A while ago I came across a few games over at Decision Games which fall under the title of the Commando/Raiders series.
Other systems such as Ranger and No End in Sight by Ivan Sorensen also get a nod in their direction.
Basically they are solo games where you move from 'point to point', fight your way to an objective. Achieve objective and head home.
One such game in the series is Long Range Desert Group set in N. Africa where Commando types go behind the lines blowing up stuff and getting into mischief.
Well it gave me an idea.
So I started on a Afghan type game where a player is in command of a platoon size infantry formation (nothing over powered).
The concept is that a couple of players who'd normally play together to play a narrative campaign where each player gets to play both 'NATO' forces and insurgents.
So the campaign starts thus.
Player 1 fancies been a recon Platoon commander, so he will be in command of a American Infantry Recon platoon for up coming mission.
SEQUENCE OF PLAY
1. Roll for nationality (optional).
2. Place Base Icon in a Open terrain box.
3. Roll for missions.
4. Move your unit on the campaign map.
5. Roll on the event table.
6. Play out CM scenario.
7. Adjust stability tracker.
8. Repeat steps 3-7 until your mission is completed.
So for example, Player 1 places the NATO base marker and then rolls on the following table to decide what mission he gets.
Mission Generator Roll 1xD6
Note, for each mission roll on the random location table for objective.
1 Escort a VIP to location. **
Starting from the base, escort the Battalion commander to mission objective.
2 Kill or capture enemy leaders **
Roll on the random location table for three objectives. When then platoon ends up at the a objective roll on the Bad Intel table.
Starting from your base, travel to the objectives.
3 Destroy target **
Travel to objective area and roll on the table below.
Target (Roll a D8)
1-2 Transport Truck
3-4 Technical Armed with 7.62mm RPK
5-6 Technical Armed with 7.62mm Goryunov or PKM
7-8 Technical Armed with 12.7mm DshkM
4 Reach and hold location **
Take and hold objective area on the battle map.
5 Seek and destroy ***
Travel to objective area and destroy any targets.
6 Routine patrol*
Travel to objective area and back to base.
* indicates Low Motivation missions.
** indicates Normal Motivation missions
*** indicates High Motivation missions.
Set NATO Platoons the correct motivation in the scenario editor.
Player 1 rolls a '1', escort the Battalion Commander.
Player 1 then rolls on the Random Location Table.
Random Location table roll d10
1. Pasha
2. Jaba
3. Kunar
4. Karam
5. Ada
6. Darha
7. Tagab
8. Bagar
9. Kuz
10. Nulu
Player 1 rolls a 7 and is escorting the Bn CO to Tagab.
In the map below Camp Able is placed SW of JABA as 1st Plt travels to Tagab on a mission.
Depending on the unit type, light vehicles move three boxes, APC's two and foot slogging infantry move 1.
Player moves his recon unit three boxes, when done, Player 1 rolls on the Random Event Table.
Event Table. Roll 2xD6
Note Insurgent units are medium size teams. If the number of insurgent teams goes below 1 skip the CM battle.
Battle maps should be 1.5km x 1.5km and setup zones should be at least 300m apart.
2 Cross battlefield (NATO Player must exit units opposite side of map).
Roll 1xD6 divide by two, place that many Insurgent units in scenario.
If the NATO player loses the scenario, they move back the box they travelled from.
3 Meeting engagement.
Roll 1xd6, place that many Insurgent units in scenario.
Roll 1xD6 -2, place that many Technical in scenario.
If the NATO player loses the scenario, they move back the box they travelled from.
4 Prevent target being destroyed.
Local government forces are under attack, place a Syrian infantry platoon on the map in full view of insurgent forces. Your platoon must rescue them.
Roll 1xd6, place that many Insurgent units in scenario.
5-6 Ambush! Your platoon is ambushed.
Roll 2xd6-2, place that many Insurgent units in scenario, add mortar team.
Roll 1xD6, place that many TRP’s on the map for insurgents.
Insurgents may place a small I.E.D. on the road.
Scenario note, NATO units must be setup along a road with insurgent set up zones on either side of the road. Insurgents have exit zones on all sides of map.
7-8 I.E.D.’s detected!
Skip a turn while the engineers clear the area.
9 Search and secure
Locals have spoken of an insurgent weapons cache near by. Your CO. has ordered you to check it out.
Roll 1xd6 -2, place that many Insurgent units in scenario.
Roll 1xd6 -2, place that many Insurgent techicals in scenario.
10 Insurgents peeved.
Roll 1xd6 +2, place that many Insurgent units in scenario.
Set insurgent motivation to fanatic.
11-12 Morale Check.
If your platoon has taken 5+ casualties (WIA or KIA) in the campaign so far lower your platoon’s morale by one level.
Player 2 builds the CM battle and plays the insurgents.
After the CM battle, adjust headcount and ammo load out (ammo loadout optional) for player for player Player 1 the adjust the stability tracker.
I would recommend that you play with the Hard Cat Rules by @A Canadian Cat & @Bil Hardenberger
The idea of this system is to have a fast narrative campaign, Player 2 can also command a NATO platoon, roll for a mission and a event and Player 1 can build scenarios for him and play as the insurgents. Or maybe a third player can be the GM, it's a flexible system you can make your own Mission/Event list or add to what's already there. I will make a Vassal module with charts and what not.
The terrain boxes are a guide to what type of QB battle map you might want to use.
I have made this ridiculous large graphic just so you can have a glance, please note that most of the charts will be tabbed so there'll be no clutter on the game board.
I also have a CMRT Partisan and a CMFI N. Africa Long Range Desert Patrol versions in the works.
