PICKETT'S CHARGE! ACW Rules

Salute 2016 - last play test for "Pickett's Charge!" ACW rules prior to publication - and all in the glare of the Salute public! Our Action at Antietam game represented the intense action around Dunker Church and particularly the Sunken Lane, between the confederate forces of General Hill and the federal forces of General French during the Battle of Antietam in 1862.

See the Guns at Gettysburg Salute thread for a full AAR and rules design comments.
http://generaldebrigade.fr.yuku.com/forums/11/Guns-at-Gettysburg#.VxkBFY-cGUk

IMPERIAL SUNSET.
NAPOLEONIC SCENARIOS VOLUME 6.

Now complete!

PICKETT'S CHARGE! ACW RULES

The latest update on the progress of the new Pickett's Charge! American Civil War rules has now been added to the Guns at Gettysburg thread: The new command and control mechanisms and aspects of other rules following on from an excellent play test at the Perry's are discussed in more detail.

http://generaldebrigade.fr.yuku.com/topic/6072/New-Guns-at-Gettysburg-Game-with-Rich-Clarke#.VnwEMjgrGUk

Merry Christmas & Happy New Year!

LIGNY at the Wargames Holiday Centre

The Battle of Ligny 1815 was refought at the Wargames Holiday Centre using Mark Freeth's massive 28mm Napoleonic collection this weekend.

Fifteen players commanded French and Prussian in a hard fought refight of this penultimate Napoleonic battle.

See the thread below for the AAR.
http://generaldebrigade.fr.yuku.com/topic/6188/LIGNY-at-the-Wargames-Holiday-Centre-2015#.VgmEAzhdGUk

All New Guns at Gettysburg!

As I rewrite Guns of Gettysburg and redevelop the rules I've now reached a point where I have designed some very different mechanisms from the standard GdeB/GaG approach.

See the thread below to catch up on how the new rules are developing, which will also include a regular series of updates as the rules move towards publication.

http://generaldebrigade.fr.yuku.com/topic/6072#.VRwmxO9FCUk

IMPERIAL SUNSET 1813-1814

General de Brigade Volume 6 is making steady progress.

Thus far we have tested;

• The Prussian Charge, Lutzen 1813, (re-worked Gross-Gorschen from Vol. 1).
• La Garde au Feu, Lutzen 1813,

• Action at Eisdorf, Lutzen 1813, (the aim is for all three Lutzen scenarios to be able to be linked into one large game.)
• Franquemont's Attack. Bautzen 1813.
• Hagelsberg 1813
• The First Day of Kulm, 1813.
• Dennewitz - Ney's Battle.
• Dennewitz - The Saxon's at Gohlsdorf.

So, now have the three Leipzig scenarios to complete , plus two/three from 1814 and we're done!

Guns at Gettysburg - Battle of Stones River

Last weekend saw some hardened (and not so hardened) ACW gamers meet up at the Wargames Holiday Centre to refight the Battle of Stones River, and trying out the latest version of Guns at Gettysburg rules.

The rules are being revised and receiving the GdeB Deluxe treatment, and at long last are where they should be! They are slicker, quicker and adopt different mechanisms to the Napoleonic version to produce a more ACW feel.

See the thread on the Guns at Gettysburg forum
http://generaldebrigade.fr.yuku.com/topic/6003/master/1/#.VIGKe9EqWUk

HILL 112 - SELWG 2014

PanzerGrenadier Deluxe has a further run out this time at SELWG in Crystal Palace with Loughton Strike Force's Hill 112 Normandy game.

See the Battlegroup PanzerGrenadier thread in the forums.

FIGHTING THROUGH: ADVANCE ON BUDAPEST

See the Battlegroup PanzerGrenadier thread for a new article & scenario - Advance upon Budapest, complete AAR and rules explanations.

http://generaldebrigade.fr.yuku.com/topic/5905/FIGHTING-THROUGH-PANZERGRENADIER-DELUXE-SCENARIO-AAR#.U9DQx0BwaUk

The full article can be found in this months Miniature Wargames. (Aug)

PANZERGRENADIER DELUXE NOW AVAILABLE!

PanzerGrenadier Deluxe is a very different game to its predecessor and distinct from other existing rule sets. The central theme of the rules is tactical command and control. This emphasis on command requires players to plan ahead, use period tactics such as combined arms to overcome the enemy and genuinely think about the command challenges before them. When playing PanzerGrenadier each army operates under a specific military doctrine which impacts upon the command flexibility players are able to exercise. Your HQ units are important; as you'll find those units under command operate reasonably well, whereas those units out of command will drain your command of its vital HQ Impetus. And once you're at zero your turn could end at any moment! Players will not be able to see every enemy unit and attacking forces will need to use reconnaissance effectively; both commands will need to consider their deployments and allocation of reserves and have their commanders in the right place at the right time in order to exploit combat opportunities and achieve battlefield success!

