Forum adverts like this one are shown to any user who is not logged in. Join us by filling out a tiny 3 field form and you will get your own, free, dakka user account which gives a good range of benefits to you: No adverts like this in the forums anymore. Times and dates in your local timezone. Full tracking of what you have read so you can skip to your first unread post, easily see what has changed since you last logged in, and easily see what is new at a glance. Email notifications for threads you want to watch closely. Being a part of the oldest wargaming community on the net. If you are already a member then feel free to login now.

Well, I have a few different questions about various historical games. My first one is about the bolt action two player starter box, is that a good value, and good enough to teach people the game? I don't quite know how good it is for a teaching tool.

Second question, are there any interesting Vietnam War games out there, aside from Flames of War Vietnam? I've never played FoW, it seems like a good game, haven't heard anything about the Nam game, but I was curious about this period, since it is one that interests me personally.

My last question is, are there any WWI games? I find it to be another interesting part of history, but it seems so overshadowed by WWII, understandably so, but still.

1. Yes, I will attest that the Bolt Action starter set is a fantastic value. Full hardback rules, terrain, and plenty of infantry to start. Perfect for teaching.

2. Have you looked up Ambush Alley? Never played it but I believe it is Vietnam era. I'm not the biggest fan of FOW as a game, but I use Battlefront's miniatures for most everything else.

3. I don't know any WW1 games.

 FakeBritishPerson wrote:
My last question is, are there any WWI games? I find it to be another interesting part of history, but it seems so overshadowed by WWII, understandably so, but still.

http://www.flamesofwar.com/hobby.aspx?art_id=4553

Which bolt action starter set are you looking at? the one with the APC or the one that has 20 infantry per side? The one with the Apc comes with counters, newer German models, and better quick start and reference sheets

For WW1, you need to ask yourself what kind of game you want to play.

For trench raiding, you can try skirmish games like Too Fat Lardies' Through the Mud and the Blood.

The Flames of War: Great War rules are more for company level games at the end of the war.

For even larger battles, you can try rules like Great War Spearhead 2, which has teamed up with Baccus Miniatures' 6mm line of models. In GWS2, the smallest unit you'll field is an entire company.

MrMoustaffa wrote:Which bolt action starter set are you looking at? the one with the APC or the one that has 20 infantry per side? The one with the Apc comes with counters, newer German models, and better quick start and reference sheets

I was looking at the newer starter, the models look good, and it is more available to me than the one with the APC

Ghaz wrote:

 FakeBritishPerson wrote:
My last question is, are there any WWI games? I find it to be another interesting part of history, but it seems so overshadowed by WWII, understandably so, but still.

http://www.flamesofwar.com/hobby.aspx?art_id=4553

I'll have to take a look through that at some point

Strombones wrote:1. Yes, I will attest that the Bolt Action starter set is a fantastic value. Full hardback rules, terrain, and plenty of infantry to start. Perfect for teaching.
Fantastic, I've read the rule book a few times already, so I think I have a decent grasp of the game on paper, but a teaching tool is what I am mostly looking for
2. Have you looked up Ambush Alley? Never played it but I believe it is Vietnam era. I'm not the biggest fan of FOW as a game, but I use Battlefront's miniatures for most everything else.
I have actually never heard of that game before, I may take a look into it, see if someone around here has played it, I've also never played FOW before, I have a friend that has but they have nice minis
3. I don't know any WW1 games.

Thanks anyways mate

infinite_array wrote:For WW1, you need to ask yourself what kind of game you want to play.

For trench raiding, you can try skirmish games like Too Fat Lardies' Through the Mud and the Blood.

The Flames of War: Great War rules are more for company level games at the end of the war.

For even larger battles, you can try rules like Great War Spearhead 2, which has teamed up with Baccus Miniatures' 6mm line of models. In GWS2, the smallest unit you'll field is an entire company.

I think I might take a look into the skirmish games, I really like the large scale games, but I have really found myself attracted to smaller scale games, especially after a few bloody big games of Fire and Fury, although they might have been small by Civil War standards.

You might also want to check out The Great War from PlasticSoldier Company. It is a boardgame that uses the Command and Colors rules but has miniatures in 15mm.
Commands & Colors rules are kind of a hybrid btw board games and miniature war gaming.
Benefit of it being a boxed game is you get both forces and all you need (minus expansions for tanks, planes) for under $90.

It started as a Kickstarter game but is available via retail.
It has an expansion that includes tanks. Base game is infantry and machine guns and arty as primary focus.

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

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Iuh_3FLc89M

For Vietnam I recommend Force-on-Force rules.

That blue text just does not work, FYI...



For Vietnam, it really depends on the level that you want to play at. Flames of War Vietnam is focused on company-level engagements, unsurprisingly. That's appropriate for the larger battles, and the late battles when the North broke the peace and invaded the South in force. For smaller-scale stuff, there were two mentions above. Both refer to the same game, though. Ambush Alley is the original version of what became Force on Force. A supplement focusing on Vietnam was published for Force on Force, which was titled Ambush Valley. It's a good place to look if you want Vietnam battles that put the focus on smaller engagements, and has a (afaik) unique way of dealing with battles between asymmetrical forces.

I'll note, though, that the makers of Force on Force indicated last year that they were working on Ambush Alley 2. The release date is currently unknown, and appears to have been pushed back at least once due to various delays. But the makers are hoping to have it out sometime this year.