Ambush Alley: Boots on the Ground

[Shawn Carpenter]

As some of you may know, we began work some time ago on a new edition of Ambush Alley that we’re calling “Ambush Alley: Boots on the Ground.” The “Boots on the Ground” part of the title is very important, because these rules will be even more infantry-centric than Force on Force.

We’re going to return to our roots with AA:BOTG. This will be a game that features a low figure count, small table size, and quick playing time. The focus will be on short, sharp infantry actions in built-up or rough terrain. You’ll also see the return of Asset Cards, which will have all the rules needed to use them printed right on the card (no more looking up the rules for calling in an airstrike or mortar salvo).

We’ll also be taking these rules in some new directions, though, including new rules for Operators (single figure teams), near-future weapons and armor, and, yes, a point system.

I’ll be sharing more info on this project as development progresses, including some AARs that will give you peek at what we have in store for you!

I’m very excited about these rules – more excited than I’ve been since we were working on Force on Force and Tomorrow’s War!

• This topic was modified 5 years, 4 months ago by Shawn Carpenter.

Shawn Carpenter
[email protected]
www.ambushalleygames.net

[kyoteblue]

Sounds good Shawn !!!

[Splod]

Very excited to see this take off Shawn!

Give us a yell if you’re after some playtesters, Ive cut my teeth on many hours of Force on Force and am eager to see what you can come up with next!

[Baz Baziah]

Nice to read that you are returning to your roots with the new edition. I’ve always liked the small table “close and dirty” approach the game had.

Jim

[Darryl Smith]

So glad that you have a forum presence once again, and pretty excited about BOTG as well. I like infantry-centric skirmish games for my modern and sci-fi gaming.

Buckeye Six Actual
https://ambushedinthealley.blogspot.com/
http://foragecaps.blogspot.com/
http://germancolonialgaming.blogspot.com/

[Pedro Ruiz]

Sounds very, very well! I can’t wait it!

[Stan Martens]

This sounds great…looking forward to the evolution.

[Steve Rysemus]

I hope you will provide a PDF version of these new rules!

RKE Steve

[gcmini]

Shawn, you can call it “Boots On The Ground” if you want … but I heard there was a much funnier working title early on.

Allen Rockwell
GameCraft Miniatures
Business: www.gcmini.com
My Blog: www.allensmicroarmor.com

[Shawn Carpenter]

You mean “Ambush Alley: Hot Man-on-Man Action?”

I thought it was a great title, but people kept laughing at me when I used it for some reason . . .

😀

Shawn Carpenter
[email protected]
www.ambushalleygames.net

[Shawn Carpenter]

Steve Rysemus wrote:

I hope you will provide a PDF version of these new rules!

You know it, buddy! We’re all about digital products – it’s how we got started in this crazy bidness!

Shawn Carpenter
[email protected]
www.ambushalleygames.net

[gcmini]

Shawn Carpenter wrote:

You mean “Ambush Alley: Hot Man-on-Man Action?” 

That’s the one … still hilarious.

Allen Rockwell
GameCraft Miniatures
Business: www.gcmini.com
My Blog: www.allensmicroarmor.com

[Darryl Smith]

And I hope for us old timers who like printed materials that will also be an option…for the rules NOT to be called Hot Man on Man Action? 🙂

Buckeye Six Actual
https://ambushedinthealley.blogspot.com/
http://foragecaps.blogspot.com/
http://germancolonialgaming.blogspot.com/

[Shawn Carpenter]

Peggy is pretty keen on AA: Hot Man-on-Man Action, but we’re definitely calling it AA: Boots on the Ground. 😉

We’ll also be offering both print and digital versions of the game.

Shawn Carpenter
[email protected]
www.ambushalleygames.net

[Donogh McCarthy]

Looking forward to BotG – I’m biased, but I really enjoyed smaller games from Classified!

[Shawn Carpenter]

I’m right there with you, Donogh!

Shawn Carpenter
[email protected]
www.ambushalleygames.net

[Volker Pein]

Shawn, can you explain what type of changes we could aspect in the rules? Do you plan big changes or do you keep the basic mechanics of the game?

