Lead Adventure Forum
Miniatures Adventure => The Conflicts that came in from the Cold => Cold War Reference Repository => Topic started by: Mako on August 23, 2015, 10:09:02 PM
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Seems like we could use these for people new to the period, who are looking to start off on the right foot.
Obvious candidates include the following rules which are currently available now, as well as some which are out of print but perhaps still useful, and the new ones coming out soon:
Oldies but Goodies - Out of Print, but still useful:
Tractics - one of the best sets (only sets) from back in the 1970s. Included stats and rules for both WWII and the "Modern" period. Armor rules and stats, infantry rules and stats, artillery, air support, chemical, biological, and nuclear weapons attacks, building fortifications, combat demolitions, setting buildings on fire, etc., etc.. These rules pretty much had it all, back in the day. Recommended for smaller battles/skirmishes.
Combat Commander (I think that's what it was called - had a supplement too, as well, IIRC. Battlefield Commander, possibly. Note - I think someone else is now using the "Combat Commander" name too, for a different set of rules - the ones mentioned above were 8.5" x 11" format, with slick, white covers, and green ink/drawings on the outside.) - used cards for determing combat outcomes instead of D10 dice, since those were a bit rare, back in the "prehistoric period". Appeared to be a very comprehensive set for back in the day - 1980s, with lots of info on tactics, TO&Es, etc. Worth seeking out, if you want to game the earlier periods of the Cold War, up through the late one.
Current Rules:
Fistful of Tows 3 - apparently quite good for quick-play battles with micro-armor, though of course you can use other scales too. Geared for larger scenarios with lots of armor. Uses D6 dice
Tank Wreck - another set of quick-play rules, for large battles. Uses D10 dice.
WRG 1950 - 1970, and various iterations, up to about 2000, or so. If I recall correctly, the earlier version is available free, for download as well.
Challenger
Challenger II
Challenger 2000
Lots of others that I've forgotten about/overlooked, so worth checking into. I suspect others will be along shortly to list their favorites, and/or products, soon.
Note - some/many of the above may be out of print, but you should still be able to find them with a little searching, I suspect.
Soon to be Released Rules:
I Ain't Been Nuked Mum (perhaps with a more PC title, when officially released, though I do like this catchy title, myself) - company level Cold War rules, apparently very similar to the "I Ain't Been Shot Mum" WWII rules. Playtest battle accounts of these look good. Can't wait for them - no current release date target that I can recall.
SabreSquadron - company level (plus?) rules, similar to the above, and with lots of nice, pre-release, playtest battle accounts as well. These have gone to print, and are scheduled for release in Sept. 2015, if all goes according to plan. Looking forward to them.
There is a free set of beta rules from the publisher, if you e-mail them for a copy. Worth checking out.
Battlefront's Flames of War - Cold War - rules and vehicles/troops/air support are due out in Oct. or Nov. of 2015. Looks like they will be releasing some nice miniatures for the mid-1980s period, and they produce some other kit now, in 15mm scale, which are useful for the 1950s - 1970s too. Hopefully, an expanding range with more minis for the early and mid-Cold War periods as well.
Hopefully, that's a decent start that some/many of you interested in Cold War gaming will find useful.
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Yes I agree, a suitably sticky worthy topic. :)
Obviously, suggestons with short reviews are invited for this thread.
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The "Cold War Gone Hot" expansion for Ambush Alley's Force on Force rules.
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Contact - written as a training aide for the Canadian army in the late 70s, early 80s. Uses data cards for common troops & weapon systems. Percentage roll for a single combined hit/suppressed/kill result. Good artillery system, good bit of info on soviet tactics & organisation included and soviet tactics seem to workin the game.
Bloody but quick & fun. Based on the WRG set apparently but Ive not played those so couldnt say for sure.
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Thanks gents... I think it might be helpful if the 'level' (i.e. platoon, company, brigade etc) of the rules is also mentioned too though.
:)
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Combined Arms by Frank Chadwick (OOP) One of the, if not the best set for battalion through brigade sized actions. I stand typically equals a platoon. The rules were a modern variant of Command Decision, also useful for early Cold War.
Command Decision Test of Battle has some home made mods for modern combat over on the ToB forum. Frank also did a platoon scale game (1 figure = 1 man) game a few years ago but damned if I can recall the name.
The Avalon Till board game Firefight is adaptable for skirmish scale miniatures games.
Are the Bruce Rhea Taylor games still in print? Surprised if they are, I think the original publishers went tits up years ago. I'd love to get hold of the 1960s/70s Armies supplement if they are back in print.
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Can't believe no one has mentioned Cold War Commander yet! The game is now published by Pendraken Miniatures and is what I would consider a "brigade" level game with each base representing a platoon of infantry or a troop/platoon of tanks.
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Sorry for the double post, but I just thought of another one, Modern Spearhead. Its another division level game suitable for a variety of scale miniatures.
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SabreSquadron - company level (plus?) rules, similar to the above, and with lots of nice, pre-release, playtest battle accounts as well. These have gone to print, and are scheduled for release in Sept. 2015, if all goes according to plan. Looking forward to them.
