Hybrid is a two player competitive skirmish game from 2003, released by Rackham who at the time were producers of groundbreaking metal miniatures. Set within dark underground laboratories, the Griffin Templars of the Hod were sent to investigate abandoned locations to uncover their secrets, where Dirz abominations were ready to greet them. The two sides are asymetrical, with the Templars equipped with pistols and ranged weapons, while the Dirz have crossbows, exploding pests and a huge close combat monsterous creature.
The game theme, artwork and style is just about my favourite of any dungeon style game i have owned. The characters of the Hod draw you in with excellent sculpts, and the dark laboratories are created by well illustrated tiles. The Dirz have a nice mix of enemy size and styles to play around with. Rackham really knew how to create an interesting scenario backdrop, and had such good miniatures to back it up. The core box had 13 models, and as a small squad based game it was a hobby project that required building and painting. The game never had the notoriaty of Games Workshop and so went under the radar for many, however there was a lot of supporting expansion content and great magazines called Cry Havoc that added new characters, missions and rules. It was one of my favourite collections at the time.
The rules of this game are a challenge to learn, the published translation from french to english presents a book that needs digesting, albeit there is helpful files around now. Your small squads have cards which provide core stats for offense, defence, firing and movement, which gives you the maximum skill level up to six that you can utilise for each character, from novice through expert to heroic, and the better your skill the more options you can select from. This gives you a layer of choice beyond many games, one that adds complexity but also reward.
Each turn players will also decide the starting order of their team by laying numbered counters face down and so unseen by the opponent, then to reveal them as the turn progresses. As such you can never be sure that your plans will be perfectly executed, so adapting is essential. Combat is settled by a ten sided dice roll, where you need to roll lower than your stat level to succeed. Any wounds taken by a character will reduce your maximum ability levels, thematically limiting your choices.
This game has a relatively deep ruleset for a box game, and should be considered a bridge towards skirmish types, and i love how your team characters have more of an identity. Over recent years I had a huge regret over selling my collection and so decided to rebuild again from second hand purchases. I will be posting how this develops as it becomes a hobby project for the second time. I have specific models i wish collect for what i consider a perfect game set, rather than needing everything that has a card.
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Expansions
The core set is a self contained game but there are some expansions you can add to enhance or change the gameplay (my additions highlighted green = own, blue = part owned, red = not purchased) :
Nemesis
The main box expansion, adding new missions, miniatures, tiles and cards which directly layered onto the core set. The Griffins had miniatures for a Knight Templar and Minelayer, with Dirz a new monstrous creature. This is the most important expansion and possibly all you may ever need.
Miniatures For Cards Already Provided
Within the core box and Nemesis were cards for other miniatures you could purchase separately. I will be adding some of these gradually.
Griffin – Executioner, Templar, Inquisitor, Darkness Hunter, Fusilier, Conscript
Dirz – Skorize Warrior, Keratis Warrior, Ysis, Tiger, Bioptist, Clone
Blister Packs With Hybrid Cards
Rackham sold blister packs with miniatures for its main game called Confrontation, however some were given a Hybrid card as a cross over. There provide a great way to add new characters to change your squad. You are unlikely to need them all, but some are exceptionally good to obtain.
Griffin – Misericord, Garell the Redeemer, Phidias de Basarac, Exorcist, Kyrus le Sombre
Dirz – Neuromancer, Sethin, Sasia Samaris, Cypher Lukhan, Centurus Clone, Nefarious Clone, Alyena, Crimson Fury and Servant
Cynwall – Ainoa, Ayane, Nova, Mealyn
Ophidian – S’Erum, Archer
Cry Havok Magazine Cards
Rackham’s official magazine released new missions, rules and cards that allowed other miniatures to be used in Hybrid. I have most of these cards (blue) and some of the miniatures too (green).
Issue 1 > Griffin (Praetorian Guardsman) Dirz (Dasyatis, Dawn Warrior) / Issue 2 > Alahan (Red Lioness, Alahel the Messanger, Reaper) / Issue 3 > Dirz (Sin Assyris, Vicar) and a new tile / Issue 4 > Living Dead (Ghoul, Chagall, Wolfen Zombie) / Issue 5 > Ophidian (Slave) / Issue 6 > Cynwall (Sered, Nelphael, Mehol, Varsym, Akhanmial, Construct Warrior) / Issue 14 > Dwarves (Khor Warrior), Issue 15 > Dwarves (Blunderbuss) / Issue 17 > Ophidian (Apostate of Darkness)