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Hey Dakka!

My friends and I have decided that the GW pricing is too steep, as such we're looking for a good 28mm WWII game to replace 40k.
While searching the internet I found Rules of Engagement which seems intriguing from what is on the website, but I want to make sure it's worth my time before I buy any minis or books!

In light of this, my questions are: have any of you played this game? Is it fun? Would you recommend it?

A few more specific questions:
Can heavy tanks work with these rules (big cats etc...)? We'd like to use bigger tanks.
How large of games will be playable? We are curious if company sized battles are feasible.

Thanks!

For £35, Northstar are giving away ALL the source books and the rulebooks but I think the sale is ending soon. From what ie seen on the web it is a well supported ruleset which plays well and isnt too much of a leap from GW stuff.
Link too Northstar : http://www.northstarfigures.com/prod.php?prod=4349
Alternativly Warlord Games will be releasing there Bolt Action rules at some point in the next couple of years, but you'll have to wait for them.
Hope this helps.
Ben

Not real familar with that system myself. That does look like a tempting deal though. I have worked with Iron Ivan system which is nice. Working on Operation Squad for smaller engagements right now until Bolt Action rules drop in sept

http://www.amazon.com/Bolt-Action-World-Wargames-Wargaming/dp/1780960867/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1338291934&sr=8-1

Although im torn with waiting for Warwicks repackaging of KGN. Lots of choices out there.

The RoE deal only has a couple of days left to go before it ends:
http://www.greatescapegames.co.uk/books-1/rules-of-engagement-1/rules-of-engagement-super-special-offer.html

Specific answers:
Yes, you can use tanks and all the stats and details are in the books - RoE covers the common ones, Armoured Assault covers loads more.

We often play larger games on big tables, usually around a company per side but occasionally with extra armour.

A typical RoE force played on a 6x4 table might be 45 infantry and a tank.

Hope that helps.

Stuart

If you come from a GW background you will likely find RoE a good fit (though I'd disagree that its a company engagement set to be honest).

I didnt warm to RoE I have to admit, but thats just personal preference rather than a comment on the rules. It didnt do it for me and didnt give me the feel I wanted for WW2 small unit tactics. You may well find the opposite and like all rules one persons judgement is only really useful for bugger all! Try and get a game of any system you decide on before buying.

It does come with all the lists in the book for NWE, the only drawback of the new Osprey/WG 'Bolt Action' is the seperate Army Books...

RoE is certainly worth trying out, lots of people really enjoy it.

There is also Victory Decision based on the World at War system from Mongoose. I havent played that one but its suppossed to be a big improvement over the old Mongoose system which I didnt like.

I'd say those are your 'popular' choices for 28mm WW2 at present. Im not convinced any of them will handle a full level company engagement with armoured support though...

But it will be fun trying!

Obviously for me, its BGK.

I like RoE, simple but logical rules. I would say that it is a platoon game, I haven't tried anything larger but I suspect that the game may bog down. Big tanks are a little too big for this game to be honest.

I like to stick with the odd PzIV or Stug myself in the odd game. We play bigger games over an afternoon with 3 players a side. Often one of the gang does a scenario and acts as umpire.

Thanks for all the replies everyone!
From what you've all said it seems like anything much more than a platoon will be difficult to manage, but I have yet to even see the rule books so I cannot say if I'd be up to the challenge.

@Palindrome: Why exactly is it that the big cats are too much for the system? Are they just too hard to kill? I was looking forward to fielding a tiger

Something a few of us were throwing around was the possibility of stealing the FoW armor mechanics (armor save, penetration rolls etc...)
) because they are so balanced and would make things like King Tigers and Tigers less absurd (if they even are absurd).
What we are looking for is a way to field 1-3 platoons of around 30 men, and potentially armor as well. I've got a fallschrimjager platoon and I'll be buying Warlord's Heer Army box as well as a few more infantry and tanks.
How can I ensure we can use all this in a fun way?

Again, thanks for all your replies!
Fe

Go for a set of rules tailored for company level engagements?

You could work on Rapid Fire 2 and scale it to represent companies, the game says its Battalion level but its really just a skirmish game at heart.

The one game I would have recommended for that size game would have been Kampfgruppe Normandy but WHH has closed down now...

Ferum, tigers and the like are not absurd - get a shot in the flank/rear and they are (probably) dead. Platoon sized games take around 2 hours on a standard sized table, company sized around 3-4 hours on a double sized table. Like I said, we usually play platoon sized games but also do bigger games on 12 x 4 or 12 x 6 tables.

Not in the flank, side armour is almost as bad as the front...

Panthers you can have in the flank, but a Tiger, you gotta get a Tiger in the ass!

Indeed you do!

