AARs: Show Us Yer Games!

Benlacy · Post by **Benlacy** » Sun Aug 31, 2014 6:35 pm

Kieran,
I don't want to violate any protocols by providing a link, but if you Google Micro Melee, it will pop up. It is published by Britton Publishers.

A game of six turns takes anywhere from 3 to 4 hours. It is predicated on action chits and is based upon the troop quality of the units in play. It is company level: three platoons for the attacker and somewhat less for the defender and uses a 1:1 ground scale. For example; a 6-foot table measures 183cm, which is 610-yards in scale. So, for armor, the battle begins pretty close.

There are a number of Micro Melee specific scenarios available, and the AARs that Bez posted are also there on this site at the DWC (Dulles Wargaming Club) page. Ben

John Secker · Post by **John Secker** » Sun Aug 31, 2014 10:40 pm

SKeeM wrote:So tonight I played my third game. I only own 15mm terrain so the table didn't look as good

Actually those trees are perfectly in scale with the models, even the larger pines. Most model trees which are allegedly "in scale" with a particular troop size are actually far too small. A mature tree is a BIG object - far taller than a typical house, for example.

SKeeM · Post by **SKeeM** » Mon Sep 01, 2014 12:10 am

Well that's great because I have lots of those tall trees. I am going to work on putting together a table with my roads, rivers and bridges and see how it looks. I'll post some pics after.

dougeagle · Post by **dougeagle** » Mon Sep 01, 2014 9:57 am

Benlacy wrote:Kieran,
...A game of six turns takes anywhere from 3 to 4 hours. It is predicated on action chits and is based upon the troop quality of the units in play. It is company level: three platoons for the attacker and somewhat less for the defender and uses a 1:1 ground scale. For example; a 6-foot table measures 183cm, which is 610-yards in scale. So, for armor, the battle begins pretty close.

There are a number of Micro Melee specific scenarios available, and the AARs that Bez posted are also there on this site at the DWC (Dulles Wargaming Club) page. Ben

Wow...sounds like its more involved in charts and chits than anything else. Without stepping on toes here, how would you say they are compared to other 1:1 rules?

Great report and terrain as well.

Bezmozgu7 · Post by **Bezmozgu7** » Mon Sep 01, 2014 4:52 pm

Doug,
Micro Melee (MM) is pretty far over at the simulation end rather than the beer and pretzels end of the miniature gaming spectrum. It has significant detail that allows you to play historical or hypothetical WWII company level engagement with pretty realistic results. Despite its detail, its unique orders and troop quality system make it quite playable, especially once you've played through it once or twice and understand the mechanics.

In my experience ODGW's Mein Panzer (MP) is close in the level of detail, but the mechanics are different and MM is a true 1:1 scale representation rather than the telescoping ranges in MP. Fireball Forward and GHQ's Micro Squad - The Game are closer to MM than Micro Armour - The Game, but none of these systems are as involved (or in my experience/opinion fun and challenging). I have not tried any other WWII one stand = one squad systems to compare it to.

The learning curve probably would be considered steep by a majority of gamers, but IMHO the investment of time is well worth it if you want to fight realistic company-level WWII tactical engagements. I'm in the process of finishing up a Boot Camp series of scenarios for MM. It comprises eight scenarios that introduce gamers to the MM system in a building block fashion that progresses from a simple infantry platoon vs infantry platoon meeting engagement to a couple of full, combined arms engagements that include all aspects of the system including armor, mortars, OBA, snipers, and close air support.

I hope this rather lengthy (sorry) response answers your question and please let me know if you have any others.

Bez

dougeagle · Post by **dougeagle** » Mon Sep 01, 2014 10:23 pm

Bezmozgu7 wrote:Doug,
Micro Melee (MM) is pretty far over at the simulation end rather than the beer and pretzels end of the miniature gaming spectrum. It has significant detail that allows you to play historical or hypothetical WWII company level engagement with pretty realistic results. Despite its detail, its unique orders and troop quality system make it quite playable, especially once you've played through it once or twice and understand the mechanics.

In my experience ODGW's Mein Panzer (MP) is close in the level of detail, but the mechanics are different and MM is a true 1:1 scale representation rather than the telescoping ranges in MP. Fireball Forward and GHQ's Micro Squad - The Game are closer to MM than Micro Armour - The Game, but none of these systems are as involved (or in my experience/opinion fun and challenging). I have not tried any other WWII one stand = one squad systems to compare it to.

