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Looks like its catching on in my neck of the woods.

I bought the rule book. I like it. The FoW scale appeals to me more but that's not what is played....
So any suggestions for a direction to get me started?

My shop has sold through most sets,but if you had money in yourpocket which of these.
-Nepalese infantry
-Buffalo Soldiers (I'm leaning this way) just cause I want to learn how to paint black skinned minis. and I know a former "colored" WW2 infantry.
-Brit infantry.
-American Infantry
-Soviet Infantry (best buy seemingly).

I think I want something balanced w big gins, tanks, mg squads, Artie, mortars. Also something i could learn a bit about from both painting and historical perspective. Hence buffalo.

Direction?

As always, go with the army that inspires you. A "colored" (as they were termed then) formation would be cool - while black troops didn't get much opportunity to see frontline action in NW Europe or Italy, there were some formations that established a name for themselves, like the 761st Tank Battalion (Colored).

Yeah go with what you like. American uniforms are generally easy to paint as well.

I've found that I personally like doing a little research on a battle or campaign, finding the Bolt Action theater selector that matches that, and then building a force using that theater selector. Keeps everything about "right" and you can use the decals and markings for actual units!

The great thing about boltaction is a regular troop is the same across all nations so pick the army you like the look of and have fun!. I love the British Chindits so I use them as regular veterans for my Brit army and its no big deal

Here's some pics of what can be done with some of Warlord's plastic American Infantry. Not my work, but very cool.

ChrisRR wrote:
The great thing about boltaction is a regular troop is the same across all nations so pick the army you like the look of and have fun!. I love the British Chindits so I use them as regular veterans for my Brit army and its no big deal

...Though some historical gamers may have a seizure when they turn up to fight Normandy Germans.

I know I would likely faint with shock and start twitching on the floor.

 doktor_g wrote:


-Nepalese infantry
-Buffalo Soldiers (I'm leaning this way) just cause I want to learn how to paint black skinned minis. and I know a former "colored" WW2 infantry.
-Brit infantry.
-American Infantry
-Soviet Infantry (best buy seemingly).

I think I want something balanced w big gins, tanks, mg squads, Artie, mortars. Also something i could learn a bit about from both painting and historical perspective. Hence buffalo.

Direction?

OK just to go though them all rules wise ad history wise for an informed choice:

-Nepalese infantry: Nice and easy, both in rules and historically the Gurkhas are nasty. next to unbeatable in an assault. I mean proper vicious. Sneak into a camp cut the head off a sentry and leave it where his mates will find it nasty. Not much in the way of tanks or heavy support though.

-Buffalo Soldiers: No specific rules above basic American rules ie can move and shoot with no penalty, can get multiple MMGs, 2 shots with Air observer . As said above, they didnt see much frontline combat (though some did, primarily at the Bulge), they were used mainly in support roles (eg Red Ball Express) and were generally treated pretty horribly. All the support you could ever want.

-Brit infantry. Brits get plenty of special rules. A free Arty observer in every force is good but probably OP in some smaller game sizes, then they get a list of 6 rules to choose from which give certain abilities to your force (eg an extra shot for every 3 rifles shooting). Generally usable from 1939 right up to 45 and pretty much any theatre.. All the support you could ever want.

-American Infantry. Special rules are a bit OP in my opinion. The whole move and shoot without penalty is a game breaker. Two strikes with Air observers. Again useable throught the war period and with guns and tanks out the wazoo.

-Soviet Infantry: Get a free inexperienced infantry squad. Can take a second morale check if they fail the first one. Useable throught the war period. Tanks, guns, mortars. They've got the good stuff Tovarisch. IS-2 is hands down the best all-round tank in the game.

In the end though choose an army or period or battle that inspires you and base your force on that. I'm doing mid war Italians at the moment. Rubbish tanks, poor leadership and badly used by both their own side and the Germans. Whats not to like?

 snurl wrote:
Here's some pics of what can be done with some of Warlord's plastic American Infantry. Not my work, but very cool.

Those are really good. I don't think I've seen a group of WW2 minis that are so convincingly posed.

 Pete Melvin wrote:

-American Infantry. Special rules are a bit OP in my opinion. The whole move and shoot without penalty is a game breaker. Two strikes with Air observers. Again useable throught the war period and with guns and tanks out the wazoo.

It's pretty powerful but it's only rifles and BAR's - not LMG's and the like. However German Assault Rifles are still better (move and shoot without penalty with TWO dice!)

I echo all the sentiments saying choose whatever you like. I am guilty of impulse buying on Sunday most of an Italian Paracadutisti platoon...

 Tailgunner wrote:

 snurl wrote:
Here's some pics of what can be done with some of Warlord's plastic American Infantry. Not my work, but very cool.

