Operation Squads by Warlord Games?

[Achilles]

Just ordered this, some plastic Brits to paint up as Canadians and a wileys driver for a spare jeep I have from doing US Paras. Anyone played it yet? It looks neat from the previews. Anyone know of any reviews out there?

[Chairborne_General]

have a wootchers here:http://theminiaturespage.com/boards/msg.mv?id=217150

[midismirnoff]

At first I didn't catch it was a skirmish version of "Operation World War Two"!
From the example i read in the italian page it seems very dicey. Kind of rolling 5d6+5 three times to determine the outcome of an smg burst.
OWW2 had a lot of (justified) success in Italy, but it was more platoon size with mostly 20mm models. It relied a lot on card activation, not everybody's cup of tea.

[Achilles]

Interesting... hopefully it's my cup of tea cuz I just ordered it!

[midismirnoff]

Let us know how it is.

[enionline]

Hi to all, i'm an italian wargamer, after more test with other ruleset now i play at OPERATION SQUAD, the ruleset is very easy and the method of play is most dinamic and very similar to some war situation. The games is very intensive and fast, one game in 2 hour, the activation is very interesting because there is the possibility to move in contemporary and to prevent the move of your enemy in turn, this make a very dinamic situation like a real war action.
I hope to help you, sorry for my bad english.

[maverickv]

Excuse for the bad english...
I am one of the authors of Operation Squad
You can find more news, rules and free new list at

http://www.torrianimassimo.it/operationsquad/ (Soon in english too!)

 or at the player's forum

operationsquad.forumfree.it

And this is a quick explanation of the game

Hi
Valentino

__________________________________
Operation Squad
After about a year after his older brother OPERATION WORLD WAR TWO (at platoon and single wagon) comes this regulation entirely devoted to minor clashes between individual teams.
Based on the now well-known system of action-reaction, this new game system waiver of priority cards from the original game (it acted according to the number) for an equally valid mechanism where the comparison between the results of the dice determines the speed of execution .
To explain it more easily make an example:
Maximus has won the initiative and says it will shoot with a Fallschirmjäger, an American paratrooper who advances in the road. George responds by declaring that his model will be running out of sight around the corner. You roll the dice to determine the priorities. Max gets 12. George gets 11. At this point we get to execute their orders. First Massimo will fire if the American paratroopers will survive George the move indoors. If George had achieved something more would have acted first invalidating the action of the German. Regardless of the outcome, both models will be given a token to remind Agito who can not do anything else in turn.
 
As is easy to see from the example just made the possibilities are endless. George could stop and shoot, shoot and then could move, and so on.
Difficult in other games you can find such a variety of actions combined with the absolute uncertainty of the outcome. But that's not all. The system is extremely easy to learn and is entirely based on the total removal of six-sided dice. Given that you use to shoot the sum of 3 dice and the result is influenced by the sum / subtraction of other nuts, learning is immediate. Take another example:
Sergeant German armed with MP40 submachine gun decides to move to fire on a British paratroopers in a wood. The distance between the two, after the movement is 19 cm. Checking the table of weapons that can be seen at this distance is 2d6 and add that the frequency is 3 (or will be carried out three separate attack rolls). The attack roll will be: 3d6 + 5 (the tactical value of Sergeant) + 2d6 (short range). This result will be subtracted for the 2d6 and 1d6 of the forest cover for the fact that the sergeant moved before firing. The result will determine the total damage. This procedure is repeated three more times by applying the result (cadence).
It covers rules for land, injure or kill the opponent model. The games are fully based on scenarios that cover the normal missions: reconnaissance, occupation, conquest, retrieving wounded comrades and top secret documents.
The volume includes 48 color pages listings for American, British, Russians and Germans, the Red Devil to Fallschirmjäger, from the Ranger Commandos, for a total of 12 different exercises possible.
Each team is based on a score basis and can be complemented by new weapons, equipment, and soldiers up to the match points. In this way the fights are always balanced and historically correct. The tables are minimized and the game is divided into 8 rounds. Do not miss the special rules to simulate the ability of snipers, doctors, charismatic leader … all operated in an extremely simple and easy to read tables. The scale of the game is based on models in 28 mm but can also be used in those 1 / 72 by halving the distance. The game table is the standard 120 x 120 cm. Will be available soon new exercises and historical scenarios for free download from the site. They are working in Japanese Americans in the Pacific, Italian, and next year will see the light also the first expa nsion dedicated to light vehicles.
The game system, suitably adapted to meet the different needs, will also be published shortly for the medieval period.

