Ambush Alley team up with Osprey Publishing

[Kron]

New Force on Force rulebook due out this time next year. Looks promising!
http://www.ospreypublishing.com/blog...Alley_team_up/

I haven't played Ambush Alley myself, what do people think of it?

[VERITAS/AEQUITAS]

Best game around. Compares to nothing that existed so far as it uses a totally different approach. No stats, no army lists, no point costs.
I have created a topic on it a little while ago
http://www.warseer.com/forums/showthread.php?t=251660

I am into wargames for 17+ years now, but nothing was as fascinating as Ambush Alley. This is the first tabletop I played that is as unforgiving if you make mistakes as is real combat. And the first one that by using real military tactics actually pays off.

Oh, and its not using the usual "I go, U go" stuff that makes most games boring for the opponent while you are pushing 50+ models around...

[VERITAS/AEQUITAS]

Osprey Publishing received the final draft for the core rules. These have been extensively reviewed, playtested and expanded over the recent months. They are now off to the printers and should be out April 2011.
In addition to the core rules, the first supplement called "Road To Baghdad" will be released to expand the rules with the first playable campaign, that is entirely based upon what happend, when US Army tanks and infantry entered Baghdad city in 2003 with their spectacular "Thunder Runs"..

Additional supplements are in the making right now. According to plans, Osprey will publish as much as four in total in 2011.

Pre-orders can be made via amazon for example
http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=ntt_athr...0Alley%20Games

[eastern barbarian]

what sort of conflicts do they cover?

Also- how complicated is the game?
If its anything like Field of glory then I dont think I will be picking it up.. but sounds interesting so far.

[VERITAS/AEQUITAS]

what sort of conflicts do they cover?

Also- how complicated is the game?
If its anything like Field of glory then I dont think I will be picking it up.. but sounds interesting so far.

Basicly you can use the rules to play any conflict that already uses firearms - they are generic. The Force On Force core rules book is going to focus on modern conflicts (post-WW2). A specific WW2 supplement will follow, as will a sci-fi one (called Tomorrow's War, already in the making as we speak).

Complicted? Hm. It's hard to tell, as it depends on what you would call complicated. I am playtesting and playing it since a long time. I'd say they are easy to pick up and remember. Although the actions/re-actions sequence of play is something you need to get used to.


Update:
I can now also confirm that "Road to Baghdad" is finished and off to the printers.

[nzdarkelf]

Not long ago I read a skirmish battle report that was set in the Napoleonic Wars era and used AA. Can't remember the source, but was an interesting game.

[Velsharoon]

Does it play like Infinity then with action/reaction?

I am looking for alternate rulesets for use with GW as I think their rules are terrible...

[VERITAS/AEQUITAS]

You play in "turns" too. The difference is: you may have the initiative this turn, but wherever you cross an enemy units' LOS, they may roll a die to see if they can "interupt" your actions. If they can, they may maneuver or shoot (or perform another special form of action), too.

Means that the opposing players doesn't sit around waiting until you are done, it means that he constantly has to see if he gets an opportunity to "interupt" your plans. Of course there is no need to that, but why would I miss a chance shooting enemies that crossed an open spot between the walls when I saw them and had my guns ready to fire??
Now the funny thing about FoF is (difference to other games) that my opponent after he "interupted" one of my units may have raised the attention of one of my own units. They may have seen muzzle flashes and may now on their own see if they can locate and take out that immediate threat to their comarades.

So, in FoF you constantly have mini-firefights flashing on the table. Which recreates that sort of feeling soldiers get in battle: you are save nowhere. The enemy is behind every wall - be ready to defend yourselfs at any time.

Units can perform such actions and "interupts" until they run ouf of FP (firepower) dice of which they lose one, everytime you use them. So these minifights end only if units can no longer protect and defend themselves because they spent all "actions". That means you got to foresee the opposing players likely reactions to your actions and think ahead with tactics - a very challenging game.

You also can go on overwatch - hence you may maneuver your own troops in the face of an enemy, not being afraid he will certainly trying to "interupt" you - the overwatch unit probably goes first and takes down anyone trying to threat your advancing squads.

You can also shoot with the solely reason to put down a wall of lead towards the enemy line. "suppressed" untis get "pinned" and will have their abilities reduced to engage your troops.

Real world military tactics are the key to success.

[nzdarkelf]

It all sounds very exciting for next year.

[VERITAS/AEQUITAS]

@Velsharoon:
Ambush Alley Games and Osprey are also coming up with another stand-alone game, called "Tomorrows War". Its basicly an enhanced Force On Force rules set, with some specials that are too Sci-Fi to be used in settings of "current" or "recent" campaigns. (robot warfare, rail guns, skimmers...)

Once you got into Ambush Alley Games its like Warhammer rules - most other games of the same company will play similar.

[ltsobel]

I am really interested in this and will be buying, does anyone know any 28mm modern minature companies they can recommend to go with it? Ive just bought a load of Peter Pig US Marines and Arab militia for 15mm Force on Force but want to get some 28mm for Ambush Alley.

[VERITAS/AEQUITAS]

@Itsobel: Be advised - gaming AA FoF in 28mm will require a very huge gaming table. Distances are already huge (like how far you walk, vehicles drive etc) and have to be doubled for 28mm use in FoF!

There are some 28mm miniatures for moderns, like: Eureka, The Assault Group, Red Star, Black Scorpion..

http://eurekamin.com.au/index.php?cPath=591_592
http://www.redstarminiatures.eu/shop.html
http://www.theassaultgroup.co.uk/pag...ltra-Modern-14
http://www.blackscorpionminiatures.c...42c7364ea551a4

[ltsobel]

Thanks for that In that case I might start out with my 15mm first. One more quick question, how is basing figures handled in FoF? Is there a certain size and number of figures per base?

Thanks

[VERITAS/AEQUITAS]

No certain size, but no multi-basing. Each one based single.
I use round bases, but there is no rule requiring that, you can also use rectangular ones..

For so-called "weapon teams" I use a larger round base to place both, gunner and assisstant, onto the same base. Again, some prefer to base them single - but I do like creating little dioramas with such teams (see my blog or warseer thread, signature below).

[silence]

This sounds pretty interesting, I've been reading up on the Rhodesian war and this sounds like it might be perfect for many of the smaller skirmish size actions that happened.

It might also be nice to play a game based around mad mikes assault on Stanleyville..

Hmm, so many ideas for cold war Africa.

Thanks for the info.

[VERITAS/AEQUITAS]

@silence:
Cold War, Africa?
Just keep yourself informed.

[Axel]

@VERITAS/AEQUITAS

Thanks for the review. Sounds too good to miss.

[silence]

@ VERITAS/AEQUITAS

I meant more the era, with the Rhodesians (essentially Western forces) fighting against Russian backed guerrilla organisations such as ZANLA, as well as the raids into neighbouring countries, also it might be interesting to field a mercenary force from this period.

I have a couple of friends that fought in these conflicts, and they have provided me with some interesting personal accounts and a fairly decent reading list, if however you have any suggestions of books that would cover this period in Africa as a whole then I'd be very happy to track them down.

[VERITAS/AEQUITAS]

I was pointing out to Ambush Alley Games and Osprey Publishing probably having something for you in the pipe next year
...I am just not allowed to go into any details at this moment.

[Aiwass]

Thanks for the summary Veritas, very interesting. After read it, I've downloaded the "demo" version and I liked it, seems a very interesting game. The matter for me now, is to find some good modern 28mm miniatures, but also can be a good point to start with 15mm.

Anyways, thanks