[GZG] [Stargrunt] Wanted

Articles, vehicle stats, scenarios for Stargrunt for use on GZG web site.

Any particular guidelines? Does it have to involve GZG minis? Do you want
pictures? Whole articles?

[quoted original message omitted]

> Any particular guidelines? Does it have to involve GZG
I'm after stuff to put on the GZG site, so long as it can be Used with GZG
minis but it does not have to specifically mention them, Although it cant
obviously mention anybody elses. Pictures would be great.

Squad sheets, vehicle sheets in a format as per the rules book please if
possible

Basically I want stuff that will be useful to other players and newcomers
alike, eg a scenario with Maps and all the squad sheets etc so that someone
can download it, read it, then play.

Thanks

On 10/25/06, gzg-l-request@lists.csua.berkeley.edu
> <gzg-l-request@lists.csua.berkeley.edu> wrote:

> Squad sheets, vehicle sheets in a format as per the rules book please

Paul, what do you mean by "in a format as per the rules book"?

I have been working on a board game variant of Stargrunt using Squad Leader
boards. I have squad and vehicle sheets specifically for that variant. The
vehicle sheet in particular allows users to keep track of everything for a
vehicle on one page. It has a bit more to it than the one in the book. Would
that be something you'd be interested in?

For that matter, how interested would you be in this board game variant? The
intention is to allow folks to play SG2 on the road, which I do fairly often
and can't take my terrain and figures with me. Would something like this be of
interest? Or is this something that perhaps Jon would prefer I not release to
the public at all?

> I have been working on a board game variant of Stargrunt using Squad

*I* certainly would be.

> Paul, what do you mean by "in a format as per the rules book"?
I was thinking like the sheets in the rule book, but...

> I have been working on a board game variant of Stargrunt
Yep that would be great please. Can you send them direct to me.

> For that matter, how interested would you be in this board
That's one for Jon.

These bits are for www.groundzerogames.net/index.php which will
Become the front door of the store as soon as I have several content items For
each section.

On 10/25/06, gzg-l-request@lists.csua.berkeley.edu
> <gzg-l-request@lists.csua.berkeley.edu> wrote:

> Date: Wed, 25 Oct 2006 12:05:51 -0500 (CDT)

My intention was to create a set of conversion rules that required the SG2
rulebook, but let you play SG2 as a board game. I can understand if Jon is
worried about it eating into figure sales, which is why I posed the question
as to whether Jon would mind it being released to the public at large.

I, personally, don't think it would adversely affect figure sales, as a large
part of miniature gaming is the aesthetic appeal of moving miniatures on 3D
terrain. If Jon gives the okay, I will release
Stargrunt-SL (which is what I've been calling it) to the world.

The main reason I created it was so that I'd have a "travel" version of
Stargrunt. It allows you to play bigger games simply because the time it takes
to move squads around is much lower, so you can use it
for those company-sized games that used to take 6+ hours.

It also integrates well with the board game. You can create a table
based on a hex board, and use SG-SL for off-table movement and fire
from off table support assets.

I have a bunch of Heroscape terrain bits. I'm considering painting up some of
my old Battletech 10mm figures (never bought the mechs, or enough vehicles,
but I have a lot of infantry I got cheap). I can base
multiple figures for, say, Striker but play the game ala SG-SL. This
could also be done with 15mm figures.

In fact, the SG-SL rules include some minor changes that could be used
by 15mm and 6mm players who want to mount their SG squads on single stands.

The rules work, and I have generic counters created. I'm editing the counters
slightly so that the lettering at the top of the counter is not cut off. The
counters are all black outlines, much like Squad Leader, so that you can print
them on colour paper from a laser or inkjet printer. I need to finish the
vehicle counters, and the
man-portable heavy weapon counters.

The rules need some clean up, too, but that won't take too long.

I know I'd like to see these. I myself would prefer to play with
multi-based 15mm.

[quoted original message omitted]

I use multi-figure bases too.  I like to use them as buddy teams in SG
and
fire teams/squads in DS

Michael Brown mwsaber6@msn.com

[quoted original message omitted]

> On 10/25/06, gzg-l-request@lists.csua.berkeley.edu

I'd certainly be interested in seeing it, Allan, mainly for that reason! With
all the 15mm we've been releasing, I've been considering modifications to SGII
(or even a new ruleset, though that's VERY far
away <wry grin>) for 15mm with fireteam/squad based figure
groups......

As to releasing SG-SL for public consumption, I don't imagine that
will be much of a problem, though I'd like to take a look at it first if
that's OK.

Best,

Jon (GZG)

> The rules work, and I have generic counters created. I'm editing the

Jon & Allan, did you see the mods Stuart Murray proposed? I've pasted it
below:

SGII - Company Mods
It became apparent to my gaming group that the typical platoon-level SG
game was over too quickly if one side lost a single squad from arty or
aerospace attack. We kind of stopped using these in games so games lasted a
little longer. I started thinking about this more and I realized that what I
wanted to play was a reinforced company level combined arms game in which a
small amour contingent could effectively
support a single company (including organic mortars/HMGs) and not skew
the game too much with its firepower.

