"Alternate WW2 rules - which is better?" Topic

Forgive me if this has been asked but which set is better Secrets of the Third Reich or NUT: War without End?

Thanks.

Define better.

I've played SotTR but not Nuts: War without End. However, I've played some of the Reaction System games like it from THWG.

Overall, my favorite Weird War II game system is AE-WWII. However, that's because I prefer smaller detailed skirmish games over larger scale games like Dust Warfare and SotTR.

I define better as more playable from a wargamers perspective not a board gamers view point but at a large skirmish level.

What is AE-WW11?

I can't comment on other rule sets as I don't read them but I can provide you with the TOC for WWE.

PDF link

Interesting. Thanks Ed.

AE-WWII would get my vote, too.

Check out here for figures--
link

And here for info, batreps, and other things. darksondesigns.proboards.com

The game is just being revamped after a successful Kickstarter so new posts on the Forum will probably get going soon.

nazrat,
I will be watching. Are those figures comparable in size to the DT figures?

NUTS War Without End doesn't have a set campaign background/universe, and is intended to let you to create and play the level of weirdness you want in your games, from real-tech at the end of the war, to robots, ray guns and rocket packs. The Two Hour Wargames Yahoo group also hosts some conversion files for figures from different systems/makers, as well as vehicle construction rules, etc.

link

PS, I'm the author, so I may be a bit biased towards the rules

AE:ww2 is great.
Nuts: War Without End is cool.
Iron Ivan's Where Heroes Dare is a ton of fun too! link

skyking20,
I'm also biased (on the SoTR side) but my advice to you is this:
Collect the minis you want to play with. Pick up multiple rulesets and try them out. Backgrounds can easily be ignored and most of the equipment lists are generic enough that you can easily fit existing models into an army list.

Note: SoTR2 is coming out later in case you want to wait for the latest edition.

AE-WWII is goo. I also like Disposable heroes but not tried the Where Heroes Dare supplement yet.

"AE-WWII is goo."

Is that an ectoplasmic Freudian slip? 8)=

I prefer skirmish-based games and have mashed up Flying Lead and Fear and Faith from Ganesha Games. This has allowed me to combine the horror element with the military/shooting element. I've been pretty happy with the results.

Skyking20,

For more recent activity on the new AE-WWII 2nd Edition, checkout their Facebook page.

Robertsfj's advice is good about collecting the minis you want to play with and picking up multiple rulesets. Many of the game systems use similar unit types, especially at the grunt level. Almost all the games use some amount of historical miniatures which you can use from many sources who make regular historical WWII minis.

I own multiple game systems in the Weird War II genre and tons of WWWII minis from all sorts of manufacturers and mix them in many of the games I play. I even use lots for conversions for units I cannot find or don't like the official sculpt.

For some ideas on Weird War II minis (Dust, SotTR, AE-WWII, etc.), check out my blog here. link

No offense meant as I like the AE minis but that last kick starter did not seem to draw much interest, did it?

SBMinisguy,
I like the idea of co-op games. Our game club at work plays co-op board games like epidemic and castle panic. Fun games.

With the larger DUST figures (true O scale) and the long gun ranges vs table size I would assume quick, deadly games?

Also can NUTS handle smaller troop numbers?
sky

Full disclosure, I'm a major fan of the game (if it isn't obvious alread), a contributor, and a friend of some of the creators.

I'd say that the Kickstarter lacked the glitz that many of the more spectacularly successful Kickstarters had. Furthermore, and this is supported from comments amongst my club who are also AE players, that it lacked incentives in regards to price and new material. Most of whom simply wanted the new book as they had all the minis that were being offered.

The starter packs being offered were actually pretty reasonable deals for those who want to get started in the game and have no minis to start with. As most of the feedback I recieved was from existing players, I don't know if this had any impact on players new to AE-WWII or not. I suspect the lack of glitz may have to do with it.

I do know that after multiple requests, newer models were being offered as unlockable stretch goals, but this came in late in the program. Concept art for these new models has been posted up recently.

Overall, I'm glad that it made it's goal and is in progress. The updates and material I've seen so far look very promising.

No offense meant as I like the AE minis but that last kick starter did not seem to draw much interest, did it?

well, it funded, mission accomplished right?! Two reasons that I saw (and thus my personal opinion) for not drawing as much attention as it did:
1) It had been sitting for a while. The IP hadn't been ramped up for some time (new products, sculpts, etc)
2) I didn't see a bit of advertising other than a few forum posts

Neither of which really reflect poorly upon it as a ruleset.

@skyking re: "Also can NUTS handle smaller troop numbers?"

NUTS works well from rifle section through platoon vs platoon scale games. It has a nice light RPG element through the use of "Stars" and "Grunts."

Your "Star" (your leader/leading man) has some simple special abilities and attributes (he's harder to kill, adds to morale/reaction rolls, may be a "Crack Shot" or "Born Leader," etc. The rest of the figures in your core squad are "Grunts" and as an option may or may not also have a random special attribute -- sometimes good "Tank Killer" or bad "Coward."

You track your core squad and Star from campaign to campaign, all other figures are "Grunts" with no special attributes that are generated by your campaign mission or scenario (the game lets you create dynamic campaigns, including the types of missions, forces, and map terrain). The only exception may be Super Soldiers in NUTS War Without End, they are often considered to be "Stars."

So you get a bit of that "Kelly's Heroes" flavor in the game.

"With the larger DUST figures (true O scale) and the long gun ranges vs table size I would assume quick, deadly games?"

It can be, so use that terrain to best advantage! Most weapons can range across the board, most rifles and MGs can shoot 48" to 60", and heavy weapons can shoot across the table. But if you use decent infantry and armor tactics, you'll do ok.

Here's a BATREP to give you a feel for the game:

link

Nice BATREP. I love the comic frame approach! Well I think some earilier advice is best. Get the minis and both rule sets: NUTS and AE. Its not like I never did that before!

I am also going to get some of those AE figures.

And please I would love to see more AARs on this.
sky