tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6650770985225450559.post6749965131875440967..comments2024-03-28T22:10:41.636-07:00Comments on Archduke Piccolo: Suomussalmi - the Project.Archduke Piccolohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15533325665451889661noreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6650770985225450559.post-30018324007950363752018-03-17T20:21:59.110-07:002018-03-17T20:21:59.110-07:00Hi, Chris -
It was your NQM ideas that got us on t...Hi, Chris -<br />It was your NQM ideas that got us on to this whole concept. They have led to fun games, and a distinct feeling we're on to something. I have yet to go through my recent posts to collate my own thoughts and see what I can do with them.<br />Cheers,<br />IonArchduke Piccolohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15533325665451889661noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6650770985225450559.post-41846358982603843362018-03-17T15:17:19.841-07:002018-03-17T15:17:19.841-07:00An excellent batle report, Ion! Thanks for posting...An excellent batle report, Ion! Thanks for posting it. There has always been a huge amount of cross-fertilisation between Bob Cordery, Tim Gow, and me starting in the '80s, so rules for this sort of operation can be somewhat more flexible than, say WH40K or DBA.<br /><br />Regards, Chris.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6650770985225450559.post-75808931918395729342018-03-11T11:52:34.551-07:002018-03-11T11:52:34.551-07:00Hi Neil - a lot to reply to here!
I was reasonabl...Hi Neil - a lot to reply to here!<br /><br />I was reasonably satisfied with what I managed to get onto the table - a reasonable compromise, but could be improved upon. The SP modifiers for equipment and 'preparedness' could possibly have been left off, as in the country they were fighting in, SMGs were handier than rifles.<br /><br />The Hexblitz rules were slightly modified, but could have been played straight. The main modification was in scale, which was more cognate to Megablitz, but with SPs assigned to groups of stands.<br /><br />My modification seriously limits 'stacking' - but I might have to bring in some formal rule about that. At present I allow HQ, spotter and LOG/POL elements to stack with other types.<br /><br />Bob has posted me some stuff about New Stanhall - rule set and Martin Rapier's article in Nugget from years agone. It is similar to an idea I had years ago but never developed. Martin himself commented on my Uranus game (I think it was) with (I think) a link to an article he wrote about it. When someone referred to it later, it took a while for the memory to connect up the dots.<br /><br />Actually, where I started was Bob C's Portable Wargames, with a side order of Chris Kemp's Not Quite Mechanised. In fact it is towards the CK game modified to Army/Army Corps level that Paul and I are aspiring. Suomussalmi is close to NQM standard scale. Uranus was huge (for such a small table), and enormous fun.<br /><br />My researches seem to indicate that the Finn 65th Regiment was operating north of Suomussalmi - off the table area. Maybe later in the operation (bearing in mind it lasted well over a month - really a kind of vast, thinly spread 6-week battle), perhaps the 65th joined the attacks on the Raate road.<br /><br />I felt that the game worked well beginning with the attacks to seal off 163rd Div, the 44th attempting to drive through, and the 64th attacks to cut the road. At the end of Day 7 is was clear that the 44th was not going to make it through, though by then the column was far from obliterated.<br /><br />Cheers,<br />Ion Archduke Piccolohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15533325665451889661noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6650770985225450559.post-47805589822216882802018-03-11T00:04:51.478-08:002018-03-11T00:04:51.478-08:00Ion,
If it's any consolation I too started wit...Ion,<br />If it's any consolation I too started with Tim's scenario, bought a pack each of Strelets Winter War Finns and Soviets then made the mistake of "just doing a bit of research". At least you have managed to get it on the table while my butterfly mind moved on to other things....<br /><br />Prompted into looking at it again, it's probably worth studying it as two actions rolled into one: Suomussalmi and Raate Road.<br />My reading suggests the "missing" Finish (65th regt?) Was in action v 44th division (64th being somewhat worn).<br />Another snippet; for the attempt on Suomussalmi itself, the Finns formed assault teams equipped with SMG and LMG. Not sure how (or if it's worth) making a rule for this at the scale in question.<br /><br />I note you used Hexblitz; was this "straight" or modified?<br /><br />Of interest is that the Balagan blog is exploring operational hex based games with Stephen considering writing his own. Bob C has also been posting (New Stanhall) about Martin Rapier's Operation Uranus rules which I think takes you back to where you started?<br /><br />For my part, prompted by your Sidi Rezegh posts, I dug out my battered 2nd hand copy of GDW's Operation Crusader game. Perfect for an operational campaign background, the counters are infantry brigades and armour, recce, AT and AA (axis) battalions. It was designed as a "double blind" game for fog of war. It strikes me this would be ideal for two gamers, even conceivably via the internet. Interestingly, when contact is made in a hex, the units (max 4 btns stacking limit) are removed to a "battle board" 7 hex (representing 1 game hex) space to resolve combat. This looks promising as a way to translate the board game to table top. <br />https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/6814/8th-army-operation-crusader<br /><br />Neil<br />Neil Pattersonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13565511145163341782noreply@blogger.com