"How popular is Crossfire?" Topic

I've had Crossfire for years, but haven't really played it. Now my buddy is trying out a number of different rule sets for WW2 skirmish combat. Should I try to push Crossfire onto him? Does it have enduring popularity?

Not sure what size of action your buddy is looking forward to game, but I do not think that most people would really classify Crossfire as a skirmish set of rules, since in them one stand represents a squad.

It's still 1:1 though, which for many gamers qualifies as skirmish.

Crossfire isn't 1:1.
A stand (with 3 or 4 figures) represents a squad (8 to 12 men)
Great game, but really only works 1 on 1 as a game, and only for infantry fights.

It was best when Robert Novak co-hosted. Off the air now.

Great 1 on 1, add armor and multiplayer, it's started to get 'cranky'

I would go w/ ain't been shot mum or disposable heros, maybe bolt action since BA is the hotness right now, add might I add there is absolutely no reason to limit yourself to 28mil, all those 1/1 rule sets can be played very well within the space of a dining room table with 'peter pigs' ranges. (The best game n the market as far as I'm concerned)

It doesn't have to be a skirmish set. I should have said "small units." Thanks for the info so far. I'm really interested to know if it is remarkably good, or middle-of-the-pack. Its simplicity appeals to me.

I really enjoyed Crossfire. We built up some really nice 28mm forces, concentrating on the Russian Front. Played for about 2 years. Use plenty of terrain!
Downside: really only a 2 player game. 4 players or more has everyone watching 1 guy take all the initiatives until he fails, then the other guy hogging the initiatives. You can divide up the table into 'zones', but then you really have multible two player games.
Also, vehicles are awkward, but at least you can have them. Really an infantry game. Mortars work good in the system, although it's hard to get your spotter in a place where he can spot without getting shot.
All said, it's a good game.

Dexter Ward: ah, I was not aware of the number of minis on the base. I had always thought it was 1:1. My apologies.

Many like it, including me when I tried it for 15 years ago. I never see it played though, so despite its good press it doesn't come out much. Worth a shot, good two player game.

I think they are one of the most creative set of rules ever written. I based my own rules Company Commander on them. My issues with the CF rules were they did not handle armor well. I also felt infantry were somewhat vanilla in CF. I added abilities to my own rules and have fought many battles using them. I put them out as a free set and there are mods on the yahoo group for WWI, moderns, scifi and more. The Yahoo group has become quiet as I started it in 2001. But the rules and all the other goodies are there for free.

Lately I had been playing it in 54mm. You can use figures mounted on bases or mounted individually.

link

Thanks.

John

Recent anecdote: my son and his cousin have been going through my (admittedly small) collection of WWII rules, and it was Crossfire that really grabbed their attention.

Played and still play CrossFire. Recently mod it a little, using Lloyd's ideas (Lindy Beige on YT) for teams instead of squad units, and it worked.

Are we speaking of the game mechanics – which will go nicely with any level, or the full package?

Thanks!

My FAVORITE set of rules of all time, quite possibly. I do like TSATF a n awful lot too. We usually play with 4 players & tanks too. With tweaks it works just fine IMHO.

"Great game, but really only works 1 on 1 as a game, and only for infantry fights."

well, no, not necessarily.
I think I can safely say I've played Crossfire to its absolute limits, and its perfectly possible to play it with multi-players (most I think I've played is about 8 a side) and with entire companies of vehicles…you do need to do some work and a little imagination when it comes to scenario construction, and an umpire helps.
Its like anything else, put a bit of work in and you'll be rewarded.
If you don't want to put the work in then,yes, its best as a 1 on 1.
Or play something else.

In our core social group, Crossfire is our go to set of rules for platoon level, several tanks game.
It offers more choices to a player each turn, and with its reactive fire mechanism, both sides need to be on their toes each turn.
At the local club, the other sets of WW2 rules are dominating.

You have to give cudos to those sets, as they are fostering a interest and resurgent 15mm model scene. As a general guess, they offer old war hammer games a place to go- the start up tabletop often resembles ….(I will stop here, before the rant starts.)

