Halo: Flashpoint core rulebook

Halo: Flashpoint core rulebook
Publication date:	November 16, 2024 (US) November 30, 2024 (UK, EU, AUS)
Pages:	47 pages

The core rulebook is a manual book included in the Halo: Flashpoint core box. It covers the basic rules on how to play Flashpoint, alongside a brief overview of the Halo universe and some of the weapons included in the game. It is included in both the Recon Edition and Spartan Editions of the core box.

Contents

• Welcome - p.3
• What you will need - p.4
  • Model Stats - p.5
  • Dice Tests - p.6

• The Rules - p.7
  • Cubes and Stacks - p.8
  • Measuring Range - p.10
  • Line of Sight - p.11
  • Rounds and Turns - p.13
  • Rolling Command Dice - p.14
  • Actions - p.16
  • Damage and Death - p.20
  • Movement - p.21
  • Additional Rules - p.29

• Keywords - p.29
• Scenario Setup - p.34
  • Items and Weapon Drops - p.36
• Playing your First Game - p.38
• Scenarios - p.39
• Advanced Scenario Setup Rules - p.44
• Advanced Fireteam-building Rules - p.46

Lore contents

The following is a verbatim transcription of an official document for archival reasons. As the original content is transcribed word-for-word, any possible discrepancies and/or errors are included.

The Halo Universe section at the start of the book contains information about the Halo setting, particularly in regards to the background of the backstory of the setting as it pertains to Flashpoint - which is canonically set in 2560 in the midst of the war against the Created and Banished. The book also contains a handful of brief descriptors for some of the weapons included. However, most of the contents are fairly light on lore, with the book aimed at introducing a new audience to the Halo universe.

What is Halo? - p.3

WHAT IS HALO?

The year is 2560. Humanity was forced to the brink of extinction by the alien alliance known as the Covenant, but even in victory many of our worlds were glassed and left in ruins. From the ashes of the Covenant War a new generation of Spartan super-soldiers has been trained in the War Games combat arena - an advanced simulator tuned to the needs of transhuman warriors. War Games exercises pit teams of Spartans against an almost infinite combination of potential threats - including other Spartans. War Games training programs test physical conditioning, marksmanship, tactical acumen, and teamwork, in a wide range of scenarios, real and imagined. SPARTANS are cybernetically enhanced, biologically augmented super-soldiers. Their Mjolnir powered assault armour enhances their already prodigious strength and speed, giving them a substantial edge against most alien adversaries. Though few in number, they stand as a bulwark for humanity in a hostile galaxy. THE UNITED NATIONS SPACE COMMAND (UNSC) is humanity's sword and shield. The UNSC Navy patrols the interstellar spaces between colonies, while the UNSC Marines are the expeditionary forces who wait in readiness. The Spartans work closely with the clandestine Office of Naval Intelligence (ONI) to excise threats that cannot be countered with raw firepower. FORERUNNERS are a long-vanished species who once held dominion over the Milky Way galaxy. Humanity is only dimly away of their existence, but to the Covenant they were gods. They have left many secrets buried across the galaxy, seemingly intended to test and guide those who wish to follow in their steps. HALO is an enigmatic network of weapon-ringworlds constructed by the Forerunners.

Timeline - p.3

Timeline

2080 CE First Diaspora. Waves of workers and pioneers begin to establish outposts and colonies within the Sol system. Wars and environmental damage continue to put pressure on terrestrial governments. 2160 CE The Interplanetary War. The nascent United Nations Space Command (UNSC) engage separatist forces on Earth, Mars, and around Jupiter. The Unified Earth Government (UEG) is formed in the aftermath. Political consolidation and stability leads to an explosion of scientific advancement and colonial development. 2291 CE A Great Leap. A team of researchers, physicists, and mathematicians develop the Slipspace Drive, allowing for interstellar trips measured in weeks or months rather than centuries. This new engine allows ships to tunnel into a domain with alternate physical laws, allowing faster-than-light travel without relativistic side-effects. 2362 CE Domus Diaspora. The first of many huge exploration and colonisation expeditions departs the Sol system. Humanity's first extrasolar colony is established on Reach, in the Epsilon Eridani system. 2490 CE Insurrection. Humanity has spread to hundreds of star systems, and Earth's political and military dominance begins to wane. The Outer Colonies agitate for independence, leading to a period of brushfire war, terrorism, and economic disruption. 2525 CE The Covenant War. On April 20, 2525, contact with the Outer Colony 'Harvest' is lost. Shortly after, human forces find themselves in a massive interstellar conflict against the Covenant, an alien alliance who decimate world after world and accept no quarter. Over the next two decades, almost every Outer Colony has been destroyed or abandoned. Humans emerge victorious from isolated battles - typically during ground operations - but at a horrible cost. 2552 CE End of the War. Humanity stands on the precipice of oblivion. Earth itself is besieged, until the Covenant collapses into civil war and chaos. The UNSC immediately begins to rebuild to counter threats remaining on the periphery, 2560 CE New Threats. Covenant successor factions vie for power, and rebellious AIs emerge as the next great threats to humanity. The ranks of the Spartans are greatly expanded as heroes are needed now more than ever.

Weapon descriptions

CQS48 Bulldog - p.6 The CQS48 Bulldog is a superb shotgun for close-quarters combat. With a good rate of fire and drum-fed ammunition, it can be used at close range to deliver a devastating blast.	Needler - p.9 The Needler is a Covenant ranged weapon. It uses crystals found on the Sangheili moon of Suban, which is broken into shards to form the ammunition of the weapon. The shards are then catalysed and fired at a target. The weapon uses automatic fire to compensate for poor accuracy, and once the target is penetrated the crystal shards explode to cause gruesome damage.
Stalker Rifle - p.16 The Stalker Rifle is a Jiralhanae hunting rifle used by the Banished and human mercenaries. UNSC snipers have also come to appreciate its power and ruggedness.	Pulse Carbine - p.17 The Erudo'ma'keth-pattern Carbine, or pulse carbine, is a rapid firing plasma weapon which makes up for any deficiency in accuracy with weight of fire and the power of the superheated plasma bolts it fires. The bolts will strip enemy shields quickly before overwhelming the target.
MA40 Assault Rifle - p.20 The MA40 Assault Rifle is a relatively basic ballistic weapon, but capable of a high rate of fire.	Covenant Carbine - p.24 File:H2A CovenantCarbine Render Small.png The Type-51 Covenant Carbine is a semi-automatic marksman rifle capable of firing ballistic rounds at a significant range. It is unusual among Covenant weapons in that it is not dependent on superheated plasma or other energy-based material, but rather fires radioactively charged ballistic projectiles which poison the target upon wounding as well as damage from the impact.
Cindershot - p.27 The Cindershot is a Forerunner "grenade launcher" which fires hardlight splinter cores. These hyper-charged energy projectiles explode on impact.	M392 DMR - p.34 The M392 DMR (designated marksman rifle) has a long range and is a formidable weapon against opponents that have already had their shields depleted, as the attached optical sight increases the chances of scoring Headshots.
VK78 'Commando' Tactical Rifle - p.45 The VK78 'Commando' tactical rifle is a staple precision rfle of human fighting forces. The enhanced optics offers Spartans good effective range and a greater chance of crucial Headshots.