Lead Adventure Forum
Miniatures Adventure => The Second World War => Topic started by: joroas on 13 March 2014, 04:51:00 PM
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So, I have massive quantities of figures and scenery for FOW, largely US and German, but I hate the competition feel and I would rather keep them.
Is there a nice set of rules that would be accuratish, but feel like a nice pair of old slippers, to use for the occasional enjoyable game?
Cheers.
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There's quite an extensive list on TMP: LINK (http://theminiaturespage.com/boards/msg.mv?id=275594).
If that's no help: my recommendation from first-hand experience would be "I Ain't Been Shot Mum" by TooFatLardies. Company-level as well, no need for rebasing, and the rules are not that hard to understand (once you get your head around certain concepts). No beer & pretzel, but if you've mastered FoW you should be fine.
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Oddly, I picked up a a copy of IABSM second hand at Glos Minicon, put it on my "to read" pile and promptly forgot about it...... :?
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Peter Pig PBI ?
Not to everyone's taste, played on squares with infantry company (and some supports) as the opponents, but it has a tactical feel to it.
Also it calls for figures based in stands, so need to re-base FoW troops.
And there is a free demo set that just has basic infantry rules.
http://www.peterpig.co.uk/PBIQS.pdf
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Maybe give my system a try: Victory Decision. ;)
http://www.adpublishing.de/html/victory_decision.html (http://www.adpublishing.de/html/victory_decision.html)
Lots of supplements, covers more or less the whole war, is reasonable accurate for a game.
It can be easily upscaled to Company-level, also no need for rebasing!
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I'd be tempted to say Blitzkrieg Commander if pressed. Easy to learn and fun.
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http://ironfistpublishing.com/
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Victory Decision.
This gets my support, too. Good set of rules – and "live support" on LAF. :)
Not too sure about the Battlegroup series. Gorgeous books, great resource as well. But, maybe as a consequence, quite… involved? Possibly doesn't hit the mark for an "occasional gamer". However, it's the same size and level as FoW, from that perspective an easy switch.
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I just saw the ViDe PDF is only £8, so worth a punt.
I have an early and mid/late war German army and US Infantry, armour and airborne, how many extra booklets would I need to get?
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I'll give a vote to Battlegroup, really good set of rules.
Although I can only compare to FOW among the rules mentioned above.
Pay a visit to http://www.guildwargamers.com/phpBB3/index.php (http://www.guildwargamers.com/phpBB3/index.php) and check out the AAR section of the Battlegroup forum, plenty of people using 15mm miniatures and FOW bases.
Not too sure about the Battlegroup series. Gorgeous books, great resource as well. But, maybe as a consequence, quite… involved? Possibly doesn't hit the mark for an "occasional gamer". However, it's the same size and level as FoW, from that perspective an easy switch.
Don't really understand what you mean? That they are too complicated? Too many rules? Certainly not compared to FOW but obviously there's a learning curve.
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Don't really understand what you mean? That they are too complicated? Too many rules? Certainly not compared to FOW but obviously there's a learning curve.
No offence to its fans, really. I was a bit overwhelmed by its technical detail, the number of profiles (if only for vehicles) and cross-referenced tables. I've been assured you don't need all the stuff as written, and that games with only a few vehicles – and no ammunition tracking – become quite fluid after a couple of turns. Most likely I'm just not into this sort or (possible) level of simulation gaming. If you are, sure, go for it.
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No no, none taken, and none meant, just didn't understand! ;)
True, there are a lot of profiles but in a game you only use a few of them at a time and the game mechanics are quite simple.
But, as you said, might not be for everyone! :)
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This gets my support, too. Good set of rules – and "live support" on LAF. :)
Thanks! :)
I just saw the ViDe PDF is only £8, so worth a punt. I have an early and mid/late war German army and US Infantry, armour and airborne, how many extra booklets would I need to get?
For starters only the main rulebook.
