I understand it is not easy to come with something original in the middle of so many systems but this one did the possible to be original one and brought things I haven't seen before. Well this is the second system I try so I don't have much to compare. The system works well but I really can't say I am impressed. I tried with my nephew and I didn't see him very excited as I saw him with the former system we tried. <br><br> <b>LIKED</b>: It is fast pacing and not burdened with rules over rules. Moreover it brings some paper stands and cards really useful.<br><br><b>DISLIKED</b>: The facing system in the battlefield for me was really unrealistic and boring to try.<br><br><b>QUALITY</b>: Acceptable<br><br><b>VALUE</b>: Satisfied<br>

Excellent for a combat game, or as a system for a game in which you prefer only to use dice for combat; also integrates just as seamlessly as could be desired with Simply Roleplaying! Great fun. I use it for dungeon crawl games.<br><br><b>LIKED</b>: Fast and easy to set up and use, easy to explain to new players.<br><br><b>DISLIKED</b>: Fatigue system isn't used in CC (though it is included for compatibility). I would have liked to see fatigue rules. Would also have liked a maneuver system.<br><br><b>QUALITY</b>: Very Good<br><br><b>VALUE</b>: Very Satisfied<br>

I bought this last night, printed it out, and had a skirmish going tonight with my son and 2 nephews. I haven't seen them so excited about a game ever! They like the skirmish size (they get attached to their characters).

The game itself moves quickly, and lends itself well to RPG play. There isn't a "point system" for weapons, so it's not suitable for tournament play. But for sheer fun, we're having a great time. The boys are playing colonial space marines. My daughter also wants to play, but isn't really into fighting. So, we took one of her cute hamster toys (Hamtaro, in case you're wondering) and, within the framework of the game, quickly came up with a nonviolent character with really helpful abilities.

The system reminds me of Melee (someone else said this too) -- simple and fun. <br><br><b>QUALITY</b>: Excellent<br><br><b>VALUE</b>: Very Satisfied<br>

I'm always on the hunt for original hand-to-hand combat systems. This one had some original ideas.<br><br><b>QUALITY</b>: Acceptable<br><br><b>VALUE</b>: Satisfied<br>

I have a thing for the PlainLabel system.

Compact Combat is extremely useful because you can socket it neatly into either Budget Battlefield or Simply Roleplaying as a variant combat system...in the former case, when you want a little more detail for heroic combats, and in the latter, when you want to speed things up in the midst of a dramatic fight during a roleplaying session.

A fun product, consolidating combat into a board-game format like Melee did for the old Fantasy Trip (which, for those youngsters among us, is not-quite but sort-of pre-GURPS). Supports every genre, with examples from medieval/fantasy, old West, and even Science Fiction combat. Best of all, you have the potential to grasp the whole combat system at once in your mind - something impossible to do with those 300-page miniatures books. So you can concentrate on making sound tactical choices instead of worrying about whether you've dug up the latest kick-butt rule additions. There are a few minor inconsistencies in the rules, but overall an excellent product.

Overview: A solid replacement for Metagaming's Melee (nostalgic sigh). Easily expandable to a full RPG if you wish. Looks heavily influenced by Melee and SJG's GURPS, with some elements that resemble FUDGE.

What You Get: Compact Combat unzips into 8 files: The rules, character sheets, battle grid, quick reference sheet, card figures (70, or more if you print more than once), cut-out-and-stick-together scenery, weapon cards, and scenarios (4). You need at least two d10, and the rules contain a template for cardstock dice.

Rules Basics: An average character has a rating of 5-6 in each of 4 stats, and skills which add +2 to +12 to those stats. To do something (e.g. strike a foe), roll less than the total on 2d10. Movement is on a square or hex grid.

Pro: Rules, scenarios, and weapons for fantasy, wild west, modern and sci-fi skirmishes all in one pack. Easier to understand than its bigger roleplaying brother, Simply Roleplaying.

