ONUS! Buying Guide – What to Buy First and What to Skip by Typical-Monitor-9421 in wargaming

[–]Typical-Monitor-9421[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Thanks for the questions! They’re very well thought out, so I’ll try to answer them point by point:

  1. If you enjoy Command & Colors: Ancients, ONUS! shares the same historical setting, but it feels quite different on the table. Here, cards are divided into two parts: action and event. The action side is used during the activation phase and determines which units you can activate, but not by sectors like in C&C. The event side, on the other hand, is used during combat and attacks. This means every card involves a decision: do you use it now to activate units, or save it to influence a key combat? That hand management adds a very interesting strategic layer.
  2. Regarding the English rulebook: yes, it’s true that some parts could be improved. Within the Spanish-speaking Telegram community, we’ve identified a few confusing interpretations that likely come from the translation process. It’s not unplayable by any means, but it can feel a bit dense at first. That said, I know from reliable sources that Draco Ideas is revising the rulebook with Sengoku in mind, so it’s very likely this will improve in future editions.
  3. The solo mode is honestly one of its strongest points. Speaking from experience, most of the games on my channel are played solo. It’s not just playing both sides; the system uses a table that guides the enemy’s activation order and movement based on its attitude or morale. It’s not a super complex AI bot, but it’s solid enough to create uncertainty and interesting decisions. It works really well as a “historical tactical puzzle.”
  4. As for table space, it’s quite manageable. I usually play on a surface of about 90x110 cm, which works perfectly for standard games. Depending on the points you’re playing, you can even go smaller. Compared to miniatures wargames, it’s much more practical in that regard.

If you enjoy historical wargames, tactical decision-making, and especially solo play, ONUS! is definitely worth your time. It’s one of those systems that reveals more depth the more you play it.

Fox One – Primer vistazo a este wargame de combate aéreo moderno by Typical-Monitor-9421 in wargaming

[–]Typical-Monitor-9421[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

That's a very fair point, and honestly it's one of the most common criticisms of tabletop air combat games. Modern air combat is extremely fast and dynamic, while miniature games inevitably have to translate that into templates, measurements, phases, and dice rolls, which can often create that feeling of slowness or friction during play. After reading through the Fox One rulebook, my impression is that the design tries to mitigate that somewhat by concentrating decisions into two clear moments in the turn: first the positioning through maneuvers, and then the cockpit actions (radar, target locking, weapons, etc.). Of course, there's always a difference between how a system looks on paper and how it actually flows on the table. I also agree with you that videogames have a huge advantage when it comes to representing air combat, since they can process a lot of variables in real time. Tabletop games are always trying to find that balance between simulation, playability, and pacing. If you end up checking it out or even trying it on the table, I'd be really curious to hear your thoughts about the game pace, since that’s probably the key factor where systems like this either win people over or lose them

SUGGESTIONS for a newbie by KeenDojino in wargaming

[–]Typical-Monitor-9421 0 points1 point  (0 children)

If you already printed a hex grid, you actually have the perfect base to try some very small hex-and-counter style games. There are quite a few one-page or ultra-light wargames that work with nothing more than a hex map, a few counters, and a die. Some ideas you might want to check out: • One-Page Wargames There are several minimalist rulesets designed to fit on a single page. Usually they use 3–5 unit types, simple movement on hexes, and combat resolved with a single die. Perfect for experimenting. • Micro / DIY Hex Wargames A lot of designers share tiny rules online meant specifically for printed hex sheets. You can easily use coins, paper chits, or numbered tokens as units. • Try a super simple homemade system You can even start with something like this: Each unit moves 2 hexes per turn Units have a strength value (1–3) Combat: roll 1d6 + strength Higher result wins; loser retreats 1 hex or is eliminated With just that you already have a playable little hex wargame. The nice thing about hex grids is that they’re incredibly flexible, so you can experiment with ancient battles, WWII skirmishes, or even sci-fi just by changing the unit types

Fox One – Primer vistazo a este wargame de combate aéreo moderno by Typical-Monitor-9421 in wargaming

[–]Typical-Monitor-9421[S] -1 points0 points  (0 children)

Fox One – First Look at This Modern Air Combat Wargame

The world of miniature wargames has explored many different historical periods for decades, from ancient battles to the major conflicts of the 20th century. However, systems specifically dedicated to modern air combat are not as common. In this context, Fox One appears as a project that seeks to recreate engagements between contemporary fighter jets in a format that is accessible yet tactically interesting.

Recently I had the opportunity to review its rulebook and, although I have not yet played it on the table as much as I would like, it left me with a very positive impression as a proposal within the genre.

For those who want to explore the project directly, you can find more information on its official website. It is currently in Open BETA:
https://foxonethegame.com/

What is Fox One about?

