"Not quite Market Garden" Topic

Our little group are well along in preparing our Brisbane EXPO show game:
"Operation Triple Route".
British Airborne troops hold the crossings while armoured columns race north along three exposed roads in 1944 Europe.

We're currently preparing our EXPO game for November—an original tabletop scenario inspired by the themes of WWII airborne/armoured operations, but not a recreation of any specific historical battle.

The game features:
A table 15 foot x 6 foot.
Three parallel road axes running the length of the table
Cross-country movement to allow flexibility (and chaos)
An airborne force holding key crossings
A relief force of British armour advancing under pressure
German kampfgruppen conducting blocking actions and counterattacks

Players are divided as follows:

2 × British armoured division commanders
2 × German commanders handling multiple kampfgruppen
1 × Airborne commander holding the line
1 × Umpire (me), keeping things moving and shaping events

The emphasis will be on a fast-moving, visually clear game with multiple points of tension rather than strict historical accuracy. We're aiming for something that captures the feel of a corridor battle—momentum, delay, and the race to link up—while remaining flexible and playable in a show environment. The rules will be 'Rapid Fire Reloaded'

Figures and vehicles are now being assembled and organised—the project is well underway.
theminiaturespage.com

‌"TMP link
theminiaturespage.com ‌"TMP link

More updates as we get closer to November.

There's lots to work out.
We're debating how powerful German counterattacks should be.Too strong and the road blocks completely, too weak and the British just steamroll. We think a staggered entry for the Germans?

And tactical air strikes by fighter-bombers if things get bogged down (umpire controlled as to when & where)?

Should the paras get limited resupply, or just hold until relieved?

Thoughts?

(BTW you are all invited to the Show).

That will be a cracking game, might be worth the drive over from Darwin to check it out :)

Have you seen the free download "Grave to Nijmegen" on the RF site. I know your game is standalone but they may have a few pointers regarding force sizes.

Sounds like a lot of fun, but a long bus ride from Indiana. Staggered German entry makes sense. I'd make para resupply uncertain. As with tac air, it give the umpires some options for game balance.

OR you can make the paras pay for it. I'm continually struck by the differences between Arnhem and Bastogne resupply. Drop a troop quality level on a para battalion and have a pathfinder team to improve chances of resupply?

Sounds great and the minis look fantastic

The whole balance thing is tricky – probably staggered entry for the Germans is the best way to prevent a walk-over either way

Thanks for the kind words gents and, yes, the distance from Darwin and Indiana might be a bit of a challenge!

Some very useful points raised, especially around staggered German entry and para resupply. Both are things we're actively thinking about from an umpire/game balance perspective.

A Show game takes some delicate balancing. It has to be a spectacle, that goes for the length of the Show (two days) and is still a wargame with both sides having a decent shot at victory.

Which begs the question: what will winning look like?

Obviously, relieving the paras or not should be a major event. But what about minor goals?

There's obvious ones for the Main force British -rewarding distance advanced and taking specific locations (the villages, bridges etc).

It seems a bit negative for the Germans – not losing specific locations. And the Red Devils seem to be sttuck on a static hold or die status.

Any ideas?