One problem with using larger forces is the alternating action phase. Because
opponents can react to the actions of a single squad operational coherency
quickly dissolved. It seemed wrong to me that a company commander could not
gain an advantage by activating a whole platoon rather than a single squad.

Another disadvantage of playing larger SG games is the time it takes to move
lots of individual figures. While playing I observed that players tend to
worry greatly about the facing and disposition of individual troops. I noted
that in larger games this focus on the individual troops tended to distract
the commanders from the 'larger picture' of the tactical battle.

I began tinkering with how I could activate whole platoons in a timely manner
while lifting the tactical level from squad combat to
platoon/company combat.

To speed moving figures and relieve the player of worrying about individuals I
started to gang base squads. I found that too much detail
was lost when basing squads so I dropped the multi-basing to the level
of fire teams. I tried it a few times and it seemed to work out. I then
tried lifting the tactical level by activating platoons/or platoon
equivalents (such as a pair of tanks) with a single chit, like Dirtside.

I tried it a couple of times on gaming buddies before bringing it to the GZG
ECC. The feedback from them was positive. There is very little 'learning
curve' and the leaner game appealed more than regular SG to a player who was
new to SG (he had only played a couple of times).

So, what I ended up with is a way to play faster, more complex, games of SG in
an evening and I still get to use all my little toys*

Mods for company gaming: (NB, I use 15mm figs)

Basing Fire teams, or functional groups (such as command, SAM, ATGW etc) are
based on a single base. I use a 1" base, usually square. This represents the
team within a 10mx10m area (SG scale is stated as 1"=10m) Fire teams are two
(high tech and PA), to four figures (low tech) per
base. Specialists are usually 2-3 figures.
Example Platoon: Commonwealth Infantry Platoon Command: Base of Lt., Sgt, RTO
3x Rifle Sections: Base of NCO and 1 rifleman, 2x (Base of 2 riflemen and 1
SAW) Support: Base of Marksman and 1 rifleman, Base of ATGW (2 figures)
Platoon rides in 4x IFVs Company Command Only company command has EW and
artillery support chits. Platoons do not, this helps preserve the chain of
command for such
request/priorities.
Activation A single platoon group (or equivalent) is activated at a time. When
activated all bases/elements in the group may perform independent
actions, i.e. in an infantry platoon some may fire while others move (An
example of cover fire and move, otherwise not modeled well in SG). All SG
rules apply, such as leader replacement etc (in this case it will be a base
that is promoted). Movement I typically choose a base near the center of the
platoon, measure and move that base, then move all the other bases without
measuring. Firing Firepower is calculated per figure in a fire team, as SG.
NB, the PLATOON is firing, so, it is up the player how they resolve fire team
firing. Pick targets and detail how many fire teams are firing at each target.
Example: a Commonwealth Infantry platoon firing on a Union infantry group. The
Commonwealth player chooses to target the Union group with three sections
(three groups of three fire teams). First determine the firepower for each
section; resolve as SG for each section independently. GMS: Any figure with a
GMS may fire with either the GMS, or with a
rifle/SMG etc. I do not limit the GMS to 3/4 shots; the fire team will
carry reloads. Mixed bases: bases with riflemen and a SAW gunner may fire
either combined i.e. SAW in support, or just as a SAW. Casualties Each base
can take TWO wounds; this is independent of the number of figures actually on
a base. If a base gets one hit I place an untreated casualty marker next to,
or on, the base. If the casualty gets treated I replace that with a treated
casualty marker (I use regular casualties for untreated and figs on stretchers
for treated). I use casualty marker castings from Peter Pig. If a base gets
two hits it is dead and I replace it with two untreated casualty markers. (I
adopted an idea from a historical gamer, he used two sets of generic markers,
one green, one grey, that way he did not have to buy specific casualties, he
used the same ones for everything. It sounds strange, but I find it is
effective) Any casualty (treated or not) is moved with the fire team.
Casualties can be 'pooled' for protection, left at an aid point, or recovered
by medevac; if so I use a small marker (a small piece of pipe cleaner placed
on the base) to represent the base having one 'hit'. Alternatively, casualties
can be abandoned like regular SG and the base marked accordingly.

On 10/31/06, gzg-l-request@lists.csua.berkeley.edu
> <gzg-l-request@lists.csua.berkeley.edu> wrote:

> Date: Tue, 31 Oct 2006 16:32:29 +0100

> I'd certainly be interested in seeing it, Allan, mainly for that

I didn't go as far as Stuart did. My rules keep it very much Stargrunt, with
squads made up of individual figures. I just figured out a way to record
indivudal squad members on a record sheet, and how to assign casualties due to
artillery and mines.

> As to releasing SG-SL for public consumption, I don't imagine that

No problem at all, Jon. Once I have everything finalized I will send it to
you.