Halo Flashpoint: The Lowdown with Mantic Games

Written by Rob Burman

Sometimes making the move from board games to miniature wargaming can seem like a daunting prospect. First up you’ve got all those miniatures to build and you might glue your hands to the table. Oh and then you’ve got to dig around in your DIY box for a tape measure… just to move your little plastic characters around. Then there are all those dice and stats to keep track of - insert the gif of the confused woman with mathematical symbols floating round her head. However, Mantic Games is hoping to change all that with its upcoming skirmish game based on the hugely popular Halo video games.

Mantic's Halo Flashpoint

Halo: Flashpoint is a wargame that’s meant to be as easy to pick up and play as possible. After all, Mantic is aiming the game at Halo video game fans, who may have previously only rolled a dice when playing snakes and ladders, alongside those who are ‘wargame curious’ but have been put off by the complexities of other options. With that in mind, Mantic is doing away with a lot of those problems newcomers may have experienced when starting a wargame.

But we’re getting ahead of ourselves a little - let’s give you a little background on Halo: Flashpoint. The game focuses on the classic Red versus Blue multiplayer that has been a staple of the Halo franchise since the original game in 2001. Two players take command of a team of Spartans before duking it out in a series of scenarios inspired by popular multiplayer modes. So you’ve got modes like Slayer (kill everyone), Oddball (hold a skull-shaped objective for as long as possible), Capture the Flag (erm… capture a flag) and others that Mantic has yet to reveal. As a result, video game fans should feel immediately at home, while newcomers will have a range of game styles to ensure they don’t get bored too quickly.

Halo Flashpoint Rules – Deadzone?

When it comes to how the tabletop version plays, Mantic has based the core rules on its fan favourite Deadzone. Since it was first released in 2013, Deadzone has developed a loyal following, thanks to its fast-paced and intuitive rules system… and we think it’s the perfect foundation on which to build Halo. This is mainly due to its innovative cube-based system for movement and weapon ranges.

You see, in both Flashpoint and Deadzone, the 2ft by 2ft playing area is divided into an eight by eight grid of squares, which are then used for measuring movement or when shooting. There’s absolutely no need for tape measures because you simply pick up the miniature and move it into a new cube. Easy! It’s the same for measuring shooting too, you just count the number of cubes to see if you’re in range before wildly blasting away with your assault rifle. If Halo is anything like Deadzone, then this will ensure some super quick turns that mirror the frenetic pace of the video game perfectly and we can’t wait to get some hands-on time with it.

This simplicity carries over into the rules too. Mantic has shared some examples of the stat cards included with Flashpoint and we’re getting more familiar Deadzone vibes. All tests start with a set amount of three dice and then you receive bonuses for being higher than your opponent or if your target is standing out in the open. Once you’ve created your pool of dice, you simply need to roll and aim to score the relevant stat, e.g. a four or more. Each of those counts as a success and then the enemy has to roll against their survive stat to see how many they block. What’s more, just like the video game, all characters also have plasma shields that can absorb damage.

Related article: The first reveals for Halo

Talking of damage, another mechanic that Mantic is bringing over from Deadzone is the idea of exploding results. Flashpoint uses D8s and, if you ever roll an eight, the dice ‘explodes’ and you get to roll another dice. If you score another eight, that dice also explodes and so on until you stop rolling eights. Mantic is calling this the ‘headshot’ mechanic to represent those lucky (or well timed) shots that can change the flow of battle. Again, it’s a cool way to make the tabletop version feel more like the video game.

If Flashpoint is anything like Deadzone, then it will be one of those games where you have to worry less about consulting the rulebook every few minutes and can concentrate more on getting your tactics just right. There even looks to be more depth for veteran wargamers, with the addition of special weapons that can be picked up during a battle and used instead of a standard load out. It will be interesting to see if the full rules include a level of customisation when it comes to building strike teams with custom weapons, rather than just always starting with the same guns. Time will tell!

Halo Flashpoint Miniatures

But, hang on… what if you’re a fan of the video game or board games in general but have never fancied the idea of building lots of fiddly, plastic miniatures? Well, Mantic is dealing with this by only including pre-built PVC miniatures in the box. They’re even pre-coloured in red or blue plastic, so you don’t have to paint them. Meanwhile, to recreate the dynamic battlefields of the far future, Flashpoint comes with printed 3D terrain that can be slotted together to create obstacles or small buildings. Assuming this is as sturdy as more traditional plastic terrain, we can see this becoming a hit among wargamers looking for scenery for other games too. It’s also another method of ensuring the game goes from box to tabletop quickly.

Related article: Painting Mantic Games Miniatures for Deadzone and Warpath

Of course, the success of Halo: Flashpoint will depend on how well this all combines together. From what we’ve seen so far, it certainly appears that Mantic is creating an experience that will be easy to jump into for a newcomer but whether it has the depth for a veteran wargamer remains to be seen. Still, we’ll be keeping a close eye on Halo: Flashpoint in the run up to launch, with its release date scheduled for Autumn this year and we’re excited about giving it a thorough review.