tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5368677310334370714.post1785772502793434845..comments2024-03-28T13:28:42.353+00:00Comments on Battlefields and Warriors: New WWII rules from Anschluss PublishingNormhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05031444717952755557noreply@blogger.comBlogger40125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5368677310334370714.post-78657654415995225502021-03-23T10:34:43.661+00:002021-03-23T10:34:43.661+00:00Thanks Gary, as different beasts and both being so...Thanks Gary, as different beasts and both being sold by Victrix, it will be interesting when the videos of Vloggers start showing some comparison games fought over the same battlefield. I'm sure there will be a lot of Lardie vids.Normhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05031444717952755557noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5368677310334370714.post-42762696157619449892021-03-22T22:51:16.159+00:002021-03-22T22:51:16.159+00:00In O Group the combat/stats and suchlike (especial...In O Group the combat/stats and suchlike (especially spotting) is very broad brush and simple overall but works for 'level' of game. The real meat of game and the key decisions to be made are with the Orders rolls and accompanying actions and this part of system is rather good imho. Different beasts :-) Sgt Steinerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17805201299484374889noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5368677310334370714.post-76631709590881895442021-03-22T17:07:41.433+00:002021-03-22T17:07:41.433+00:00Thanks Iain, there is much to be said for sticking...Thanks Iain, there is much to be said for sticking with a system and getting to know it properly and maximising playability.Normhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05031444717952755557noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5368677310334370714.post-39351424568707464472021-03-22T16:44:48.298+00:002021-03-22T16:44:48.298+00:00Interesting and entertaining post and it sounds li...Interesting and entertaining post and it sounds like a good balance between accuracy and playability, I think my group will stick to bolt action as we almost know what we're doing now!<br />Best Iain caveadsum1471https://www.blogger.com/profile/02174163740406928172noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5368677310334370714.post-53273740604782762422021-03-22T12:13:46.495+00:002021-03-22T12:13:46.495+00:00Thanks Lee, i re-ran the scene in 1/72 and 5 Sherm...Thanks Lee, i re-ran the scene in 1/72 and 5 Shermans grouped just stressed the smaller space too much, but I may try on 6 x 4 and see what that looks like. I am very much enjoying your Epic project.Normhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05031444717952755557noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5368677310334370714.post-4566634615535492962021-03-22T08:45:08.098+00:002021-03-22T08:45:08.098+00:00Hi Norm, that was an excellent read once again. Th...Hi Norm, that was an excellent read once again. The scenario played out really well and certainly reflected the tension of battle, it really drew me in. Of course the table and troops are great, the brewed up Shermans most impressive with the flame markers. I like the hit results reflecting different damage aspects, knocking out the optics or damaging the tracks etc, most realistic. 12mm is perfect scale for these I guess.'Lee.https://www.blogger.com/profile/02728400013024811279noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5368677310334370714.post-88101000155689202002021-03-21T22:51:25.613+00:002021-03-21T22:51:25.613+00:00Thanks Stew, the scale of squads and individual ve...Thanks Stew, the scale of squads and individual vehicles is pretty common for tactical and the game aims for company to battalion games, so I think that is OK. Tracking optical damage and track damage, plus dispersed etc is easy enough, the harder bit is keeping tabs on who spots who.<br /><br />Unfortunately, some work, plus the blog post and then extensive correspondence with the author has kicked off an RSI problem with my wrist, so I am resting it up and (trying :-) to stay away from the keyboard!) I have invested quite a lot of time with the rules, so it will go back to the table, but I will wait until the Q&A sheet is up on the website, plus my wars of the Roses figures are also calling as is my new Wakefield boardgame :-)Normhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05031444717952755557noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5368677310334370714.post-68737227987810728932021-03-21T22:37:34.574+00:002021-03-21T22:37:34.574+00:00I really like the style of the expanded first turn...I really like the style of the expanded first turn during the review. And your table looks ace as well. 😀<br />Did you enjoy these enough that the game will see additional play? And it seemed odd to me that at that scale some units (like tanks) are individual. Seems like a lot of work to track which tank might have optic damage. <br />Spotting rules are sometimes hard to do on the table top but it looks like these work alright. Stewhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00340930167419307092noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5368677310334370714.post-2811079131008077192021-03-21T14:59:37.670+00:002021-03-21T14:59:37.670+00:00Hi Martin, I needed markers to remember who had sp...Hi Martin, I needed markers to remember who had spotted who and I have yet to plug the artillery in, but I would put it around average complexity with the player in the role of either battalion or company commander. The D20 loosens up players actual macro control, but jonathan’s question posed above about similarity to Squad leader and at