The learning curve probably would be considered steep by a majority of gamers, but IMHO the investment of time is well worth it if you want to fight realistic company-level WWII tactical engagements. I'm in the process of finishing up a Boot Camp series of scenarios for MM. It comprises eight scenarios that introduce gamers to the MM system in a building block fashion that progresses from a simple infantry platoon vs infantry platoon meeting engagement to a couple of full, combined arms engagements that include all aspects of the system including armor, mortars, OBA, snipers, and close air support.

I hope this rather lengthy (sorry) response answers your question and please let me know if you have any others.

Bez

Thanks for the reply and brief info. I watched the 2 videos on the net. Seems like a decent set of rules, but I'm more used to the streamline type of games...no not BA or FoW...more IABSM and CoC.

Bezmozgu7 · Post by **Bezmozgu7** » Tue Sep 02, 2014 3:47 am

Doug and Cama,

Micro Melee clearly is at the more complex end of the spectrum and may not appeal to the majority of gamers. But that is what is great about the miniature wargaming hobby -- the diversity of complexity, scale, and historical period. If you ever make it out to the US mid-Atlantic region and are interested in giving MM a try, let me know and I can set something up. Cheers,

Bez

kfeltenberger · Post by **kfeltenberger** » Tue Sep 02, 2014 7:50 pm

Any chance of MM being ported to something a bit more modern and contemporary?

Bezmozgu7 · Post by **Bezmozgu7** » Wed Sep 03, 2014 3:36 pm

Kurt,
I have not heard from the MM designer of plans to expand the system to the modern/contemporary period. I'll ask him. Cheers,
Bez

Bezmozgu7 · Post by **Bezmozgu7** » Fri Sep 05, 2014 5:14 pm

Kurt,
Britton Publishers advises they have no plans to expand Micro Melee to the contemporary/modern period.
Bez

kfeltenberger · Post by **kfeltenberger** » Fri Sep 05, 2014 5:54 pm

Thanks! I did WW2 years ago and while it's fun, my interests are trending more to the modern.

Bezmozgu7 · Post by **Bezmozgu7** » Sat Nov 01, 2014 3:01 am

The link below will take you to an AAR on a 6mm scale game our group played on 18 October using the Micro Melee system. Thank you Roger for pulling the AAR together.

http://www.brittonpublishers.com/Files/ ... achAAR.pdf

Volksgrenadiers of II Bataillon, 1127th VG Regt attack the thinly manned defensive line of the 1st Battalion, 137th Inf Regt on the foggy morning of 27 Sep 44. Supported by a few Panthers of the 106th Panzer Brigade and Hetzers from their division, the Volksgrenadiers quickly overrun a forward US roadblock and continue westward to the main US line located 1 km east of Pettoncourt, Lorraine, France. This attack was the opening move by XIII SS Korps to retake Nancy from the US Third Army.

Bezmozgu7 · Post by **Bezmozgu7** » Mon Nov 03, 2014 3:33 am

The link below will take you to an AAR on a scenario our gaming group recently played on first effort by LTC Timnes' initial effort to secure Amfreville with a group of about 50 US paratroopers of the 507th on the morning of 6 June 1944. Standing in their way were 25 or so German landser with orders to hold the southern edge of the village. Rules used were Micro Melee and game scale was 6mm.

http://www.brittonpublishers.com/Files/ ... unsAAR.pdf

Here are a few additional photos:

Bezmozgu7 · Post by **Bezmozgu7** » Mon Nov 03, 2014 6:15 am

This terrain was a collaboration with my good gaming colleague Ben. He developed the scenario and contoured his canvas terrain mat with rags/cloths underneath and provided the trees, roads, and hedgerows. I contributed the buildings and orchard. It was an exciting game that was decided on the last action phase as the turn limit ran out.

dougeagle · Post by **dougeagle** » Mon Nov 03, 2014 8:10 am

Yes, the terrain is very nice. I've been looking at getting stone walls in 6mm for some time now...but I'm just a cheap a**. Perhaps I should ante up and get some

Good report as well

AARs: Show Us Yer Games!

Re: My 3rd Micro Armor game

AAR - German 559th VGD vs US 35th ID, 27 Sep 1944

AAR -- To the Sound of the Guns