Talisman Sabre 2023 – Elessar 2590 vs. Oriskany
Recommendations: 10509
About the Project
Lately, I've been running war games every weekend with members of the community via web conference. Players log on and play wargames with each other in real time, regardless of location, and we usually have at least a couple spectators as well. Many times it’s been Darkstar, but we’re also running wargames in Panzer Leader, Arab-Israeli Wars, and now Valor & Victory.
BoW/OTT community members @brucelea, @damon, @davehawes, and @rasmus have taken the plunge, leading battalions across thousands of meters of desert, starfleets in pitched battles across the heavens, or vicious firefights in the jungles of Vietnam, all without leaving the comfort of their home.
Hard-core, old-school command-tactical wargames can now be run (complete with spectators and recordings) in real time, with BOTH PLAYERS moving pieces across THE SAME virtual game board, thus maintaining player agency, speedy and instant results (no play by e-mail), interwoven turn sequences, any questions / feedback instantly received and addressed, and with the game being virtually recorded as it goes, a ready-made battle report can actually be created as we go.
All of this without the players having to install any new software on their computer, on any platform (PC or Mac). All that's needed is to agree on a time, a handful of dice, and a bellyful of courage!
Every weekend can now be a boot camp! All without costing me thousands of dollars in airfare, too!
Related Game: PanzerBlitz
Related Genre: Historical
This Project is Active
Talisman Sabre 2023: USMC v. Australian "Battle" in Panzer Leader
Some of us truly play wargames at “one-to-one” scale, such as when the military conducts field exercises to test operational readiness and hone their command skills.
One such exercise is Talisman Sabre, a biennial exercise held with the US and Pacific allies like Australia, New Zealand, South Korea, Japan, and others.
In this session of Panzer Leader (modern expansion), Elessar2590 and Oriskany will sit down to play a “game within a game” – pitting the US Marine Corps against the Australian Army in a simulated landing in Shoalwater Bay Military Training Area.
Can Oriskany’s Marine Expeditionary Unit (reinforced battalion+) secure a lodgement against Elessar’s Australian Army response force?
Live Stream – 4PM East US / 9PM UK
Sitrep Podcast YouTube
Some of the Australian units to be featured in today's game.
Some of the Marine units. Relax, no A-10 Thunderbolts. Not a USMC aircraft.
Additional Marines
But the deadliest unit the Australians will face ... -5 to all Australian morale checks ...System crash - double post
Is anyone else having this issue?
Sitrep Podcast Episode (01 Oct 2022) - Gaming Urban Warfare
Join the Sitrep Podcast team for another episode of the Sitrep Podcast, where we discuss what’s new in the world of Historical Military Wargaming, go over what we’ve been doing in the hobby, and review some great hobby contributions from the Sitrep Podcast Community!
We also cover our weekly topic: “Gaming Urban Warfare” – One of the growing trends of modern warfare is the increasing frequency and ferocity of urban combat. Armies build whole mock cities for what they call “MOUT Training” (Military Operations in Urban Terrain) – but how do we realistically handle the complexities and challenges of urban warfare on our tabletops?
Live Stream – 11AM East US / 4PM UK
Sitrep Podcast YouTube
De Bellis Antiquitatis - Romans v. Seleucids
John Sowerby and Jim Dundorf sit down for a game of De Bellis Antiquitatis (DBA) at Das Krieg Haus, home of the South Florida Miniatures Gaming Club. This time it’s the Seleucids vs. Republic-Era Romans, squaring off perhaps on the dusty plains of Syria in the First or Second Century BCE.
DBA is a light, fast-playing system that nevertheless covers a vast stretch of history with a subtle dimension to its rules, emphasizing the real-life tactics as well as difficulties and constraints of ancient and medieval linear warfare.
I don't know WHY this stuff keeps DOUBLE POSTING!!!
I posted it the first time, waited, watched, refreshed … it did NOT double post. I come back 20 minutes later and it’s now on there twice. WTF??
