From: bx916@cleveland.Freenet.Edu (Ross W. Starkey)
Subject: Re: Looking for good Operational Game
Reply-To: bx916@cleveland.Freenet.Edu (Ross W. Starkey)
Organization: Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH (USA)
Date: Sun, 26 Jul 92 21:40:04 GMT


In a previous article, szy@Apple.COM (Steven J. Szymanski) says:

>
>I've been playing TacAir (by AH) and have enjoyed the interplay between
>logistics, command, and combined arms; and was wondering if there was
>another/better game on them market which:

I've never played TacAir but (with the exception of fast-n-fun 'beer and 
pretzels' games like Axis and Allies) for the most part, I am only interested
in operational games.  In my opinion, the best operational games, with the 
best playable-but-still-realistic rules for supply AND C3, are the "Winter
Storm" games by Clash-of-Arms-Games. 

>
>1. Is still in print

yes

>2. Has a good, non-abstract model for supply/logistics

YES!!!

>3. Has a good model for command/organization

YES!!!

>4. Is WWII or later

yes

>5. Can be played (at least somewhat) Solitaire

depends :-)

>
>and for an extra bonus:
>
>6. Is NOT fixed to a particular battle, but can be used to simulate many 
>different battles within a theater/war, including Design-Your-Own 
>scenarios. (Like ASL, PanzerBlitz, Soldiers, etc. NOT like TacAir. Is 
>there are standard term for games like this?)

no.  Each Winter Storm game covers a battle or campaign in the USSR in
1942-1944, with two-day turns and five-mile hexes.  Stacking is based
on limiting the number of Combat Factors which can efficiently operate
in each of the different types of terrain (e.g. without disruption), a
very elegant system IMO.  It may sound complicated (shades of dead Advanced
Squad Leaders!) but it is not; each game includes some very helpful and
beautifully organized charts and tables which are another reason to buy
the games.  There is limited intelligence in the game, supply headaches,
and all of the other things that make good wargames fun :-)
The games are

EDELWEISS - the campaign in the Caucasus 1942.  This is where Hitler lost the
war.
PRELUDE TO DISASTER - Operation Fredericus Spring 1942.  One of Stalin's
worst blunders (which is saying a lot! :-(   )

both games have superior quality maps and counters.

THE LAST VICTORY - Manstein's classic riposte near Kharkov Spring 1943.  This
game is out of print but still available in many stores.  Good quality maps,
skinny counters, relatively cheap charts and tables.

WINTER STORM - Manstein's attempt to relieve Paulus.  This re-release of the
original "Winter Storm" series game will be in the stores in time for the
50th anniversary of the Battle of Stalingrad (Fall or Winter 1992).  It will
have the same superior quality maps and counters as EDELWEISS and PRELUDE TO
DISASTER.  It will also include a city map of Stalingrad on which the street
fighting will take place!

Other games planned are games of the Soviet offensive in the Ukraine after
Kursk, 1943-1944; the battle for Hungary in 1944 (-1945?); and maybe the 
Battle of Kursk.

ALL GAMES USE THE SAME BASIC RULES.  EACH GAME ALSO HAS A SEPARATE BOOK OF
EXCLUSIVE AND OPTIONAL RULES RELATIVE ONLY TO THAT GAME.

>.szy
>-- 
>AppleLink: szy				       "Apple has no idea what I am
>Internet:  szy@apple.COM			saying here and should not be
>UUCP:	  {sun,voder,amdahl,decwrl}!apple!szy   held responsible for my raving"

cheerio


-- 
Whom first, whom later         No one is fool enough to choose war instead of
did you kill in battle,        peace - in peace sons bury fathers, but in war
Patroklos, when the gods       fathers bury sons.  It must have been heaven's
were calling deathward? HOMER  will that this should happen...      HERODOTUS