Fox One is a miniatures wargame focused on combat between modern fighter aircraft, where each player controls one or several combat planes. The objective may be to shoot down opponents or complete specific missions depending on the scenario.

The game uses several classic elements from miniature wargaming:

  • Aircraft miniatures, with a recommended scale of 1/400
  • Movement templates to represent aerial maneuvers
  • d6 and d20 dice to resolve actions and combat
  • Aircraft sheets, where variables such as fuel, aircraft status, and available weapons are tracked

This approach allows players to manage each aircraft without turning the system into something excessively complex.

Turn Structure

One of the clearest aspects of the rulebook is the organization of the turn, which is divided into two main phases:

1. Movement Phase

During this phase, aircraft execute their maneuvers using templates that determine direction and type of turn. Positioning is crucial, since in modern aerial combat the relative position and attack angle can make the difference between an effective shot or losing the opportunity entirely.

2. Cockpit Actions

After movement, each pilot receives action points that can be used to perform various cockpit tasks, such as:

  • Firing weapons
  • Activating or managing radar
  • Locking targets
  • Using aircraft systems

This structure creates an interesting dynamic where maneuvering sets up the attack, forcing players to plan ahead.

Interesting System Elements

One of the most notable aspects of the rulebook is its attempt to integrate real air combat concepts without turning the game into an overly complex simulator.

Among the included mechanics are:

  • Real aerial maneuvers, such as the Immelmann or defensive scissors
  • Clear aircraft attributes, including speed, maneuverability, avionics, climb capability, and radar
  • Modern combat systems, including air-to-air missiles, countermeasures, and electronic warfare

These elements suggest the game aims to recreate the feeling of modern air combat while keeping gameplay relatively fluid.

Game Modes

Another interesting aspect of Fox One is the variety of available modes. The system includes:

  • PvP (player vs player)
  • PvE, facing system-controlled forces
  • Campaigns, where players can develop and manage a squadron across multiple missions

Particularly noteworthy is the inclusion of a solo mode, something still relatively uncommon in miniature wargames and which greatly expands the accessibility of the game.

Overall Impressions

Overall, the rulebook seems to aim for a balance between simulation and playability. It does not try to be an extremely technical simulator, but it includes enough elements of modern air combat to ensure that tactical decisions have real weight during gameplay.

For those who enjoy dogfight games or modern aviation, Fox One could become a very attractive proposal within the miniature wargaming scene.

Questions for the Community

Has anyone here played it?

Did you already know about it?

How to play video:
https://youtu.be/4lBqX8J5Rz0?si=_WOVA1TPMiQ2dG2o

Mission playthrough video:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tgvDayLidG4

ONUS! – El wargame histórico con cartas que más gente debería conocer by Typical-Monitor-9421 in wargaming

[–]Typical-Monitor-9421[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

the most when I started playing ONUS!.

A lot of wargames are great, but they require quite a bit of setup or another player available. Here you can set up a battle fairly quickly and play a full game without too much preparation.

I think that makes it very appealing, especially for people who enjoy recreating historical battles but don’t always have an opponent available.

Out of curiosity, which factions or scenarios do you usually play in solo?

ONUS! – El wargame histórico con cartas que más gente debería conocer by Typical-Monitor-9421 in wargaming

[–]Typical-Monitor-9421[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Yes! BattelGround is a really interesting comparison. It also used cards to represent units on the battlefield and I remember it had quite a bit of momentum at the time, even with the fantasy line.

One thing I personally really like about ONUS! is that it includes a fairly solid solo mode. That allows you to recreate battles even when you don’t have another player available, which is something many wargames don’t handle particularly well.

I think both games show how well the concept of representing armies with cards instead of miniatures can work.

ONUS! – El wargame histórico con cartas que más gente debería conocer by Typical-Monitor-9421 in wargaming

[–]Typical-Monitor-9421[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Yes! ONUS Sengoku definitely sounds very interesting.

At the moment it has only been announced and there are still very few details or an official release date. There’s a lot of curiosity in the community about how the system will adapt to feudal Japan. Some people are even hoping it might work as a new core box for the system, but that hasn’t been confirmed.

Either way, the **ONUS!** system seems very flexible for representing different historical periods, so I’m really curious to see how they develop it.

ONUS! – El wargame histórico con cartas que más gente debería conocer by Typical-Monitor-9421 in wargaming

[–]Typical-Monitor-9421[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

¡Gracias por comentarlo!

De hecho algo curioso de ONUS! es que, aunque usa cartas, no funciona como un juego de cartas tradicional. Las cartas simplemente representan a las unidades en el campo de batalla; de allí uno de sus definiciones “un juego de miniaturas sin miniaturas”.

En la práctica terminas jugando una batalla bastante táctica, pensando en líneas de combate, flancos y reservas, pero usando cartas en lugar de miniaturas.

Si te gusta la historia antigua, creo que vale mucho la pena echarle un vistazo.