"Back in the USSR..." Topic

How many people have recently used, or are currently using, an incarnation of Bolt Action Miniatures' "Ultra Simple Skirmish Rules" for their "micro-tactical" skirmish engagements? The Yahoo group for USSR seems dead, having had no posts for over a year. I'm wondering whether that fact, plus the changing face of Bolt Action Miniatures, has seen people move on to other pastures.

Also, the rules are (understandably) very WWII daylight oriented. I'd like to know if anyone's made efforts to "house rule" things like mines/boobytraps/IEDs, night actions/vision gear, launched grenades, or other useful modifications.

Finally, is there a retail source for these rules? I've one set, generously donated by a fellow gamer, but it seems there are no copies available for sale anywhere.

Seems a shame…..

Questing Duck

Unfortunately, I don't know of a source for the rules you'd like. I can recommend the Disposable Heroes rules for WWII and Eastern Front battles. There are rules for mines/booby traps and night fighting. Are you looking for post-WWII rules for cold war conflicts like Russian Invasion of Afghanistan and such? Then the DH guys have a set of rules for post WWII conflict too, called Seek Out, Close with and Destroy ( with IEDs, night vision, and grenade launchers. You could adapt the special rules you are interested in to "Ultra Simple Skirmish Rules". Of course you could switch whole hog to DH rules too. Good luck and good gaming!

They used to come as part of a boxed starter set. At least that's how I got mine. The good news is that you can use any number of alternate skirmish rule sets at the same level of game. I am very fond of Nuts. Battleground WW2 has a big following as well. There are plenty of others.

- Bob