will have high production values and the books will be full of awesome photos and fluff.
You get all you need in the starter set, rules, character cards and counters and dice all you need is figures for the theme of your choice :)
The Starter casts that won't be available at this price after the pre order.
Love the Police Sergeant in this set. The 3 Coppers are £9 normally!
Love this whole set I need to find some cash for this one.
Awesome Action hero figure as well as ninjas :D
I can't wait for the release of this set such awesomely cool soldier minis.
Love the mad science cast such a fun one to run on the table as well.
Who doesn't need more minons!!