Armchair Dragoons Forums
Wargaming => The Modern World => Topic started by: bayonetbrant on November 05, 2021, 09:56:18 AM
-
(I'm opening up threads for pretty much all the games I've gotten recently)
https://mmpgamers.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=11&products_id=170
Iron Curtain: NATO’s Central Front, 1945-1989 is a Standard Combat Series (SCS) game covering the potential "hot" war erupting between the East and the West at the flashpoint along the intra-German border established at the close of World War II. Scenarios examine the forces available over the entire 44-year period with snapshots in 1945, 1962, 1975, 1983, and 1989. The resulting force ratios not only change with weapon and OOB evolution but as a product of the tumultuous effects of the culture.
In addition to the typical Warsaw Pact-invades-NATO situations, the game provides for three NATO offensive scenarios. The 1945 Churchill plan to continue WW2 before the Soviets could consolidate their gains (Operation UNTHINKABLE), the mishaps of 1983 that could have launched an offensive in error, and allowing the West to capitalize on the dissolution of the Warsaw Pact nations in 1989.
Every game is different because while the units set up in their peace-time housing areas, each side gets an unpredictable amount of time to "run up" before the war actually begins while tension rises. The result will allow each side to move to deployment areas (or not) as the fates decree with all combinations of total surprise to total preparedness possible between them.
Iron Curtain is a fast-paced game of what is assumed to be a month of intensive combat where both sides race to fulfill their objectives before a cease-fire ends hostilities.
All the developments of modern warfare over this epoch are included: nuclear and chemical warfare, modern near-nuclear aviation effects, airmobile forces, attack helicopters, airborne mech forces, amphibious operations, and even the ill-fated Pentomic Division structure.
I picked this one up a while ago because of course I did.
It was this or the Compass Fulda Gap game, and this one had more scenarios at a much lower price point, so I went for it.
Hadn't hit the table yet, but I'm hoping to sometime maybe over the holidays.
-
I've looked at this game several times but never pulled the trigger on it. I think it's because I already have two copies of NATO: The Next War in Europe (my beat-to-hell copy from the 80s that I played endlessly, and a less-used version with much better components). I've vacillated between this game, the new NATO as well as Fulda Gap from Compass, and a few others.
-
This one interests me, but I don't know SCS and am currently learning BCS--and I'm not smart enough to try to tackle another system right now.
Plus I have the new Compass Games NATO on my table and can't wait for the DSE of The Third World War to come in next year.
-
What does SCS and BCS stand for?
-
SCS = Standard Combat Series
https://mmpgamers.com/index.php?main_page=index&cPath=11
BCS = Battalion Combat Series
https://mmpgamers.com/index.php?main_page=index&cPath=10
-
SCS = standard combat series. It's a series of games from MMP with the same basic rule sets. They are relatively light with familiar mechanisms, such as ZOCs and odd-based CRT, but with a few twists. I view the rules as updated versions of the old AH classics, with a few improvements, but not overly complicated. Here are the games on MMP website:
https://mmpgamers.com/index.php?main_page=index&cPath=11
I've played Bastogne, and have a few others in my closet.
BCS = battalion combat series. I have not played these, but my impression is that they are bit more complex than SCS.
https://mmpgamers.com/index.php?main_page=index&cPath=10
There are a few other series from MMP, such as operational combat series (OCS).
-
BCS is supposed to be OCS down at the battalion level, so it is a little more complicated
-
BCS is supposed to be OCS down at the battalion level, so it is a little more complicated
What's OCS? Overly Complicated Series? ;D
-
Officer candidate School. It's where enlisted guys go to become commissioned officers
It's also the operational combat system, one of the more complicated rules sets out there for large operational games
-
Officer candidate School. It's where enlisted guys go to become commissioned officers
It's also the operational combat system, one of the more complicated rules sets out there for large operational games
Noted - steer clear.
-
Thanks for the link TR
The Standard Combat Series (SCS) enables both experienced and beginning players to enjoy simple to play and quick to learn games. Each game is a quick-start, complete simulation: rules, a detailed color map, 280 counters, and everything else needed to recreate the campaign in question.
Jesus - Day of Days does not look simple to play and quick to learn
I have Front Toward Enemy from them which falls into their Non-Series Games
Alot of nice looking games on there.
