Začínáme s Microarmorem Díl 3 - Výběr Herního systému

Výběr herního systému je zavislí na dvou faktorech. Prvním faktorem je éra některé systémy se zabývají jen určitým obdobím (např. Able Archer, WRG, Spearhead nebo třeba Blitzkrieg Commander) zatímco jiné pokrývají velmi velké období napřiklad od konce druhé světové války po dnešek (Fistfull of Tows III, Sabre Squadron nebo například Cold War Commander). Druhým faktorem je měřítko některé systemy jak už jsem zmiňoval v 1.díle teto miniserie je cca 1:5 kdy jeden stand/vozidlo znazorňuje jednu četu (jsou i systemy kde jeden stand představuje 1 rotu) nebo tzv. 1:1 systémy které jsou v poslední době více a více oblíbenější. 

V tomto članku se určitě nebudeme zabývat všemi dostupnými pravidly spíš se povíme o těch nejznamějších a nejhranějších. nejprve začneme systémy které fungují v měříktu 1:5 nebo podobném

Cold War Commander
Na tutu hru jsem psal před časem recenzi, tato hra je velmi známa a v evropě probíhá mnoho velkých eventu většinou situovaných do scénáře Cold War Gone Hot (o poslední o které jsem četl se inspirovala knihou Arctic Strike tedy boje NATO a WARPACu ve Skandinavii) hra používá vylepšený systém Warmastera  což znamená že systém má skvělí systém aktivace jednotek, rozsáhle armylisty pro éru od druhé světových válek až po 2. válku v zalivu. Na druhou stranu systém ne odpovída moc realitě tudíž representuje klasické wargamingové stereotypy  - ruské tanky jsou slabé ale početné, Abrams je téměř nesmrtelný. Mě uplně nevyhovoval systém hitpointů které se na konci kolo regeneruji , ale určitě je to perfektní pro začátečníky - pravidla jsou dobře napsaná a jednoduchá.
Stránky Cold War Commander

Fistfull of Tows III
Zřejmně nejznámější systém vůbec, snadný na pochopení ale zaroveň propracovaný - narozdíl od CWC dobře snaší konverzi 1:1. Jedná se o klasický IGOYGO systém ale mezi jeho hlavní klady jsou armylisty a staty téměř všech vozidel v moderní historii od BVP až po TIGER II. nevyhodou tohoto systému je cena pravidel která je značně vysoká.
Stránky Fistful of Tows III

Modern Spearhead
Osobně tento herní systém moc nepreferuju, ale vhodné pro velké operace hýbete celými prapory ačkoliv jednotlive standy představují čety. Hra je na urovni divize. Hra pokrývá období zhruba od 70let až po první válku v zálivu. Co se mi na hře líbí je system Control and Command. Hra je však velmi pomalá hlavně díky nutnosti psání rozkazy pro vaše jednotky. Velmi zajimavý je systém combat teamu kde pěchota spolu se svými transporty tvoří společný stand. Hra je velmi dobrá v tom co simuluje ale určitě není vhodná pro uplné začatečníky.
Stránky Modern Spearhead

Další tři představíme systémy 1:1

Sabre Squadron
Je novačkem na poli moderního wargamingu, nesimuluje velké bitvy ale spíš souboje rot až praporu, samotná pravidla jsou intuitivní a snadno naučitelná, ale pořad dostatečně strategicky naročná. Autor kromě dvou rozšíření (7day to rhine a 5th Article které jsou sourcebooky pro Warpac a NATO) neustale rozšiřuje databazi jednotek - takže kromě ikonických jednotek jako je M1 Abrams či T72, také vozidla jako Mag´ach, Oliphant II nebo K200 KIFV. Hra použivá měřítko 1:1 
a IGOYGO systém, A zde v Plzni používáme pravě tyto pravidla pro 6mm moderní wargaming.
Stránky Sabre Squadron

TAC-II
Tac-force byl původně vyvinut firmou GHQ jako ruleset k jejich modelům ale postupem času ho přestalo vyvíjet a upadl do zapomění. Allen Rockwell majitel firmy na vyrobu terénu pro různá měřítka se těchto pravidel ujal a vytvořil Tac-II ačkoliv tento ruleset obsahuje ve srovnaní s komerčními produkty jen několik vozidel - 120 celkem včetně helikoptér je však k dispozci zdarma a podobně jako Sabre Squadron se jedná o jednoduchý systém vhodný na různé předváděcí akce.
TAC 2 stránky
Able Archer
Able Archer je mou vlastní hrou nejde o simulaci jako spíše o začatečnický vstup do světa modern wargamingu - v současné době obsahuje listy pro jednotky USA, UK, Sovětského svazu, Československa,Polska a Západního Německa. hra se hraje v měřítku 1:1  Pokud si chcete zabojovat bitvu o Fulda Gap a nechcete se učit složita pravidla mohl by AA být to pravé pro vás.
Popis na Wargaming.cz

