"Difference BGK and BGN etc" Topic

I have Battlegroup Kursk and I have seen some reviews say that it is an improvement over the Normandy game. I would be interested in collecting the series of rules but wondered how different each book will be in terms of rules and how much of the system has to be unlearned to play a different book? Thanks.

I had also seen something that said a smaller paper-back version of the rules are going to be released, again, just wondered how this core set would work if there are differences across the books.

The Kursk book is lovely by the way – a pleasure to own.

The rules stay the same Norm, just a few additional rules to add the flavor of each particular theatre.

So for example, Battlegroup Overlord has rules for amphibious landings, bunkers, bocage plus new unit abilities in the army lists and occasionally new rules, such as 'Time-on-Target' for US artillery.

The mini-rulebook was released last year and is the same as the rules in the Kursk book. If you have that, no need to buy it unless you want a smaller handy version.

The aim is that each book expands the system to offer a game that uses the same core rules but with different nuances and feel of gameplay in order to recreate the historical period. For example a Russian army in the 'Fall of the Reich' book plays very differently to the one in the 'Kursk' book.

You may find more thoughts and comments on the Battlegroup forum hosted here;

guildwargamers.com

There are a fair few AARs on there from a variety of BG books, and if you look for mine, I often discuss the differing special rules and theatre specific rules found in each book.

To summarise, you wont need to learn any new core rules per book, but you may have additional new rules that apply to that period, but not very many.

Thanks for such a prompt response. After searching the net, I think I may have been getting confused with an earlier version from war hammer it believe.

Yes, Warhammer Historical released the precursor to the Battlegroup system with Kampfgruppe Normandy. It was similar but different from BGN, but by the same author. The new game is in many ways far superior to the GW version.

Personally, I found the smaller core rulebook very useful – I got BattleGroup Kursk first and kept getting distracted from understanding the rules as a coherent whole 'cos of all the eye candy and historical content, but with the core set it all fell into place…

And it takes up less space on the table!

But you do need the larger campaign book for all the weapons data and specific historical scenarios etc. Worth the dosh though IMHO…

Like the older KGN better. It has a more detailed gun vs. armor chart, allowing for more classes of weapons and armor thicknesses. The armor is rated with a numerical value ( roughly armor thickness in centimeters ) which is far more intuitive. Ron

The gun armour chart is the same, just one uses number the other letters to mark the armour rating. KGN has no more detail, indeed BG is more detailed as extra results have been added, such as auto pins etc.

And rules for smaller turrets (ie one/two man crews) – where would they be found? I quit efancy introducing something to my T70s to make them behave a tad closer to reality – at the moment, I pity my Pz3 crews (all 5 of them) as they take on the hoard of the light tanks

And while I am here – snipers. Are they deployed hidden, or does your opponent just lob stuff at them to pin them all game? I think that they deploy on the table as normal, which seems a shame (small shame – love the game so can live with the odd bit here and there).

Well we have a rule for one man turrets… if thats what you mean.

Snipers are also harder to spot. They aint supermen though, more an annoyance to the enemy that makes them waste time on them for no loss to their own side.

Anything wasting time firing at a sniper aint firing at proper targets…

So is the one man turret rule just a -1 to spot?

Cheers

Yes.

Cheers Piers – I really miss that Overlord book

Well….

Hmmm – you are piquing my curiosity Piers – is there a reprint coming?

It is getting to the stage I might even have to order the pdf – curse it and its intangible nature…

SO do please spill the bills please – I have a son who would love o use his American kit

Yes… working on juggling the resources to try and fund a reprint. :)