GHQ Models Forums

Hey guys, I need some recommendations for rulesets. I have always played 1:1 scale wargames, but I want to go bigger now. I’m looking for a set of platoon scale (or larger) that has a good balance between detail and quickness of play. I know that GHQ’s Micro Armor is platoon scale, and so is GDW’s Combined Arms, but I have no experience with either of them. Has anyone played them both? Are there any other rules out there for modern at this scale? Solo playability is a plus.

I would even go bigger in order to play a division-level game if I could. I have a set of rules called NATO Division Commander that uses battalion-level counters on a map. Maybe I could use those rules for supply and movement up to a battle and then throw battalion sized units of micro armor on the terrain board to fight the engagement.

I use Fistful of Tows with some home grown modifications.

Overall, I like it.

The good: Simple and yet comprehensive, the game does not drag. Lots of data available. The 1 miniature = 1 platoon scale faithfully mimics the fight as seen from a brigade or battalion TOC, where individual vehicles would never be posted on the SITMAP. It allows a brigade or battalion size battle in a reasonable area.

The bad: A few rules need tweaking, I feel. The "A 6 always hits" rule leads to a very unrealistic "If I already need a 6 it can't ever get worse" system. If a unit already needs a 6, it can be suppressed, gassed, in the middle of the night without any night vision... nothing will affect it, still needs a 6. The 1 miniature =5 vehicles rule is a little clunky, I find everything works better if you set 1 miniature = 3.5 vehicles. Yes, it will give some (mostly Western) formations an "extra" vehicle, but this is realistic in a Western unit and adds to their flexibility. Plus, FFT3's own Order of battle pages seemsto have gone this way, in part- a Russian infantry company with 10 or 11 vehicles still gets 3 miniatures, not 5.

Something I would like to see but I don't know how without complicating things too much: I would like to see a game in which miniatures represent platoons, but the platoons can have levels of damage instead of 100%, Suppressed, or Dead.

Modern Spearhead is pretty good. Just do a search for it. Its platoon based. I really like the
command and control part of the rules.
The next one I would recommend but its geared towards one to one is called "Seven days to the Rhine". I just picked up a set and they do look quite interesting. Have not played them yet so cannot speak on how well they flow. They do have videos on youtube to explain the play.

Thanks for the feedback, guys! I'll look into those rules and maybe give them a shot. I'll be playing solo, at least for a while so I don't have to wait for a legitimate game to play them

GMT boardgames Pane and MBT can be converted for minis use.
I still used modified Challenger 2000 rules by Table Top Games.

Does fistful of tows play well for ww2? I’m tempted to try it but wanted to make sure it really wasn’t geared only towards modern?

I like blitzkrieg commander II...

Burtwolf,

I believe Fist Full of TOWs III does play well for WWII. I have not played it yet, but here is a video that uses the rule set.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GUpXo9i8K6U

The Game report looked like it worked well.