Review Squad Battles: First World War gets reviewed at GrogHeads

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Tags: Grogheads; John Tiller Software; Squad Battles: First World War

John Tiller is responsible for some of my favourite wargaming experiences so it is with a lot of interest that I read the review for Squad Battles: First World War on GrogHeads.

For those unfamiliar with the game concept ‘Rolling Barrages’ are pre-arranged artillery bombardments. In game terms these are either focused at a single point for a given time, or as a creeping barrage which starting close to the front line then receding into the enemy rear lines to permit friendly troops to advance under the cover of artillery fire but without being in the beaten zone. Generally speaking assaulting troops did not have the luxury of radios to call in fire support and even with telephone lines they were not really geared up to call in spotted indirect fire. It had to be planned in advance and timing of an advance was important then and likewise in this game.

On the subject of artillery the game also provides persistent gas to be delivered to the battlefield. Quite reasonably the focus on gas is to model the general effect of gas on a unit although Chlorine rather than Mustard seems to be the JTS gas of choice and is depicted as a swirling green cloud. Either this starts on the battlefield as part of a pre-game bombardment, or via a Rolling Barrage or as specialised trench mortar fire. It’s nasty stuff causing casualties and disruption to the unprepared, and a loss of command and control to those who put their gas masks on. A nice feature is that if a gas mask equipped unit with is gassed they automatically put their gas masks on, and their unit picture automatically changes to reflect this. Depending on the scenario parameters set, it can also spread or dissipate which is a nice touch.

Seems WWI suddenly got hot in wargaming. After years of absolutely nothing we're suddenly spoiled for choice with titles such as this, Commander: The Great War and Strategic Command: WWI. Nice.

 

[Awor Szurkrarz]

I blame this:
http://www.forgeworld.co.uk/Warhamm...-VOLUME-FIVE-THE-SIEGE-OF-VRAKS-PART-ONE.html

 

[Corporate_Jew_Master]

I blame this:
http://www.forgeworld.co.uk/Warhamm...-VOLUME-FIVE-THE-SIEGE-OF-VRAKS-PART-ONE.html

One of the best Imperial Armor campaigns.

Captain Fodor ;_;