[Tabletop Warrior]

I am a long time lurker, but I am finally posting. 

I just received the Operations Squads rules (I am in the US) by mail from Warlord Games.  They delivered quickly and the rules were well packaged for the cross-Atlantic transit.   

Before I ordered, I'll admit I was a bit concerned about the translation from Ialian to English.  But the writing is clear and enjoyable.  The rulebook itself is well put together with excellent production values.
 
The rules seem to play well.  I have done a few firefights this evening to get down the game mechanics.  I plan to put them to further use this weekend.  The WWII background is nicely done, but these rules can easily be tweaked for use with modern miniatures.  I was playtesting with Empress miniatures, U.S. infantry vs Taliban. 

Lately, I have been playing Flying Lead (FL) and Ambush Alley/Force on Force (AA/FoF).  The Operation Squad rules are a nice addition to my collection, and seem to fit neatly between FL and AA/FoF.  By that I mean they offer slightly less detail than FL while offering the "interrupt" style systems I appreaciate in AA/FoF.

I recommend them.

[Mac V]

I was under the impression that Flying Lead was pretty low detail, and faster play. Interesting........

I LOVED FoF when I read it, but it just didn't catch on with my players for WWII. I think there were just too many reactions. I pretty much had to actively run the game from start to finish, which got tiring.

Have to check Op Squad out. LOVE how they handle the different squads and the fact that they all play a little differently.

[Tabletop Warrior]

In Flying Lead (FL), individual models can have a number of varying characteristics.  So models can be much more individualized.  Creation of your squad or team can be far more involved in FL than in Ambush Alley/Force on Force (AA/FoF) or Operation Squad.  Operation Squad does allow you to add different weapons to your squad such as a sniper, machine gun, or a mortar.  But you cannot create the A-Team with Operation Squad.  In FL, you can.  That is what I was referring to when I compared level of detail.

My 14 y/o son and I just played our first game of Operation Squad. We both agreed it was a fun game.  The action was very cinematic.

For example, in one sequence an Amercan rifleman declared he was going to rush forward to the next area of cover.  A german rifleman declared he was going to shoot the American while he was in the open.  A second Amercian rifleman declared he was going to shoot at the German rifleman.  We rolled for the order in which the actions took place.  The firing American rifleman went first, pinning the German.  The first American ran to the next position unmolested.  To me, it looked like a classic use of covering fire as seen in Band of Brothers!

In Operation Squad, action/reaction sequences are limited to three models per side, and a model can only act one time per turn whether it is an action or reaction.  So we had no problem keeping things straight even when six models were acting in a single sequence.

When I ordered Operation Squad I was hopeful, but a bit skeptical that it would be worth the money.  I was wrong.  I like it and recommend it.  

All of the rule sets that we (my gaming group) have used and liked for 28mm WWII miniature gaming required at least a platoon per side.  Now that I have a good set of rules that plays well with one squad per side, I think I will finally expand my mini collection and invest in some U.S. Airborne models!

[maverickv]

I'm happy that you like the game.

Here you can find new lists  (in english version too!):

http://operationsquad.forumfree.it/?f=9288247

Hi
Valentino

[Rich J]

Well I wrote Flying Lead and love (and helped with) Force on Force - SO I'm going to have to give them a go   
Ordered from WL just now !

[Tabletop Warrior]

Thank you for the link to additional lists.  I hope there will be an English translation of the Kelly's Heroes list.

[maverickv]

Thank you for the link to additional lists.  I hope there will be an English translation of the Kelly's Heroes list.

For the movie lists send us a private e-mail to

operationsquad@libero.it

Hi
Valentino

[Rich J]

Added a 'sort of review' on my blog:
http://surfshackgames.blogspot.com/