WTF is FMA?

--

--Flak Magnet
Hive Fleet Jaegernaught
http://www.geocities.com/flakmagnet72

What is FMA?

Where can I learn more about it?

On 22 May 2002 09:03:20 -0400, Flak Magnet
> <flakmagnet@tabletop-battlezone.com> wrote:

> What is FMA?

FMA is the name Jon gives to the opposed die roll game system used in
Stargrunt II and Dirtside II. FMA is also the short form given for Jon's
upcoming game, FMA Skirmish. FMA stands for "Full Metal Anorak", a play on
"Full Metal Jacket" and a garment stereotypically worn by British game geeks.

FMAS another short form for "FMA Skirmish".

FMAS has one figure equal to one person, like SG2, but the scale is smaller.
Each figure is moved independently. A typical FMAS game would include about 10
figures per side.

Jon posted a test version of FMAS a couple of years ago on this list. I think
I still have what he posted, if you're interested. The game is being
playtested, and some things have changed since Jon's initial posting. The
playtest list has been playing it out for a while now. I'm sure the game has
changed a fair bit from that original posting by Jon (I'm not sure, as those
of us on the playtest list are awaiting Jon's latest rules revision).

> What is FMA?

Time for me to plug the updated GZG Meta-FAQ. Which answers this and
many more basic questions about the GZG games. Address in the signature.

"Full Metal Anorak (FMA) is the name not only of the game mechanics used in
DSII and SGII but is also the working name for a proposed set of individual
level skirmish rules. A playtest version of these rules
was released on the GZG-L mailing list in July 1999."

The FAQ now even tells you what an anorak is...

> On Wed, 22 May 2002 14:57:47 +0100, steve@pugh.net wrote:

> "Full Metal Anorak (FMA) is the name not only of the game mechanics

So you can update your FAQ, the working name for the skirmish game seems to
have become "FMA Skirmish", shortened to "FMAS".

From: Flak Magnet
> What is FMA?

FMA is the trademarked game system used for StarGrunt--opposed rolls on
polyhedral dice and such.

FMAS is "FMA Skirmish", which has been the subject of much discussion on the
playtest list. Instead of units being squads, each unit is an individual woman
or man (or Kra'Vak, zombie, or tentacled horror from
hell--whatever).  The Playtest List has been working on developing it
and they're hoping Jon will shortly give a weary sigh and say "no, you
imbeciles, what I wanted you to come up with was something like *this*",
whereupon version 2.0 will spring into existence, complete and nearly perfect
(except for Brit misspellings of words like "armour" and
"colour" :-).  It's scheduled to be published in time for GenCon,
Salute, or Christmas... of a carefully non specific year.

All the Playtest members are sworn to secrecy, so you're not likely to find
out much more. Please look at this little red light....

On Wed, 22 May 2002 10:51:37 -0400, "laserlight@quixnet.net"
> <laserlight@quixnet.net> wrote:

> complete and nearly perfect (except for Brit misspellings of words

May I point out that until the 1930s (maybe 1920s), when -- for some
reason --
a movement to simplify spelling gripped the United States, Americans spelled
those words the same way. Hence H.P. Lovecraft's story, "The Colour Out Of
Space".

[quoted original message omitted]