It covers all the rules, the scenarios and late war army lists for British, German, US and Soviet forces including vehicles.
see: http://www.adpublishing.de/html/victory_decision.html (http://www.adpublishing.de/html/victory_decision.html)
Maybe even download the free Quick Reference Sheet and Preview here:
http://www.adpublishing.de/html/downloads1.html (http://www.adpublishing.de/html/downloads1.html)
All the German Infantry list are described here:
http://www.adpublishing.de/html/german_field_guides.html (http://www.adpublishing.de/html/german_field_guides.html)
For US here:
http://www.adpublishing.de/html/us_field_guides.html (http://www.adpublishing.de/html/us_field_guides.html)
All vehicles are in the nation specific Technical Manuals.
Hope that helps! 8)
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another one I would recommend are Fireball Forward
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I would recommend IABSM v3, that's the full colour version which includes the German, British and US lists for Normandy. Also I would check out chain of command for platoon level games.
Paul
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Well, we are certainly spoiled for choice! I do love a game of Battlegroup at about 350 to 400 points. Fast, fun and wonderfully unpredictable. Points-based, for easy pick-up games, but not a tournament system like Flames.
If you have a large and varied collection to draw from, then you will be spoilt for choice when assembling your forces and will likely be able to play with all your toys in time.... The online force-builder (http://gregfarrell.org/builder/bgb.html) makes it very easy to get your ducks in a row.
Joroas, let us know how you get on. I'm sure you will find the game that is right for you. All the options provided so far have been quality ones.
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I would suggest the Battlegroup series as well. The rules are quite intuitive, have a bit of an old school feel with some fresh ideas and once you have played a game or two flow well and easily. You may need to rebase some of your Germans (LMG teams) or you can just use 'gentlemen's agreements' to fit them in.
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There's quite an extensive list on TMP: LINK (http://theminiaturespage.com/boards/msg.mv?id=275594).
If that's no help: my recommendation from first-hand experience would be "I Ain't Been Shot Mum" by TooFatLardies. Company-level as well, no need for rebasing, and the rules are not that hard to understand (once you get your head around certain concepts). No beer & pretzel, but if you've mastered FoW you should be fine.
Thanks for the info Mad Doc, I had the very same question. I've heard great things about TFL's stuff. Cheers!
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I was in a similar spot a year ago.
Friendly games were rare and an enjoyable game almost never 'happened'. The situation had not always been so. Something was lost in the swelling involvement and the organized play. Neither involvement nor organized play can be faulted, there is no fault with either of those two.
Not trying to find fault, but I must go on, next. I missed the 'good old' days of camaraderie and the 'good times' as one particularly easy-going fellow often replied.
I changed two approaches to FoW. In the first, I changed my choice of co-players (or the other gamers). We started small but we had a 'group', had to build it up from zilch.
Next, we forgot about 'points'--f'gitabotit. Axis player played what he liked. Allied player did the same.
Then, the group experimented with 'stipulating' classes of units, for example, armored cars, light tanks, and infantry would be our game. We have 'massive' and vast quantities of FoW figures too.
I don't mean to be 'cheeky' here; I saw competitive spirit as good as far as it meant the other gamer was playing his best and 'in the game'. Competitive spirit can become 'bent' and perhaps become the goal rather than the 'means' of the game.
I chose people, all ages, built a group, that holds on to the values that support a good game, i.e. the sense of fun, dedication to fair-play,and good humor (in any eventuality).
How we cooperate with 'stipulating' units makes our group work better together and it gives us something to look forward to when we get together. FoW, any game, is competitive, we can be engineers for making it cooperative also, while still winning, trash talking, and pursuing the elusive 'fun' factor in gaming.
Rules changes probably won't solve the issue, because, perhaps, the root cause of the "problem" is social, not so much rules.
I have had marbles and checkers (draughts) ruined by 'those people'.
Hope you're having fun, and more of it!
Sender
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Some good options offered but does really depend on the type of game YOU want.
The following list is of games I own and play (I could post an even longer one of those I own and no longer/have never used)
Blitzkrieg Commander 2
Battlegroup Series
Battlefront WWII
IABSM3
Battlegroup Panzer Grenadier (new Deluxe edition coming soon)
The reason for some many is largely because I can't make my own mind up on what I want and the fact that they all offer a different experience and work better for differing game levels.