Con: The weapon damage tables were initially daunting until I realised what they were trying to achieve - there is only one dice roll, 2d10, for anything. Each weapon has a maximum damage, and the actual damage done by a hit is 2d10 x (weapon max damage) / 20. The relevant part of the huge damage table is copied onto each weapon card.

Comments: Character creation is more complex than it needs to be for a simple melee game, but this makes it completely compatible with Simply Roleplaying if you want to "trade up" - SR is free to download, but has less detailed combat rules. Compact Combat (and Simply Roleplaying) assume that characters don't improve their skills much with experience - it isn't easy to improve, but it can be done. I'm OK with that, my main issue with Melee was it was too easy to improve.

Wishlist: Looks like there was originally a magic expansion called "Compact Sorceror". I'd like to see that added in, or back in "print" to buy separately (I'd take one).

Sorry to say, I dont see the point of this product from Microtactix since they have the greate Simply Roleplaying & the absolute topnotch BudgetBattlefield products. Besides that the rules lack any unit comparison value making it impossible to create a fair scenario

This system is similar to the GURPS advanced combat system, but streamlined for ease of play. I found it easy to understand - more so than GURPS. Beginners will take to it quickly. One aspect of the system I like is that you don't have to keep track of the weight of a character's gear to determine encumbrance. Instead, there are limits on the number of weapons and other items that can be carried. And some items have a minimum strength requirement, with coordination penalties for characters who are too weak.

This system does not offer as wide a range of tactical options as the GURPS system it emulates, however. There are no equivalents to All-Out Defense or Feint under these rules. And you can not build a GURPS-style martial artist. There are no equivalents to the martial arts styles and maneuvers rules in this system.

This was a let down for me. I like realism, and was drawn to GURPS for that reason. But GURPS is a clunky, outdated system. If Compact Combat allowed me to build a detailed martial artist character, and play out combats in which the choice of fighting style affected the tactical options available, then I would likely become an instant fan. But it doesn't. I think this is a serious drawback.

Also, the designers should have done more research. Some of the rules are not realistic. For instance, the Coordination penalty for plate armor is greater than that of mail (a.k.a. chain armor), which is nonsense. (The weight of plate is much better distributed over the body, so, assuming it fits well, it is easier to move around in than mail.) They claim that a buckler can be used while strapped to one's forearm. (Bucklers were grasped by handles, and didn't have straps.) The "Shield Smash" action should be broken down into two actions. (You can club an opponent with a shield, or shove him with it, but not both at the same time.) And these rules allow most hand weapons to be used to either attack or parry in a round, but not both. (Realistically this limitation should apply only to unbalanced weapons like maces.)

These little glitches aren't a serious problem, however. Anyone who knows enough about the subject to notice them can easily come up with house rules to fix them.

(While I'm on the subject, I noticed that the authors don't even seem to know what a longsword is. They seem to think the term is synonymous with cut-and-thrust sword, or some similar lightweight one-handed sword. If they had looked it up, they would know that a longsword is a "hand-and-a-half" sword, the Western equivalent of the katana. This is just a pet peeve, not a real problem with the game, but it is a further indicator of the authors' lack of seriousness about this project.)

Overall, I think this is a very playable system that many people will enjoy. But if you are a hardcore realist, then this will be a disappointment. The system is incomplete. It needs an optional set of detailed, advanced rules for serious players. Until it gets that it cannot be considered a "supertactical" game, as claimed.

Love Compact Combat...Much better than the wayyyy to pricey game from a certain workshop...

-Ravenseye

Excellent rule book. I have only started useing the rules and have found that they are easier to use than the Simply Roleplaying rules. Hence I have started to use these rules as the main rule book and Simply Role playing rules as the supplement. Some of the graphics are a bit fuzzy. The Pullout sheets is a very good idea and saves time looking though the rules. They also can be printed onto card and be taped together to form a GM screen. You also get paper figures, Props, Board Grid, and scenarios which makes the product very good value for money.