"Recommend a fun set of WWII rules?" Topic

Can anyone recommend a fun set of WWII rules (preferably with an index) that are easy to play and remember, are a reasonable facsimile of WWII combat, that doesn't restrict what you can field and is really inexpensive or free ? A tall ask I know.

Do you want mass battles, company level actions, squad on squad or something else?

A good question Pictors Studio, I hadn't thought about that. Probably squad to company level is the answer.

NUTS! by Two Hour Wargames.

Or any of its various manifestations.

NUTS or Beer and Pretzel Skirmish for engagements with up to a squad per side per player, and then Chain of Command (CoC), I Ain't Been Shot Mum (IABSM) and Crossfire for larger games up to company and a limited number of vehicles per side . They all give fun games that feel right for different reasons.
If you want free , then try Chain Reeaction, the free download from Two Hour Wargames. You can purchase the WWII specific rules, NUTS, once you try the system out.

Except for the inexpensive part Flames of War fills your bill.

Chain of Command. Simple to learn, hard to master, fun but also challenging and historically believable. They have lots of free army lists making them very inexpensive and also have an index.

Well, I have tried Bolt Action, and whilst it's maybe not as "authentic" as Chain of Command I found it easier to get into, AND when I examined the results against some other sets of WW2 rules I found that the outcomes were not so different. I understand that some folks have taken against it, but it is what if is…. and a bit of fun.

For what size figures?

For 15mm and 20mm then Battlegroup… the thinking mans FoW. ;)

Chain of Command is an excellent set of rules, Bolt Action is fun but has less of a period feel, the electronic version of BA was on offer recently via Amazon, it works well on my Kindle Fire!

Tassie Wargamer -- where are you? If you want to try before you buy, there are multiple groups playing various sets of rules in Tasmania.

NW Coast -- Jack Sarge plays Bolt Action and Battlegroup Kursk

North -- Launceston Gaming Club plays Flames of War, Bolt Action, and Battlegroup Kursk.

South -- Camp Cromwell plays Flames of War, Bolt Action, and some play Chain of Command. The Bunker Rats play Flames of War, but in a very big way!

Links to most on campcromwell.blogspot.com.au

As to my personal recommendation, I will suggest Flames of War. If you get the Open Fire starter set the rules and figures work out to be very cheap. There is a very good index. The rules are easy to play and remember (especially if you don't use airpower or lists with special rules, and don't start out using artillery). There are lots of free lists you can download. FOW is more a game than a simulation -- but that is the one criteria that it doesn't meet

I second Bolt Action and Flames of War. I think both rules have a nice WWII flavor with Bolt Action being the easier of the two rules sets to play, but Flames isn't that bad either… It the targeting rules that can be a bit bothersome when you're just getting started. Bolt Action in 15mm will win for price. $40 USD or less will get you a great Bolt Action force in that scale, but you can still do well on the cheap with Flames if you go mostly infantry and shop a bit. The Open Fire starter is easily one of the best gaming deals out there. 11 AFVs, about 100 infantry, and three guns plus rules and card terrain for about $70. USD Very nice deal!

Nick Bowler,

I'm on the NW Coast and know Jacksarge quite well. I also visit the camp cromwell blog site quite often to see what the Southerners have been up to.

Cheers, TW

Bolt Action and Chain of Command fit your bill at more of a skirmish level, with fire teams and/or squads as the maneuver units. Flames of War is at the Company plus level with platoons as the basic maneuver element.

Blitzkrieg Commander also fits your requirements when you play the vehicles on a 1:1 basis, for which the game was originally designed. (Many also play the game as one vehicle = a platoon, which is a higher level than you outline above.)

YouTube link

At the link you will find a short tutorial on the one I use.

Here's some info on NUTS!

YouTube link

Download the free Chain Reaction to get an idea of how the Reaction System works.

link

We played Battlegroup Barbarossa for the first time yesterday and enjoyed it. Already two die hard FOW players have been converted!

Nuts! is also solo. The AI will give you a good unpredictable and replayable games.

I would recommend Bolt Action, IABSM and/or Chain of Command, Rapis Fire, Flames of War and the Battlegroup series. As far as I am concerned any of those are fine depending on what game I feel like playing.

Disposable Heroes. Its fairly simple and allows for tanks and infantry, uses single based figs. Each individual man matters but its the squad the is the basic formation.

Well, seeing my name is being bandied about I thought I 'd better comment.

Hi @Nick Bowler – mate, I don't actually play Bolt Action. I'm a Battlegroup only person at present, and stick to Overlord stuff, not Kursk.

@Tassie Wargamer, you know me? Hmmmnn, wonder who you are?
My oldest NW coast wargaming friend logs on here as the Red Rajah – unless you be he and have changed your log in name?
C'mon, give me a clue?

Hang on, I just checked it is you – you are now going under a new identity?
The plot thickens.

Chain of Command sounds interesting as an alternative to Battlegroup. I believe there are some rather good videos online explaining them. It can be purchased as a PDF too.

CoC is indeed interesting. My favourite game and the one I suggest based on the original request. There are a number of videos with Rich and Nick, the writers, explaining how the game works. Start here:
YouTube link

And here is the link to the website. PDF is £14.00 GBP
link

For non-free rules: Chain of Command, followed by Nuts! for platoon level games. Crossfire and Flames of War for company level.

My favorite rules are of course my own. They meet all your criteria (even free!) although they do not have an index (but at only 3 pages in length, I hope you'll forgive the slight). link

I would use Look Sarge. Have played several games at conventions. Now these aren't the rules I play at home. But are easy to learn and play.

link

There are tons of free rules out there. Just gotta find them.

I Ain't Been Shot Mum. It ticks all your boxes. Every one.