"Best Rules for Planetary Assaults?" Topic

Looking for a good, mid-range, somewhat abstracted set of rules for running Planetary Assaults for a Spaceship Campaign, and/or Planetary Invasions, in cases where I may not want to fight the battles out in detail (say like with the Full Thrust rules mods).

Rules for conducting Planetary Bombardments would be a bonus, if those are available too.

Looking for something midway between the 1st edition of Imperium, and Prefect boardgames.

Not sure how Fifth Frontier War, and/or Power Projection Fleet handle these scenarios, but think one, or the other, or both just might fit the bill. Invasion Earth might as well, but is probably a bit too detailed for my needs.

Ideally, it'd be nice if there was some sort of planetary map, where defense, and or attacking units could be placed to hold ground, outmaneuver opponents for key objectives, conduct attacks, etc.

I imagine the appropriate force levels for the boardgame pieces would represent battalions, regiments, brigades, or divisions.

Being able to conduct and resolve a planetary attack in 10 – 60 minutes, with some tactical maneuvering would be nice, in order to permit games with attacks in multiple star sectors in an afternoon.

Interactions and blockades between planetary defense forces, and attacking ships in orbit would be a plus too.

Does anyone make a rules set like that?

It'd be nice to use some of the above as a backdrop for more detailed games on the tabletop, using minis as well, if they could be tied together in some way, e.g. map movement for the units, and then fighting out battles in smaller scales, e.g. platoon to company level actions, in 15mm scale, or using 6mm minis.

Here's a previous posting providing some discussion on the subject:

TMP link

Full Thrust / Dirtside with the More Thrust interface rules.

Hmmm….my gut says to vote for Fifth Frontier War (Power Projection uses the same rules for their campaign). Invasion: Earth uses lots of the same mechanics as FFW, with more details – map of the planet and detailed combat based on proximity. You get combat between units (up to army level in some cases) with orbital bombardment baked in. Planetary defenses are handled in the SDB numbers, which may or may not be the best solution.

Invasion: Earth would take longer as combat has more manuever and terrain effects incorporated.

I would not discount Imperium. That was a pretty quick system for resolving planetary assaults. It allowed for planetary defense batteries, orbital bombardment, orbital assault and ground troops. Generalized, but quick. It does lack the elements of manuever and terrain.

I think Invasion Earth is exactly midway between Imperium/FFW and Prefect treatment of the subject. There are suggestions in the back of the rules for using I:E in situations other than the invasion of Terra.

In one of the original JTAS issues there are suggestions for adding a bit more detail to Imperium planetary combat. It is JTAS No.5 starting at page 16. Well worth a look.

Prefect might be a good fit, a complete system/planetary assault system. OOP, but probably you can get the rules from free on Scribd or someplace, or on eBay:

link

Another vote for Invasion Earth.

Cerberus? Invasion of the Air Eaters? Both require adaptation, obviously.

Bizarrely, Squadron Strike's campaign rules include a good, somewhat abstract ground combat module. You fight on a 5x5 or 7x7 grid, I forget which, made by dealing playing cards! The value of each card determines how rough the terrain is (I think that color can have some sort of effect as well). Logistics is surprisingly important without being overwhelming.

You might want to look At Spartan Games Firestorm Armada series if you are into miniatures.

link

For space battles try this page link and for assault landings try PDF link – all about the glorious MAFC. They are FREE

Im pretty sure Strike Legion: Planetary Operations is designed for this. Strike Legion is a 6mm ruleset, but the publisher has Spaceship rules (Task Force Zeta) and PO is designed to work between the 2 rulesets.

Check it out here:

link

And further discussion can be had here (where the publisher interacts directly):
link