March 29, 1999 - Pulse on the Net
New DTP Game Series to Cover Normandy Invasion
New DTP Game Series to Cover Normandy Invasion
|
March 29, 1999 - Pulse on the Net
New DTP Game Series to Cover Normandy Invasion |
DTP game design efforts are gaining momentum. Case in point — ConsimWorld member Bill Ramsay announces a new game title in the works that is expected to be published as an independent, DTP design. Bill's Ramsay's report now follows.
The game I'm working on with co-designers Harvey Mossman and Scott Cameron is tentatively entitled BLOODY BEACHES: OMAHA. We envision this as the first game of a series of games using a common base system, with special rules for each individual game. We may follow this up immediately with Utah Beach and the British Beaches, but may also be looking at games of some of the actions during Market-Garden, Sicily, North Africa, or the West Wall.
The basic units are infantry companies, tank platoons, and artillery and anti-tank batteries. Each turn is approximately six hours, with units being moved in regimental groups. Basically, each turn, what we generically refer to as "Supply" is allocated to each division, which then allocates these supplies down to the Regimental HQ.
There is an Action Cycle each turn, during which each player rolls a die to see who goes and how many action points he's got. For example, to activate a Regiment for movement requires one supply point and 4 action points, while to activate any single unit (usually a company) requires one supply point and 1 action point (guess which is more economical?).
We handle the use of artillery and other assets in a somewhat new way. Artillery and Anti-Tank units are combat modifiers only, with no representation on the map. Tank, Engineer and AA assets exist as combat units, but are assigned to a particular regiment for an entire day. Therefore, when the 741st Tank Battalion lands at Omaha, its constituent platoons are immediately assigned down to one of the regiments of the 1st Division, and will activate with that Regiment.
We're handling the landing in a somewhat detailed manner, if only to make the game somewhat interesting for the German. Since the Allies really didn't know until they hit the beaches exactly what was facing them (for example, the missing 155mm guns at Pointe du Hoc), the initial German deployment is done face-down, so the Allies again don't know what they're up against until they actually land the units. Landing is done in four waves on the first turn, and one wave in subsequent turns.
Combat is performed in one of two ways... small arms or anti-tank. Tank combat is simple... subtract the antitank value from the target's armor value, roll on a table, step losses ensue. Small arms fire has an extensive table that is actually quite simple to use. You compare the morale value of the attacker and defender to a terrain column and a die roll, which yields either a No Effect, Pinned, Morale Check or Step Loss #. Infantry companies have four steps, while tank platoons have 2.
Bill Ramsay, Co-Game Designer, BLOODY BEACHES: OMAHA
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Copyright © 1999-2002. ConsimWorld.COM. All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part in any form or medium without express written permission is prohibited. Web Masters are encouraged to link directly to this page, this URL is not subject to change. For general site information: kranz@consimworld.com
Headline News | Archives | New Products
Game Ratings | Clubs | Events | Discussion Board
Copyright © 1999, 2000 ConsimWorld.COM. All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part in any form or medium without express written permission is prohibited. Web Masters are encouraged to link directly to this page, this URL is not subject to change. For general site information: kranz@consimworld.com
