Beer and Pretzels Skirmish (BAPS)

Covers the 20th Century. Fast-playing rules intended to provide the feel of quick, sharp skirmishes between squads and platoons. Bookkeeping is minimized. The system is designed so that experienced gamers can play using only the reference sheet. An order chip system allows leaders to give orders to their men; unordered men receive random orders. Vehicles are represented at the crewman level. Clever combat rules allow troops to shoot as fire teams while constraining their field of fire. Infantrymen take Wounds, and a death in a team forces a morale check. Optional rules cover paratroops, artillery, gliders, close air support, advanced line of sight, and objectives; there are also guidelines on how to amend the rules for your own purposes. Included are eight well-presented scenarios (six for WWII, one for WWI, and one for Vietnam War), plus 20 pages of data charts.

Designer: John R. "Buck" Surdu
Publisher: LMW Works
Year Published: 1997
Status: In Print
Contents: 72-page spiral-bound rulebook, 8 1/2" x 14" reference sheet
Scale: Each inch on the tabletop represents 4 meters of actual ground. Each turn in BAPS represents 30 seconds of real time. Each figure represents an individual combatant. The designer uses 20mm figures, but says the rules work well for 25mm and 15mm too.
Basing: Individual