sorry for the delay but I thought I'd get the Team Yankee book review done this weekend. Sadly the book turns out to be a much less exciting read than I expected and it will take a couple more days.
Therefore I thought I introduce two new rules Fulda Gap instead - heavy sniper teams and the designated marksman.
Heavy Sniper TeamsA heavy sniper team is armed with a large calibre anti-materiel rifle like the Barret M82 or the venerable PTRS-41. They function just like sniper teams, but have a Pen of +2.
I hope you like these ideas. The Team Yankee review should be up in a couple of days.Designated MarksmanThe designated marksman (DM) is embedded in an infantry squad to supply accurate fire on enemy targets at ranges up to 550 yards (500 m) with a semi-automatic rifle equipped with a telescopic sight. Whenever a squad or fireteam with a designated marksman receives a Shoot or Ambush order, the designated marksman can decide to fire a single aimed shot. If this option is chosen, roll separately for this shot. The designated marksman gets a +1 bonus to hit. If he rolls a natural 6, the shot automatically causes exceptional damage.
I read the Team Yankee review in this month's Wargames Illustrated. The game looks good - I'd play it a couple of times before adding in more.
ReplyDeletePersonally, I'm looking forward to seeing what you make of it.
Oh, sorry if there is a misunderstanding, but I am talking about the 1987 novel.
ReplyDeleteThe upcoming game actually doesn't look too good to me, it seems to be heavily biased towards US supremacy and doesn't seem to reflect a realistic scenario (for example, there is not much to justify ROF 2 for the M1). The models are nice, but Battlefront's prices are almost as prohibiting as GWs. I mean, you can get better looking 1/72 models for the same money per tank.
I think that is a bit harsh of an assessment to throw out before the game is released. Us infantry for example are not particularly better then there soviet counter parts how have better integral support options.
DeleteThe M1 were a superior tank to the t-72 in its state of the arts stabilising, range finder targeting system but its armament is inferior to the t-72.
The higher rate of fire for the M1 is probably due to the loader, which the t-72 did not have. Auto loaders are from my experience and general consensus kinda crap but are a good budget option.
I do not say your opinion are not valid, I am more interested by what information you formed them.
Regards; Nicklas
I don't like what I have seen of TY so far. I would prefer different training levels in each army, can't really see why National Guard units brought to Europe via REFORGER should be better trained and more confident than Soviet VDV.
DeleteAs I said, imho there is no reason for ROF2 on the M1 except for giving them an artificial edge. A human loader might pump out more shots over a short period of time, but it's not like an engagement is over after 3 minutes.
The US gets Dragons, but the WarPac doesn't seem to have Konkurs ATGMs.
The thermal imaging on the M113 is another thing I don't understand.
The M1 would be superior to a stock T-72, but in a 1985 scenario they would already encounter T72-A or even T72-B, which would be pon par with the stock M1. Actually, they would encounter T-80s with ERA, but those aren't around for some reason. And this is just because the scenario in the book doesn't include them, and that is quite a shame. And I think it is a biased game if one side cannot bring there "A" game.
This and the training level issue might be easily solved by additional formations, but I am not 100% sure if we will see those. So far I only heard rumors about Bundeswehr and BOAR next year.
Also the game seems to allow on board artillery? Another thing I don't appreciate.
The rules preview today failed to impress, too. There is way better C3-technology around, but command bubbles are reduced?
And team leaders and heavy weapons get an automatic "Look out Sir, argh!" ?
That all sounds like a pretty "arcade" game, even compared to Bolt Action aka "the war movie simulation".
Apart from the nice miniatures (with the huge price tag) there is nothing that hasn't been solved in a better way by systems like CWC, FoF & Co.
Ah, OK. Interested in the Novel as well. And the points made above.
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