I have removed the second post. 🙁 🙁 🙁
Arena of the Damned - Playtesting and Demo Video
Here is the video replay of Sunday’s stream, where we ran some playtesting of a a new gladiatorial combat game set in Ancient Rome: “Arena of the Damned.”
In the stream we buzzed through the creation of a sample fighter, created a custom “virtual miniature” for the new gladiatrix, and tested the game in a quick exhibition bout.
The game system continues to be tweaked and polished, converted from a pure RPG combat system into more of a skirmish wargame – in order to more easily facilitate larger and more complex matches between teams of fighters.
Let us know what you think!
Arena of the Damned: Gladiatorial Combat in Ancient Rome
Join us as we showcase a new skirmish wargame: Arena of the Damned, portraying gladiatorial arena combat in Ancient Rome.
Inspired by the likes of Spartacus: Blood & Sand, HBO’s Rome, Gladiator, Anno Domini, and of course the original 1960 classic Spartacus, the game also adds a historical element in an attempt to approximate how gladiatorial games actually worked. Sporting and entertainment events as much as actual battle, such games yield victory not only to the fastest sword, but to he who wins the love of the fickle Roman crowd.
Join us and tell us what you think!
Live Stream – 2PM East US / 7PM UK
Sitrep Podcast YouTube
Argghh ... disregard double post.
Argghh … disregard double post.
Gladiator Combat! (Live Sunday Stream)
Getting ready for some gladiatorial arena combat for Sunday’s Live Stream. The system is a home brew: Gladiator: Blood & Sand (working title) clearly based on the Spartacus Blood & Sand show along with Gladiator, the original Spartacus movie: HBO: Rome, Anno Domini, and of course a fair amount of historical research (one can never trust TV and movies, after all.
Light, fast, with a strong emphasis on historical arena combat, the sports and entertainment aspects of gladiator combat, and building up your fighters to better attritibutes, skills (in and out of the arena), new weapons, upgraded armor & equipment, and more.
Here are the virtual figures I have created Wednesday and Thursday night.
Interested? We’re showcasing the game live on stream Sunday on the Sitrep Podcast channel, 2:00 PM Eastern.
Beginning classes are Myrmillo (gladius / drusus and long scutum shield), Hoplomachus (spear and round shield / buckler), Dimachearus (two swords), and Retiarus (trident and net). We’re also including gladiatrix females, which were admittedly exceedingly rare (and usually only in 2/3rd Century CE) but it’s fun to include them.
Again, apologies for the double post
I’ve been having trouble with the project system lately, it takes forever to post something (which I don’t mind), but when it finally appears, new entries wind up posted twice (???)
De Bellis Antiquitatis - 15mm Ancients with South Florida Miniature Gaming Club
Oriskany Jim pays a visit to the South Florida Miniatures Gaming Club, where they were playing a tournament of De Bellis Antiquitatis (Ancients / Medievals) in 15mm, run by Jim Dundorf. Our friend John Sowerby was there, playing as one of the contestants.
Here at the Sitrep Podcast, although we focus partially on Modern Era wargaming, we try to look at ALL historical wargaming as much as we can. So we really appreciated this opportunity to present a little content in the deeper reaches of history.
Thanks very much to the South Florida Miniatures Gaming Club for the warm welcome!
Apologies for the double post!
Apologies for the double post (don’t know how that happened)
Gaz vs. Oriskany - LRDG Game Video
Here is the replay of yesterday’s stream, where we had a surprise opponent join our virtual table (Sitrep Podcast alumni Gaz), turning this from a “demo” game to a live wargame midstream!
The Long Range Desert Group has all advantages, including better troops, more mobility, and thunderclap surprise … but also face much steeper mission requirements, a tight deadline, and cannot take very many casualties at all. Also, the Italians have light armor in support. Might make for a fun listen while hobbying or painting!
Long Range Desert Group - Barce Raid 80th Anniversary - Valor & Victory
Join us as we run a game of Barry Doyle’s Valor & Victory, commemorating the 80th Anniversary of one of the famous raids mounted by the Long Range Desert Group in World War II.