Team Yankee
Team Yankee je poslední z rodiny her Flames of War původně určené pro měřítko 15mm ale spousta hraču usoudilu že se bude hrát lépe v měřítku 6mm a jak se zda funguje stejně dobře možná lépe
Nevyhodou jsou zatím omezené armylisty, protože hra vyšla teprve nedávno.
Stránky Team Yankee (15mm)
Facebooková skupina Team Yankee 6mm

WRG 1950-2000
Archaicka pravidla používaná v davných dobách, jedná se o dodnes používana pravidla ale postupně hrači tyto pravidla nahrazují Sabre Squadronem. Pravidla jsou sofistikovana simulující skvěle obrněný moderní boj problém je v tom že jsou pravidla stará, komplikovaná a ke všemu špatně napsaná takže bez zkušených hráču není téměř možnost pronikonout do jejich taju - pokud se však povede jedná se o jeden ze nejšpičkovějších zažitku na polích wargamingu.
stránky WRG

Určitě se nejdná o kompletní vyčet všech pravidel, ale spíš jako vstupní krok k tomu co existuje
chybí zde i spousta pravidel které osobně znám (ale věřte mi napřiklad Challenger 2000 nechcete hrát průměrná hra trvá zhruba 3 dny ) ale tyto pravidla jsou pravděpobobně (snad mimo able archera) patří mezi ty nejhranější a nejznamější. cíleně jsem se zaměřil na modernu a univerzalní ačkoliv systémy pro různé období jsem v članku lehce zminil pokud by jste si přali zminit ty WW2 stačí napsat do komentářu.

Sabre Squadron 1st Battle report

We played our first official Sabre Squadron game althought we didnt finished the game it was really intense and fast game to my suprise.







Somewhere in Germany 1988.........

British Forces: Understrenght Tank squadron with mechanised infantry support - 3 Platoons of
Cheftians, 2 command tanks. 2 Mechanised Infantry platoons

Soviet Forces: T64BV Tank Company, PT76 Light Tank platoon, BTR-80 Mechanised Infantry platoon, T-80 Platoon

We played standart encounter with 2 objectives while we didnt play game to the end for various reasons here is little battlereport. Soviets won the iniative and begun their deployment - infantry platoon rushed towards 1st objective  while T80s move up to the left flank. Tank company split into two groups while one rushed towards hill in center of table the second half moveup to the right.

The British move up their infantry towards right flank while second was aiming for objective in british part of table. Tanks just moved forward hoping to get on soviet tanks. T-80 opened fire on one of the infantry platoon but shoots missed.

Later T80 again engaged FV432 carrying infantry this time with their missles, one FV432 dodged but the second one was hit and missle killed one fireteam and APC.
The British again moved forward, PT76 saw some exposed flanks of cheftians and tried to make oppurtunity to hit them but they failed and Cheftians returned fire destroying one PT76.

Cheftians opened fire on T80s but missed while the T80 relocated to engage left flank targeting British Company Commander tank and blowing him outright. Cheftian platoon repositioned itself to engage T80s and destroyed them. Some cheftians engaged PT76 and destroy another light tank. the last PT76 fired its smoke generator moved forward, the T64BV moved up used that smoke as cover againts Cheftian retalitation. British overconfident moved forward only to face soviet retalition the both groups of T64s engaged leading Cheftians knocking 4 of them in retalition british destroyed another two T64s and this point we had to end the game - this game was far more faster than the previous one and i like the rules very much. they cover lots of things and they are not overcomplicated - my opponent was impressed with killing power of tanks - but i am playing Steel Beast pro where situation is similiar hit is almost certain kill.

Well we want to try Mech Company battle next time.
See you soon

more photos from game you can find here

Sabre Squadron RD 1.1 review

Soviet T64BV column advance through streets of German city

Yesterday we played testing game of Sabre Squadron to see if we would like it currently we have three players, while few other consider it. So we were looking into ruleset that we would like most.
1st alternative was Able Archer which we played two weeks ago but now we tried Sabre Squadron rapid deployment rules.