Those are really good. I don't think I've seen a group of WW2 minis that are so convincingly posed.

May want to look at the entire AB Figures WW2 range get then...

Warlord Panther. The arms race is heating up.
And AB figures look very nice for 20mm. I'm already committed to 28mm though.

Whoa that looks awesome Snurl!

Thanks, i'm having fun putting these kits together. It reminds me of my Tamiya days back in the '70s, without all the freaking wheels to assemble.

 judgedoug wrote:

 Pete Melvin wrote:

-American Infantry. Special rules are a bit OP in my opinion. The whole move and shoot without penalty is a game breaker. Two strikes with Air observers. Again useable throught the war period and with guns and tanks out the wazoo.

It's pretty powerful but it's only rifles and BAR's - not LMG's and the like. However German Assault Rifles are still better (move and shoot without penalty with TWO dice!)

I echo all the sentiments saying choose whatever you like. I am guilty of impulse buying on Sunday most of an Italian Paracadutisti platoon...

I don't agree that the assualt rifles are better and heres why:
It costs the Germans points (and men, Ill explain further)wheras the Amis ability is free. Sure you can plonk 10 Stg44s onto ten inex guys and get 20 shots but thats going to cost you 120 points as a minimum. An inex Ami squad with two BARs will get you 14 shots for 80 points, so you can get another 5 inex Amis with 1 BAR for the 40 points you have in difference, giving you a further 6 shots for a total of 20 shots. Theres no difference in number of shots but the Americans outnumber the germans by 1.5:1.
If I then shoot up the Germans and they lose 3 men, they lose 6 shots. If I do the same to the Amis they lose 3 men, they lose 3 shots, 4 if Im lucky and nail a BAR. The Germans are down to 7 men and 14 shots. The Amis are down to 12 men and 17 shots, maybe 16.

Secondly, Germans only get Stgs if you are playing late war. Any earlier than 44 and you shouldnt be taking them. The Amis get their ability regardless.

Now I want to clarify, Im not some moaning German player (see my sig, Ill play em all!), but I do rather think the Americans are a tad overpowered currently. On the Allied side of our last 4 tournaments its been won by Amis twice and Soviets twice.

Well, they did win the war after all....

Nice kitty...

 snurl wrote:
Well, they did win the war after all....

Well if you're going to start bringing facts into it

In any case, we have seperate winners for the Axis as we dont do blue on blue. The Axis usually gets less tournament points overall however.

Thanks guys.
It looks like the basic set comes with brits and germans. So I suspect they'll be covered in the gaming group I'm going to try to break into. So I'm thinking soviets or americans and possibly IJ. I could buy American's and IJ to give me something to play when I'm not going to the FLGS too I guess (60miles). Possiblly soviets and Americans too. Then we can play Dec 1949.... cold war heating up.

The starter set (both versions) comes with US Army and (late war) Germans.

Oh then maybe brits then

Honestly, D-Day Fire Fight could not be a better place to start with BA. I would strongly recommend getting that set. It's a great jumping off point for either US or Germans and it makes for a great demo kit to introduce your friends to the rules.

I think they are still throwing in a free plastic tank with D-Day Firefight.

Big P wrote:
May want to look at the entire AB Figures WW2 range get then...

I was referring to 28mm. I know your preference for 20mm.

I would definitely start with the starter set, maybe two if you have the money. Bolt Action requires very little conversions to change a soldier into basically whatever you like.

I started with US and Germans, and now I have two US, two German, a Soviet, and a British Army. I am hoping to add some Japanese/Italians in the future. It has been a great game to get almost anyone into due to the simplicity of the rules.

Tailgunner wrote:

Big P wrote:
May want to look at the entire AB Figures WW2 range get then...

I was referring to 28mm. I know your preference for 20mm.

Thats not what you wrote though...

Tailgunner wrote:

 snurl wrote:
Here's some pics of what can be done with some of Warlord's plastic American Infantry. Not my work, but very cool.

Those are really good. I don't think I've seen a group of WW2 minis that are so convincingly posed.

Your comment didnt refer to just 28mm. If it did, I would have agreed. As it didnt, and seemed to make the ascertion that it referred to any WW2 minis, I assumed you had missed AB, who make the best WW2 figures in any scale.

Big P wrote:

Your comment didnt refer to just 28mm. If it did, I would have agreed. As it didnt, and seemed to make the ascertion that it referred to any WW2 minis, I assumed you had missed AB, who make the best WW2 figures in any scale.

No, it's not what I wrote, but the discussion was about 28mm. I like 20mm too (and I know about AB's minis, which are lovely), but I've noticed you tend to champion it at any opportunity.

I know just pulling ya chain... and of course I champion 20mm, its what I have done for the last 20 years and Im not gonna stop supporting my favourite size.

Not sure it matters though does it?

its only toys...