Hey guys
I have another question about this system!
I have just ordered the main rule book and all the source books, but I am curious as to how the lists are structured, are they rigid like Flames of War? Or are they more free form? The reason for this is that I have a platoon of Fallschrimjagers already painted, but I want to buy the Heer army deal and a few tanks from warlord and field them all. Would this work in the lists? Also I know a bit about WWII history, but would a detatchment of fallschrimjagers join with such a force? Or would they remain separated as companies? I want to be faithful to the real history

Thanks!
Fe

A list for a platoon works like this - you start with a compulsory force of HQ and two squads. In your two cases, fallschirmjager and German grenadiers - they may add a third squad. For each squad (inc. the HQ) you may add one choice from company support (atg teams, mg, mortar, sniper). One choice may be taken from divisional support - at guns and tanks. Easy.

If you have more soldiers, simply add a second platoon.

Ah that sounds really nice and simple.
Thanks for that!

You could try the 40k version of WW2

I believe its called 'Warhammer Panzer Battles' , all the lsist are there for you to use straight away and its free to use.

Just a thought if you know how to play warhammer 40k

cheers

I would reccomend Force on Force http://ambushalleygames.com/

It has a very adaptive rule set, that can be from WW 2 to the modern day, and they since they don't have their own line of minis. They have rules in the main book for any scale (people typically use hobby shop models) you choose to 15mm, 20mm, or in this case 28mm etc.. IIRC they were are going to release a few books for WW2
http://ambushalleygames.com/products/store/product/show/cid-17/name-force-on-force/category_pathway-0

Not till I write the WW2 books they aint...

Ist ed. F-on-F had some WW2 add-ons and those are available to download from the AAG website for those with 2nd Ed. F-on-F.

Big P wrote:Not till I write the WW2 books they aint...

Ist ed. F-on-F had some WW2 add-ons and those are available to download from the AAG website for those with 2nd Ed. F-on-F.

But, would you really need the books for ww2, I mean the system is adaptable for pretty much anything ww2 to today.

Personally, and I speak with a little bit of experience (I developed F-on-F 1st Ed with Shawn and wrote Ambush Valley and then helped develop 2nd Edition), there is a few issues with just simply backdating it. Indeed myself and Shawn have discussed that using the engine for WW2 will likely need a rewrite of some parts to get the correct period feel.

Will it work as is?

Yes it will. Use the download for more flavour.

Will it work better if rewitten to focus on WW2 infantry and low level tactics?

Yup...

If you're looking for a good sci-fi war-game, I recommend Tomorrow's War, a great customizable realistic combat system.

Hey everyone!
I just got all the source books in the mail with the RoE deal (the main book didn't come in the package so i'll be inquiring about that momentarily) and I've been doing a little light reading.

I have a few quick questions regarding tanks that I didn't see in the armored assault source book:
No Tiger I's?
Shermans?
PzKw IV H?
Cromwells?
T-34s? (these are in the Bergation book though)

Are these tanks in the core rule book? because I'd like to be able to field Tiger I's with my German Grenadiers (unless they cannot take them) as well as some Panzer IV Hs.

This brings me to a quick tactics/list question.
I'm about to purchase the German Army (Heer) deal from Warlord at the 20% off sale, and I want a pair of tanks to go with it. I was thinking either a pair of Stugs, a pair of Pz IV Hs, or a Tiger I and one of the others. Which would be best? I have a great fondness for Tiger I's due to Company of Heroes and i want one

Thanks Dakka!
Fe

All those tanks are in the main rulebook.
Get the tanks you really like...I would personally just have a Pz IV.

I think I'll get at least one.

I've got a rules question too. My dad and I were reading the rules on cover and Using Terrain, and we're not positive we've got it correct.

When a squad advances (not using Angriff!) and positions itself behind a piece of cover, does an enemy unit firing at the squad suffer negative modifiers even though the target is not using the terrian? It's clear that the unit in the cover will not receive an EXP bonus, but the to-hit modifiers aren't mentioned as being related to Using Terrain (as far as I saw)

This game system is absolutely awesome though, I can't wait to play it!
Thanks
Fe

Ferrum wrote:I think I'll get at least one.

I've got a rules question too. My dad and I were reading the rules on cover and Using Terrain, and we're not positive we've got it correct.

When a squad advances (not using Angriff!) and positions itself behind a piece of cover, does an enemy unit firing at the squad suffer negative modifiers even though the target is not using the terrian? It's clear that the unit in the cover will not receive an EXP bonus, but the to-hit modifiers aren't mentioned as being related to Using Terrain (as far as I saw)

This game system is absolutely awesome though, I can't wait to play it!
Thanks
Fe

Cheers Fe,

Yes the firer suffers the negative modifiers on its hit rolls!

Okay that's good to know!
Thanks for the help!