WWII INFANTRY SKIRMISH VOTING RESULTS:
Voters, By Period - 1941 Russia

We play Battleground WW2 at least three times a month. A great game, which is easy and quick to play while at the same time detailed. Has my vote as the best wargame, period! [15 Nov 1999]

Ran a rather good game of the Dutch in '40,using BG:WWII, homebrewed stats for the Dutch Small Arms. Was a close, fun game with lots happening, and fun was had by all. Only a few questions? 1. How does BG handle Large Caliber ATRs as opposed to Small Caliber? By large caliber, I mean 20mm. 2. Does anybody use the card system of inititative?

Great New site for BG WWII: www.geocities.com/TimesSquare/Cauldron/2636/index.html It's specifically set up to handle the Blitzkrieg era for BG and there's other goodies there too. [31 Mar 99]

The last game we played was from Battleground's Panther's East packet. It involved many russian armor units (t-34 41's, su-76's and t-70's) breaking through a german force of pz4's, tigers, and panthers. The game played very well!!!! We were able to play all very detailed 10 turns in under 3 hours. Highlights include the t-70's knocking out one tiger at point-blank range, the su-76's firing their little hearts out, and the panthers melting everything in their way! Every game we have played from the various scenerio packs has been very successful and fun. Next, we are off to the Bloody Bocage! [30 Mar 99]

Streets of Stalingrad urban infantry fight. [28 Mar 99]

Our most recent game involved a Soviet counterattack against a German-held village on the approaches to Moscow during Operation Typhoon, October 1941. Despite an enormous numerical advantage (2+ companies vs. a reinforced platoon), the Soviet attack was stopped by German artillery, 88's and mud. We used Grey Storm/Red Steel (after BAPS, my personal favorite) with 15mm figures by Old Glory & vehicles/ordnance by Quality Castings and Military Miniatures. [26 Mar 99]

We played a multiplayer game in 15mm using the Anti-Tank Rapid Fire amendments from WI coupled with the infantry rules from Overlord, but set on the eastern Front in 1944.

The forces involved [on a 1 figure = 1 man, 1 model = 1 vehicle]were 2 full strength companies of Soviet troops [based 4 and 3 figs to an element] with a company [10] of t-34s and an attached Assault gun platoon of ISU-122/152s versus a 3 platoons of German infantry, 6 Pz Ivs and 2 Tigers.

We were able to complete a move in less than 30 minutes, and there were no periods where a player was uninvolved over the whole 7 hour game.

we're familiar with the overlord rules to the point where we are usimng them as a framework for a generic ww2 set rather than a campaign specific set as they are written.

There is a lot of ambiguituy over the definition of skirmish and tactical level, as opposed to scale of figure representation. To me, they are two separate areas. For example, in games where 1 fig = 1 man, and 1 model = 1 vehicle, many rules go for involved resolutions of hit location and effect. This is skirmish. However, there seems to be no middle ground between this and the ratio troops of Rapid Fire.

Using ratios to represent troops is a personal anathema of mine, as is moving individual figures. Nor do I want to be poring over multiple tank location hit charts.

I believe that the minimum unit of maneuver should be the fire-team/half-squad in WW2 games, but I find it looks silly to have that unit represented by one or two figures. As for tank platoons being represented by 1 model, well, I don't see the point, particularly in 15mm.

So I regard the limits of rules as:

Skirmish: no more than a platoon per player, based individually, and certainly not more than a platoon of tanks.

Tactical: 1 figure = 1 man, 1 model = 1 vehicle, but the base unit of maneuver and effect is the half-squad, and tanks are either hit and killed or hit and no effect - but there are recognisable differences between vehicle capabilities without the minutiae of skirmish. Here, a player can comfortably field and handle a battalion-sized infantry force, with associated tank Company, IOW a Battlegroup.

Then there is the operational level, where representations of the units are used, utilising representative figures and abstracted model/vehicle ratios. This I see as operational. [8 Feb 99]

Last game had early T-34s against a German Recon platoon with some armored cars and Pz IIs. Very great game, quick to play and great realism. I think Battleground WWII is the best skirmish in the market. Usually this game is billed as pure "infantry" but we have found that it is a great game for armored actions too. [8 Feb 99]