"Battalion level rules" Topic

So, I'm thinking I'd like to try some battalion level rules using 3mm minis.

I've watched a video or Rommel and it got me thinking about complexity. Rommel seemed (at a glance), pretty simple.

I'd love some suggestions as to what Battalion level rules you play and where they lie on the complexity scale.

To clarify, I'm looking for at least a battalion of goodies on each side possibly a brigade (as long as the rules aren't too abstract, but I'm aware this will be difficult to achieve).

Thanks

Rapid Fire – beer and pretzels.

O group but it is slanted a bit towards infantry. I would call it medium complexity. WW 2 battlefront is my current ruleset of choice but a bit old school in that it is Igo Ugo. Some folks like that. I actually use O group. Activation with battlefront rules.
There is also piquet, point of attack. Medium complexity if you haven't played a lot of wargames but complex if you have because you then have to unlearn a bunch of stuff.
Happy hunting

Joe

My go to rules for approximately that level is Command Decision: Test of Battle. Also known as Command Decision IV, CD IV, etc.
Each player commands about a battalion, or a battalion sized unit. I like the flow of the turn sequence, and the artillery/high explosive rules work very well causing suppression. Some folks dislike the deterministic spotting rules, though they actually make the game flow more quickly and is easier to keep track of who can see what.

Fistful of TOWs 3.

Covers 1914-20??

My go to for this scale. A stand = 1/2 company or 1 platoon.

Battalion to Brigade?

Command Decision, Rapid Fire, Blitzkrieg Commander and I still have a soft spot for old TAC:WW2 rules. Spearhead too, but really you need a minimum of two battalions.

The rules I actually play regularly for this level are homegrown of course, with company sized elements.

Rommel isn't a battalion level set, the manouvre units are Regiments, even if the stands are companies.

Another O Group player here. Not sure how it would scale up much beyond a battalion though.

Battlefront:WW2 is perfect for this level. O group is also good, but slower. Rommel is at a much higher level; each base is a company, so you would usually have a couple of brigades a side.
Rapid Fire is ok but it is just a bathtubbed skirmish set.
Command Decision is also ok but quite slow.

I play brigade level using Phoenix Command. It takes up my entire home and one engagement takes about 5-7 years to play.

O Group is my go-to system for battalion level.

What focus are you looking for in the ruleset? Solo or with friends?
Joe

O Group for me at the moment. I've been looking for the perfect Battalion scale rules for ages, even tried on and off to write a set. Whilst O Group isn't quite what I'm looking for, it is the best I've tried so far. Maybe a bit more of a game than a simulation, with quite a lot of abstraction, but it plays well and seems to give reasonable results.

I should say I've not tried Battlefront WW2 – not sure about availability in the UK.

@Joe Legan

strictly solo play and I'm thinking more combined arms and possibly brigade/division each side

I think o group is out then. It would strain under larger games.
Battlefront would work and solo works because your troops don't always follow your brilliant orders. I think it would slow to a crawl under a division battle though. If you keep it below a division I think it would work well.
Piquet point of attack would work and is ideal for solo play. There is a fair amount of randomness in the activation which people either like or hate. I have discussed it on my blog if you are interested further. I can point you there.
I have no experience with most of the other rulesets mentioned. Fist full of TOWs seems interesting to me.
Any other questions please ask.
Joe

We use Rapid Fire – not the best rules for armour but the infantry part works quite well and it has the advantage of being i) fast and ii) easy to understand

Midlander65 Caliver Books have the Battlefront WWII rules for £29.50 GBP for the rules and the late war cards for Russians, Americans and Germans. The other card sets are £19.50 GBP per set (late War, Blitzkrieg, Desert and Pacific).

@Joe Legan

Interested to take a peek at your blog.

Thanks

Command Decision? Since about 1971 I've played Chris Braddick's CD/Friend or Foe (his own adaptation of the rules) at Cancon in Canberra each year. It's pretty cool for large engagements. Frank Chadwick (Twilight 2000) base – can't go wrong!

Fredrick have you tried Rapid Fire Reloaded? Some interesting changes to armor.