Cold War wargaming, it lives!

[Adm.Lee]

I was pleasantly surprised to see this on GMT's pre-order boards: http://www.gmtgames.com/p-478-mbt.aspx

"27 September 1987

Europe’s worst fears are now a reality. For the 3rd time in the century, war erupts. A global economic crisis, strangling sanctions and runaway military spending trigger major unrest across the Soviet Union. Its leaders need to fan the flames of nationalism and scapegoat Western aggression. They see no alternative but to launch a massive invasion of Western Europe. No less than five armies surge across the border into West Germany. A coalition of German, American and British forces is braced to hold the line against the onslaught. Can they succeed? Will the sheer magnitude of Soviet forces overwhelm them?


MBT is a complete game system modeling the US 7th Army and the GSFG Soviet mechanized forces of 1987. It is M1 Abrams (105mm and 120mm armed versions) versus a whole stable of Soviet armor with their T-80s, T-72s, T-64s, and upgraded models of the T-62 and T-55. There is even M60A3s sprinkled in to balance out the US tank inventory. Bradley IFVs and CFVs mechanized units are set to take on their counterparts mounted in BMP-1, 2s and even a few 3s. Not to be overlooked, M113A2s and BTRs and MT-LBs are also set to make their appearance.


Mechanized infantry and their related weapons are in abundance, including the M47 Dragon, M72 LAW, AT-7 Saxon, AT-4 Spigot, and multiple RPG versions.


The scale is right down in the weeds with individual vehicles, infantry squads, half-squads and sections. Each hex is just 100 meters across, so it is going to be nose-to-nose action at its finest.


The rules cover the total realm of modern mechanized combat with ATGMs, including TOW and deadly Soviet gun launched missiles like the AT-11 Sniper and AT-8 Songster, special armor (including ERA), advanced night fighting with thermal imagers and image intensifiers, advanced artillery with ICM and laser guided shells, helicopters, including the AH-64A Apache and Mi-24P Hind-F, attack aircraft, including the A-10A Warthog and Su-25 Frogfoot, and missile and gun armed AA units to counter the deadly air threats. It is all included in this total package.


Battle it out in 10 scenarios over the 5 double-sided geomorphic maps, covering open and wooded terrain and urban settings.


Two expansions add the FRG and BAOR Forces. The addition of the French III Corps and 4th Canadian Mechanized Brigade Group is also a possibility."

[kato13]

I used to use GDW's Assault rules for mass T2k combat. This sounds like it is more granular and would be an even better fit. I will certainly be looking for it at my FLGS

[Cdnwolf]

http://www.vassalengine.org/wiki/Module:MBT_/_IDF

http://www.vassalengine.org/wiki/Module:Assault


AND the link to the VASSAL system...

http://www.vassalengine.org/



Vassal has all of your old board games set up so you can play on a virtual table top against an online opponent. It takes all the hard work out of the game by including all the charts and tokens online and have them built into the module.

[Cdnwolf]

Here I am playing Airforce with two RAF Spitfires on patrol.

[kato13]

I need to check out the Assault version on Vassal. It should be flexible enough to add T2k specific vehicles which would have been muck more complicated using paper chits.

[cavtroop]

Originally Posted by Cdnwolf

http://www.vassalengine.org/wiki/Module:MBT_/_IDF

http://www.vassalengine.org/wiki/Module:Assault


AND the link to the VASSAL system...

http://www.vassalengine.org/



Vassal has all of your old board games set up so you can play on a virtual table top against an online opponent. It takes all the hard work out of the game by including all the charts and tokens online and have them built into the module.

HA! this is awesome! I have the MBT and IDF boxes kicking around here somewhere still, I think...

[Cdnwolf]

Here is a look at the Assault Module. They even include all secondary modules like Chieftain module.

[Cdnwolf]

Originally Posted by cavtroop

HA! this is awesome! I have the MBT and IDF boxes kicking around here somewhere still, I think...

You don't need the boxes.... everything is online now.

[kato13]

Originally Posted by Cdnwolf

You don't need the boxes.... everything is online now.

Well technically you are supposed to own the rules. A lot of leeway can be given for out of print games, but bypassing the actual product for newer titles seems to be frowned upon in the Vassal community from what i have seen.

I have to say this is a neat development. I figure that my chances of actually playing one of these games is about 100 times higher than me ever RPGing again. The time/person requirements are just so much easier, and this lends itself better to online play than RPGs do.

[Cdnwolf]

I agree. If fact if you go to the bottom of the page of the modules it list all the people who play that particular game. And being able to save the games in progress it means you can take your time playing it.

Anyone up for a board game night?

[Adm.Lee]

I played Assault back in the day, and still have my stuff. I played it on VASSAL via email last year, and it's still pretty fun. The Command & control rules still intrigue me, and I have a feeling that I could combine it with Air Superiority/Air Strike for the never-published air-to-mud module.

I have Last battle and Test of Arms for big T2k battles, but I never really fell in love with the system. This one does look like something just as useful for that scale.

[Cdnwolf]

Originally Posted by Adm.Lee

I played Assault back in the day, and still have my stuff. I played it on VASSAL via email last year, and it's still pretty fun. The Command & control rules still intrigue me, and I have a feeling that I could combine it with Air Superiority/Air Strike for the never-published air-to-mud module.

I have Last battle and Test of Arms for big T2k battles, but I never really fell in love with the system. This one does look like something just as useful for that scale.

I love Air Superiority/Air Strike but it is one game they don't have yet.

[Adm.Lee]

Originally Posted by Cdnwolf

I love Air Superiority/Air Strike but it is one game they don't have yet.

I'm confused; "they" who?

[kato13]

Originally Posted by Adm.Lee

I'm confused; "they" who?

The Vassal engine.

It is an open source, multiplayer, internet gaming engine.

Anyone can build just about any boardgame to be played online. I guess those two have not been built yet.

[Adm.Lee]

I see now.

I've played Assault on VASSAL last year, and am currently in a game of Battle for Normandy there.

[unkated]

Originally Posted by Cdnwolf

Here I am playing Airforce with two RAF Spitfires on patrol.

Oh dear, Wolf. Try Fighting Wings instead (Over the Reich, Achtung Spitfire, Whistling Death).

Better flight model, more aircraft, more scenarios. And an active on-line community.

Uncle Ted

[Cdnwolf]

Will do.

It was just because I had the Air Force game handy that I was trying it.

For solitare games I recommend Patton's Best or B-17 Queen of the Sky.