"Best Rules for Vietnam War?" Topic

If you were to host a game set during the Vietnam War, which miniatures ruleset would you use?

Charlie Don't Surf, by TooFatLardies.

charlie don't surf

regards

jim

Force on Force rules

FNG by Two Hour Wargames.

Flames of War

Charlie Company

Charlie Company

Depends on the size of the game. But Charlie Don't Surf is perfect for large games. Ambush Valley and FNG for small to medium sized games.

Thanks,

John

FNG or charlie company.

FNG or FoW

Another vote for Charlie Don't Surf. Wasn't there going to be a new edition of Ambush Valley?

Having served 2-1/2 tours there – my recommendation for the best rule is "Run away to Canada", LOL! I can't seem to get myself to play any 'Nam era game.

Cold War Commander

Not the current version of FNG as it's being updated.

Charlie Don't Surf for the true flavour of assymetrical warfare.

Force on Force: Ambush Valley

Depends on scale. Grunt, available as a pdf. Are we taking this hill again?

FNG if you want to more at individual soldiers within units, as well as if you want to play a cooperative campaign with a gamemaster.

Force on Force: Ambush Valley if you are looking for something around platoon-size, maybe a little bigger.

Charlie Don't Surf if you are playing at the company level, and if you modify it you could probably play Troops, Weapons, and Tactics as a platoon-sized game.

From The Delta To The DMZ:

link

Cheers

Jaz
6sided.net

FNG The best around. Looking forward to the second edition

Ambush Valley or Arc of Fire. Both are great for skirmish in Nam, but the former is designed specifically for it and is hellafun!

Incoming. Free on the web somewhere and based on Crossfire.

Cheers
Kieran

I like Iron Ivan's The Long Road South and FNG.

Ambush Valley by AAGs

Charlie Don't Surf for me. FNG if I wanted to go the skirmish route.
BWW

I've not played FNG as I've been waiting on the 2nd edition seemingly forever.
But I like Flying Lead and Stargrunt, although neither are written for Vietnam. I think they both capture the flavor very well.

Ambush Alley looks good but it's larger scale than I like. And Charlie Company is too simplistic for my tastes.

If you're really interested in Vietnam rather than generic modern in Vietnam uniforms than you cannot beat Charlie Don't Surf. Hands down the best Vietnam rules available. Ambush Valley/Force on Force would be my next choice.

My choice is Ambush Valley by AAG

Charlie Don't Surf.

@ DaricM

Ambush Valley and Stargrunt are very similar.

Charlie dont surf x10

Charlie don't surf.

charlie don't surf , and charlie company ( the rafm version ) .

I have played 'Nam games using CWC and they turned out very well. It really depends on how RPG you want to get.

Depending on scale, but most likely Osprey's Force of Force or RAFM's Charlie Company

Charlie Don't Surf, best of the lot

jdg

For small skirmishes and patrols, Paddy Mud (my house rules).

For about a company per side, Beer and Pretzels Skirmish (BAPS).

For a battalion action, modified Tractics.

For brigade actions, Command Decision IV.

Charlie Dont Surf all the way. Fantastic flavour and it's actually set up to not just be about the heroic americans mowing down vietnamese guys.

The need to mind political as well as military victory really set's it apart.

Charlie Don't Surf.

To get the gamers interested? Flames of War, doing the LZ Xray battle of Ia Drang. And the full freaking TO&E, no points. Go big or go home.

Then I'd try to convince them to go for Ambush Valley for games of less-than-company scale.

Crossfire by Arty Conliffe and rule conversions by either Peter at the HKSW or the ones from Grunt Online.

For the League of Gentlemen wWargamers Vietnam weekend in November we used Disposable Heroes / The Long Road South supplement. We had ten players and played over 2 days, initially one vs one games on 6' x 4' tables and then on day two a large 28' x 16' table. Barry has some great photos on his site leagueofaugsburg.com

We were using 28mm figures with regulation squad sizes, helicopters, tanks, vehicles and Brown Water Navy boats so everything was included apart from fighter aircraft. We gave the rules a good run through. I had made some Play Sheets and data cards for the Helicopters but otherwise we used the rules straight from the book with the addition of some event cards designed by Barry.

As an Army Vet on active service unitl 1974, I would definitely use: Force on Force: Ambush Valley. But I do have have a hard time wargaming this period, as I have had friends die in country.

link

;-)

And Wartopia?

Whats ye point?

As the author of Ambush Valley I was hardly going to vote for my own publication now was I… Its called having a little honour and decorum. Plus I always find it a little underhand to recommend your own work dont you?

One doesnt like to blow ones own trumpet.

I happen to still enjoy Charlie Company (yes… AAG players do play other things) even though I do tend to only use AV these days… And for me, CC was the set of rules that made me start gaming Vietnam. Without CC there would have been no Ambush Valley.

It also shows the maturity of AAG in allowing other games to be discussed and mentioned on their in-house forums, but the we all know that Shawn and crew are all good eggs in that regard.

Or is it just another of ye digs at AAG in your vendetta that seems to have been going on for years at this stage? With all due respect it does seem that hardly a week seems to go by when you dont bemoan something about one of the rules they have produced…

But hey, whatever floats ye boat mate. Thats your perogative. I do though think you may be better served to sometimes listen to some of those that discuss your topics with you. I saw one where 'Justice & Rule' utterly rubbished your argument against AAG and to which your response was 'Im not talking to you anymore'. I must remember that line at work… Will resolve meetings and discussions far easier! ;)

Best Christmas wishes to all, I think all the games listed are worthy sets of rules for gaming the Vietnam conflict, each doing so in a different and unique manner. Unlike some, I can play multiple rulesets and still see them for their merits rather than facing them off against each other!

Anyway… I have a game of Kampfgruppe Normandy to plan, Im off!

Piers Brand

(Author of 1st & 2nd Editions Ambush Valley, ex-AAG Dogsbody/Photographer/purveyor of pretty pictures)

Well, Piers, when you're right, you're right. I love Ambush Valley, but agree with you it's a little self-serving to promote one's own game. :) The link that Wartopia furnishes was simply you and I teasing Shawn, since I was a playtester of Charlie Company back in the day for my good friend John Reeves, author of same. Obviously someone failed their roll to detect 'Humor.' :)

Vive l'difference is all I can say. Play whatever game or system suits you! Because I work for Ambush Alley Games hasn't stopped me from playing whatever I feel like.