As I had hoped, I managed to finish redrafting the rules today, and they are now available to download as a PDF from the RED HEX WARGAMES website. The password you will need to download this latest version is wec02.
The rules are substantially more detailed than previously but the basic game mechanisms are the same. The impact of the recent play-test can be seen in some areas of the new rules, particularly with regard to:
The rules are substantially more detailed than previously but the basic game mechanisms are the same. The impact of the recent play-test can be seen in some areas of the new rules, particularly with regard to:
- Stands that initiate and then lose Close Combats
- Protecting stands that form part of a Square from being flanked
How suitable would they be for the American Spanish war of 1898. I loads of painted figures and fancy getting them on the table once more...
ReplyDeletebest wishes
Alan
Tradgardmastare,
ReplyDeleteThis is exactly the sort of war the rules were designed for!
Why not give it a go ... and let me know how you get on!
All the best,
Bob
Hi Bob, As you know these will be my preferred choice of rules for the Balkan Wars project so I am itching to give them a run out! It has been an educational experience seeing these evolve and I wholeheartedly endorse the rationale for 'small armies and more of them!' approach - it will enable me to, shall we say, indulge.......;-)
ReplyDeleteCheck out the new Osprey cataloue for some great ideas going forward - I would love to see how you are planning to get ships and aircraft involved in this set!
All the best,
Ogre
Ogrefencer,
ReplyDeleteI am glad that you are seriously thinking of using them for the Balkan Wars. Again, this is exactly the sort of war the rules were designed for.
I want to get all the bugs out of the rules before adding aircraft and ships (mainly gunboats and small craft but you never know ...). My ideas about the use of aircraft are to have just three types: Recce, Fighter, and Bombers. Recce could be used to find targets for guns firing at unseen targets, Fighters could be used to chase them and Bombers away (and attack ground targets ... possibly just one or two squares per turn), and Bombers will be able to mount large attacks on ground targets (possibly four or more squares per mission).
Ships would be used to carry troops (just like other Transport stands) or to act as long-range artillery.
These are just a few basic ideas that I have been mulling over, but they seem to be a good starting point.
All the best,
Bob
Great looking set of rules, will definitely give them a try, will use 10mm pendraken colonial troops with double the number per stand, for Sudan/Afghanistan.
ReplyDeletehave a look at:
http://home.comcast.net/~theangle/
FireSwrd/FirSrdpg.htm
has some interesting simple campaign rules and a useful map of the Sudan.
Looking forward to the air/naval additions, will these additions need some sort of BUA/fort/entrenchments rule, so the air/navel units have some targets?
Keep up the good work all the best
Airhead
Airhead,
ReplyDeleteSounds like a good idea. I chose the particular size of bases used in the rules because they are already used by several other widely used sets of rules (DBA and HOTT, for example) and thought that this would make it easier for lots of people who had figures already based for those rules.
I know the Colonial Angle's website very well. It is a pity that it has not been updated for some time, but as I know from trying to keep my own Colonial Wargaming website up-to-date, this is often easier said than done!
Good luck with your game (and let me know how you get on with the rules),
Bob
In addition Bob I would also use these for the Arab Revolt, the Italo-Turkish and also the operations along the Black Sea coast during WW1. The naval side would feature as shore bombardmant became something of a Russian speciality!
ReplyDeleteLots of mileage in this methinks!
Ogrefencer,
ReplyDeleteYou are really getting into this aren’t you?
Again, you have picked on the sort of small-scale war that these rules were written for.
If I had the time – and the money – I would try to recreate some of the battles we fought as part of the MADASAHATTA campaign. It had lots of different types of small armies, interesting terrain, and a great combination of land and sea action.
In fact, if I wasn’t trying to get ready for COW at the moment I would go off and start on the project right now … well, I would think about it.
All the best,
Bob