Ambush Alley Force-On-Force: modern military forces blog

[Kobrakai]

My friend told me about Ambush Alley and how open everything is to your own interpretation and figures you want to use, this log has definitely made me think more about doing a force for use in the game.

So what models from what ranges have you used so far? Just so I know where to research and look into getting some models.

Great work, thanks for putting them up!

[VERITAS/AEQUITAS]

My friend told me about Ambush Alley and how open everything is to your own interpretation and figures you want to use, this log has definitely made me think more about doing a force for use in the game.

So what models from what ranges have you used so far? Just so I know where to research and look into getting some models.

Great work, thanks for putting them up!

Check my blog (see signature) and look in the upper right corner. There I have made a compilation of stuff you can use.
Also, if you people think that topic of gaming moderns isn't as popular as WW2 for example, please check this link out:
http://www.guildwargamers.com/phpBB3...orum.php?f=206

With Osprey supporting him this will go far, I don't know anyone interested in this kind of thing who has a bad word against them. A very big step up for his company.

Loving the log, do you know if the company you get your figs from does British guys as well?

Yes, they do. They are making a small pause from business until the first week of May '10 though.
Check out http://www.rhmodels.com/11.html

[VERITAS/AEQUITAS]

Today, Osprey Publishing themselves released the following (original see here):

New Wargaming Partnership Announced

Osprey Publishing and Ambush Alley Games join together on Force on Force

Osprey Publishing and Ambush Alley Games are very pleased to announce a new publishing partnership to bring out an updated and revised version of the Ambush Alley and Force on Force wargaming rulebooks.

The new Force on Force will build on the success of Ambush Alley Games’ original publication, incorporating many improvements to the original rules as well as new scenarios and material put together in a beautifully realized series of books edited and printed to very high standards. Osprey’s global distribution network will bring these respected modern warfare rules within the reach of wargamers everywhere.

The current rules allow gamers to recreate on their tables warfare in the late 20th and 21st centuries. Ambush Alley covers intense counter-insurgency actions in an urban environment, while Force on Force takes a look at the other face of modern warfare: symmetrical, kinetic engagements between professional forces. Osprey and Ambush Alley will publish the new combined version (simply titled Force on Force) in April 2011. The range will initially consist of the main rulebook and four supplements released over the first year. Existing material will be fully revised, expanded and updated, and brand new material covering a wide range of modern conflicts will allow gamers to recreate battles from Korea to Kabul.

Richard Sullivan, Marketing Director at Osprey commented:

“After the success of Field of Glory, the rules we published with Slitherine Software Ltd, we looked very closely at what other great wargaming rules were available. A really great set of rules is not only successful in its own right, it also stimulates interest in reading about the conflicts and the soldiers it covers- something we are very keen to encourage. We were looking for something very specific: a great set of rules, put together by a group with commercial sense and a deep enthusiasm for what they do, with a loyal group of playtesters and fans behind them. With Shawn, his team and the Special Operators Group (SOG) we found them. I am sure this will not be the last thing we collaborate on.”

Shawn Carpenter, Managing Director of Ambush Alley Games, said:

“I’m very excited about this collaboration, because I believe it will bring you the best that both companies have to offer. You’ll be receiving the same exciting content that we’ve been providing since 2007 and, thanks to Osprey, it will be presented in an even higher quality and more affordable format!”
Work now begins on preparing the books for publication world-wide.



About Ambush Alley Games
Ambush Alley Games published Ambush Alley, a rule set focused on the difficulties of asymmetrical warfare in an urban environment, in 2007 and quickly established themselves as a growing force in modern miniature gaming. Following up on the success of their original game, Ambush Alley Games released a number of scenario and expansion books focused on subjects as diverse as the Vietnam conflict and the US involvement in Somalia. In 2009, they released Force on Force, which brought the Ambush Alley mechanics and philosophy of play to more traditional, symmetrical conflicts. To learn more about Ambush Alley Games, please visit www.ambushalleygames.com

About Osprey Publishing
Osprey Publishing is the leading publisher of illustrated military history. Over 1,300 titles in print provide a definitive resource for both established military enthusiasts and a wider audience with a general interest in military history. Chronicling human conflict on the ground, at sea and in the air from ancient times to the present day, Osprey provides a full range of perspectives on every major war and warrior group in history.
To find out more, visit the Osprey website www.ospreypublishing.com

With that being said I would now call it official. Damn, I am so excited. Unfortunately its going to be one full year until the first new printed formats will be available.
Gives me plenty of time to finish some projects.

[mdauben]

Well, after watching this thread and surfing the website of the publisher I broke down and bought a PDF copy of the Force on Force rules. I just had a chance for a quick look through them but they seem pretty solid. I'm going to do a bit of play testing this weekend, proxying with some other figures I have on hand and if I like it I may start a modest collection of 20mm moderns myself.

