Fallout: Factions - Modiphius Redefines Commonwealth Skirmishing

Modiphius Entertainment is finally taking us back to the irradiated ruins of the Commonwealth with the Fallout: Factions Battle for Boston Starter Set, and it represents a significant pivot from their previous tabletop efforts. While Wasteland Warfare focused on a sprawling, simulationist approach to the post-apocalypse, Factions is a lean, mean skirmish engine designed for competitive speed and narrative persistence. It is a bold move that acknowledges a simple truth in the current hobby landscape: sometimes we want to resolve a firefight in forty-five minutes, not four hours. This is the skirmish evolution the franchise has been waiting for, stripping away the cumbersome bookkeeping of the past to focus on the grit of the fight.

The mechanics, or the crunch as we call it at the table, revolve around a refined D10 system that strips away the measurement-heavy bloat of its predecessor. We are looking at a system where action economy and positioning are king. Each model’s S.P.E.C.I.A.L. stats directly influence their dice pools, making every Luck or Agility check feel like a desperate gamble in a ruined alleyway. The game utilizes a robust campaign system where your crew gains experience, scars, and territory over several sessions. The inclusion of multi-part hard plastic kits is a massive upgrade over the resin of yesteryear, allowing for the kind of kitbashing and customization that veteran hobbyists live for. Unlike the solo-play focus of earlier titles, this is built from the ground up for 1v1 tactical aggression, similar to the tight engagement loops found in Kill Team 2024, emphasizing line-of-sight and cover modifiers that feel intuitive rather than intrusive.

Setting the stage in the shadow of Nuka-World and the wider Boston ruins allows Modiphius to tap into the most colorful—and lethal—sub-factions of the franchise. The starter set focuses on the Raiders, specifically the Operators and the Disciples. This isn't just about scavenging for scrap; it's a brutal turf war for control of the Commonwealth’s most valuable real estate. The lore here is integrated directly into the scenarios. You aren't just fighting for generic victory points; you are fighting for the favor of the Overboss. The flavor text and mission structures reflect the chaotic, cynical atmosphere of the 4th Edition of the video game series, grounding the 32mm plastic miniatures in a world of chem-fueled madness and cold, calculated betrayal. The fluff isn't just window dressing; it dictates how your gang evolves, with specific faction perks that reward you for leaning into your group's thematic strengths.

At the table, Battle for Boston feels like a high-octane street fight. The barrier to entry is significantly lower than most skirmish games of this pedigree, but the tactical ceiling remains high. By moving away from the complex AI card decks that defined earlier editions, Modiphius has cleared the way for a pure, player-versus-player experience that prioritizes momentum over page-turning. The Battle for Boston set provides enough terrain and tokens to get a game running on a kitchen table immediately, but the real meat is in the progression. Watching a lowly Operator recruit survive three skirmishes to become a hardened veteran with a customized sniper rifle is the kind of emergent storytelling that defines the best TTRPGs and skirmish games alike. It is the kind of game that rewards the bold and punishes the indecisive, making it a staple for any veteran GM's rotation who wants a break from the Commander Format or high-fantasy slogs.