"Divisions of Steel - Soft Launch" Topic

Finally recovered a new account here. Simon Hall rule author here (Mortem et Gloriam, FoG etc)

Mark Bevis (MicroMark) and I have been working on a set of Rules called Divisions of Steel for some time. The aim is to create the best feel for WW2 battles possible, while avoiding much increase in complexity.

The original plan was to launch it as books and box sets with 10mm figure range with PSC. However Covid has really got in the way of both supply chains and peoplebeing able to get together to play. Testers have been really positive and wanted it out there. So we have decided to do a 'soft launch' with Mark and i publishing as PDF initially. This gives a great chance for feedback and refinement before PSC print and market heavily later in the year.

We actually followed this model with Mortem et Gloriam with me publishing it first, refining it and then giving PSC a compendium edition to publish. Worked really well and the product won several big awards. WE will be aiming for that in 2023 with DOS.

Not so much as a rushed launch as a soft launch We won't be giving it a big push until later in the year. Covid supply chain issues have made the fll launch very tricky and lots of people wanted to get a set to play so we have launched them softly as a pdf system mainly for those people. We will refine it with feedback and put a full launch together in May with the Army Builder and videos. It may look complex bit it's pretty simple in practice you will find. The aim is however the best representation of WW2 feel not the simplest so it won't be for all. The dice etc. are already available on the PSC website at the link from the store.

So do take a look and try some games and post feedback. We are getting some superb feedback already. Largely very encouraging and as always with some great little ideas for improvements. Once we have settled everything to our liking PSC will then print the books and box sets.

Mark and are meeting next week to create some videos on the key concepts and to think about the refinement ideas so far. PSC I am meeting tomorrow to discuss the timing of the 10mm DoS range which is looking superb. I have about 100 prototypes people gave been using in demo games and have had many positive comments.

The rough timetable from here is:

March – tuition videos from us on the key mechanics.
April – Refined PDF with errata adjusted and tightened QRS sheets , 10mm Model presale by PSC, draft army builder
May – 10mm models available + dataset for the lesser nations so you can play Japan, Italy, France, Poland and Finland.
June – advertised launch of PDF version with some reviews
July – first gathering of players and demo games
to end of year – listen and refine
Jan 2023 – PSC rulebook launch

So not expecting to set the world on fire yet given the approach taken. Thats for next year. This year hoping to gather some hundreds of early adopters and crowd think to the perfect rule set for W2 feel without complexity.

Simon"

Simon,

Best of luck with these. Always looking at new WW2 rules. A bit bothered by the characterization as "create the best feel for WW2 battles possible, while avoiding much increase in complexity." Beauty being in the eyes of the beholder, what do you mean "best feel"?

Hi, any links for the pdf and YouTube videos?

Thanks

John

divisions-of-steel.co.uk/dos

YouTube link

Simon,

What period and theater are the initial PSC 10mm releases going to be aimed at? I'm much more of a 41-42 East front guy than Normandy 44 which is one of the things that has kept me in 15mm….

Ed

If, as the pdf states, the normal player command is 2+ companies (perhaps as much as a battalion if they're mostly mid- to low-grade infantry), perhaps the rules' name is a bit misleading? The word "division" in the title implies that I'm going to be a division or at least a brigade commander. Wouldn't "Battalions of Steel", "Kampfgruppen of Steel", "Colonels of Steel" or something like that be a better indication of the scale of the game?

Looks interesting! I'm not real sure why a Battalion/Kampfgruppe Commander will be concerned about anything other than if a tank is active or not rather than it was hit on the turret or elsewhere. I like that it is also useable with 3mm and 6mm. I guess we'll see more soon.

Thanks

John

Range of answers for you…

WEBSITE is division-of-steel.co.uk We have put a PDF of chapter on overview free in full to read which will give you more.

On feel it is of course subjective but was for Mortem et Gloriam. Mark and i are massive history fans with a lot of knowledge of WW2 and have aimed ot get something that feels right relative to the actual narratives of WW2 battles.For the audience and players to say whether it 'feels better' in due course. But we achieved it with Mortem et Gloriam and ReG so hoping we do here too.

The game is set up to be a BHQ as the primary point so yes potentially Battalions of Steel better. The 2 companies plus bit is more about events and what works for a 2 1/2 hour limited game. My interest is more a step up from that to BHQ and above. The demo game is a good example – all day game with a full Battalions and 2 companies of armoured support vs. 2 Kampgruppen. Easily stretched to up to Division. The title works nicely as the lists tend to be by Dvision so that is what you are choosing from ultimately – infantry battlaion form the X division.

The rules material cover all periods. My personal favourites are all pre 1943. PSC initial launch will be 1944 Europe as that matches the battalion level demo game. The flick to early war materials for the desert and Russia. Gradually a full range covering all theatres. I have rather a lot of 10mm Pacific stuff. Fun with Stuarts with cannister….

the turret vs hull is simply to easily cover off those companies with vehicles that were especially strong or not – so more about their vulnerrability on average in different tactical situations -which any BHQ commander does care about a lot. We look at KOed by any reason as the core, but split outcomes to KOed and Brewed Up to fit with campaign rules as the former is recoverable by the victor owning the terrain and the latter not.

We have the demo game in 10mm and 3mm…. plays great in anything 15mm downwards. I find 10mm a perfect balance but have to admit the 3mm gives you a great sense of reality which is why we have created it. It shows how the rules ignore how big the models are.

Hope all that helps.

Si

Looks like a Flames of War type of set of rules but each player commands a Battalion instead of a Company. If correct that is a good market segment, attracting former FoW players who would wish to command something larger.

PFModel

Yes that is the idea to allow a size up and using all the same kit. FoW models and basing work perfectly for DoS.

S

Link not working in Chrome?

I would agree about the name. I was thinking with the name that I would be commanding a division as a player.

I've been looking forward to these rules for about 2 years now. I can't wait to see them at Historicon so I can run something for Fall In using my existing collection of figures.