Just what I need, another game!

[Luftwaffles]

I just want you to know, that thanks to this log and your incredible painting, I'm on the verge of breaking down, buying some modern miniatures, and trying to convince my friends to give Ambush Alley a go.

Thanks a lot, you jerk!

[VERITAS/AEQUITAS]

Be careful friends, there is a difference between Ambush Alley and Ambush Alley Force On Force.

Ambush Alley is solely for Irregulars (Insurgents) VS regulars (Army, USMC, whatever), while Force On Force is for regular military forces VS regular military forces.
Ambush Valley is like Force On Force, but has detailed Vietnam era rules in addition.

If you want to give it a try, there is a free download scenario with quick start rules.
http://www.ambushalleygames.com/quickstart.html

If you want to buy, take Force On Force.

Good thing that I was able to convince another two. If you played it a few times you won't wanna play something else for a while. Because its so different to everything you have known so far tabletop-wise.
And, because here every mistake costs a (miniature-) soldier's life, you won't get it anymore real.
The ADF uses it for teaching squad leaders.

[VERITAS/AEQUITAS]

And now for something completely different:

Modern Russian GRU special detachment:






These I bought second hand a little while ago from a very talented man from Ireland (thanks, Piers). I had plans repainting them, but then decided it will work if I'll instead try to copy his painting style as close as possible.
They will be reinforced some day with some more vehicles like T-90, Tunguska AA and some Vodniks. I will add some infantry, too. But that's in a future still far away, due to a lot of other projects.
I divide my armies into two categories: desert and woodland. These Russians will be opponents for my woodland armies, consisting of Bundeswehr (late 1990s) and some USMC (not started yet).

[rivers3162]

Just wanted to say keep up the good work! The Iraqi armour in particular looks brilliant and the weathering is very nicely done. I've just discovered this log and its inspired me to do a couple of modern forces myself - I'm currently waiting to send off a big order to RH/Liberation when it reopens.

[VERITAS/AEQUITAS]

@rivers3162: thanks, I will - as a matter of fact, right here my latest work:

[VERITAS/AEQUITAS]

[Ethan Hunt]

I'm really, really interested on Flames Of War and also Ambush Alley from a time to now. The log is very nice. Keep up the great work.
Btw, ¿what's the name of those tank-based Russian IFW on the modern russian post?
I have somewhere on my HDD pics of a T-90 based IFW, that has autocannos, AT missiles, etc on a turret, but this design looks like a russian-adapted version of those heavy APCs the Israelis have. Interesting vehicle.

[VERITAS/AEQUITAS]

That's a BTR-T with 30mm Autocannon on a remote-controlled turret. It's based upon the hull of the old T-55 tank.

[Ethan Hunt]

BTR-T... i'm gonna search more of it, thx.
Heh, seems to be that the same tank i've said it's this one. The turret look like it's modular or something.
I've fell in love with Ambush Alley the day i found a page with a report of a battle of the Iran-Irak war.
If Osprey is backing Ambush Alley, perhaps one day we might see the game on Spain on spanish too.

[VERITAS/AEQUITAS]

That site was probably the Guildwargamers forum. In Spanish? Maybe - who knows. Osprey is quite a big company. Depending on sales of the first run of the new product they might really translate it..

[fluffy05]

Incredible. Love your brushwork

[TAOC]

haha sweet, a javelin team, 100,000$ usd to demolish a mud hut

[VERITAS/AEQUITAS]

haha sweet, a javelin team, 100,000$ usd to demolish a mud hut

Actually its far less than 100,000US$, but given it's crappy performance that's still too much. At least according to the article in this newspaper:
http://legacy.signonsandiego.com/new...22javelin.html

I for myself have seen the the Javelin on a live fire excercise only one time (because of its price that's a rare occasion) and it did hit right on target. But that was in Central Europe and not in the heat of the Middle East, where Thermal-vision-imaging for acquiring targets will have issues during bright daylight.

Next project for Ambush Alley will once again content a building. A two-storey shop to be exactly.. Stay tuned.

[Grimm Toof]

Ethan, the Israeli APC I believe you were discussing was the Achzarit, which too is modded from a T-55. Both the Israelis and the Russians have had some, "bad", experiences in urban warfare, and an APC that can absorb heavier shells and rpg's is desired.

[VERITAS/AEQUITAS]

I found some older pictures, showing one of the first tables we used to play a test scenario with Ambush Alley rules.
Starting point for the regulars was the Amtrack on the lower table edge, mission objective to rescue two contracters next to the burning old Volkswage bus. When we were done so, we were supposed to exfiltrate over the upper table edge into safety:




The Insurgents had five "spawnpoints", from which they constantly got reinforcements coming. I made simply markers, which are having subtle numbers on them:

[VERITAS/AEQUITAS]