My Crossfire H-Con game a few years back. Way more than 1v1 & a bunch of tanks! Went very well, except for that one damn player THAT ALWAYS bitches about EVERYTHING! All of the other players had a great time.
link

Damn, I'd be honored just to play with your minis on that amazing game table!
(there's some amazingly immature gamers out there – and they're usually not the young ones either)

Thanks FlyXwire, And you are correct Sir! He was the oldest guy playing, I won't say who, but if you have been gaming Historical's at all over the past 30 or 40 years, you would know who he is. I was jacked when I saw he had signed up, but his constant comments & complaints (about the tweaks I was using for a Convention Crossfire game) REALLY bummed me out. And he put a heavy downer on the rest of the players too. It lead me to stop bringing games for about 3 years to H-con. Started bring them again about 3 years ago & had another incident similar 2 years ago, not near as bad tho. This past year I ALMOST, ALMOST put put in the description in the PEL, "Players over 55 must be accompanied with a playing child!" But again, Thanks! I was a really cool game!

:)))
Luckily there's so much more to this hobby that can keep us motivated, that if at any particular time we might get bummed out about one aspect, there's other parts that can still keep us engaged (most of the time).
Sometimes I do the monetary-assessment of what it's cost me to put on a particular presentation, and then there's one of those "rare" players who feels obligated to put in his 2 cents worth (there's really no compari$on). Maybe it could also be said….

"Old soldiers never die, but many get real crabby."

Ceterman, that is a fabulous looking game…brilliant

20mm?

Thanks christot, I appreciate it! It's 28mm. With mostly Corgi 1/50th Armor. Repainted, or course. The Cammo'd Mk IV's are all metal Battle Honors, they FEEL like tanks! The Gray Mk IV's are the old Walmart/ToysRUs guys, I forget the brand. All are basically 1/50th scale. I made all the Terrain Boards, which you can see here:
board2deathterrain.com
Thanks again & glad you liked em!
Peter

Ceterman,

Would you mind sharing your Crossfire modifications for multi-player and armor games?

Thanks,

Bill.

Ceterman, didn't know till now that you're the Board2Death Terrain wizard – it's great stuff!
(btw, my Dad was a Glider Infantryman in the 325th GIR, 82nd Airborne Div. during WW2)

Thanks FlyXwire, Yep, that's me! My dad was on LST 197 at Anzio, Salerno, one landing in between those two. They got hit at Anzio & limped back to England, alone before making Normandy. He was on the USS Florence Nightingale for the Invasion of Morocco before the 197 was built. So he saw a ton of action. He earned 4 Battle Stars for those 4 Actions. Gunners Mate 1st Class & 197 was credited with 3.5 German Aircraft, so he did his job too! My wifes Dad was in the 11th Airborne, in the Pacific. Then transferred to the Glider Division there. He was involved in the taking of Nichols Field during the Battle of Luzon. He said that was his toughest battle. They faced 4 or 5 Banzai charges. Many in his Company did not come out of there. RIP, Jim & Hal & THANKS FOR YOUR SERVICE. As well as your Father.

Big Red, Everything I used, modification wise came from these 2 guys & these sites, Both are great!
link

link

Of course I didn't use em all but all came from one or the other!
Enjoy!
Peter

hi, I agree with the Crossfire fans above. Great game. Very creative. It is the most exciting table top game I have ever played. I guess that is why it is still play the game I play most frequently after nearly 18 years.

CF is not 1:1, unless you choose to play at that scale (Like Lloyd/ LindyBeige and friends). Normally it is 1 figure to 3 men-ish, which to me isn't skirmish, but is small unit. But doesn't have to be small. I've had a couple of battalions on table many times.

As a two player game it is brilliant but I've also played many multi-player games. Needs a bit of creativity to prevent the all players watch one player syndrome – but definitely possible. 2 players a side is easily do-able. I used to play 3-4 players a side all the time. My only constraint is I don't know that many wargamers any more.

Infantry are the focus of CF but tanks do appear. One of my scenarios is "Armour Fest" basically an excuse to get all the tanks I owned at the time on table. It was a great scenario. I have to say that I have tweaked the Armour rules quite a lot (@Ceterman posted the link to my balagan house rules above).

Crossfire has a vibrant community. The Yahoo group was formed 15 Oct 2000 and still has 1794 members today. We average three posts per day. We've been doing that for 17 years.

I say, give it a go. And if you want a guide on how to get started with Crossfire have a look at this …
link

Cheers

Steven

Agree Steve, since they came out, they have been by far, my favorite WW2 rules & like I said, probably tied for all time, any period set of rules & THANK YOU for all the work you & Tim Marshall's (who's link I posted, sadly doesn't seem to work!) have done to add on & add to, Mr. Conliffe's very unique & extremely fun game!
Again, many thanks!
Peter