We got together to try out Combat HQ Monday last. 2 players each side played a meeting engagement based on Normandy battles. US versus Germans. We played on a 6 by 4 foot table using 15mm figures.
We kept the battle small because we wanted to get a handle on the rules. Each side had 16 units which is roughly what the rules expect a single player to control.
We had a mixture of armour and infantry on each side.
A single base is a platoon or tank squadron. We did expect that using 15mm figures might make the scale seem a bit strange. But we didn't find that at all and the ranges and movement distances seemed fine. Having said that i think the scale of the game might look better at 6mm.
The game played extremely well. We loved the activation mechanism using a combination of command dice (5 of them) which activate command groups of troops usually four platoons which can be a mixture of armour and infantry. Added to this you get a number of Staff officers which can be used for normal command or to carry out special activities such as call down barrages, move barrages etc…
The rules were very interactive and because all units can opportunity fire in response to the enemy moving and firing there was no IGOUGO feeling, and everyone felt involved at all stages of the turn.
Combat is quick and with believable results. We actually managed two games in a single evening. Each one running about 2 hours.
Very enjoyable and definitely worth a look.
Mike
