"Rules recommendation for Arab-Israeli Wars ?" Topic

Just watched a documentary on the 1973 October War so of course that got my imagination spinning…

Can anyone recommend a set of rules for recreating these conflicts ? I'm kind of picturing a 4' x 6' table, likely 6mm forces, tank 'heavy', and very playable.

Good reference book recommendations would be appreciated too.

I'd use Fistful of TOWs 3, but you needn't take my word for it: they have free demo rules on their site. fft3.com

Be warned, however, that the rules themselves are quite pricey.

Cold War Commander.

Could always try these and they're free.

PDF link

What size units you after? Single tank stands or Platoon stands.

For Platoon level stands
I can second FFT3 and would steer you away from Cold War Commander, it's tank vs tank systems are terrible, others swear they give good results but the way it gets those results are fatally flawed as any kind of simulation. If you are OK with using boardgame rules and adjusting them to Minis then "The Sands of War" covers a good bit (good reference too). An older game by GDW called Combined Arms is a good choice as well, it is based on Command Decision 1/2 game system.

For Individual tanks then the Avalaon Hill boardgame "IDF" is a good choice, although it is a boardgame the mechanics are easy to translate to miniatures – this is a complex boardgame so if complexity is no good then stay away. Finally the GDW boardgame "Test of Arms" could be used, low complexity there and a pre-cursor to "The Sands of War" (individual tanks instead of platoons).

Dark Knight-link is bad

I did two games using the Command Decision: Test of Battle rules with the modern modifications from the discussion group. The rules worked fine for 1973 at the stand/platoon level.

The best single book is "Elusive Victory" by Trevor Dupuy.
link

Another vote for FFT. You don't need the very latest version, it does not really offer that much more for the period you want. Easy enough to adapt rules to suit defence of Golan Heights '73.
Yet to figure out playing the '73 Syrians, they are next to useless.

FFT IS good.

The other one to try (and I'm surprised that no one has mentioned them) is Modern Spearhead? After a long period out of print, they're now available again through On Military Matters.

We use MBT and IDF by AH. The problem is when converted to the game table, the movement is too slow given the range of the weapons. Otherwise, they work fine.

We use Modern Spearhead

I second Cold War Commander

We use MBT and IDF by AH. The problem is when converted to the game table, the movement is too slow given the range of the weapons. Otherwise, they work fine.

If the ranges/movement distances work for the board
game why would they not work on the tabletop?

I use WRG 1950 – 1985 for my modern games

Used them years ago and just starting collecting Soviet and Finnish forces for 1980's soviet invasion of finland.

They are usually available on ebay or free at

PDF link

Rich

Try this link for Rays free rules.

rulesdepot.net/page6.html

The rules for modern are "A torrent of steel"

If it still doesn't work just let me know and I'll email them to you.

richinq, the later version of the WRG rules has far more accurate armour and penetration stats, if you are interested.

Another vote for FFT3-

Once you learn the rules, they can be used for almost any 20th/21st century combat and they handle armor vs. armor very well.

You know, KB, I read that as a set of Napoleonic rules and for a second was very confused.

If you want a set of rules that is simulation but with simple rules there is us.

link

However our system need you to make your own army lists (with instructions) and is secnario not points nbased. Have done a re-run of ammunition hill so it definitely will work at in this period. Like chess, easy rules game less so. You have to be a platoon comander not a bloke who just pushes models and throws dice.