the tactical end there are strong similarities, while SL is really without a top down command system, so I do see your point. Hopefully in the near future there will be some blog / vlog commentary on someone comparing the same situation using both these and the also new O Group rules for comparison, as Dave Brown does take a ‘top down’ approach to his systems.Normhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05031444717952755557noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5368677310334370714.post-61496417567944900622021-03-21T13:20:11.806+00:002021-03-21T13:20:11.806+00:00Thanks for reviewing these Norm. Sounds like anoth...Thanks for reviewing these Norm. Sounds like another set I'll be passing on, just waay too much detail for the level of command represented for my tastes.Martin Rapierhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16788664847205341619noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5368677310334370714.post-1901627031954352992021-03-21T07:35:08.816+00:002021-03-21T07:35:08.816+00:00Hi Ellis, I think the rules would work at a level ...Hi Ellis, I think the rules would work at a level that would suit your group. The heart of the game works well and the attack charts are slick.<br /><br />There is some brevity in the actual presentation which can cause ambiguity, but I have spent quite a lot of time with the rules and have been putting down some work for the author that should help iron things out in the Q&A download that he is preparingNormhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05031444717952755557noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5368677310334370714.post-37538370261425725772021-03-21T07:23:13.304+00:002021-03-21T07:23:13.304+00:00Thanks Jack, I know the huge effort you put into p...Thanks Jack, I know the huge effort you put into posts, so I appreciate that.Normhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05031444717952755557noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5368677310334370714.post-37177232473489646292021-03-21T05:49:34.833+00:002021-03-21T05:49:34.833+00:00Thanks for this post which I found very informativ...Thanks for this post which I found very informative. I was unsure if these rules were for me, but your article has made my mind up for me. I'm in!Ellis Simpsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11824084848258716512noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5368677310334370714.post-45002670587642772772021-03-21T03:00:40.824+00:002021-03-21T03:00:40.824+00:00Fantastic Norm, a great looking game on a great lo...Fantastic Norm, a great looking game on a great looking table, as always. And thank you so much for all the work breaking down the rules for us, I greatly appreciate it.<br /><br />V/R,<br />Jack<br />Just Jackhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03552962741823929433noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5368677310334370714.post-91900618789207554372021-03-20T23:59:51.577+00:002021-03-20T23:59:51.577+00:00Thanks Gary, I am told that the next scenario book...Thanks Gary, I am told that the next scenario book is not too far away and that will have things in like the Hetzer and Tiger, but I know what you mean, I picked up my Iron Cross rules tonight and they have some goodly data in the one book and I dont think gamers generally want to be drawn too far down a Codex route.<br /><br />I know the author is working on a Q&A document and I think once that is up, the rules will have a smoother learning curve. I am following your encounters with O Group and will be interest in any comparisons that you have between the two sets.Normhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05031444717952755557noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5368677310334370714.post-8073204545683270972021-03-20T23:02:15.405+00:002021-03-20T23:02:15.405+00:00Got it! Thanks for the explanation.Got it! Thanks for the explanation.Jonathan Freitaghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07862373894196924886noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5368677310334370714.post-24265678074343463642021-03-20T22:23:29.984+00:002021-03-20T22:23:29.984+00:00Nice AAR and good info on these rules. I bought th...Nice AAR and good info on these rules. I bought them but not read properly (as been concentrating on O Group). Initial blush was disappointment at low numbers of unit stats included I mean a WW2 set with no Tiger details !! Hopefully get a another gander at them soon. Great looking minis and table as well Sgt Steinerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17805201299484374889noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5368677310334370714.post-20527656983710743052021-03-20T17:13:28.666+00:002021-03-20T17:13:28.666+00:00Individual bases are sections, single support weap...Individual bases are sections, single support weapons and single vehicles, though they are grouped into platoons and company. The Sherman platoon will be 4 tanks plus a platoon HQ tank. They will have an order written for them, so although the individual bases move and shoot separately, they will be acting in unison as a platoon, moving together and working towards the same objective, within the command radius of their immediate HQ.<br /><br />As the tanks get knocked out, the platoon takes a test (effectiveness test). They may pass, but depending on circumstances and current losses, they may falter, become unnerved, shaken or even rout, that status will apply to the whole platoon and stay with the platoon until it can rally the effect off. A rally is a re-test, so it might even score worse!<br />That is the reason why I left my two Shermans ‘faltering’ and advancing really slowly, because a rally test might have actually seen them pull out.