Re: Very Large Scale Wargames

From: hack@aio.jesnet.jsc.nasa.gov (Edmund Hack)

Date: Wed, 20 Jun 1990 18:49:51 +0000

In article <5514@vanuata.cs.glasgow.ac.uk> tommyk@cs.glasgow.ac.uk (Tommy Kelly) writes:
>After a long absence from wargaming with miniatures, I'm looking
>to start again.  However I'd like to cover not just tabletop skirmishes
>but large, and very-large scale campaigns and wars.
>
>I'm primarily interested (for the time-being) in WWII.
>
>The problems associated with designing a system of rules to cover
>miniatures AND map level stuff are wide and varied.
>I'd like to open a discussion on the hows, whys and wherefores of such
>an undertaking.
   ... stuff deleted ...
>
>Are there any existing rule systems and/or board games which could be used
>as part of the overall game?  e.g. what about "Korps Commander" for miniatures,
>what about some of the Avalon Hill stuff (and similar) for the map stuff.
>
>Is this possible at all!?

I would suggest that you look at GDW's Command Decision rules for the
land portion of the game.  Especially look at their supplement called
Barbarosa 25.  They gamed out the invasion of the USSR by using reduced
versions of the Fire in the East maps and dividing everything by 25 in
the two armies.

As far as the air war goes, I think that trying to combine the
miniatures with the air rules from something like Fire in the East would
be your best bet.  Naval rules are (like any other miniatures rules) a
nearly religious schism issue.  I like General Quarters as they play
fast easily.  However, they are somewhat sketchy in the air combat area.

Logistics is also a difficulty.  Adopting a board game like system may
be your best bet again.  I'd also consider a fictional campaign of
smaller scale as a starter.

Edmund Hack, Lockheed ESC
hack@lock.span.nasa.gov or hack@aio.span.nasa.gov

References

Very Large Scale Wargames
tommyk@cs.glasgow.ac.uk (Tommy Kelly)
Tue, 19 Jun 1990 16:18:22 +0000