Scenario: A War Between the UK and China

[tomcat51]

Nothing major in size, company sized engagements in 6mm with the odd 28mm skirmish. Borneo it is then, India can take care of itself. This wargaming lark is a minefield, maybe i should just take out a second mortgage and play 40k instead, they don't even care why they are fighting or if it makes a lick of sense 

[AKULA]

tomcat I'd admire your style - you are a true wargames butterfly.... three pages of posts and one day later and you are already on your third idea (or was it the second one you went back to?)

Of course the danger is that you will have changed your mind in the period between ordering the figures, and them arriving in the post (something I've done only too often myself)

 

[Arlequín]

As far as changing course goes, I'm the guy who lives in a glass house, so no stones being thrown by me. I see it more as testing ideas than procrastination in any case. 

A notable thread though and I particularly like the 'soap opera' element Arrigo has thrown into the ring. Forget the rights and wrongs of British defence policy (which is drifting into current affairs in any case), I want to hear more about romance across the 'Bamboo Curtain'.

 

[commissarmoody]

Another idea is for a possible civil war in China. I mean in the future not now. Good excuse to get England involved if the new territory/ break away/ independent Hong Kong ask for humanitarian help or some such reason to go back.
And thus conflict.
Would be an easier sale to the public if Jonny was going to China to help with food distribution, not fighting with two major factions in Chinese civil war, will trying to secure the economic zone.

[tomcat51]

Yes! A Chinese civil war, Hong Kong want out and the UK happily obliges them. This wargaming butterfly is on the move again! I could go completely left field and take China back to the Five Kingdoms period, but in the modern day. I do know that China does has some internal issues with divisions along religious and ethnic linest hat could be played on, especially further inland to the west of the country, but I worry that it comes a bit close to the current affairs rules on the forum topic.

[commissarmoody]

The 5 kingdoms concept is an easy one to do. Maybe us the military districts as the base of regional warlords.
And there are lots of reasons or things that could result in the party losing the mandate of heaven. Economic, social, environment..etc.
Just say the powers that be in Hong Kong did not want to get involved in the conflict but want independence from the now waring state.
The U.K. gets involved for humanitarian, economic reasons along with the old historical we used to own Hong Kong reasons.
The USA is busy securing other locations so this is a totally British affair.
They say for combatants you have loyalists government forces, rebel and war lord military units. And don't forget the urban insurgent forces that for one reason or another do not want the Anglo task force there.

[Arrigo]

As far as changing course goes, I'm the guy who lives in a glass house, so no stones being thrown by me. I see it more as testing ideas than procrastination in any case. 

A notable thread though and I particularly like the 'soap opera' element Arrigo has thrown into the ring. Forget the rights and wrongs of British defence policy (which is drifting into current affairs in any case), I want to hear more about romance across the 'Bamboo Curtain'.

 

Which soap opera elements? 

[Arrigo]

2nd Chinese civil war:

https://shop.strategyandtacticspress.com/ProductDetails.asp?ProductCode=MW19

seems someone has prepared a strategic level game on the subject just in time... 

but Tomcat, try to focus... even if in your defense you are keeping the same miniatures, just changing background!   

[commissarmoody]

  very nice.

[tomcat51]

Sorry discussion of current affairs is not permitted. 

[Arrigo]

Well,

<note to Arlequin, if I straddle just remove my post...   >

You can have a look at the game rules on Modern War webpage. I think it is a valid scenario, even if do not think it is probable. You have historical precedents, a believable force setting. You can even rationalize the thing as: corrupt officials of the army and the party realized their best chance  is to fire back with force. Happened in the past. The advantage of going this road is that you can have the game providing a satisfying strategic narrative and then write it up as the background. Of course there will be people who will suggest to create a metagame... but all the attempts I have seen have floundered in disaster. There was even someone who approached Phil Sabin asking if there was a way to use his Hell's Gate as a scenario generator for tactical games (once they suggested Panzergrenadier, another time ASL...). The thing happened on BGG, but it was term time so I was seeing Phil quite often so we discussed it in person and he told me "yes, I tole them do it if you want" (and he had his typical tone when he means "this is perfectly doable in theory but...)

It is better to play the game on the map, (as often happen with Ty's games it promises to be bloody and quick) then use it to write down a narrative and then create the setting for the actual miniature gaming. I once did it for a WW3 set of scenarios using boardgames to trace the narrative. Well, the first one who get the game (it has not yet shown up in UK so I cannot simply go to Leisure and grab a copy), can try it and post a narrative of his first play!

Otherwise you can try this one:

http://shop.strategyandtacticspress.com/ProductDetails.asp?ProductCode=MW012

I have it and I like it. I played it 3-4 times and the different preparation levels ensure you have a great deal of playability, plus the narratives I created were quite enticing and had several good idea for 6mm battles. I think it is one of the strongest games from Joe Miranda.


  

[Arlequín]

Okay gentlemen, I've edited your posts to conform to forum rules. Discussion of current affairs is not permitted.

I am prepared to accept a hypothetical future conflict between 'real' or imaginary nations, as long as discussion of the causes does not stray into real world events.

 

[commissarmoody]

I think I will be ordering some of those games when I next get paid. Give me an excuse to use the moderns I have. And to buy a few more to flush out the forces....When is Empress coming out with more Chines vehicles in 28s? 

[tomcat51]

Empress have been threatening to release the ZBD-2000 for a while I think. I thall definitely be snaffling it up, I've only ever seen Chinese vehicle in 1:35 scale.

[commissarmoody]

They need to hurry up, I feel the need for some east Asian action.