I still have a couple of things to work on, a play test will needed.
Other systems such as Ranger and No End in Sight by Ivan Sorensen also get a nod in their direction.
Basically they are solo games where you move from 'point to point', fight your way to an objective. Achieve objective and head home.
One such game in the series is Long Range Desert Group set in N. Africa where Commando types go behind the lines blowing up stuff and getting into mischief.
Well it gave me an idea.
So I started on a Afghan type game where a player is in command of a platoon size infantry formation (nothing over powered).
The concept is that a couple of players who'd normally play together to play a narrative campaign where each player gets to play both 'NATO' forces and insurgents.
So the campaign starts thus.
Player 1 fancies been a recon Platoon commander, so he will be in command of a American Infantry Recon platoon for up coming mission.
SEQUENCE OF PLAY
1. Roll for nationality (optional).
2. Place Base Icon in a Open terrain box.
3. Roll for missions.
4. Move your unit on the campaign map.
5. Roll on the event table.
6. Play out CM scenario.
7. Adjust stability tracker.
8. Repeat steps 3-7 until your mission is completed.
So for example, Player 1 places the NATO base marker and then rolls on the following table to decide what mission he gets.
Mission Generator Roll 1xD6
Note, for each mission roll on the random location table for objective.
1 Escort a VIP to location. **
Starting from the base, escort the Battalion commander to mission objective.
2 Kill or capture enemy leaders **
Roll on the random location table for three objectives. When then platoon ends up at the a objective roll on the Bad Intel table.
Starting from your base, travel to the objectives.
3 Destroy target **
Travel to objective area and roll on the table below.
Target (Roll a D8)
1-2 Transport Truck
3-4 Technical Armed with 7.62mm RPK
5-6 Technical Armed with 7.62mm Goryunov or PKM
7-8 Technical Armed with 12.7mm DshkM
4 Reach and hold location **
Take and hold objective area on the battle map.
5 Seek and destroy ***
Travel to objective area and destroy any targets.
6 Routine patrol*
Travel to objective area and back to base.
* indicates Low Motivation missions.
** indicates Normal Motivation missions
*** indicates High Motivation missions.
Set NATO Platoons the correct motivation in the scenario editor.
Player 1 rolls a '1', escort the Battalion Commander.
Player 1 then rolls on the Random Location Table.
Random Location table roll d10
1. Pasha
2. Jaba
3. Kunar
4. Karam
5. Ada
6. Darha
7. Tagab
8. Bagar
9. Kuz
10. Nulu
Player 1 rolls a 7 and is escorting the Bn CO to Tagab.
In the map below Camp Able is placed SW of JABA as 1st Plt travels to Tagab on a mission.
Depending on the unit type, light vehicles move three boxes, APC's two and foot slogging infantry move 1.
Player moves his recon unit three boxes, when done, Player 1 rolls on the Random Event Table.
Event Table. Roll 2xD6
Note Insurgent units are medium size teams. If the number of insurgent teams goes below 1 skip the CM battle.
Battle maps should be 1.5km x 1.5km and setup zones should be at least 300m apart.
2 Cross battlefield (NATO Player must exit units opposite side of map).
Roll 1xD6 divide by two, place that many Insurgent units in scenario.
If the NATO player loses the scenario, they move back the box they travelled from.
3 Meeting engagement.
Roll 1xd6, place that many Insurgent units in scenario.
Roll 1xD6 -2, place that many Technical in scenario.
If the NATO player loses the scenario, they move back the box they travelled from.
4 Prevent target being destroyed.
Local government forces are under attack, place a Syrian infantry platoon on the map in full view of insurgent forces. Your platoon must rescue them.
Roll 1xd6, place that many Insurgent units in scenario.
5-6 Ambush! Your platoon is ambushed.
Roll 2xd6-2, place that many Insurgent units in scenario, add mortar team.
Roll 1xD6, place that many TRP’s on the map for insurgents.
Insurgents may place a small I.E.D. on the road.
Scenario note, NATO units must be setup along a road with insurgent set up zones on either side of the road. Insurgents have exit zones on all sides of map.
7-8 I.E.D.’s detected!
Skip a turn while the engineers clear the area.
9 Search and secure
Locals have spoken of an insurgent weapons cache near by. Your CO. has ordered you to check it out.
Roll 1xd6 -2, place that many Insurgent units in scenario.
Roll 1xd6 -2, place that many Insurgent techicals in scenario.
10 Insurgents peeved.
Roll 1xd6 +2, place that many Insurgent units in scenario.
Set insurgent motivation to fanatic.
11-12 Morale Check.
If your platoon has taken 5+ casualties (WIA or KIA) in the campaign so far lower your platoon’s morale by one level.
Player 2 builds the CM battle and plays the insurgents.
After the CM battle, adjust headcount and ammo load out (ammo loadout optional) for player for player Player 1 the adjust the stability tracker.
I would recommend that you play with the Hard Cat Rules by @A Canadian Cat & @Bil Hardenberger
The idea of this system is to have a fast narrative campaign, Player 2 can also command a NATO platoon, roll for a mission and a event and Player 1 can build scenarios for him and play as the insurgents. Or maybe a third player can be the GM, it's a flexible system you can make your own Mission/Event list or add to what's already there. I will make a Vassal module with charts and what not.
The terrain boxes are a guide to what type of QB battle map you might want to use.
I have made this ridiculous large graphic just so you can have a glance, please note that most of the charts will be tabbed so there'll be no clutter on the game board.
I also have a CMRT Partisan and a CMFI N. Africa Long Range Desert Patrol versions in the works.
I still have a couple of things to work on, a play test will needed.
