Lead Adventure Forum
Miniatures Adventure => The Second World War => Topic started by: rumacara on December 05, 2021, 10:21:00 AM
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Hello all
Looking for a simple set of rules for WW2 that can be played with:
15 to 30 figures per side
As less markers as possible and no card driven (perhaps a paper to keep record)
Vehicles used are transports (trucks and jeeps) and probably SAS/LRDG trucks and jeeps (with rules for light and heavy machine guns) and the odd halftrack
This is intended to try to pull others to game this period so lots of action and minimum consult of rules. None of us has much patience to complicated rules.
I know its not easy but here it goes.
Thanks for your help
Rui
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Chain of Command (but it has markers) is a platoon a side with a few vehicles and is a great game.
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As great as CoC is I don’t think it is what you want. It’s slightly more complex, battles can be lost just in the patrol phase if you are inexperienced and has quite a few head scratching moments for rule interactions around teams, squads, junior and senior commanders. You will also find your first games will just degenerate into a long range fire fight and whoever is up against the German MGs will declare it broken.
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Much as it pains me to suggest it, Bolt Action should be considered. It’s is popular the core mechanics are fairly simple, it covers the size you are suggesting (and will cover tanks too). To me ranges in it are far too short, and the dice in the bag mechanic could do with a end turn dice to stop players waiting till late in the turn to move stuff.
Much as I liked CoC - its a pretty complex rule set.
If you want to go more Hollywood than history, Fistful of Lead always gives a good game, and is very good for multi-player. But its really for smaller forces (5-8 figures) than you are thinking of.
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Go for 'Fistful of Lead', that'll cure yer dislike of card driven games forever!
This will certainly pull others to game the period, lots of action and minimum consulting of rules is their hallmark. Perfect for those who have no patience for complicated rules!
;D
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Another set of rules that are worth a look are Iron Cross from Great Escape Games - certainly feel more like WWII than Bolt Action. The core mechanism is around command points, so you can spread these around so everything does something, or concentrate them on a few units. Good interrupt mechanism too. Not played them for a while, so have just been reminded of them by someone else’s post.
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+1 to Fistful of Lead. Great fun, simple to learn if more Hollywood
than History.
Another choice you might consider is WRG Infantry Action (1925-57 ???)
An oldie, but a goodie. You might be able to pick up a copy from e-bay.
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Thank you all for your answers and ideas.
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I recommend Crossfire as being the most non-wargamer friendly set of rules. And the best WWII ruleset too :)
It's company level with a company using 30-35 miniatures.
It does use markers, but not many.
I have a short series of videos explaining the system:
https://youtu.be/5-PHqqkRbak
And an actual game:
https://youtu.be/LFwsB5MarAI
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Rui,
I’ll second the recommendation for Crossfire. Terrific set of rules that makes you think about tactics.
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It uses cards for turn sequence, but Fistful of Lead is indeed very enjoyable, and works very well for WW2. It should cure your case or cardiphobia... :D
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I'd go Rapid Fire, been around a long time, tried and tested, have an enduring fan base and just released a cut down version for very little money which might suit your needs.
The randomness Fistful of Lead and Bolt Action can be quite wearing after a while but a lot of people play them.
CoC I wouldn't go for, nowhere near as simple as it's advocates would have you believe and you can end up in a no win game that is less than fun just because of the way the die rolled in the initial phases.
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Rumacara, looking at your original post do I sense that you are after an infantry skirmish set with the odd vehicle thrown in. Chain of Command does meet those criteria but I would agree that they are more complex than advertised so maybe not for you. I think some of the others are more "combined arms" sets and I thought Rapid Fire was aimed at Brigade level actions? That said the blurb for "Rapid Fire Reloaded" .....the cut down version....does say it can be played as a 1-1 skirmish set, and at only £5 might well be worth a look.
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The old "Battle" rules set by Charles Grant (okay, I'm showing my age... but they are quickplay, simple to understand rules).
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Completely forgot the Charles Grant rules! Very playable, I think I've still got the book.
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Thank you all for your tips and help.
Appart of the several sets of rules you mentioned i may end up buying Rapid Fire.
At the end i decided to make my own. A friend send me Operation Squad and together with Flying Lead (both from Ganesha i think) will try it.
FFoL is a great set but imho its for limited figures on the table. Havent tried yet the Big Battles version but the card driven system isnt for my mates (i do like it and to Old West and small games i wont trade them for others).
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Rumacara, looking at your original post do I sense that you are after an infantry skirmish set with the odd vehicle thrown in. Chain of Command does meet those criteria but I would agree that they are more complex than advertised so maybe not for you. I think some of the others are more "combined arms" sets and I thought Rapid Fire was aimed at Brigade level actions? That said the blurb for "Rapid Fire Reloaded" .....the cut down version....does say it can be played as a 1-1 skirmish set, and at only £5 might well be worth a look.
Wow light bulb moment! All these years I have had Rapid Fire on mysh elf disliking it- it never once occurred to me that could be simply "un-bathtubbed" and used as a 1:1 skirmish. Duh
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Vodkafan, my comment about “1-1 skirmish” relates to the cut-down “Rapid Fire Reloaded”, and I am purely quoting from the description on the website.
I still think Rapid Fire itself is a bigger scale combined arms game but I could be doing it a dis-service..
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Vodkafan, my comment about “1-1 skirmish” relates to the cut-down “Rapid Fire Reloaded”, and I am purely quoting from the description on the website.
I still think Rapid Fire itself is a bigger scale combined arms game but I could be doing it a dis-service..
Ah but you have set my mind in motion now lol.
I took the rules to work and looked at them in my break with new eyes
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I play all my WWII games at a platoon per side with maybe a vehicle or a few AFVs based on the scenario. I'm just getting into LRDG. I grew up watching Rat Patrol.
May I suggest https://www.wargamevault.com/product/174545/Five-Men-at-Kursk (https://www.wargamevault.com/product/174545/Five-Men-at-Kursk) 5 Men at Kursk from Nordic Weasel. There is a good demo video on YouTube. Very modular rules. I lovet he sci fi version also, 5 Parsecs from Home. Kursk can also be played solo. Easy rules.
I love Operation Squad, an often overlooked game. There is an updated version called Operation Squad Evolution. It's also at Wargames Vault https://www.wargamevault.com/product/150397/Operation-Squad-Evolution?term=Operation+Squ (https://www.wargamevault.com/product/150397/Operation-Squad-Evolution?term=Operation+Squ)
Crossfire is also excellent. Been ages since I played.
There is also the free FUBAR rules you can check out. https://fubarwargames.wordpress.com/downloads/ (https://fubarwargames.wordpress.com/downloads/)
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Vodkafan, my comment about “1-1 skirmish” relates to the cut-down “Rapid Fire Reloaded”, and I am purely quoting from the description on the website.
I still think Rapid Fire itself is a bigger scale combined arms game but I could be doing it a dis-service..
Rapid Fire has always been flexible on the scale of the game, in fact the first scenario in the first edition book is 1:1 figure scale.
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Hmm. I need to dig out my Rapid Fire rules, and see what I can come up with...interesting... 8)
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CP Belt - Rat Patrol - I loved that as a kid!