VOR: The Maelstrom (1999)

Overview

VOR is a science-fiction miniatures game that takes place inside a mysterious galaxy-sized anomaly (VOR) of unknown origin. The anomaly randomly sucks worlds (and their inhabitants) through time-space and once in the VOR, all worlds drift toward the center (the Maelstrom) and their doom. The inhabitants of the worlds pulled into the Vor are locked in a struggle with each other for survival. Players fight as one of many races trapped in the VOR.

VOR is a squad-based wargame from FASA (beloved publisher of material for the well-known Battletech, Traveller, Fading Suns, and EarthDawn games). It has an extraordinarily innovative ruleset from which other games have since borrowed and with perhaps one of the best movement systems of any of the squad miniature games. The system supports a unit popping around a corner (out of cover), shooting, and moving back efficiently. This game uses a hit and wound determination model much like GW's Warhammer 40K. The rules allow you to put together your own units and characters to represent new civilizations drawn into the Vor. Yes, you can use all those miniatures from all those other games you own!!

There are some interesting miniatures (such as the Growler race) included with the base game and you can purchase additional units (even some unreleased) from Iron Wind Metals and Ral Partha, but the game is now fan-supported as the original publisher is no longer actively releasing new supplements.

Expansions

VOR: The Maelstrom – Union

VOR: The Maelstrom – Growlers

VOR: The Maelstrom – Neo-Soviet

VOR: The Maelstrom – Zykhee

VOR: The Maelstrom – Shard

VOR: The Maelstrom – Pharon

VOR: The Maelstrom – Razorfang's Exodus