<br /><br />if the platoon becomes shaken or routs, then the effectiveness test also escalates up to company level, so that all platoons within the company might suddenly find themselves adversely effected.<br /><br />So as you play, each base plays and feels like it is acting independently, but in reality, it is held hostage within the local and higher command structures.Normhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05031444717952755557noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5368677310334370714.post-41613155024747566682021-03-20T12:47:14.815+00:002021-03-20T12:47:14.815+00:00Norm, what gets binned might make for some interes...Norm, what gets binned might make for some interesting reading but I understand your position very well. Is the BMU a squad (section) or platoon in these rules? That is, does each squad act independently or does each platoon act independently? Are Unit Failure Tests at the squad (one stand) or platoon (four stand) level?Jonathan Freitaghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07862373894196924886noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5368677310334370714.post-82444747211698240712021-03-20T12:16:38.682+00:002021-03-20T12:16:38.682+00:00Thanks Jonathan, Sometimes I get a product and sta...Thanks Jonathan, Sometimes I get a product and start the blog process off, only to discover after investigation / play, that I am not that keen and those draft blog posts get binned. because my articles are long, I just don’t have the enthusiasm to write about something I have not enjoyed and would rather just get o with the next thing, which is why I often remind the reader that i am not a reviewer in the usual sense of the word.<br /><br />it also keeps the blog with a positive tone.<br /><br />Interesting to compare with squad leader as you can still jump sections over hedges and be firing single panzerfausts etc, but i would have to say that it is a level up, as you tend to be thinking in terms of platoons rather than squads, though in reality a squad leader scenario could easily have the number of ‘elements’ on the table as I had here.<br /><br />in that regard, you can have the same tactical action, but you focus is slightly pulled away to a different command level. In some respects that is because Squad Leader doesn’t have a command / organisational structure, if it did, they could be more simiilarNormhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05031444717952755557noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5368677310334370714.post-22503820761383339442021-03-20T12:09:11.845+00:002021-03-20T12:09:11.845+00:00Thanks Steve, I don’t think hopping between sets i...Thanks Steve, I don’t think hopping between sets is ever as good as finding something you like and sticking with it. It will likely be an area of interest for those contemplating the recent Lardie videos.<br /><br />I think the follow on scenario books could be an interest to BKC fans.Normhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05031444717952755557noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5368677310334370714.post-31234079494936288772021-03-20T11:31:53.839+00:002021-03-20T11:31:53.839+00:00First, your game photos and table layout are super...First, your game photos and table layout are superb. Second, your review is first rate. I would enjoy seeing your perspective on products you don’t enjoy so that we can get a more comprehensive view of your personal preferences. A concise, set of WWII tactical rules may be a welcome entry into the period. I had not heard of these before now but a NorthStar advert dropped into my mailbox this morning announcing them. You are ahead of the curve and first out of the box. Is this game set at the same level as, say, Squad Leader?Jonathan Freitaghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07862373894196924886noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5368677310334370714.post-86186116486011447562021-03-20T11:30:59.817+00:002021-03-20T11:30:59.817+00:00I shall certainly keep an eye for those.I shall certainly keep an eye for those.Phil Robinsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14951076081660516802noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5368677310334370714.post-82476427619026061102021-03-20T11:30:45.398+00:002021-03-20T11:30:45.398+00:00Thanks for the review Norm and the rules are intri...Thanks for the review Norm and the rules are intriguing and certainly appear to have some neat mechanisms too them. The scenario books sound good too. However I think I'll stick with BKCII as I know the rules so well and they always give me a good game.Steve J.https://www.blogger.com/profile/12143308117853983963noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5368677310334370714.post-72283249817939836542021-03-20T10:43:08.890+00:002021-03-20T10:43:08.890+00:00Thanks Phil, an interesting point. I play the Hexa...Thanks Phil, an interesting point. I play the Hexasim napoleonic boardgame, which puts the player in the army commander role, but you still get the joy of the in hex nuanced actions, though the results are varied and a bit out of your direct control and so in some respects at the engagement level, you cross your fingers and hope that good training and discipline and a bit of Lady Luck will help you. These rules do a slightly similar thing with the D20 combat and formations subject to tests as elements take losses, so against your wishes, you may see a platoon etc, pull back, abandon a position etc, even if you think that it would have been viable to keep them there.<br /><br />I can see the scenario books catching your eye :-)Normhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05031444717952755557noreply@blogger.com