Opening post

I am spinning this off from my main blog to track progress and maintain information on this specific project.
This was entirely inspired by my experience at Southern Front 2019.

Summary

• Double-Blind or Semi-Blind wargame rules for Brigade / Division / Corps (per side) level combat on the Eastern Front

• 1 Base = 1 maneuver company or artillery battalion

• On a big 80mm x 40mm base (Because I like the look!)

• But... basing agnostic as long as basing is consistent and 2 units can fit in a hex (if you are using hexes)

• 1 small base = ~1 recon platoon

• Uses a hex grid, to facilitate laying out identical terrain and speed up play

• 1 hex = roughly 500 meters, with max 2 units in the same hex

• Can easily convert to non-hex play

• Or.. (gasp) can be played on paper hex maps with counters!

• The rules will be very fast and are inspired by 5Core Brigade Commander and Tank on Tank: East Front

• Command friction and uncertainty will be the focus and will be provided by:

• Multiple players per side (this by itself adds a lot)

• Players will not know where the enemy is until spotted, recon is critical!

• Players will not necessarily know when they have been spotted, so they will not know what the other guy knows about them!

• Players will not know the exact results of their firing on the enemy

• Must play fast, fast, fast

• Some Logistics will be included as in an abstract manner, mobility is as important as firepower

Designer’s Intent and Assumptions(In no particular order)

Designed for multiplayer, double-blind games, but can be easily used for face to face or solo

• Multiple players and double-blind bring command friction, no need to add extra rules to model
• Rules must be streamlined for speed of play, but still, focus on the factors I consider important
• The higher level the combat the more attritional in nature it is.
• Before the advent of modern digital systems, commanders would only know if their un
• Wargames are not war, they can but give us a glimpse, although an instructive glimpse, into some of the complexity.  The complexity I was to focus on are:
• Need for reconnaissance on the battlefield
• Command friction arises naturally when you have multiple players
• Uncertainty leads to more realistic command problems.