"Best WW2 rules for playability company level" Topic

Curious what people think are the best rules for company level WW2 rules. Looking for playability not getting bogged down in a squad leader style rule set if that makes sense. Thanks.

In which scale do you Play?

-- 1:32; 1:35; 1:56; 1:72; 1:100?

I Ain't Been Shot Mum by Too Fat Lardies.

15mm

I guess that would be 1/100

What advocate said.

I would suggest PBI if you mean there is a company on the table. Typically PBI gives a player 3 platoons ( a company) along with the possibility of a few attached bits, such as AT guns or a trio of tanks.PBI is basically an infantry game. Uses a 64 square grid ( 4 by 4 feet) so no measuring or fussing about exactly which window a chap is at. PBI puts the player in as the company commander. Therefore the player is removed from decisions that are part of the corporals and other NCOs job.
PBI will not do the "Hollywood" stuff though, so might not be what you need. No problem with Hollywood games they seem to be greatly enjoyed. A recent new set of WW2 rules called the Russians, Germans etc "factions"!
PBI are not the "best" as it is a subjective judgement of course. "suitable" might be a better word to match a set of rules to what you want.
The best beer in the world is ?

martin

I love Crossfire or 5core Company Commander. Both make you think about all the stuff you should be worried about, like fields of fire, covered avenues of approach etc. and not whether Private Snuffy's rifle jammed or filling out paperwork for lost helmets.

Ibsm looks good too, but I have never played it.

As you can see, I prefer fast play rules, ymmv.

By Company level do you mean a player controls a Company (so each Stand represents a squad or do you mean each Stand represents a Company – so a player controls a Battalion (or so).

WWII games seem to have settled out either at a Stand = individual soldier or a Fireteam/Squad or a platoon.

By all means try Shot Mom but if its not your cup of tea bear in mind that there are many different approaches to WWII gaming.

TomT

Fireball forward is my top choice followed by IABSM.

I will suggest my rules, Action all Fronts. You can Look Inside here
link

I really like my Flames of War variant "Flames of Awesomesauce." Variant rules available here:

link

Crossfire.

IABSM

Another vote for IABSM.

CrossFire.

What does PBI stand for?

Peanut Butter Ielly Time?

PBI=Poor Bloody Infantry

Panzer Grenadier by Dave Brown are a good alternative as are Battlegroup stable

Men Under Fire

You are going to get a lot of diff. recommendations because there are a lot of WWII rules sets out there.

Frontline Command WWII

link

It doers not look like you are keen to get your hand dirty and think tactics. Crosfire would be worth a look if only to see if that sort of approach is one you want.
Crossfire is about lots of moves but relatively simple rules. It does require a lot of thought and lots of bounds.

Bolt action is more data and less bounds. Jozis Tim Man has it.
Our own rules are simple but play is demanding in that concentration of forCES in time and spAce is like playing chess simple rules, hard to play.

Neither aim at the "Comedy end" of the spectra, no Hollywood moments, no tea braeks etc, that to me is a major plus but its all personal taste.

Have a look at Ostfront – designed for fast play and tactics at the company level.

Main rules:
link

Quick Fire Rules (free to download):
link

IABSM. Rewards recce

Battle group. Very scaleable at the lower end

Combat HQ. Wonderful set of rules . Fast to play and accurate feel. Free rules available to try.

Thanks for all the suggestions.

IABSM by far if you want a good depiction of company level command. 6 votes. FOW gamey, Crossfire clunky. PBI would be my 2nd choice.

Another vote for Battlegroup. Easy to pick up and fast moving games that give a realistic feel for actual WWII tactics. We play mostly 1/72 although one of our guys uses his 15mm FOW collection without any need for rebasing or alteration. Play the period, not the rules!

IABSM.

I'll put in a plug for my rules – Skirmish Action – using the Optional Rules for minis mounted as Fire Teams. I use my FoW mounted minis for games of several Infantry platoons with supporting AFVs (in my mind that's company sized) and they play fast (90 mins or so) with a pretty real feel. 100% agree real feel is totally subjective. The website is simply Skirmish Action dot com and I will be running demo games at Fall In. Cheers! Lee

Crossfire, or Big CoC.

"Play the period, not the rules!"
An admirable sentiment for anyone, but isn't it originally a Lardy thing rather than BG?

IABSM

PBI- excellent set of rules,

Battlegroup

Battlegroup – simple to pick up and works well at any level be it squad or company.

Battlegroup

Battlegroup

Force on Force by Ambush Alley Games is my personal fave but I'm hearing a lot of good things about Iron Cross by Great Escape Games as well!

Flames of War forever!!!

Battlegroup. I said I would never get into a new period with miniatures and so forth. But, this broke my will. My 3D printer is going overtime.

Battlegroup

IABSM is perfect for modelling what a Company Commander would have to deal with and what he would and wouldn't know.

For competitive play: Flames of War
For interesting gaming: I Ain't Been Shot Mum
For straightforward gaming with little fuss: Battlegroup

Battlegroup

Battlefront:WW2, Crossfir (for infantry games) or IABSM