"Who has read the new Warhammer Historical Great War Rules?" Topic

I posted this last week and got no responses from anyone who's actually read the rules.

You must be out there. Please take the time to tell me a bit more about them. How do the mechanics work? How many models per unit, etc.? Thanks.

Apparently no one is buying it, which is too bad as I was hoping for some reviews

I should be getting mine in 2 weeks or so from OMM. The only thing I've seen on a review board is that the armies are 1914 and 1918. If I understand things correctly, a forthcoming book will have 1915-1917 included.

Don't know much more after that.

Erik

They are selling fine on preorder and my shipment is due to arrive this week.

Lon Weiss
BrigadeGames.com

Sorry – I've not seen them yet either. I'm just another one who'd like to see a review!

I think the traders hardly got their copies by now so it might be worth to wait another week until some people actually got the book. And give them a few hours to read it;-)

Smallest unit is a platoon and that's represented by around 10 figs (8-14 or so I think).

So nobody can even BUY the book yet and we have folks expecting reviews? C'mon, guys, at least let them release the darn thing before you start complaining! 8)=

Naw you have to go with a preemptive strike. That way no one can say you didn't do your job. I know here at work they expect us to see into the future and anticipate what will happen. So go ahead and give a review even if you haven't seen the book yet.

I can review the dream I had
of playing the game.
Two Thumbs up!
Of course in my dream there
were Perry Plastics
and featured articles in the
White Dwarf.

I'm fortunate enough to have a copy and also to have spoken to Alex Buchel (co designer?) about the expansions recently.

The rules are based on 40k I'm told, although I can't compare as I don't do much sci fi gaming. The usual Warhammer stats are used, as are the hit and wound rolls, but only saving throws for cover.
Figures represent 2-3 actual men, arranged in companies of 2 or 3 platoons, each platoon being around 10 or 12 figures for 1914, less for 1918 (the army lists included are for Germany, France and the BEF in 1914 and 1918).
Expansions are to be released for trench warfare 1915-1917, other theatres (Dardanelles, East Africa etc.), the eastern front and Russian civil war.
Sample scenarios and missions are included, as well as rules for vehicles and heavy weapons.
HMGs use an extended flamer template and can be used for sweeping (24") or sustained fire (36"). Artillery uses blast templates.
Units hit can be pinned, or choose to go to ground to minimise casualties but forfeit fire and movement.

Let me know what you want to know, I'm happy to oblige, but no, I won't be typing the entire rules!

As a brief review, I have read the rules twice now and believe they are an excellent system for small scale actions. I'm inspired enough to have bought a 28mm 1918 French army from Old Glory, and as I usually game in 15mm that's saying something.
The mechanisms are tried and tested with subtle changes that add to the Great War atmosphere- the rules for HMGs should see them dominate the battlefield. The illustrations are lavish, showing the excellent Great War Miniatures Kaiserschlacht demo game, Renegade Miniatures and Brigade Games figures in scenes and accompanying the army lists. I think people will buy it, and on my recommendation, they should if they are remotely interested in the period. Shellhole Scenics make excellent 28mm trenches I'm told, that should solve the problem of suitable trench scenery (or you could do what I did and make your own). If not, use the rules for 1914 or the breakthrough battles of 1918.

Whoops! Shellhole Scenics might make 28mm trench systems but it's actually Ironclad miniatures I was thinking of.

So, Captain Haddock, how do you think the ruleset will convert to 10-20 mm figures?

Captain Haddock:

Thanks for the brief – appreciate the info. v/r, Dean

Why would 20mm be an issue? I'm confused?

Thanks,

John

Is it turnbased like WH40K? If so how many turns is a game? Is it "competitionbased" like WHFB/WH40K. Is there points for units/special characters? do you build your own armies?

Basically is it WH40K but in WWI?

But most important of all, is there opportunity fire? That is do you get to fire when the opponent is moving his figures?

I have been running to the mail box everyday when I get home from work. One day TGW will be in there, I hope.

Thanks a lot for the review, Cap'n. Now I have to drag someone else into this game.

It's based on 40k?! Now THAT is really making me think twice about buying the system until I've tried it out. I absolutely cannot stand the basic 40k rules. :(

BugStomper-thats really good, because its not basic 40k rules. They have been re-written to such an extent that they only bare a passing resemblance to 40k.

and no, its not tournament based like wh40k is.

I got my rules from Magister Militum yesterday, they are really well done, I ordered some Great War miniatures straight off the bat after I read them over.

Magister Militum sent me two copies of the game and I only ordered one, so that was nice!

It is turn based. How closely it resembles 40k I can't say, I don't know 40k that well so without any comparison I can only comment on what I've read and seen.

The game reads like it will play well. I'll be testing it in the next couple of weeks, I'll post my second opinion when I have. I enjoyed the quick go I had in London. The game flowed well and had a Great War 'feel' to it, so it can't be that similar to 40k.

No opportunity fire as far as I can see. Figures fire in companies, at the nearest enemy unit unless a command figure compels them to fire beyond to a different target.
HMGs don't move once fired, they sweep a target or fire in the sustained role.
One slight problem for me is that only 13pdr horse artillery has rules for movement using limbers. Medium guns (77mm, 75mm, 18 pdr) don't have this luxury! House rules can change that of course.

Hey Rat of Tobruk,

Let me know when yours arrives. I'm doing exactly the same thing (running to the mail box everyday..)

chaos0xomega "its not basic 40k rules. They have been re-written to such an extent that they only bare a passing resemblance to 40k."

PHEW!!

Will do Beano

Hi Captain Haddock

if you live within striking distance of Nottingham Alex will be running a great war game at our campaign weekend on the 31 May/ 1 June weekend. Full details on the Warhammer Historical web site, where somewhere deep with in the blog there is a brief play test battle report.

We plan to add a few more battle reports over time as we are currently setting up a micro site to help support the game.

Kind regard

Rob Warhammer Historical Manager

Well I've managaged to get my grubby mits on a set and they look like great fun. Although they are roughly based on WH40k they actually look as though they will play alot faster and a lot less complicated. No super heroes either! I'm off to play a game at the weekend so I'll post my views on the game when I get back.

As for the book itself I'm glad to say that they are similar to LOTHS/LOTOW in that they are very highly polished with lots of excellent eye candy and are an easy read. If you don't like WH40k don't be put off by these as they are not the same set of rules.

I did wonder if there would be some sort of effect from bagpipes- that would have been a very Warhammery thing to do- I might make something up for the 'Ladies from Hell'
I used to use 40K for the Spanish Civil War ( those National Chaos Daemons were quite something!)- I mean the Chaplins and Commissars were already there.

Thats Nationalist Chaos Daemons of course…