"Modern Rules Recommendation for 3mm minis" Topic

I plan to run some convention games using modern 3mm pico armor minis (really cool stuff!!). Set cold war or later in Germany. Looking to put a couple of Soviet/Russian regiments up against a couple of US battalions – probably 4 -5 players on a side on a 4'x8' or 5'x6' table

Looking for rules recommendations for the best received/most popular rules for modern micro/pico armor.

I own Cold War Commander, Fistful of Tows 3, Modern Spearhead, GHQ's Modern Micro Armor Game, & GDW's long out of print Combined Arms.

Back in the day, played lots of Combined Arms – considering getting the newest version of Test of Battle & using the various blogger's modern updates.

Looking for something easy for players to pickup without much prior experience with the rules & not terribly fiddly.

Leaning against the GHQ rules or Modern Spearhead but could be convinced to give them another shot.

So…. from your experiences, what rules set would be the best fit – get the greatest amount of interest & gamers to the table. More importantly, why do you feel that "….." is the best fit for my needs.

Many thanks in advance & hoping for lots of participation

No suggestions sorry but I'm thinking of something similar at a new gaming store/group with my picoarmour stuff too. A simple alternate to CWC that can be easily mastered and allow a game to be played in a couple of hours evening session by relatively new players.

Why are you leaning against GHQ? I was considering buying a copy on ebay.

Why not modern spearhead, as probably the best game for that kind of level, with enough detail.

Cold War Commander would be the way to go, IMHO.

Try pz8 easy 2page rules

link

I don't know if FUBAR covers modern

I can understand why not the GHQ rules. Someone have mentioned in a previous thread the problems with it. I would think that either FFT3 or Modern Spearhead would be the best for 3mm-1/600 Oddzial Osmy (O8)miniatures. And of course if you want simple and fast there is the Pz 8 – 1950/1975 and 1975/2010 Wargame Rules,
"One base of infantry, artillery or one model represents one
platoon or battery. Troops can be Elite, Average or Green.
Bases can be 1" or 30mm squares., or whatever other sizes
you already have. 1" in the rules represents 100 mt; when
playing infantry scenarios, use 1" = 50 mt (i.e. double all
distances)".
PDF link

Robert

My 3mm-1/600 Miniature Aircraft Wagaming Yahoo Group
link

3mm_miniatures · 1/600_miniatures Yahoo Group
link

There is also the Free Alienstar – World War 3 rules
for 1955 to 2010 using 2mm to 1/35th scale. Its Battalion to Corps level if you can download a copy of it.

Robert

My 3mm-1/600 Miniature Aircraft Wagaming Yahoo Group
link

3mm_miniatures · 1/600_miniatures Yahoo Group
link

I'd say FoT3 or Bruce McFarlane's Modern Hordes of the Things. I don't think you can get easier than a DBA clone for convention play ;)

I have really enjoyed using the World at War series board games from Lock N Load, converted to miniatures. I use micro armor and GHQ terrain maker 4" hexes and the rules as written. I see no reason why it couldn't be done with 3mm minis. You might want your units to have more tanks/men per stand to get the effect of mass. The use of terrain maker hexes for the terrain could work, but you would have to make sure that the stand size you choose for your bases plays well with the terrain you construct.

The rules are easy to teach, but still give a good feel for the period. I ran an Iran-Iraq War game with them and our club members picked up the rules quickly and had a very good time. I also ran a scenario using the White Star Rising WW2 rules (similar mechanics to the World at War series) in a Battle of the Bulge setting that worked out just fine. Some different club members ran the forces in that one and picked up the game quickly and enjoyed it.

For a con game I would probably go with the 2 page modern rules, you can hand EVERY player a copy of the rules that way.

Modern Spearhead would be a second choice, with proper setup the actual rules a player needs to know can be quickly taught. The mechanisms are easy enough but some players may get hung up on the written orders.

Although I would play the latest Command Decision at home in a heartbeat I would not run it at a con, it seems to take a while for players to get the knack of it.

Finally CWC, I'm sure some of my stifles come from saying it over and over but the game is a dog, how anyone can stand it's combat mechanisms is beyond me.

For a convention game for ten players I'd usually either write my own or do a very, very simplified version of a commercial set. I've generally found people want to play the game, not learn lots of rules.

If you just want to use a commercial set I'd always vote for Modern Spearhead, but with such a small engagement there isn't to be much for 5 US players to do so CWC might be a better choice.

I don't think MSH would work with only a couple of US battalions. It needs a bigger force than that.

I'd recommend FFoT for that type of engagement. Or, as you note, the old Combined Arms set from GDW. If you have CPQ there were lots of updates over the years.

I have been experimenting with a hybrid version of FFOT3 with the command system (activation die roll) from CWC and using the FFOT3 quality number as a number of hits system.

FFOT3 current system is that a failed quality check means the unit evaporates.

I have changed this so that a failed quality check would receive a die = to the quality number of the unit. Every turn the pips would reduce by one. While the unit has a die behind it, it's adjusted ROF is x .5, fractions less then 1 ROF equals no fire. It can not advance. It can (and should retreat) Every new turn it loses 1 pip of the dice. If it is not visible to an enemy unit it loses 2 pips

If it has more then 50% of its Quality number as pips and fails another QC in the next turn it is destroyed.

This system makes it harder to kill infantry and pour quality troops. The original system is more focused on armored combat. It also preserves the use of combine arms ie hit then with artillery and or covering fire then rush in and kill them while they are trying to recover.

CWC produces good results but the process ( a bucket of dice can kill anything and HQs in front of your troops) is goofy. So while playing it can be frustrating to watch an uber tank taken out by spitball firing unit. Also the basic CWC rules needs an updating (although the website is very usefull), updating to the BKC2 system would be a good start.

Sudwind, I'm with you on the LNL game. I have finished most of my vehicles now have to make the terrain and hex off my green sheet. Do you have any pics of you game, I wouldlove to see them.
I am using 2 tanks per unit taking away one model when it is reduced and using 3.5" hexes. I may just go ahead with the 4" and use some of the terrain hexes as templates and hills.
I have USSR 80 tanks 36 APCs plus support VS US German and Brits.

Alienstar – World War 3 rules:
link

I have a set designed for 6mm-1/285th-1/300th that would work. but it is easy to convert movement and ranges.
They cover from 1939-2000.
There free in the "Files" section of The Central California Wargamers site: link

There called: COMBINED ARMS WARFARE 10.0

Or I can email them to you.
Bob Henry
badbobalbino@aol.com

CWC might be the easiest and most appropriate for a convention level game. Although I think the game has a few issues that ultimately turned me off, I doubt those issues would come up at a convention game though because it's a one off thing.

Our group is going to try FFT3 soon to see if it's a good alternative. It also has a set of free intro rules that are much simpler and maybe suitable for a con.

BTW, if anyone is interested, I have a 1984 Soviet armoured battalion's worth of picoarmor I'd be willing to trade for 6mm moderns or cash. I want to trade up in scale and I can be contacted at jskargar at gmail dot com

I'm busy writing rules for a speculative limited engagement border war between India and China, 2014. It is intended for 3mm.

If you're trying to get the uninitiated involved. I'd say either CWC or the quick start Fistful of TOWs rules. Or to go off list, Bruce McFarlane's modern Hordes of the Things.

I've had tremendous success getting people involved in new periods with DBx games – they're just so easy to pick up.

I'd be interested to hear about anything done with Lock and Load World at War for miniatures.

Thanks,

John

Irregular Miniatures have a set of mechanised rules for WWII and modern. Ideal for 3mm.

Jeff