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I like the little objective markers some people make. However I often don't think they encapsulate the "Ground Truth" e.g. you don't assault a position specifically to grab a single intel docket (that being SOE and OSS territory) you would come across such Intelligence during another operation or mission and pass it on to the relevant 2 cell.

So where am i going with this? Well, the V-1 Flying Bomb launch sites were a high priority target post d-day, and they are nice and large and would make a suitably sized objective. I was thinking of adapting some 'NO' Guage railway track and making a mount, and getting a 1/100 scale model of a V-1 (big ask I think!). Equally a prepared artillery position, or a very large Ammo/ fuel dump. Or a large railway hub/ Switch Station or a Power station or Waterworks. If any of you have seen examples of these, or have advice or snippets please post them up. I want some suitably grand objective markers, and the Vengeance Miniatures Chateau, with a Wehrmacht Banner and a German staff car outside would make an excellent Divisional HQ Objective for the Allies to capture, maybe a crashed allied Bomber or a Radar Installation. I just want to raise the bar a bit.

I like to consider what realistic objectives my armies would have been tasked with and work from there. I find players using ammo/fuels dumps as objectives to be unrealistic - unless your force has lost all support and provision units, they wouldn't attempt to seize enemy stores as a primary objective. My EW French Light Infantry Division uses a RR crossing and a Border post for objectives, which makes sense in terms of the Blitzkrieg.




My Finnish Border Jagers use a T-34/85 in the process of being captured and a small log bunker.

We are very much on the same wavelength here. I completely agree with your opinions in the post above and I am looking at some more realistic options.

Bridges, Naturally make clear objectives, Hills, Ports and Railheads, Key railway infrasture (major Switches and Railway interchanges), Key Cross Roads and routes. Ancillary objectives would be Enemy HQ's, etc.

I am reading a book on the taking of St Lo and there are numerous references to High points being used by Artillery Spotters. This would make another good objective, to stop shelling behind your own lines for example.



Some objective markers, like a crashed "Horsa", "Waco" or "Hamilcar" make nice terrain features when they are not being used as objectives. It makes the whole battle feel more like Normandy or Arnhem. Equally I am looking at buying several types of Roll stock and maybe even a train or two that could be derailed.

I like this one at the moment.

The HQ Chateau,



I was going to Use Nails with the flags on these can then be changed to German/ Allied Flags...Drill a small hole (1mm) in the front of the Chateau and just push the Flags in as required.

The problem with both structures is they're too large for a FOW objective. Although, you could model a belltower unto 3/4 of a large FOW base and simply 'stand' it next to one of the structures on he board - instant church!

The flag idea is cool but consider using a RE magnet in the objective and placing the 'flagpole' head-down - that way it's interchangable.

Along the lines of the 'glider' objective, you may also want to consider a crashed enemy liaison plane, similar to the Mechelen Incident

If the building in question is too large to be an objective, then perhaps marking out an area of the building in the correct dimensions? So in the case of the church, perhaps an FOW-objective sized hole in the roof with the ass-end of a Fiesler Storch sticking out of it? Perhaps on the HQ building a sandbagged observer station that just happens to be the right size? Then just do all official measuring from that point?

I like this idea, the issue would only be significant at Tournaments. In a local or friendly game I would discuss before Hand. However for the Church I would say the base of the tower, if it is being used as an Artillery spotter. Or the front door of the Chateau.

I think your Idea has a lot of merit, I just need to think it through to have the maximum flexibility or ways of playing.

Surely making a hill would be more in line with WW2 military objectives?

A chunk of ordnance survey map on a large base, with a big red X over nothing in particular?

It would be interesting to see terrain pieces that have the dimensions of a large base +4" from each edge, then to claim the objective your bases/vehicles must be on top of the terrain instead of within 4".

I think that the larger objective would be good for a scenario based game (and I think nice looking terrain is always good) but I think it would be somewhat unbalancing in a basic scenario if someone could plunk down an objective in the middle of an open field that came with its own building.

I don't play in such a manner, Win and Losing doesn't matter, its the spectacle of the thing that I love. I will keep it reasonable and more in keeping with the spirit of WW2 War gaming rather than slavishly following a rule book.

mwnciboo wrote:I don't play in such a manner, Win and Losing doesn't matter, its the spectacle of the thing that I love. I will keep it reasonable and more in keeping with the spirit of WW2 War gaming rather than slavishly following a rule book.

A1 comment Sir!

The only problem with a Building/Building Objective is you have suddenly given whose ever objective it is to defend a huge leg up and those that need to take it an increasingly difficult prospect.

The Large bases should I think, maintain a neutral ground feel to it while giving you much more to fight over then a box, marker, or base that says 'here come take me!'

Now making a large ruined structure with something within the ruined walls might be something but you would still be giving that person an advantage/disadvantage respectfully.

Of course, as you said this would be for more of a personal use in friendly settings so that might not be an issue.

Army HQ might be interesting to design. Something like from CoH in the form of the British Command Trucks. Or a large base of an Army Tent/HQ. Enemy has overrun the lines and is threatening -insert- command post.

There are countless things you could use.

Hell, as one post suggested a Provisions kind of theme. Trying to capture an overturned cart with cheese. (okay thats a bit silly) but this is a very good idea.

As per the 2nd post, you would not conduct military operations around the idea of stealing Munitions and Provisions from the Enemy. That is guerilla tactics suitable for small insurgent type activities and not the way to run a sizable military (The Japanese showed the weakness in this approach). The Allies had plenty of provisions and though the Germans lack Fuel, they were still able to provide some degree of provisions to their troops.

However I want to move away from the Objective is "This British HQ Truck", it's not in keeping with the rest of FOW. The objective is merely a vehicle to establish a winner / loser if you see passed that then you realise great enjoyment can be derived from fighting a battle. Rather than a completely fair, points equal and balanced battle (which never happens in reality). So I think it's a case of live and let live, I am definitely going to invest in some large and more realistic objectives, even if it makes my missions harder.

Again, it comes down to what type of Boards you commonly fight on what terrain pieces you feel would fit best. The suggestions were merely that.

I understand what you are after and the idea is a very good one. So if that is all you were after then you have it.

Personally, Ill fight over my cart of cheese! Cause it goes great with the looted Wine.

Don't forget the biscuits, gotta have cheese and biscuits (you probably call them crackers in the US). There is alot of good points raised in your 2 points above.

Sorry if I came across a little aggressive or defensive, I will be using small objectives for tournament / certain games. But on the board I am building in my spare room I will have some large facilities like V1 Launch Ramps and things like this. Also I like fighting uneven battles, it is much more challenging to see if you can turn the tide when out numbered.

I see what you are saying and as before the Idea is a good one. However, I think more what we are talking about now is instead of making "large" objective markers you are really just making terrain center pieces and the objective is placed in there or built into the piece. However, it is something that could easily be used as a normal terrain piece for any "Balanced/Official" game play.

Actually I never thought of that, thats not a bad idea. Having a Clearly defined centre (like a Flag pole in the base?) so I can use the whole piece for one game, and the the Flag pole if playing a normal game. In fact thats a great idea, I like multi-use terrain.

This links in my Board design Thread..

http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/list/387325.page#3154183

Comintern your thoughts and suggestions would be appreciated on this.