Ultramodern Wargaming – Ukraine 2024
Recommendations: 13001
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
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.
Night battle at Savo Island
Here is the replay of yesterday’s stream (edited down and smoothed out a little) … where we tried using Hendrick Jans’ “Naval War” system to recreate the Battle of Savo Island (9 August 1942) in 1:1800 naval miniatures.
If you’re interested in WW2 naval wargaming, battles like this in the 1942-43 Solomon Islands are the best place to start, I feel. Relatively small, lots of surface gunnery combat (ease your way into carrier ops later).
Might make for a fun listen whole painting or hobbying!
Night Cruiser Clash at Savo Island - 1:1800 Minis ("Naval War" Game System)
In the wee hours of 9 August, 1942, just off the coast of Guadalcanal in the Solomon Islands, a powerful force of Japanese cruisers made a stealthy approach through the humid tropical darkness.
All but oblivious to their presence was a force of American and Australian cruisers, tasked with protecting the newly established Marine beachhead on Guadalcanal, established barely 40 hours before.
The wild naval melee that followed would go down as the Battle of Savo Island, one of the worst battle defeats suffered by the US Navy. Furthermore, it proved that even after their loss at Midway, the Imperial Japanese Navy remained a powerful force ready to put up a hideously effective fight.
Can the Americans and Australians change history a little on our tabletop, maybe eeking out a little redemption from this fiasco?
Join our stream and find out!
2PM East US Time, 7PM UK
Sitrep Podcast YouTube
The set up for tomorrow's game. North is to the lower left.
The actual course of the battle, with the table outlined in the green video.
Japanese ships to be featured in the game. A truly deadly force of heavy and light cruisers, armed with the legendary "Long Lance" torpedo (as if the 8" gun batteries weren't enough)
The Allied ships are divided in the set up. 
Here are the other Allied ships. Note HMAS Australia was not there historically, but we're ready in case she makes a suprise appearance.