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Rapid Fire is also a good set of rules. Fairly easy to learn, and there are no points involved.
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I'd suggest checking out some AAR and battle report posts on various blogs and see if the games that they discuss appeal to you at all.
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Rapid Fire is also a good set of rules. Fairly easy to learn, and there are no points involved.
It does have points.
Check out the Normandy book released last year for a selection of balanced armys.
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Couple of hundred Battlegroup AARs here,
http://www.guildwargamers.com/phpBB3/viewforum.php?f=311
You might also want to consider what game will be easiest to find new opponents if thats a concern.
A few listed here...
http://www.guildwargamers.com/phpBB3/viewtopic.php?f=336&t=29191
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Convenient topic! I've started collecting 15mm Germans to play against a guy's Russians. He uses his own rules (with an interesting custom dice mechanic) but I'm thinking of picking up a backup set. At the mo I'm torn between Battlegroup, IABSM (like the sound of the cards and blinds) and ViDe. (pretty impressed by ViDe FuCo) More so the latter two, although I have a feeling I'll end up like NTM. :P
Did I see a topic in passing about printed copies of ViDe? PDFs are fine, but I'm still a fan of the oldschool dead-tree format. Especially since it'll take a while to replace me broken tablet...
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Convenient topic! I've started collecting 15mm Germans to play against a guy's Russians. He uses his own rules (with an interesting custom dice mechanic) but I'm thinking of picking up a backup set. At the mo I'm torn between Battlegroup, IABSM (like the sound of the cards and blinds) and ViDe. (pretty impressed by ViDe FuCo) More so the latter two, although I have a feeling I'll end up like NTM. :P
Did I see a topic in passing about printed copies of ViDe? PDFs are fine, but I'm still a fan of the oldschool dead-tree format. Especially since it'll take a while to replace me broken tablet...
Well ViDe WWII is already available as print on demand:
http://www.wargamevault.com/product/91776/Victory-Decision-World-War-II?manufacturers_id=2468 (http://www.wargamevault.com/product/91776/Victory-Decision-World-War-II?manufacturers_id=2468)
Softcover Colour (Standard) for $20.68. 8) Hope that helps!
ViDe FuCo will also soon be available as print on demand (May or June).
Best thing - ALL ViDe lists are fully compatible, so if you want your brave WWII US troopers face Martian invaders, or Zombies, or Combat walkers - all there! ;) ;)
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My vote would be for Fireball Forward. I'd argue that the mechanics are definitely a bit of a learning curve, but FOW basing could easily work. It's a great game, most of its strength coming from accurate and fun historical based scenarios (no tournament play etc.). Definitely worth a look.
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Thanks for all of that input chaps, I am somewhat overwhelmed by the choice, so will take a look around. Since so many of these would fit my 28mm EW and desert figures, I am also quite tempted to ditch my 15mm FOW and upscale..........
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Mate, if they are painted and ready to play with... Get them on the table and have a fun game with your close friends.
Do not start again if it means you won't be playing games for another year or more...
Although I love my 20mm collection, I would have no regrets if I had started in with 15mm WWII. It's a perfectly wonderful scale for gaming.
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I introduced someone new to PBI last week. He normally plays Bolt Action along with a large number of friends.
He was a bit sceptical at first, but by the end of the game he thought it was great. No measuring for ranges or movement, so no question of "is he just in range or not?", if there is terrain in the square, everyone is in cover so no question of "is he under cover from here?", and troops moving from cover use more action points because they are unwilling to leave a good position.
Casualty markers affecting morale were a novelty too, he compared them to a soft minefield (area to be avoided).
And the end of game was another interesting one - the game ends when you reach a "countdown" total and then check VPs to see who won.
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I am also quite tempted to ditch my 15mm FOW and upscale..........
I agree with Peabody. Keep the 15mm figs and use them. I'm quite happy using my 28s for CoC or Bolt Action and using 15s for platoon level or larger engagements
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If you want to try chain of command or iabsm3 give us a shout, we are only in Evesham
Paul
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I have IABSM 1 and CofC. Where are you and I'll come take a look?
Thanks
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SO MANY GREAT GAMES TO PLAY!!!