The newest Sci-Game from Rick Priestly now has a free core rules download AND a new faction army list. Check this out folks!
Gates of Antares Beta Rules (pdf)
Free Download
With the Freeborn – latest faction for our science fiction game, Beyond the Gates of Anatres – being released it would be remiss of us not to provide the stats for using them in game!
The Freeborn are merchants and traders, pursuers of wealth, influence and power within Antarean space. Their numerous fleets maintain a free-flow of commodities and technology between human worlds and beyond. The neutral status of the Freeborn allows their ships to travel easily between antagonistic societies such as the Isorian Shard and Panhuman Concord, and the Ghar and Algoryn. Although the Freeborn maintain a number of hidden worlds as supply bases, for the most part they stand aside and apart from other human societies, recognising no masters but the lord of their own household.
1x FREEBORN COMMAND SQUAD
| Unit: | Freeborn Command Squad | Ag | Acc | Str | Res | Init | Co | Special |
| 1 x | Freeborn Captain: plasma pistol, reflex armour and impact cloak. | 5 | 6 | 5 | 5 | 8 | 9 | Command, Hero, Follow, Leader 2 |
| 2 x | Bodyguards: plasma pistol, plasma carbine, reflex armour and impact cloaks. | 5 | 6 | 5 | 5 | 7 | 8 | |
| 1 x | Spotter drone | – | – | – | – | – | – |
1x VARDANARI SQUAD (Guards)
| Unit: | Vardanari Squad | Ag | Acc | Str | Res | Init | Co | Special |
| 1 x | Vardanari Leader: plasma carbine and X-Sling, reflex armour, impact cloak | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 7 | 8 | Leader |
| 5 x | Vardanari Guard Trooper: plasma carbine, reflex armour, impact cloak | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 7 | 8 | |
| 1 x | Spotter drone | – | – | – | – | – | – |
Domari – or Household troops – make up the bulk of the Freeborn forces. They are recruited amongst the lower orders of free citizens. Troopers are often equipped at their own expense, or that of their family, so the appearance and quality of their clothing and weaponry can vary. Reflex armour fields are embedded into a body-hugging combat undersuit. Other clothing is characteristically styled to be loose and flowing – a fashion that is universally favoured amongst the Freeborn.
The majority of troopers carry mag weapons because they are practical and durable. Squads also have an X-launcher capable of hurling explosive shot to dislodge enemies from cover.
2x DOMARI SQUAD (Household troops)
| Unit: | Domari Squad | Ag | Acc | Str | Res | Init | Co | Special |
| 1 x | Household Leader: mag pistol, reflex armour | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 7 | 8 | Leader |
| 4 x | Household Troopers: mag gun, reflex armour | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 7 | 8 | |
| 1 x | Household Trooper: micro-X launcher, reflex armour | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 7 | 8 | |
| 1 x | Spotter drone | – | – | – | – | – | – |
The Freeborn don’t just deal in commodities and knowledge, they also deal in human services, including those of mercenary fighters. These mercenary soldiers are recruited, trained and equipped by the Freeborn from amongst the more primitive worlds of the Determinate and the Spill. When a Vardo goes to war its forces are made up of both Vardari and mercenary troops.
2x FERAL SQUADS (e.g. MHAGRIS)
| Unit: | Feral Squad | Ag | Acc | Str | Res | Init | Co | Special |
| 1 x | Feral Leader: mag pistol | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 7 | 7 | Leader |
| 4 x | Feral Fighter: mag gun | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 7 | 7 | |
| 1 x | Feral Fighter with micro X-launcher | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 7 | 7 |
Freeborn have access to all the weapons and armour of Antarean space, but, with an eye to cost and practicality, tend to favour mag guns and reflex shielding as basic equipment. Amongst the ruling family and their close relatives anything goes, from expensively re-sharded Isorian phase armour to compression carbines and all manner of alien exotica.
1x FREEBORN SUPPORT TEAM with Mag Light Support
| Unit: | Freeborn Mag Light Support Team | Ag | Acc | Str | Res | Init | Co | Special |
| 2 x | Freeborn Crew: mag pistol, reflex armour | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 7 | 8 | |
| 1 x | Spotter drone | – | – | – | – | – | – |
An X-Launcher is a portable magnetic launcher that hurls explosive missiles, bombs, or special munitions packages, such as Arc, Blur, Scramble, and Scoot.
They are bulky weapons, and their regular explosive ammunition resists full compression due to the charge. They are of limited value on the battlefield unless they can be emplaced or setup in a static position. However, they are excellent for lobbing shots onto fixed targets. The bombs themselves are usually guided either by internal sensors or by means of mobile targeting probes. The standard X ammunition contains high-concussion explosives. The X simply standing for explosive. The smallest X-Slinger version shoots a micro-bomb and is often built into a wrist-mounted unit, or it can be sub-mounted onto another weapon or device.
1x FREEBORN SUPPORT TEAM with X-launcher
| Unit: | Freeborn X-launcher Team | Ag | Acc | Str | Res | Init | Co | Special |
| 2 x | Freeborn Crew: mag pistol, reflex armour | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 7 | 8 | |
| 1 x | Spotter drone | – | – | – | – | – | – |
1x TARGETER PROBE SHARD
| Unit: | Targeter Probe | Ag | Acc | Str | Res | Init | Co | Special |
| 4 x | Targetter Probe | – | – | – | 5 | – | – | Shard |
You can get the complete Freeborn Starter Army Deal on Pre-Order Now:
Freeborn Starter Army Deal
Freeborn Starter Army Deal $112
This starter army deal contains all of the core Freeborn units – aimed to get you started in the Antarian universe. The Army Deal is currently a Pre-order item, which is due to start shipping very shortly – and comprises of the following:
– 1 x Freeborn Command Squad: Commander, 2 Vardanari Guard, Spotter drone
– 1 x Freeborn Vardanari Guard Squad: Vardanari Leader, 5 Vardanari Guard, Spotter drone
– 1 x Freeborn Domari Squad: Domari Leader, 5 Domari, Spotter drone
– 1 x Freeborn Support Weapon Team: Mag Light support, 2 Freeborn crew, Spotter drone
– 1 x Freeborn Support Weapon Team: X-launcher, 2 Freeborn crew, Spotter drone
– 5 x Light Blue order dice
– 1 x Copy of the printed Antares Beta rulebook (while stocks last!)
About the Author: Rob Baer
Rob Baer
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Founded Spikey Bits in 2009
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About Rob Baer: Founder, Publisher, & Managing Editor of Spikey Bits, the leading tabletop gaming news website focused on the hobby side of wargaming and miniatures.
Rob also co-founded and currently hosts the Long War Podcast, which has over 350 episodes and focuses on tabletop miniatures gaming, specializing in Warhammer 40k. and spent six years writing for Bell of Lost Souls.
Every year, along with his co-hosts, he helps host the Long War 40k Doubles Tournament at Adepticon and the Long War 40k Doubles at Las Vegas Open, which attracts over 350 players from around the world.
Rob has won many Warhammer 40k Tournaments over the years, including multiple first-place finishes in Warhammer 40k Grand Tournaments over the years and even winning 1st place at the Adepticon 40k Team Tournament.
With over 30 years of experience in retail and distribution, Rob knows all the products and exactly which ones are the best. As a member of GAMA (Game Manufacturers Association), he advocates for gaming stores and manufacturers in these difficult times, always looking for the next big thing to feature for the miniatures hobby, helping everyone to provide the value consumers want.
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