WWII 1:1 rule recommendations

[General Slade]

Can anyone recommend some rules for use with 10/12mm figures?  The specific things I am looking for are:

1. A 1:1 ratio for vehicles and guns (so one model represents one vehicle)
2. Infantry based as multiples (ideally something where each stand represents a section or machine gun team or whatever) with no need to track individual casualties.  I don’t want to have to keep a roster or place dice behind each unit to show how many casualties they have taken.

I have recently been playing Chain of Command with 28mm figures and whilst I think it is a great game I would like to try something where there are a few more tanks and guns on the board.

Is there anything that fits the bill?

 

 

[MartinR]

My particular favourites at that scale would be the old WRG 1925 to 50 (fireteam basing though) and Crossfire (section basing). Fireball Forward is a more structured blend of Crossfire and Squad Leader.

I’m sure you will get a zillion recommendations though, there are quite a few rules at that scale. Anything you are particularly looking for in the game? An obvious contender would be IABSM if you like CoC, but it tracks section losses.

"Mistakes in the initial deployment cannot be rectified" - Helmuth von Moltke

[willz]

I would recommend “Rapid fire”, it can be used for any scale of figures.  The scenarios use multi based units for the infantry the game is simple, fast and fun.   The game is based on 1 to 10/20 infantry, 1 to 5 AFV’s / guns but I often play the game as 1 to 1 basis it is all about perspective.

[NTM]

I prefer Iron Cross from Great Escape Games for that level of representation. It does use a few markers though.

[General Slade]

Thanks guys,

I will check out your recommendations.  I’ve been reading lots of reviews online but haven’t yet found something that seems to fit the bill.

I’m basically a horse and musket gamer and don’t know a great deal about WWII gaming.   I’ve been playing Chain of Command with a group of friends and have really enjoyed it but it feels very much an infantry game.  I don’t want to make infantry irrelevant but I would like to get a few more tanks and guns on the table.

I guess what I am looking for is something the next level up from Chain of Command.  Something where a rifle section or Bren team is represented by a stand rather than a bunch of individual figures and where I can get a few more tanks and guns on the table.  I thought O Group was going to be ideal but it turns out one model represents two or three tanks and for some reason I have a real problem with that.

[General Slade]

@NTM

I’ve just bought a pdf of the Iron Cross rules.  They look like they fit the bill of what I’m looking for and the fact that they are only a fiver is definitely an added bonus.

 

[JozisTinMan]

You could try Nordic Weasel’s Hammer of Democracy (also on wargame vault), but it does require that you track shock for units.  I play a related set for WW1 (Trench Hammer) in 10mm based 3 or 4 to a base with 2 bases per squad and now use little explosion markers to track shock / hits.

You can see my examples here: http://jozistinman.blogspot.com/search/label/Trench%20Hammer

Let us know how you get on, I may give Iron Cross a try

http://jozistinman.blogspot.com/

[willz]

General Slade wrote:

@NTM I’ve just bought a pdf of the Iron Cross rules. They look like they fit the bill of what I’m looking for and the fact that they are only a fiver is definitely an added bonus.

That’s definitely an excellent reason to use as set of rules.

[General Slade]

willz wrote:

General Slade wrote:

@NTM I’ve just bought a pdf of the Iron Cross rules. They look like they fit the bill of what I’m looking for and the fact that they are only a fiver is definitely an added bonus.

That’s definitely an excellent reason to use as set of rules.

I’m not sure it’s an excellent reason to use them but it certainly simplified the decision regarding whether or not to buy them.

[General Slade]

JozisTinMan wrote:

You could try Nordic Weasel’s Hammer of Democracy (also on wargame vault), but it does require that you track shock for units. I play a related set for WW1 (Trench Hammer) in 10mm based 3 or 4 to a base with 2 bases per squad and now use little explosion markers to track shock / hits. You can see my examples here: http://jozistinman.blogspot.com/search/label/Trench%20Hammer Let us know how you get on, I may give Iron Cross a try

Thanks Jozi,

I will give them a look.  You do have to track morale in Iron Cross as well so I am already resigned to doing that.

Don’t hold your breath on me doing a review of Iron Cross.  I’ve got to buy, paint and organise some armies (and terrain) first.  And I haven’t even decided whether to do North Africa or Normandy yet.

On first reading the rules sound like fun but of course you can’t really tell until you have played a few games.

[Milo Burgh]

O group:

 

O Group WW2 Rules

[Tony S]

Iron Cross is indeed a fun game!   As is it’s Cold War version, Seven Days to the Rhine.  There are some wonky bits (which for the life of me I can’t remember; it’s been a long time since I last played anything) but if you don’t mind a fast simple game, to have a good time with some mates, it’s definitely worth a try.

Hammer of Democracy is also quite good. Also simple and fast moving, but it’s got a very interesting way of handling support weapons in a realistic fashion.

 

[General Slade]

I like the look of  O Group, and I like Dave Brown’s General de Brigade rules (I haven’t actually played them but it’s a nice book!) but the vehicle ratio for O Group is 1 to 2 or 3, which is a non-starter for me.

Hammer of Democracy looks interesting but as far as I can see it is only available as a pdf and while I don’t mind buying a pdf to check something out I want to be able to get hold of a hard copy if I am actually going to play it.

[Etranger]

Blitzkrieg Commander (IV)? Although it’s usually played at the 1 base/vehicle = 1 section/troop, it can also be played at the 1:1 figure/vehicle ratio.

[ian pillay]

Can’t comment on the rules, but for the period, North Africa.

Tally-Ho! Check out my blog at…..
http://steelcitywargaming.wordpress.com/

[General Slade]

ian pillay wrote:

Can’t comment on the rules, but for the period, North Africa.

I am tempted to do North Africa – mainly because I like Matilda IIs and I really like the British camouflage scheme (the one in pale blue, sand and brown). I’m also tempted to do it because I don’t have to worry about buying a lot of terrain.

[Author]

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