 

The rules span 248 pages in full colour and provide fast, simple yet "wargame" realistic mechanisms that produce a much quicker style of play allowing players to concentrate far more on commanding their troops and playing the game. Advanced rules are incorporated into the body of the main rules so can easily be used. Also included are numerous optional rules, such as Russian commissars, demolition vehicles, river crossings, etc; three introductory scenarios, an extensive points system including easy to use standard platoon costings and extensive and detailed TOE's covering Germany, Russia, Britain and the United States.

 

PanzerGrenadier Deluxe can be used with 15mm or 20mm figures (though 10-12mm and even 28mm figures can be used) and can be played at either a 1:3 figure ratio or a 1:1 figure ratio. No rebasing needed. Quick reference sheet, unit status markers and artillery template are also provided.

Available this week from Caliver Books at £35. 

ASPERN-ESSLING!

The battle of Aspern-Essling was refought at the Wargames Holiday Centre using 15mm figures across 24 foot tables.

See the General de Brigade thread.

http://generaldebrigade.fr.yuku.com/topic/5850#.U16GBkBwaUk

PANZERGRENDIER DELUXE DESIGN THOUGHTS 3

MAPS, DEPLOYMENT and SPOTTING.

This part of PanzerGrenadier Deluxe design thoughts examines the initial deployment of forces, spotting and the exploitation of reserve platoons.

 

 

 

 

See the Battlegroup PanzerGrenadier thread:

http://generaldebrigade.fr.yuku.com/topic/5674/DELUXE-EDITION-PANZERGRENADIER-RULES?page=2#.U0u9s0BwaUk

 

 

Salute 2014

Loughton Strike Force will be displaying Kursk: Attack on Ponyri: 1943 at Salute this Saturday.

 

We'll be using the new PanzerGrenadier Deluxe WW2 rules.

 

So, please come along, take and look and feel free to ask any questions of the rules, figures and terrain.

 

PANZERGRENADIER DESIGN THOUGHTS 2

COMMAND & CONTROL

See the link below for further thoughts on the design of PanzerGrenadier Deluxe WW2 rules - concentrating on tactical command and control within WW2 wargames.

http://generaldebrigade.fr.yuku.com/topic/5674/master/1/?page=2#.UyCimkBFCUk

PANZERGRENADIER DELUXE DESIGN THOUGHTS

Between now and the publication of PanzerGrenadier Deluxe Rules (hopefully April), the BGPG Deluxe thread will update weekly with design thoughts on each core aspect of the rules, finally followed by a full AAR play though highlighting how the rules work during each phase of the game.

http://generaldebrigade.fr.yuku.com/topic/5674/DELUXE-EDITION-PANZERGRENADIER-RULES#.Uw8YuUBFCUk

ENCOUNTER IN THE ARDENNES: PANZERGRENADIER DELUXE AAR

See the Battlegroup PanzerGrenadier thread for this snow clad Ardennes Encounter!

It was designed to thoroughly play test the Deluxe command rules, which is one of the main aims of this edition. PanzerGrenadier Deluxe rules were written with four main aims; straightforward yet detailed rules sufficient to represent "wargame accurate" WW2 tactical combat, provide command friction, reward the use of period tactics and finally deliver an enjoyable game. It concentrates on command and battlefield friction.

 

 

 

 

PanzerGrenadier delivers this command friction through three aspects; a varying amount of HQ Impetus per turn, (impetus represents "command momentum" coming down the command chain, in order to keep the battle plan moving), combat group activation requirement and a variable game turn length. Players will have to cope with this in built command friction, which means that players may feel just a fraction of the uncertainty and frustration felt by Company and Battlegroup commanders of WW2!

PanzerGrenadier Deluxe Game at Colours

The Colours show provided an excellent opportunity to try out the PanzerGrenadier Deluxe Rules and display the new module type terrain by Loughton Strike Force.

 

See the Battlegroup PanzerGrenadier forum for a full after action report.

 

 

PANZERGRENADIER DELUXE EDITION

The Deluxe Edition of PanzerGrenadier WW2 rules is finally nearing completion!

 

Players will find the Deluxe Edition has far greater emphasis on command & control and slicker mechanisms that create a higher tempo game, filled with uncertainty and player interaction. Similar to General de Brigade Napoleonic rules the desire has been to rework the rules avoiding continual reference to charts, providing a game that is fast paced, easy to learn and with a minimum of record keeping.

The previous IGOUGO mechanism has been amend to provide greater interaction by the opposing player in your turn - nearer a "WeBothGo" style mechanism! There is no sitting back and merely watching your opponent in his phase - you will be actively involved throughout!

PanzerGrenadier rules have been designed for those players who wish to have a little more substance and little more thought in their WW2 games as well as enjoyment. DB

 

US - MEXICAN WAR at SALUTE

See the gallery for some more photos of the Loughton Strike Force game at Salute 2013.

BORODINO AT COLOURS 2012

AAR on Loughton Strike Force's Grand redoubt Borodino game under the General de Brigade Forum.