"Games with prominent morale and command rules" Topic

Hi, solo gamer here. Was hoping that folks could mention some rules that have prominent rules for morale and command. No specific genre or time period required.

thanks.

What do you mean by "prominent"?

Major B- where command and morale would factor heavily into the game.

Command Decision

where command and morale would factor heavily into the game.

Well again, I'm not sure what you mean by "factor heavily". Most wargames have rules for both command and morale.

Well again, I'm not sure what you mean by "factor heavily". Most wargames have rules for both command and morale.

Since this is in solo gaming, I'd say "factor heavily" means 'does command and control or morale affect how and when my units may move in a fashion not under my control?'

For example, in Fire & Fury, even units with good morale may fail to move, or only move at half speed.

Other games with variable activation (FUBAR, BKC/CWC/Warmaster, et al) also take the player out of absolute control of their little soldiers in a way that (I think) makes solo gaming more interesting.

If you are solo"ing", depending on period, Two Hour Wargames will fit the bill. Their reaction system takes some getting used to, but will present you with lots of surprises. They have NUTS for WW2, and FNG for Vietnam. Lots of other genres as well.

Since this is in solo gaming, I'd say "factor heavily" means 'does command and control or morale affect how and when my units may move in a fashion not under my control?'

You may well be right, but I wonder if that is what the OP meant?

Other games with variable activation (FUBAR, BKC/CWC/Warmaster, et al) also take the player out of absolute control of their little soldiers in a way that (I think) makes solo gaming more interesting.

Also true of Black Powder, Pike And Shotte, Hail Ceasar, most of the Too Fat Lardies games etc. etc.

Check out the Two Hour Wargames line of games. Very solo friendly and each game is built around a reaction system. Morale and friction are at the forefront of all of his games.

You may well be right, but I wonder if that is what the OP meant?

/shrugs. In the absence of information, we move forward. :)

I would second Two Hour Wargames – I really like the reaction system. I use Rally Round The King for Ancients and only play solo in this period.

You should really give the rules a look.

Hope that helps.

"Since this is in solo gaming, I'd say "factor heavily" means 'does command and control or morale affect how and when my units may move in a fashion not under my control?'"

This is what I meant- apologies for being unclear. Thanks for all of the suggestions so far. Very appreciated.

Blitzkrieg Commander and Cold War Commander rely on passing a command role, which is modified by the distance from the commander, to carry out actions. Keep rolling until you fail. Morale comes in as suppression rolls after taking hits. Not designed for solo play, but with some imagination I'm sure it could be adapted.

'does command and control or morale affect how and when my units may move in a fashion not under my control?'"

Most morale rules will cause a unit to move in a fashion not under your control in adverse circumstances.

Many ganes have command and control rules that (usually) prevent some of your units from doing anything at all.

In other words, I still don't know what you are looking for as IMHO most rules do it anyway.

Not designed for solo play, but with some imagination I'm sure it could be adapted.

Very few games are designed specifically for solo play. OTOH, I have yet to find a game I could NOT play solo.

You should look into the Piquet family of games. The steps of a normal sequence of play are on cards in each players deck: movement, maneuver, melee, morale, etc.

Shooting attacks are not controlled by the cards, but reloading is (firepower cards).

Field of Battle 2 coves battles from 1700-1900.

Pulse of Battle is the Ancients version.

FoB WW2 is obvious.

The steps of a normal sequence of play are on cards in each players deck: movement, maneuver, melee, morale, etc.

There are quite a number of games where the players actions are governed by cards.

I think Command Decision does the best job of showing the importance of morale and command and control. Other games have it built in their systems in some fashion, but those are the KEY features in Command Decision.

e.g. Infantry doesn't like to face armor in the open, especially without some form of AT support. Try doing that in CD and on your first morale check….and these happen just for taking fire…..doesn't have to be deadly fire…..and you will take some nasty negatives on the morale roll. Try doing it with troops who have taken some losses, or are not of higher quality, and it is just suicide.

The newest version of the rules adds in suppression from HE fire. Just being under that kind of bombardment keeps the enemy's head down…..doesn't have to cause casualties…and it aids the attacking troops following up on the barrage. That was a major improvement.

The org charts are good too. If the army had a scarcity of radios, fewer staff assets, or is not well trained, then their CD equivalents face challenges in issuing, following and executing orders and keeping their units cohesive. That is as it should be.

Finally since a stand in CD is a platoon, bigger actions can be handled in a reasonable game period. I prefer playing in 285th scale to minimize scale distortion, but the rules served our group well when we used 15mm figures too.

The Games Workshop Lord of the Rings (or the Hobbit) skirmish level Strategy Battle Game (& its historical variants) has very dominant morale (courage testing against Terri riding creatures and individual rout tests at 50% casulaties) and Hero based command rules (based on distance from the Hero) that Hero to test for grunts within range and perform group actions out of sequence.

"John Company," as a war games model/system is almost entirely about balancing Leadership/Generalship with the tactical circumstances from turn to turn. Orders are given, but how units react depend on many factors, some the players and take advantage of, others they have to risk, and some they can directly influence.

JC is easily the most Command oriented rules system out there for some 20 years.

But there is no "Morale" as most games use the word. JC measures ever changing "Resolve," which unlike a fixed number to which there are pluses and minuses, is a value that can rise and fall from turn to turn depending on circumstances making it more or less likely that new orders will be followed as give,be obeyed differently, or not at all. Again, the Players as the Generals, can try to keep Resolve high, or at least minimize its tendency to fall through exhaustion, losses, and accumulating fear.

If you're looking to study a system for possible application, I would recommend buying the PDF Edition and saving money: link Company

TVAG

Huzzah! link Is all about command and control and unit morale

I'd also say that Honours of War fits the bill

A set of rules that I like but don't fit your criteria is Volley & Bayonet. Simple rules but just about no C&C. If units stay within 6 inches of their superior officer they are fine.

For pre-gunpowder I'd say Rally Around the King is very solo friendly, down to letting dice pick enemy deployment and plan.

Second for Piquet and Troops Weapons and Tactics by Too Fat LArdies

Joe

For ancients wargaming Ancients Battlelines Clash.