Shameless Plug...NATO: The Cold War Goes Hot

[Louied]

As I may have mentioned, the designer, Bruce Maxwell, contacted me over a year ago to assist on the BAOR ORBAT in his game. @Jason Weiser also helped out and wrote a great review here:

https://forum.juhlin.com/showpost.php?p=83880&postcount=11

https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/compassgames/nato

Looks to be ready for shipping end of June......

Next up will be Air & Armor: 1 BR Corps.....

[Ursus Maior]

Shiny, I got the old edition here, though I haven't played it yet.

[Ursus Maior]

Addendum:

I think Bruce Maxwell's analysis for the different possibilities of a Cold War going hot scenario during the 80s are spot on. These analysis are highly relevant for any WW3 scenario during the 90s, too, though they'd need tweaking of course, since deployments and force readiness were vastly different.

Take a look here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xn1uFsu_XJw&t=63s

It does take the fun out of thinking about T2K a bit though.

[Benjamin]

I heard rumors about this way back on consim world. The game looks great. I have three copies of the original and they’re all played rather hard. I made custom counters for other units sent to Europe for the Twilight War.

Needless to say I just backed it.

[Louied]

Another chat with Bruce about the game and a slight preview of Air & Armor BAOR

https://youtube.com/watch?v=1TyLeH9iVrM&feature=share

[pmulcahy11b]

Looks to be ready for shipping end of June......

Unfortunately, my budget does not allow me to contribute until July. Will I still be able to contribute then?

[Louied]

Unfortunately, my budget does not allow me to contribute until July. Will I still be able to contribute then?

Paul
I think the Kickstarter campaign ends tomorrow. From what I’m told Compass does these Kickstarter campaigns right before a release to generate buzz. Product is already in the warehouse and ready to be shipped, it will go back up on their website to buy direct. So you
should be able to buy in July.

[Adm.Lee]

My copy arrived this week, looks good so far. My weekly wargaming table may be able to meet soon, this will be among the first nominees to play.

[Adm.Lee]

... and we're under way with the Baltic Approaches training scenario.

This looks good!

One of my (small) beefs with the original has been addressed: the Pact armies and fronts have been sorted to match many other sources.

The sequence of play is a bit involved, and the combat sequence is very intriguing, there is some cut-and-thrust that looks good so far.

One major difference from the past edition: all NATO units are brigades or regiments, rather than divisions (with steps) and brigades.

[pmulcahy11b]

Paul
I think the Kickstarter campaign ends tomorrow. From what I’m told Compass does these Kickstarter campaigns right before a release to generate buzz. Product is already in the warehouse and ready to be shipped, it will go back up on their website to buy direct. So you
should be able to buy in July.

Is this going to be available on Drive Thru? If not, what's the website to buy?

[Adm.Lee]

As I may have mentioned, the designer, Bruce Maxwell, contacted me over a year ago to assist on the BAOR ORBAT in his game.

I just noticed this part. If I may ask, who or what is in the British "PRG" (Parachute Ready Group), as opposed the 1 Para Brigade?

[Louied]

I just noticed this part. If I may ask, who or what is in the British "PRG" (Parachute Ready Group), as opposed the 1 Para Brigade?

The Parachute Regiment Group was an ad-hoc Brigade formed using the Parachute Regiment Regimetal HQ & the three TA Para Bns……
See page 46 & 126 of my document

https://www.orbat85.nl/documents/BAOR-July-1989.pdf

Prior to 1989, the original GDP 83 (1983)called for one TA Para Bn in the City with 19IB outside the City. Each year the plan was tweaked with eventually all three TA Para Bns as 19IB moved from 3AD to 4AD (circa 1986). It was quickly realized that they needed their own HQ instead of being controlled direct from 1AD.

[Louied]

One more thing, I have gotten hold of the outline GDP’s for 1 BR Corps. I am writing up a new version of my document to reflect this new information. Some information on the roles of the Armd Bdes will change as by 1989 only 7AB appears to have been the Covering Force for the Corps (that’s why it was the first to get CR1 & Warrior) & 33AB had, as it’s first task, to cover 1 BE Corps until they mobilized their Bdes from Belgium and got them on the line……
More to come!!!

[Adm.Lee]

Thanks

[Ursus Maior]

... and we're under way with the Baltic Approaches training scenario.

This looks good!
"Under way" in what form? I haven't even received my game. Are they sending out new stuff in addition?

[Adm.Lee]

On my table; it arrived about 3-4 weeks ago.

The Baltic Approaches scenario is a small one, new to this edition of the game.

[Adm.Lee]

I should have included an end-game report; we finished 3 or 4 weeks ago. The game has a 14-turn (2 week) end state, after that, it's presumed to be a different war.

The Pact ran out of steam really about turn 10, due to mounting casualties. NATO players figured out that removing units worked more to their advantage after a while, so they concentrated on hitting reduced divisions and single-step brigades/regiments. That meant the Pact had to spread out to hold their gains.

We quit on the Pact half of Turn 13, with Pact forces 1 hex from the Rhine and thus unable to react the Sudden Death victory conditions, and without enough VPs to reach a victory. I don't think NATO launched more than a handful of ground attacks the whole game?

This is a fun game, there's more to learn here, and I'm sure my group will play it again. The Extended Buildup scenario beckons....