WW2 Rules Discussion

Here's a recent WW2 rules discussion from the modmil Yahoo group which was interesting and informative.


Subj: Re: [modmil] Hello Everyone...
From: Fred Cartwright
To: modmil@yahoogroups.com
Date: Thu, 01 May 2003 02:02:29 PDT
-- /blue/homes/cowell/Mail/mhl.format --
--- spikenog wrote:
> Hello.
> I am just getting into WW2 gaming and I was wondering if people
> could help me decide on a rules set to use. I would like to use
> skirmish level rules with a 1:1 ratio for tanks, and either 1:1 for
> infantry or one base of guys for a squad.
> My first impression was to go with Microarmor, but I wanted to get
> the opinion of those that play before I made any decisions.
Hi Erich,
First thing you need to decide is what you mean by
skirmish! If you want to play 1:1 with individual
based figures then you are looking at about a platoon
per player as a maximum. If you are going to use
multibased figures then a company per player is quite
managable. Figures go from 6mm to 36mm! As for rules
there are loads to choose from. For a 1:1 individual
based figures:-
Arc of Fire
Battleground WW2
Kampfgruppe Eins/Zwei/Drei
Face of Battle
BAPS
Combat Commander
Stalingrad
Arc of Fire and Battleground WW2 have a similar feel
with AoF playing faster. Combat commander has a
similar feel to Warhammer 40k. Kampfgruppe Eins etc.
are heavily morale orientated, but give a good game. I
don't know much about BAPS, Stalingrad or Face of
Battle. From an economic point of view BAPS and AoF
are the cheapest as they have all you need in one set
of rules. Kampfgruppe Eins covers infantry, Zwei
vehicles and Drei heavy weapons and engineering. Both
Face of Battle and Battleground WW2 have supplements
to cover additional forces and rules. Both are
expensive to get comprehensive coverage.
For multi based figures upto company level actions:-
Crossfire
PBI II
Mein Panzer
Take Cover
Piquet - Point of Attack, Blitzkreig
Both Crossfire and Piquet use initiative based
systems. Crossfire is a very clever set, but some of
the concepts around pinning and group moves are very
difficult to get a grip on. Piquet can be quite boring
if you are on the receiving end of a long run of
initiative from your opponent as all you can do is
take the odd op fire shot. PBI II uses squares to
regulate movement and firing and a motivation/action
points system which emphasises the role of junior
leaders. Don't know much about take cover or Mein
Panzer.
> As for me, I have been gaming and modeling for the past 13 years
> (most of the time with various Games Workshop products), and I have
> always wanted to run scenarios set during WW2. I live in Rhode
> Island USA, and work for the Hasbro company as a prototype toy
> painter.
No chance of getting Hasbro to do traditional toy
soldiers and matchstick firing guns is there? I fancy
some Little Wars type action and can't afford the
prices that "toy soldier" firms charge!
Cheers Fred.

---

Date: Thu, 01 May 2003 21:46:03 +1200
To:
From: "Phil Yates or Fiona McLaughlin"
Subject: RE: [modmil] Hello Everyone...
Hi Erich,
Take a look at Flames Of War www.FlamesOfWar.com. It's 1:1 in both tanks and
infantry with figures based by the fire team. Each player commands about a
company. Players used to Warhammer 40K should pick the game up quickly.
Phil (the author!)
> -----Original Message-----
> From: spikenog [mailto:spikenog@yahoo.com]
> I am just getting into WW2 gaming and I was wondering if people
> could help me decide on a rules set to use. I would like to use
> skirmish level rules with a 1:1 ratio for tanks, and either 1:1 for
> infantry or one base of guys for a squad.