Rommel Combat Examples Video

[Abwehrschlacht]

I have just published a new video looking in detail at combat examples for Sam Mustafa's Rommel. There's a few examples of some of the situations you might come across in game. Please watch it here (and subscribe to the channel for future videos!):

[robh]

Nice video, very clearly explained.  Although I think you should have tipped the Artillery after it's barrage?

[Abwehrschlacht]

Thanks, yes, you're correct! a slight mistake...

[robh]

It is a very detailed rule set  and takes a bit of working through how everything relates to everything else.

I hope you will continue the series.  Rommel seems to be a very divisive ruleset, people seem to love it or hate it. An abstraction too far for a lot of figure gamers.

[Captain Darling]

I have several of Sam’s rulesets and enjoy them all but in my opinion Rommel should really be a board game (BTW I have nothing against boardgames I’ve been playing them since I got my first SPI one in the 1970’s!)...

[fred]

good video, nice clear steady pictures of nice looking (if small) units and good commentary. One little suggestion, perhaps have a clearer cut to make it clear that the scenario is resetting between each example.

As to a Rommel as a game, I really enjoy it, and it has got my 10mm WWII stuff back on the table. It gives a really good feel of a high level game, attrition is key, keeping a fresh reserve (if possible) can be key to winning. But several of our group do find it too abstract and board game like.

[Abwehrschlacht]

Cheers guys. Yes, there is a lot in the rules, but once you've played a couple of times, most of the main rules stay in your head and there's not a lot of referring to the book during a game, in my experience. I will continue this series and look at some of the other rules in depth in the future. I was thinking of doing the same with Blucher, another Sam game that is also a favourite of mine.

I will take the suggestion for better cuts between examples for future, thanks.

Rommel is quite decisive, I like the abstraction and the simplicity of the gaming mechanics at this level of operations. I can see why people would see it as a board game, maybe a hex grid would make it more like a 'traditional' wargame? I, however, like not having to use measuring tools and coming off the back of Square Bashing (which uses the same six inch grid) I'm happy with it.

[fred]

I agree that the rules are pretty easy to remember once you have played a few turns, its all pretty straight forward and flows well.

I like the cut-out combat results grid - might have to make something similar as these results always need looking up (well unless you roll a 1...)

[Abwehrschlacht]

Thanks, I found the chart in the book almost impossible to work with in a game, so I knocked this up on Word. I put two on an A4 sheet so both players can have one close by. It really improved the game flow.

[Abwehrschlacht]

Here's the one I use: https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B0y0O3VIPAtGWk9XcHVYZ0pORFk/view?usp=sharing

Simply print it on A4 and laminate it.

[fred]

Thanks for sharing

[SteveBurt]

I really like Rommel - it is a true operational level set (and therefore like all operational rules attrition is where it is at).
Very nice rule mechanisms, and it works well in 20mm too!

[boywundyrx]

Thanks for the video, hope to get Rommel in 3mm started this fall.

Chris