Duke Beardy Dad | 26 Feb 2016 3:26 a.m. PST |
Hi guys, I've gone round the halls of late war at both 28mm and 15mm, but I desperately want to get in to western desert war but I don't know where to start. I want to play 20mm battles preferably based around tank actions, does anyone have an easily accessible rules set I could look in to please? |
Texas Jack | 26 Feb 2016 3:34 a.m. PST |
For armor I really like Rapid Fire, and they have a desert supplement if I recall. You are starting this in 20mm at a good time, as the earlier tanks are becoming more and more available. |
MajorB | 26 Feb 2016 3:54 a.m. PST |
Your existing WW2 rules should be fine. |
Duke Beardy Dad | 26 Feb 2016 4:23 a.m. PST |
Texts Jack – Thank you for the advice. On it now. MajorB – I've been using Bolt Action and Flames of War and neither really give me the confidence to try tank battles at 20mm. |
getback | 26 Feb 2016 4:29 a.m. PST |
I am doing the same in 15mm. Looking at Rapid Fire as I already have it. Problem is that I like a bit of "friction" and RF doesn't really provide that. Iron Cross is fun (after one 1944 NE Europe Game) and full of friction. But I am not sure it will work for Western Desert without some changes to spotting and shooting. For example, tanks hit with the same effect at any range. This is OK where lots of terrain keeps ranges shortish but I don't want my A9's to be able to kill a Pz 4 all the way across an 8 foot table. They had to close in to do damage which is part of the early deserts war's allure. I have a free starter set called "Armor Battles" link that have some stats for the desert (on the web site). These look interesting and are similar to Iron Cross. I ain't been shot mum is another option. Would work but I find the card activation a little clumsy and they are not "tankie" enough for me. I am looking forward to "Battleground Tobruk" as I like the Battleground rules. I believe that rule set is some way off. As usual with rule queries here you will get many many different answers. Good luck. I must say, when you lay out the tanks and terrain Western Desert does look really nice. |
MajorB | 26 Feb 2016 4:59 a.m. PST |
I've been using Bolt Action and Flames of War and neither really give me the confidence to try tank battles at 20mm. Ah. BA is of course primarily a skirmish game and FOW is notorious for "wheel-to-wheel tanks". So yes, neither are really suitable. I was wrongly assuming that you were playing more general purpose WW2 rules. |
Duke Beardy Dad | 26 Feb 2016 7:12 a.m. PST |
getback – Thank you for the advice, I'll check out that link now, but yeah the allure of the desert is compelling. MajorB – No worries at all. I have a copy of CoC but I already know it won't offer me what I want sadly. As for Flames you've got it spot on, I enjoy it for mucking about with friends, but not for a decent game of anything too historical if you know what I mean :) |
Rich Bliss | 26 Feb 2016 7:28 a.m. PST |
Command Decision:Test of Battle. |
Extra Crispy | 26 Feb 2016 10:00 a.m. PST |
Play Flames of War but go 6mm. Fun and looks right. Also, ditch a lot of the silly rules. |
Tiberius | 26 Feb 2016 5:32 p.m. PST |
I recommend rapid fire It got me back into WWII |
iPaint | 27 Feb 2016 6:05 p.m. PST |
Battlegroup will be a good set for tank combat. They will have their first supplement for the early years of North Africa out sometime this summer I think. ~iPaint |