I'll be running a tank skirmish game called "Treadheads" at Kublacon on Saturday and Sunday. I've run it at other conventions with good results. Each player will control 4-8 tanks in a Russian tank and infantry assault on a German held village. Terrain and models will be supplied by Ricks Scenic's who has put on other convention games of Iwo Jima, Pegasus Bridge, Charge of the Light Brigade and D-Day. Rick is a professional model maker.
Here is an AAR: link
Rules summary: link
Video of vehicle booklet that makes the game more playable: YouTube link
While there is a lot of data to the game players will pick it up after 5 minutes of instruction and after 30 minutes have run the game without help. It's not as intimidating as it looks. The more you know about armored vehicle operations and tank gunnery the quicker you'll pick the game up. People that have played online tank video games will have no problem jumping into it right away.
The gunnery system is based on real trajectories and a hit location system similar to first person shooter tank games and uses the same gunnery and fire control techniques as in real life. There is very little die rolling but a lot of decisions for players such as ammo type to fire, trade accuracy for speed of getting the shot off, aiming at target weak spots like turret ring, hull machine gun, tracks, etc. It uses an integrated fluid turn system rather than an IGOUGO so there is no waiting around for 20-30 minutes for your turn and there is the possibility of responding to any enemy actions that are in your line of sight. Things like Opportunity Fire and Over Watch are playable without complicated mechanics.
We'll be using 1/72 scale tanks and miniatures terrain. I plan on setting up in the open gaming area most of Saturday and Sunday with games scheduled for Saturday from 10am-1pm and 3pm-6pm. Sunday from 9-12 and 3-6pm.
Thanks,
Steve Hagarty
(wolfhag)
paints a machinegun emplacement, and realizes he needs more...