On the night of 13-14 September 1942, “B” Squadron of the LRDG (G1 and T1 Patrols) under Major Easonsmith launched Operation Caravan (part of Operation Agreement). This was a daring raid on the Barce airfield in Libyan Cyrenaica, housing several bomber units of the Royal Italian Air Force. The raid destroyed over thirty Axis aircraft, making Operation Caravan the only real success in Operation Agreement.
We’ll be using the Valor & Victory gaming system to see if we can match the success of these intrepid desert raiders in a live stream of the Sitrep Podcast.
12:15PM East US / 5:15PM UK
Sitrep Podcast YouTube
Sitrep Podcast Episode: Live at 5:15 UK Time (Saturday September 17)
Join Oriskany Jim, Piotr, and our returning founder Bill (Sitrep Six) for another episode of the Sitrep Podcast!
We’ll be discussing what’s new in the world of Historical Military Wargaming, go over what we’ve been doing in the hobby, and review some great hobby contributions from the Sitrep Podcast Community!
We also cover our weekly topic: “Origins of Modern Special Forces” – We all know modern warfare relies more and more on special forces as modern warfare becomes ever more asymmetrical, non-kinetic, and limited. But from where do many of these units draw their roots? After all, there are whole games out there JUST about special operations in World War II.
Edit: Stream Replay link is now posted.
Sitrep Podcast YouTube
Poland Defiant: Operational Warfare in 1939
Piotr continues to walk through “Poland Defiant” by Revolution Games, a system that puts players in command of the opening phases of the 1939 Poland Campaign.
Game Video: 1991 GUlf War British Armor (Assault across Wadi al Batin)
Join us for a look at wargaming the British Army in Operation Granby, the British part of Desert Shield and Desert Storm.
Using the “Tactical Command Middle East” expansion (Toshach Miniatures) of Avalon Hill’s classic “PanzerBlitz”, we pit elements of 7th Armoured Brigade / 1st UK Armoured Division against defending tanks and mechanized infantry of the Iraqi 52nd Division.
British Armor - 1991 Gulf War - Assault across Wadi al Batin
Join us for a look at wargaming the British Army in Operation Granby, the British part of Desert Shield and Desert Storm.
Using the Tactical Command Middle East expansion (Toshach Miniatures) of Avalon Hill’s classic PanzerBlitz, we’ll pit elements of 7th Armoured Brigade / 1st UK Armoured Division against defending tanks and mechanized infantry of the Iraqi 52nd Division.
1PM East US / 6PM UK
Sitrep Podcast YouTube
Overall situation. Our game takes place between 1st UK Armoured and Iraqi 52nd Division.
Thats some serious British firepower! 
After weeks of Coalition air bombardment, 90th Brigade / 52nd Division has seen better days. Sadly, this won't be one of them. 
The imminent battlefield. This is part of the northwest "shoulder" of the Kuwaiti-Iraqi border, running along the Wadi al Batin. The 1st UK Armoured was one of the divisions crashing across this line from the west as part of Schwartzkopf's "Hail Mary" left hook single envelopment. 1st US Cav was on their right (south), 1st US Infantry Mechanized (The Big Red One) was on their left (north).Designing Wargame Playing Pieces: British Units in the 1991 Gulf War
Join us for a quick “wargame design workshop” where we’ll be expanding our 1991 British counter sets for Tactical Command Middle East / Panzer Leader.
I realize this will be a little late in the day for most in the UK (I would stream earlier, but my day job is still a thing). However, this is also part of the buildup for a Gulf War game on Sunday afternoon featuring 7th Brigade / 1st UK Armoured Division against elements of the Iraqi 52nd Division (when I hope I’ll see more of my British friends).
EDIT: Video Replay has now been added.
Poland Defiant: Operational Warfare in 1939
In this episode, Piotr walks us through the first turn of “Poland Defiant” by Revolution Games, a system that puts players in command of the opening phases of the 1939 Poland Campaign.
This is an operational game, where the playing area is a whole nation, and players take the roles of generals and marshals moving brigades, divisions, corps, armies, and whole army groups in a weeks-long campaign of defense or conquest.
