"Are Flames of War points consistent from Mid to Late War?" Topic

For example, would an American Confident Trained Mid War M1A1 Sherman with 75mm gun cost the same in Late War?
Or, does the "algorithm" change from period to period? Are the stats lines unchanged?

If so, are ALL forces consistent? Tanks, infantry, artillery, etc.

One reason I ask is that with Early War coming up, will we see hordes of cheap puny tanks, or will THEIR points be adjusted upwards?

Unlike other games, there are no First Principles in the main rules from which a gamer can build his forces.

The "algorithm" does change from Mid to Late, and by implication from Mid to Early. Infantry should stay the same, but anything with a armor value or AT value will be subject to a different formula. Shermans, for example, have a vastly different points value in Mid War and Late War. They're about 115 each in Mid War and IIFC about 80 points each in Late War.

I think it changes. Don't Tigers become "cheaper" in Late War? I'm certain Allen will be along directly to clarify.

It does make sense for things to adjust – the Germans won't be veterans in early war, and a Stuart light tank in 1942 is much more dangerous than it would be in 1945.

Wyatt

"the Germans won't be veterans in early war"

Umm, the German Army was at the peak of its quality in 1941/42, and 'veteran' seems a reasonable reflection of that. A third wave infantry division trudging across the Meuse in 1940 isn't of course.

Heck, *I* don't write that stuff. Rusty Shackleford is correct.

Allen

Points differ between periods. The same tank will be pointed differently in early, mid, and late. A medium tank will cost about the same in all periods, but what is considered a medium tank changed radically in a few years.

I think people take the names of things too literally. The skill levels are really just below average, average, and better than average. Ratings are based on the performance of the unit at the time.

So, the rating of the German forces in 41/42 will depend largely on if they actually successfully invaded France and Poland or not.

A lot of the points costs have to take into account the training and morale, and the special rules for that nation that appl;y at the time.
Plus, the "what feels right at the time" fudge factor.
I do wish they had a First Principles Points table, like DBM, WRG nth and so on, so the points could be done mathematically….
Scratch that. I just remembered the new foramt. FoW players are incapable of doing any math beyond simple addition.

John

Simple addition is anything but simple in a game where 3 times 100 yards (PIAT and assault rifles range 8") is equal to 1,000 plus yards (Light AT guns and HMGs range 24")

To complicate things further 9 times 100 yards is well over five miles (72" range for field guns and howitzers)

No wonder people are confused!

I'm sure the "flexible scale" for points works just as well.

My guess is that the final points cost is 75% derived from First Principles (stat lines), and 25% fudge factor to please play testers. I have no problem with that, They are naturally weighted towards what the designers think "feels right".
I was just vainly trying to see if they could be engineered backwards to get a guess at EW stat lines and points.

John the OFM, you poor, poor soul. Don't you realize that FoW is nothing more than Warhammer 40K with a better integrated air support and artillery rules system? There are no scaleable points to be had in either system. No algorythm was designed to weigh variables for a comparable point cost system which has a workable ability to provide a theoretical balance to the forces. They thought that an algorythm would be too much of a hassle as so many things just don't feel right when you then playtest them.

1942 Tiger – 385 points
1944 Tiger – 240 points

If you would like the old PDF files which they made – I have them saved and could forward them to you.

PM sent.

So ignore points, at least until they're official!

So far as I know, the stat lines are consistent between periods, though there have been a few tweaks and outright errors over the years.

- Bob