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 25 June 2022 Episode
Hello, everyone. Here is the record of this weekend’s SITREP PODCAST – a great episode where we welcome a special guest (elessar2590) to the show!
1982 Falklands - Elessar2590 v Oriskany
Yes, yes … I realize we’re a little late on this one (most of the larger land engagements in this war took place June 11-13). But things have to be fit into the schedule, live opponents need to be found, maps drawn, armies “built.”
This game will take a look at 45th Royal Marine Commando’s assault on the Two Sisters Hill on West Falkland Island, night of Friday, 11-12 June, 1982.
The system we’ll be using is the Valor & Victory Modern Expansion of Barry Doyle’s original Valor & Victory classic.
In particular, we’ll be looking at NIGHT COMBAT, the importance of illumination, and how darkness effects approaches and assaults over terrain that might otherwise be suicide.
We hope to see you there! Join the comments and be part of the show!
Sunday – 4:30 East US / 9:30 UK
Sitrep Podcast YouTube
An overall map of the Falklands,showing the initial British landings at San Carlos Bay and the Sussex Hills. First came the famous / infamous engagement at Goose Green in the south, after which 3rd Commando Brigade had to cross East Falkland Island on foot (their helos had been destroyed with the sinking of SS Atlantic Conveyor).
The first round of engagements fought by 3rd CDO Bge for the hills overlooking Stanley, while 5th Infantry Brigade lands in the south (Scots Guards, Welsh Guards, and 1/7th Gurkhas). The GENERAL area of today's battle is in the green rectangle.
More detailed zoom-in of the battle area. The red rectangle shows the exact, scaled dimensions of our game table. I particularly like this map as it details not only British units and dispositions, but Argentinian as well. Objectivity is a big problem with most sources when it comes to the Falklands War.
An even tighter zoom-in. We'll be looking at "Z" Coy, 45th CDO RM at the "Summer Days" peak of Two Sisters Hill.
A little research into the exact weapons loadout of RM rifle sections in this war. This is important for determining the exact combat values for our VVME counters. Although the more modern, superior weapon, the L7A1 GPMG (FN MAG / M240) was found to have issues with the belt and the icy conditions. Many RM sections thus still carried at least one Bren Gun of WW2 vintage.
The map for today's game. It's four standard VV boards, 12 x 24 hexes, or about 360 by 720 yards. At 15mm this map would be about 22 feet across.
7, 8, and 9 troops, "Z" Coy, 45 Royal Marine Commando. The top commander is Capt. Cole, the actual commander on the day. Also featured is Lt. Dytor (commanding 8 Troop / 45 CDO RM), who would win a Military Cross for his actions in this engagement. Also note the flare marker. This game takes place in pitch darkness.
The Argentinians of "B" Coy, Regimiento de Infantería Mecanizado 6 (6th Mechanized Infantry Regiment). The top leader is Major Jaimet, the actual commander on the day. He'd be partly reinforced by elements of "D" Coy, 4th Regimiento de Infantería.Soviet Motor Rifles vs. Mujahideen - Valor &Victory (Part 2)
Oriskany Jim and Arrigo finish up their game of Valor and Victory (Modern Expansion), depicting some small-unit action between Soviet Motor Rifles and mujahideen in Afghanistan, circa 1986.
We’ve got BTR-60s, snipers, Mi-24 gunships, and of course many of the small arms and support weapons of the day.
What modern conflicts would you recreate on your table?
M1A1 Abrams Complete (1991-2003, 15mm Battlefront)
As Leonardo DaVinci said … “Art is never finished, only abandoned.”
Well, I am “abandoning” these M1A1 Abrams.
The tactical markings aren’t QUITE specific or accurate for all 1991-2003 scenarios … but these were the transfers I had and this way the models can be used for multiple engagements.
I wound up with a platoon of four tanks and a company commander's tank.
Again, the tactical markings and ID numbers are "approximate" at best.
Approximation of "chocolate chip" camo on the company commander.
The back tactical ID panels are pre-IR panel, pre-2003 IFF panels. They didn't come with the kit, added with some very quick fabrication.
A rough attempt at a "herringbone" road march formation
Should be okay for most 1991 Desert Storm and 2003 Iraqi Freedom scenarios.
Tanks complete. On to the Bradley APCs!Detail Painting: 1991-2003 M1A1 Abrams
Here is the replay from yesterday’s stream, where detail painting was started on some Battlefront 15mm M1A1 Abrams.
These are being built and configured for use in 1991 Gulf War and 2003 Operation Iraqi Freedom scenarios. But they coud also be used in other alternate history scenarios based on Harold Coyle novels like Bright Star and Sword Point.
Live Stream: Progress Painting on 1991-2003 M1A1 Abrams
Join us for a quick stream (in my unreliable internet permits …) where I’ll be making some progress on my Gulf War / Iraqi Freedom M1A1 Abrams MBTs (originally 15mm Battlefront for Team Yankee)
2PM East US / 7PM UK
Sitrep Podcast YouTube
Progress on my Abrams - filter washes to align the hue with rpre-existing Gulf War models, then pin washing on all these %&#(*$# straight panel lines on the Abrams to bring out the details. Also, a little progress on radio antennae and secondary weapons.Soviet Motor Rifles vs. Mujahideen - Valor &Victory (Part 1)
Oriskany Jim and Arrigo sit down for a game of Valor and Victory (Modern Expansion), depicting some small-unit action between Soviet Motor Rifles and mujahideen in Afghanistan, circa 1986.
We’ve got BTR-60s, snipers, Mi-24 gunships, and of course many of the small arms and support weapons of the day.
The full rulebook for Valor & Victory (Modern Expansion) is available on our Sitrep Podcast Discord (approved by Barry Doyle, original creator of Valor & Victory).
Conclusion of Battle of Midway 80th Anniversary Commemorative Game
137 warships.
732 aircraft.
2.4 million square kilometers of gaming table.
Nine hours of gaming.
At last, the 80th Anniversary Wargame of the Battle of Midway is complete on the Sitrep Podcast.
Here is the recording of our second live stream for this game, where Rasmus and Oriskany Jim conclude the naval wargame epic we started last week.
These are long streams, so I don’t expect people to watch them end-to-end. But might make for a fun listen while hobby, painting, cleaning up the house … or trying to get to sleep (warm glass of milk is recommended). 😀