[Shawn Carpenter]

Here’s a little info on AA:BOTG from our blog (found at http://www.ambushalleygames.net/blog/2015/4/26/ambush-alley-returns):

If you’re familiar with the history of AAG, you know that we got our start back in 2007 with the release of the original Ambush Alley rule book – a slim little volume with black and white photos that I “type set” using Word. It was tightly focused on modern, urban combat between “regular” and “insurgent” forces and quickly garnered a respectably large fan base.

When we followed Ambush Alley up with the first edition of Force on Force in 2008, we expanded the scope of the game to larger, more conventional battlefields. Little did we know that book would attract the attention of Osprey Publishing and make Force on Force our major focus for nearly four years. After publishing a 2nd edition of FoF and eight companion books behind, we found ourselves nostalgic for the tighter scope of Ambush Alley.

What’s more, we’ve learned a lot in the past eight years (you guys are good teachers), and we really wanted to apply those lessons without gutting Force on Force. We’re well aware that many of you have sunk a lot of your hard earned cash in FoF and its eight companion books and we really didn’t feel right about putting out a new edition – it wouldn’t have been a money grab, but it sure might have looked like one to some folks. We pride ourselves on being a game company run by gamers for gamers, so the last thing we want is to look like we’re falling into some sort of planned obsolescence based version release strategy. We decided it would be a much better idea to kill two birds with one stone by putting out a new version of our much loved Ambush Alley rules that incorporates the lessons we’ve learned in the “FoF years.”

So what’s this new version of Ambush Alley going to be like? Well, here are some high points of what you’ll see in the new version of the game:

Ambush Alley will be a game engine. While the rule book itself will be focused on modern/near future small unit combat, we’ll be releasing Guidebooks that to put the engine to work in other settings, such as zombie survival, space opera, WWII, etc.

Ambush Alley will support the sort of fire team based skirmish gaming you’re used to from Force on Force and/or allow you to field highly skilled individual figures as single figure “units.” Want to play a scenario featuring a couple Special Forces Operators leading a few squads of indigenous troops? No problem. Or maybe you want to play a game where you’re in control of four separate Operators who are infiltrating an enemy camp? No sweat. Ambush Alley will allow you to play any combination of unit based skirmish or figure based “ultra-skirmish” scenarios you desire.

Ambush Alley will have a shallower learning curve than FoF. While it will still include the AAG “Reaction System,” that system has been overhauled and simplified to make it easier to learn and play. The rules in general are far more streamlined and will be supported by a number of “out of the box” playing aids that will make the game quick and easy to pick up.

Ambush Alley will be Force on Force & Tomorrow’s War compatible. It isn’t meant to replace FoF or TW and, as you’ll see, is significantly different from both of those games in design and scope, but you will still find it quick and easy to adapt FoF or TW scenarios for use with Ambush Alley.

Ambush Alley will see the return of our beloved digital “Mini-Campaign Packs.” We’ll re-release updated versions of old classics like “Three Block War” and “Under the Black Flag” to support the release of Ambush Alley and regularly release new, inexpensive mini-campaign packs.

Ambush Alley will be well-supported with scenario packs, but will not require scenarios to play. We’re designing this new version of the game from the ground up to make it pick-up game friendly.

I’ll go into more detail on the items above (and other surprises that I’m keeping up my sleeve for now) – keep your eyes on the blog! It’s going to get pretty exciting around here!

Shawn Carpenter
[email protected]
www.ambushalleygames.net

[maggico]

Glad to see that the forum revamped and with this news.

[Jon Winczek]

Maybe it has been already written here but what is tactical scope of BotG, meaning whether it be squad based game (every figure is on its own – like Skirmish Sangin or Five men in Normandy) or platoon based game like AA and FoF?

Greets

[naash]

Hi ! Those are fantastic news !
I can’t wait to see AA back…

[dead1]

So happy you guys are back!  Any news on potential release date?

[Joseph McCullough]

Really looking forward to the new rules, Shawn!

[Shawn Carpenter]

Thanks, Joe!

Shawn Carpenter
[email protected]
www.ambushalleygames.net

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