"Flames of War - El Alamein " Topic

From BAttlefront Miniatures….

Main page
link

Amicalement
Armand

why has the 8th army got a 17pdr pheasant, not available until tunisia in 43?
apart from that it looks ok

technically "Rommel's Afrika Korps" ceases to exist in late summer 41…so no late PIII's or PIV F2's either until spring 42..and then you've got a big chunk of them in just one box!
FOW…fabulous

There's been a lot of negative feedback on the FOW forums about the new MW army books. Aside from the selection of equipment included, the British book only contains four lists (Motor Company and three Tank Company lists), and the German book only three (Rifle Company and two Tank Company lists).

Yeah – at this point the main concern appears to be not what has been included, but what hasn't. The old North Africa book included everything from 42-43 (though it was somewhat segregated), but this appears to be excessively "streamlined"

I think the 17/25pdrs also have the 25pdr barrel on the sprue. I don't think the more historical accuracy minded players will be stuck with out of period kit.

why has the 8th army got a 17pdr pheasant

Its the only weapon they have to take out the Tiger 1 !

Some sort of revisionist history?

Historical accuracy aside, I welcome the release of plastic Crusaders.

@SquireBeb
Agreed.
Though Im working on 'late war', M4A3's and Pzr IVG's, the early desert war, has always been of interest.

The Valentines, Matilds (II) and the Pzr IIIs all look great. Little late to start over.. but wondered, should I have 'gone for' the Early War, Desert instead.

Looks good.

technically "Rommel's Afrika Korps" ceases to exist in late summer 41…so no late PIII's or PIV F2's either until spring 42..and then you've got a big chunk of them in just one box!
FOW…fabulous

You can build most of those teams in different configurations. The Pzr III has long and short barrels as does the Crusader, and the 25 pounder can be built as the artillery piece and the early 17 pounder. I think only the Grant would be out of place.

Oddly enough, that's also true with the Team Yankee M1s as the kits can be built at the M1A1 too. Very flexible kits. I like where Battlefront is going with the optional stuff. It gives you plenty of options.

Where is the infantry?

Where is the infantry?

They're not in any of the starter sets. They will be getting new models in May and there are rules for them in the army books.

They're not in any of the starter sets. They will be getting new models in May and there are rules for them in the army books.

The infantry rules are not in the rule book that come with El Aleman?
You have to buy the army books to get a core part of game play?
I was thinking about getting into FOW but now it sounds like you can't get a good feel for the game from the starter which is a shame as the North Africa campaign holds a special place in my heart.

The infantry rules are not in the rule book that come with El Aleman?
You have to buy the army books to get a core part of game play?
I was thinking about getting into FOW but now it sounds like you can't get a good feel for the game from the starter which is a shame as the North Africa campaign holds a special place in my heart.

Sorry if I was unclear. The rules on how infantry work are in the rulebook and the rulebook contains all the rules needed to understand how the game works. However the army list rules that provide the details needed to play the game with infantry on the table are not included.

The same applies to tanks but there are cards with that detail provided for the tanks that come in the box.

The rules on how infantry work are in the rulebook and the rulebook contains all the rules needed to understand how the game works. However the army list rules that provide the details needed to play the game with infantry on the table are not included.

I'm sorry, but that just sounds crazy to me. I am amazed at the number of posts and threads that are just trying to explain WHAT is in the rules etc, let alone playing the game. I'm not a FOW basher. (I play an old addition with Extra Crispy's special rules), but this new edition sounds like they finally have you all in a Stockholm Syndrome situation. How many books etc does it take?!?!?!

the miniatures do look great though!!

It's definitely been a very confusing launch. I haven't had so much trouble trying to explain things since Nintendo's Wii U. I typed out an answer on how many books you needed but ended up deleting it because my original answer was simplifying it a bit too much. This is my second try.

If you're a new player and want to play Mid War ('42-43) then you need two books. The MW rulebook and an army book for your army.

If you're an old player who plays Early War (39-41) or Late War ('44-'45) then you need the EW/LW rulebook and the special rules conversion book pair. Both of which are free if you email Battlefront and show them your rulebook. You also need an army book but the chances are you already own it as only the MW army books are being redone.

If you're a old player who wants to play MW then you need one of the new MW army books. You also need a 4th edition rulebook of which you can use either of the two I mentioned in the previous situations. Do note that while the majority of the rules are the same there are a few minor/bizarre differences for unknown reasons such as EW/LW minefields are square shape but MW are circular.

If you're a new player who want to play EW/LW then you need the same books as a old player. However getting the EW/LW rulebook and the special rules conversion book pair is a bit tricker. You could buy a 3rd edition rulebook and try to get BF to send you the 4th edition one, you could buy it off ebay or you could buy the MW rulebook and use the .pdf of the special rules conversion book BF put online for free.

Mix and match if you want to play MW and EW/LW.

As you can see most of the time you just need two books to get started, a rulebook and an army book, which isn't that unusual. However the way they've done it is very confusing.

edit: I just realised that you can bypass needing the MW army books if you buy the new models and get the cards…

I don't think it's confusing. But I think there are a lot of confused people. Go figure.

It's simple really.

The new release is Mid-war in the Desert. Hey, they had to start some place. So to jump in you need a copy of the 4th Edition rules and one or both of the new army books. That is everything that is new with 4th Edition.

Here's the 4th Edition Rulebook

Army books

Brits
link

So if you're new to the game and want in that's all you have to do. The models you'll buy have the cards.

Everything else is support for older players who want to play with the new 4th Edition rules. It took them years to put out all of the current books and it will be years before they bring everything up to 4th Edition. So in the meantime they have put out two books: a 4th Edition rulebook that has all the new rules and the necessary explanations to create 4th Edition stats for old 3rd Edition units and a small book that updates the old army books. Mostly that is special rules and warrior teams.

To get these books all you have to do is show Battlefront a picture of your 3rd edition rules and you're golden. Or you can go to the War Store and they'll ship you one with an order.

Simple enough. The new rulebook explains the process.

The small book gives you the odd details you need to finish your list.

So, in preparation for when they bring out the 5th edition,what's wrong with this 4th set? (or the first, second or third…)