There is an announcement from the publisher on The Miniatures Page today that they have started shipping copies of the SaberSquadron rules. Its available as both a hardback and a PDF.
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Wargames Research Group did two sets of Modern rules, at least one of which is now available as a free download. Intended for 6mm/10mm/25mm/20mm minis representational scale 1 figure/model = 1 real life person/afv/vehicle.
GHQ publish their own Modern set and I believe a simplified version comes in their battlepacks and is downloadable free online. Obviously intended for their own 1/285th minis - representational scale is one stand or afv = a platoon.
Peter Pig do the fabulous AK47 rules for 'imagination' gaming in Africa - older versions had lists for Lebanese Civil War of the 1980s too. Representational scale is 1 to 1, ideally using the Ppig 15mm miniatures range! ;-) Playable in almost any scale/size from 6mm to 20mm.
The Combat commander Modern variant mentioned above is still listed in the Heroics and Ros catalogue along with the Enola 1980s army guide. I think the representational scale is 1 to 1, but it's been a long time since I looked at my copy.
Warfare in the Age of Madness is a sort of current day modern/near future game. Similar in scale to AK47 it is intended for 'warband' conflicts after a nuclear war or other apocalypse of your choice. I got my copy from Lulu.
There is also a new/recent release called 'Third Generation Warfare' which seems to be a sort of Modern variant of Rapid Fire, at least in that 20mm is it's 'target scale'. Not sure about representational scales etc. as it's so new on the block.
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My favorite rules for company level games is Iron Ivan's "Seek Out, Close With, And Destroy." It's a modification of their WW2 set "Disposable Heroes." Other mods include Rhodesia "A Man Among Men," Vietnam "The Long Road South," and Afghanistan "By the Knife"
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Able Archer - Fan made Cold War 83-85ish adaptation for Rapid Fire!
https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/15577379/Rapid%20Fire%20Able%20Archer%202.3.pdf (https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/15577379/Rapid%20Fire%20Able%20Archer%202.3.pdf)
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My favorite rules for company level games is Iron Ivan's "Seek Out, Close With, And Destroy." It's a modification of their WW2 set "Disposable Heroes." Other mods include Rhodesia "A Man Among Men," Vietnam "The Long Road South," and Afghanistan "By the Knife"
I couldn't find Afghanistan "By the Knife
Have you a link cheers Alan
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A favourite of mine Arc oof Fire, it can be used from 1900 to 2000 but has enough in it to play well, I used it for angola, somalia and afghanistan. Platoon level skirmish
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No mention of Nordic Weasel's 'No End In Sight'?
Squad-Platoon level, 1:1, probably difficult to get an evening's game in with higher formations. Maybe one or two vehicles, focus is mainly on infantry actions. Accumulating stress on leaders limits activations, emphasis on troop quality, morale and effects of supression. I really like them, rules give a good idea of the empty battlefiled even on a small playing area, as cover is vital to survival.
Rules also include a scenario generator and a nifty way of determining the strategic back and forth for background/scenario hanging.
Reminds me of Wessex Games '1984', similar squad - platoon sized, 1:1 rules, which uses 'bottle' to limit individual's activations.
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Heads up - Iron Fist Publishing's Battlegroup rules will be releasing a NORTHAG book some point soon-ish.
From posts over on the Guild, looks likely to be set around 1980 - 1983 and will presumably follow the usual Battlegroup format, from squad up to Battalion sized games possible. Also assume the date range will be adjustable to some extent as well.
Link to the Guild page:
http://www.guildwargamers.com/phpBB3/viewtopic.php?f=303&t=44555 (http://www.guildwargamers.com/phpBB3/viewtopic.php?f=303&t=44555)
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Since the Guild website has died, the above link went with it.
Richard C on his 'Cold War Hot Hot Hot' blog has started a comprehensive Cold War update using Battlegroup, and has generated a vast amount of well researched data and rules - all avialable for download via his blog:
coldwarhot.blogspot.com (http://coldwarhot.blogspot.com)
This is highly impressive stuff, covering Norwegian, Dutch and Danish, Soviet Naval lists and info as well as West German, Canadian, BAOR, USMC and SGFG.
He also operates a Q&A/Development section for his material on the revived Battlegroup Wargames Group forum, which contains a lot of general info on Orbats, SOP's and kit from ex-Squaddies - so straight from the horses mouth...
http://battlegroupwargame.forumotion.com/f14-battlegroup-northag-development
Richard has pointed out that this is background development and he hopes some/most of this will be adopted by Warwick Kincade for the (eventual) Northag suppliment - I think he deserves a medal!
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I'd like to bring your attention to:
Team Yankee covering the conflict in Europe and Fate of a Nation, the Arab Israeli War. Developed by Battlefront (more Battalion size engagement even though gamers play at the individual vehicle level), UGOIGO. Popular, paper/scissor/stone model.
Fireteam modern, skirmish level with teams, engagements are one platoon a side, activation by poker cards and possible interruption with card hand. Units activated roll for pips. Very interesting set of rules and not too coomplex (good balance between effect and level of detail).
5Core Brigade Commander 1-3 x companies a side. Level of abstraction make decision making sufficiently relevant for a Brigade Commander level while keeping at the same time the effects at platoon level relevant.