I had Soviet T64BV tank company supported by BTR70 mounted infantry platoon, BRDM2 section and PT76b recce platoon. my Company engaged British reinforced tank company in streets of unknown city  4 platoons worth of Cheftians supported by swingfire detachment and two infantry platoons mounted in FV432.

There were some mistakes i made and in middle of game i realised this game plays different than most systems that i played but while i took some loses in mid-game i created some heavy headache to british knocking down 2 tank platoons,destroying swingfire and knocking out FV432s mainly because well laid ambush. We played pitched battle with no real objectives but that would we change since i will order full rules very soon because me, British player and US player (which was only observing)  
like them.

So now lets run to basics the system is IGOYGO system and each player turn is divided into for phases. In first phase active player activate his units giving certain orders:
Units can either Fire then move. Move fast (but then their can be more easily hit). Move and fire (here matters if you have stabilised or unstabilised gun how far you can move). Normal move without fire. or remain stationary and fire (you have bonus for fire since you, but so does have your enemy shooting back at you) 

Of course combat is about skill and morale and that really matters in Sabre Squadron, it matters if you shoot or shoot upon.  morale grade also how your units will keep their heads cool if you start taking losses.

Movement is pretty straightforward and IMHO its very good each vehicle have number of bounds depending on terrain in which it moves if you move through different types of terrain you use the worst number of bounds. each type have also lenght of its bound for example fast tracked tank moves 2 and half inch in one bound. In cross country it can move 4 bounds (meaning it can move 10"  while if it will be traveling through some difficult terrain it can move only two bounds (5") crossing minor obstacles cost also bounds depending on obstacle and type of your mobility type.

Shooting is very nice with rolling 1D10 where you had to score 5 adding modiferes, there are quiet a few modiferers but i think they are easy to remember- for example there is modifirer for shoting at target which was not in LOS at the start of unit activation, for long range (most of heavy weapons dont have maximum range), if you dodge ATGM missle and so on. ATGM have of course maximum and optimal range firing they can relativly easily hit but enemy can dodge them (and if the missle is comming from front their chances to dodge are much better) when enemy is hit he D10 and depending on roll his basic defense is lowered or raised by one or two or in case 5-6 it remains same. Most of vehicles have two defense ratings, Kinetic and Chemical Energy, as well as weapons can have different values of K and CE attacks. When enemy is struck you compare  modified armor againts firepower of shooter the outcomes are easy FP same as armour vehicle is supressed and cannot use its weapons than exposes the crew. Firepower is better than armour by one the vehicle is neutralised. the vehicle can be knocked out, or crew is stunned by shot at end of the turn you test this neutralised vehicles they got save roll and are either destroyed or supressed. if the the firepower is better by two or more points target is destroyed. Hiting infantry is little different but disloging infantry from cover especialy if is in mason buildings or dig in is very hard. While pinned vehicles arent much problem, if your infantry is pinned they move slower and their accuracy is low.

There are rules from close combat which is very deadly and quick. also Artillery have interesting rules, hitting very large area but you need really big guns to be sure about deadly effect.

Command and Control rules are written strangely in Rapid Deployment but i think i get them right - coherency is measured by type of unit platoons uses 2 A4 papers while indepenedent section and low trained platoons only 1, that is their coherency. 

As forces start taking loses they morale will be affected to represent this game simulate this is relativly simple but effective manner. If scenario dont dictate otherwise the units begin their game as Good but when morale test is called unit must pass morale test (depending on how much loses units get modiferer to roll) if they pass good nothing happens. but if they fail they morale level drops and they roll again until they rout or pass test. if level is good units act as normal, 
the level lower is uncertain unit which wants to move toward enemy baseline or forces must pass morale test.
next is halt which means the units wont advance until their morale is raised up. then is withdraw toward their own baseline and takeup cover if possible. last is rout - the unit has been demoralised and for game purposes is destroyed.
The morale can be raised by one level at the end of the turn - if unit hasn´t been target by enemy actions (direct fire, assault, arty fire) by passing morale test. 

Each force has breaking point - number of losses before it render itself combat ineffective - if it exceed 2/3 of its number Morale points  the forces withdraw and losses.

The Rapid Deployment rules was big suprise for me , and we enjoy the game. Stay tunned i will review full version soon