-
Jesus - Day of Days does not look simple to play and quick to learn
Day of Days isn't hard to learn. The rules are pretty simple. It's just so. frakin'. BIG
takes a while to play the full game just b/c there are so many pieces on the map, but the underlying rules aren't hard
-
Jesus - Day of Days does not look simple to play and quick to learn
Day of Days isn't hard to learn. The rules are pretty simple. It's just so. frakin'. BIG
takes a while to play the full game just b/c there are so many pieces on the map, but the underlying rules aren't hard
What Brant said. There are 8 pages of Series rules and then another 8 pages of game rules for Day of Days. It’s dead easy to learn, but a shit ton of counters on the map. Lots of replayability, and lots to think about while playing but it really is a “big, dumb monster”. And great fun to play.
-
Jesus - Day of Days does not look simple to play and quick to learn
Day of Days isn't hard to learn. The rules are pretty simple. It's just so. frakin'. BIG
takes a while to play the full game just b/c there are so many pieces on the map, but the underlying rules aren't hard
Gotcha.
-
I had eyed Day of Days when one of you started an AAR. But I want sure about the layout.
I know you can play with all the maps out...but do you have to?
-
I had eyed Day of Days when one of you started an AAR. But I want sure about the layout.
I know you can play with all the maps out...but do you have to?
There are scenarios that use only 1 or 2 maps, of the five in the game.
PS. My AAR. :)
-
Officer candidate School. It's where enlisted guys go to become commissioned officers
It's also the operational combat system, one of the more complicated rules sets out there for large operational games
Noted - steer clear.
Yeah, right JD. You'll have it ordered by the end of the week. At the latest. ;D
-
It's also the operational combat system, one of the more complicated rules sets out there for large operational games
What's your opinion of OCS?
-
It's also the operational combat system, one of the more complicated rules sets out there for large operational games
What's your opinion of OCS?
Only poked around it casually, and that was almost 15 years ago.
It does a lot of the right things for the right reasons (proficiency adjustments for unit quality, need to amass necessary supplies before large ops) but there aren't many small scenarios to dip your toe into. Most folks just dive in and hope they learn to swim.
Probably worth opening a separate OCS thread at this point, huh?
-
Officer candidate School. It's where enlisted guys go to become commissioned officers
It's also the operational combat system, one of the more complicated rules sets out there for large operational games
Noted - steer clear.
Yeah, right JD. You'll have it ordered by the end of the week. At the latest. ;D
Nope. Sounds too complicated. SCS and BCS sound cool though
-
I had eyed Day of Days when one of you started an AAR. But I want sure about the layout.
I know you can play with all the maps out...but do you have to?
There are scenarios that use only 1 or 2 maps, of the five in the game.
PS. My AAR. :)
I thought I was up to date with that? Or do you mean you're focusing on one section? I would never have remembered if that was the case.
I'll check it out again for info before buyi....I mean, before you know.
-
I had eyed Day of Days when one of you started an AAR. But I want sure about the layout.
I know you can play with all the maps out...but do you have to?
There are scenarios that use only 1 or 2 maps, of the five in the game.
PS. My AAR. :)
I thought I was up to date with that? Or do you mean you're focusing on one section? I would never have remembered if that was the case.
I'll check it out again for info before buyi....I mean, before you know.
OK, now I'm confused. I did an AAR with the campaign scenario using all the maps.
Included with the game, however, are 1 and 2 map scenarios that you can play. Just Utah beach, just Omaha Beach, just the Commonwealth Beaches etc. A couple of scenarios use only a small part of a map, Carentan or Villers-Bocage.
-
Thanks. I was just saying I couldn't remember the context of the AAR...I just remember you did one - couldn't recall the maps being used.
-
:bigthumb:
-
I'm thinking of giving this a try. The scenarios through the different time periods and options for NATO to attack are intriguing. Brant, have you had a chance to get it on the table yet?
-
I'm thinking of giving this a try. The scenarios through the different time periods and options for NATO to attack are intriguing. Brant, have you had a chance to get it on the table yet?
not yet, and given that my table is about to become gift-wrap central, probably not 'til after Christmas.
-
Link to Tabletop Simulator module for Iron Curtain. This is for the 1945 scenario.
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2379828099&searchtext=iron+curtain
-
hit the front page today
https://www.armchairdragoons.com/articles/analysis/holding-fives-or-pentomics-in-iron-curtain-central-europe-1945-1989-from-multi-man-publishing/