"Bolt Action in 20mm with ransom organisation of squads " Topic

I am considering Warlord Games' Bolt Action in 20mm simply because I think this scale suits the game better, as I understand figures need to stay within 1 inch of each other for cohesion (I haven't read the rules, but gathered this from reviews). Also, 20mm would suit my space constraints better. Thirdly, 20mm gamers seem to be spoilt with both 20mm metal and 1/72 plastic figures from numerous manufacturers.

I have a few reservations before jumping in, though. Warlord Games are producing special figures for the game that may not be available in 20mm such as medics or other figures only available in 28mm. And if you buy some of the plastic sets in 1/72 you may sometimes have an abundance of heavily armed troops with SMGs etc., but hardly any with just a rifle.

That's why I hope to hear from others gaming in 20mm that you can play "Bolt Action" without sticking to the strict squad organisations of the rules, just fielding whatever you have. You only have 5 guys with SMGs and 3 guys with rifles – then make it a squad, what's the problem!? As I said before, I haven't read the rules, but would like to know if this kind of random squad organisation would work. This may not always be historically correct, but then again…in combat things do get very fluid as I see it.

Next problem would then be: How do you create balanced scenarios with such ad hoc-organisation? Could the point value of each individual figure just be added together without sticking to the squad organisation prescribed by the rules and then balance the game with those point totals?

One last thing: I understand that in all six standard scenarios in the rules troops deploy along the length of the table and in no scenario troops deploy along the short ends of the table with more distance in between the enemies. Does anyone just play as they see fit without using the standard scenarios and then – again – how do you balance scenarios?

Hoping to hear from people who play this game without leaving much thought to the constraints of standard organisation/scenarios…

If "relaxed play" is posible, I hope to find figures for the 1944 Warsaw Uprising (Polish Home Army).

…and I am no native speaker, that's why I have to use a lot of words to ask simple questions…

Plenty of variety in 20mm (1/72nd scale) and plenty of medics if needed. In addition, take a look at these beauties.

link

I'm sure more peeps will chime in.

Cheers
Duane

sorry, meant "random", not "ransom" organisation, of course…embarrassing…

Of course, you can play any scale you like with any rules you like, as long as your opponents agree. More to your point, I have played a demo game of Bolt Action and I also have the rules and read them. I see no reason why the rules wouldn't work with 20mm or 1/72nd scale. One bonus would be more space to move and fire with both armor and infantry. I personally like 20mm games for those very reasons.

try these , a box of each woulld give you all you need and vehicles are so much cheaper.Terrain is so much cheaper, groundscale effect is so much greater.
valiantminiatures.com

Played BA for a while with 1/72 plastic. I ultimately found I like games with multibasing better, and am moving towards Flames of War. But BA works great in 1/72. No need to change anything.

For game-able forces, I recommend Plastic Soldier Company, though Valiant looks good too.

Could the point value of each individual figure just be added together without sticking to the squad organisation

This is all you need to know:

Inexperienced, regular and veterans are 7, 10, and 13 pts per model respectively with a rifle.
SMGs, LMGs, and ARs are 3, 20, and 5ts respectively to upgrade.

You can ignore the printed organizations and still use points. Assault rifles are probably worth 10 points…but thats another topic!

Duane, thanks for pointing me in the direction of CP Models, those Polish Home Army figures will add up nicely to Blitz Miniatures' ditto (and perhaps a box of Caesar Miniatures' Partizans).
Hawkwood (nice photos), peterx and pigasuspig – thanks for reasurring me that 20mm will work perfectly well for Bolt Action with space and groundscale effect so much greater.
Tim, nice to know only little effort is needed to make medics.
Mr Elmo, your comment seems to suggest that basing forces on the points values system makes it possible – with little effort – to work out both pick-up games as well as historical scenarios with these rules (at least that's what I'd like to think).
Thanks to all of you – 20mm Bolt Action is now part of my ever growing "future projects portfolio" ;-)

Cardinal,

Can you please tell me who makes that bridge that is in the first picture you posted?

Looks like a Hovels bridge to me?

Hi,
Brigadier Garibaldi, how large is your Tabletop?

Roby

Hi Roby, at the moment it measures only 90 cm x 200 cm (not quite wide yet), eventually I hope to have a 6 x 4 ft tabletop), so there will be room enough for maneuvering around with 20mm…perhaps even 28mm (I am considering more than one scale).