Mein Panzer x3.
Also agree that it works very well with combined arms.
I game at 1-to-1 unit ratios. One model = one tank. One stand = 1 squad (or smaller specialist section when necessary, but not 1 stand = 1 fire team). Mein Panzer fits that model.
I like to run battalion-sized combat groups in my games. In WW2 for most nations that was about the smallest sized "maneuver force", the smallest force to be given independent missions (except in special circumstances). It was exceedingly rare in WW2 to see a platoon or company acting on it's own.
It is hard to play such a large force at 1-to-1 unit scales. Many rules fail. Mein Panzer succeeds admirably.
So long as you have at least a gamer or two with some experience with the rules, most players will be able to handle about a company-sized force with one or two attachments. If you can get three gamers on a side, then that side can effectively run a battalion. With more experienced players, a single gamer can run a depleted battalion, or two players can effectively run a full-strength battalion with supporting attachments.
This includes mixed forces. I have not played a one-to-one ruleset that integrates infantry, supporting arms, and armor as fluidly as Mein Panzer.
And the kicker is that the turn structure in Mein Panzer keeps all the players involved and active. My second-favorite ruleset for this kind of gaming, Jagdpanzer 2nd Ed., can handle the armor and infantry well enough for battalion-sized games, but falls into the trap of having one side do ALL of their moving at one time. It is very difficult to keep the game interesting for side 2, when each player on side 1 is busy measuring and moving 20 or 25 different pieces. Snore!
In Mein Panzer the turn is broken into impulses. In each impulse each of the players on one side will typically move and/or resolve combat with only ONE platoon. It happens fast. The game flows. Everyone is engaged.
As a side benefit it also makes you think and behave as if your unit organization was important to you (which it SHOULD be!).
Here is an example of how I like to game, and why I focus on battalion-sized forces …
This is a pic of one of my game table set-ups.
The German commander gets very sketchy information. With an ad hoc Kampfgruppe, he is handed a recon photo on which his division CO had drawn out his orders.
He gets two depleted companies of Panzers, a depleted company of Grenadiers (with insufficient transport), and one gun battery in position to fire two or three missions in his support. In total the German player gets about 25 pieces.
The Russian side comes in with two battalions of T-34s, each carrying a company of tankoviy desantniks. Each of two Russian players get about 30 pieces.
If you want to play actions on that scale, with genuine opportunities for maneuver and combined arms action, I will recommend Mein Panzer with 100% confidence!
-Mark
(aka: Mk 1)
