Front line Europe Rules

I’m reviewing all Vichy rules available out there, as I plan to make a unique mod, because I like historical realism and simplicity, with minimized luck of dice, and some “asymmetric balance”.

Some major points I’ve posted elsewhere in the forum:

The main issue for this expansion is how to develop French neutrality, while at the same time providing a bonus to Germany. Apparently ignored by most players, in real life (IRL), Germany economically exploited Vichy, which had to richly sustain 300,000 German troops stationed in Northern France. Therefore, in the game, it only makes total sense that Germany gets the 3 IPCs from Vichy Southern France.

Another related major issue is what to do with French colonies in terms of neutrality/occupation and IPC flows. I agree that the Vichy setup should reflect what happened IRL: North Africa, Syria, and Indochina go to Vichy, while other French colonies stay Free. However, it messes up Italy’s incursions into North Africa (as IRL, Hitler denied French colonies to Italy). I’m not sure yet as to the best approach to subjecting these colonies to invasion, occupation, and who gains IPCs (other than agreeing that Japan has easy access “rights” over Vichy Indochina), and also remote units…

Germany never fought Vichy. IRL, with Operation Torch, Germany simply occupied Vichy in 1942, with no resistance whatsoever. Vichy units were disbanded. That can be also the case in the game. Just remove Vichy units.

The uncertainty surrounding local pre-battles is quite interesting (will Vichy troops welcome or resist Allies in North Africa?..). However, I’d try to minimize dice randomness that is often used to decide some outcome. IRL, Vichy troops (just like Italians) surrendered as soon as seeing enemy superiority: thus, in the game, if Allies send more land + air units than defending Vichy units, then there should be no battle but quick surrender. Or, make it highly unlikely that a battle would ensue (for example, need to roll a 1).

I’m now working on my own house rules, for an expansion (HBG lingo) that is quite realistic, fun yet simple. If anyone is interested, let me know and I’ll be happy to share my rules when ready…

phd_angel@yahoo.com

Chicago, December 2020

End of turn 3. Things are just starting to get going.

image1(23).png

Wasn’t sure where to put this, but I decided to get some input from the community. IL gave me the idea after the discussion on operation SEELOWE, which is still slowly building up for the expected invasion this August.

Any ways, ill post the rules I have here, which are reinterpreted Luftwaffe rules with some optional add ons. ANy feed back is appreciated.

Plans are
Cold War scenario
What If game play (bit of it is already in place.)
More in-depth rules.

Thanks again for any feed back.
Version 1.1
Spelling Corrections
Rule Changes
YB40 now has a penalty to use.
Aircraft now have Targets
Hybrid Bomber added (includes penalty)

Planned In Next Update
How to Attack Allied forces.
Ground units expanded?
AA Battalions may be modified (May add to)
Allied Units Cost
German Units Cost

-Objectives
German Luftwaffe
Don’t allow 9+ cities to be bombed.
Allied Air forces
Bomb 12 or more cities
Tie
10/11 cities bombed

-Parts List
Needed
Aircraft Markers
See Aircraft List

AA Battalion Markers
See Aircraft List

Fuel Markers 60
Bomb Markers 60

Fuel Dumps

Additional
Damage Markers 60

*No suicide missions can be launched
As in launching fighters on missions that will take them farther than they can go as indicated.

-Turn Limit
20
Turns consist of two parts
German Missions launched
Allied Missions launched

Following Subject to change
All aircraft of the same type must be aloft at once. This is due to keep tracking easier, all 109s are aloft and time tracked at the same time. This avoids having to track 5 or 6 aircraft types at once, then multiply that by 10+ per plane launched at different times.
Alternative. Numbers assigned to each plane. Then there would be a fuel token for that plane with a matching number.
EX…
Me109 Number 1
Me109 Fuel Count 1
And so on and forth for each plane.

-Bombers
They do not have a fuel counter, as the bombers head directly to targets. They launch and get to targets on the same turn.
Each defender they go across fires at them. Any suriving bomber ends its turn with the bombing run.
On the next turn (the players turn who launched the mission) The bomber then returns to base (or regress line) with the defender firing when possible.

-Aircraft Types
Fighters
Equipped with fuel tanks. Attack on a 4 or less.
Heavy Fighters
Attack on a 3 or less
Bombers
Bomb on a 3 or less, defend on a 2 or less.
Intruders
Intruders are used in secret missions (Explained later)
Intruders attack on 4 or less. They can be used to attack refueling aircraft (at airbases) or other targets. They can be intercepted and defend on a 2.

-Target Types
Fuel Depots
German fuel depots are used to store fuel. The fuel is then distributed to surrounding airbases. Attacking this will hammper German air missions to defend the Fartherland.
Airbases
These are vital to the effort. attacking them keep down mission launch capabilities and refuel. They also reapir aircraft (current wip)
Cities
Cities are the main objective. They contain the factories that feed the German Luftwaffe. Weather your bombing the Me109 ball bearing plant, or the Messerschmidt plant, they are your tagets. At a later time, they will have a larger impact other than victory points. Ideas currently include loss of reinforcements, fuel.
Also, cities defend on a 2 (AA guns. Airbases and other targets have this capability. Expansion to this will include AA battalions that can be positioned at certain locations.
At the moment, the game is very Allied favored, though this will be offset with German technology advancements. I plan on two modes, historical (units are used depending on the time frame.) The next version is Alternative Timelines.
In this mode, both players will gain tech points to spend. There will be a research tree, to avoid players going into Jet ages (of thats what you want.) This mode will have a extended time limit to 40 turns to allow full tech up.

-Reinforcements
-Repairs
At the moment repairs to targets are made using fuel tokens (representing trucks carrying material to repair. This can be used to restart the production of the German forces.

-Combat
Basics
AA
AA guns can fire at all aircraft. They attack on a 2.
They can target units at will. They can chose to attack anything they wish.
Fighters
Fighters can attack all aircraft, but not targets.
Fighters have two fuel tokens.
They have a base fuel (no tanks) and tank fuel.
At any time they can drop fuel tanks to attack at a normal attack. With fuel tanks they attack on a -1 die. (Example. With fuel tanks, instead of attacking on 4, they attack on a 3.)
Heavy Fighters
They attack normal fighters at a -1 die (represents less agility) but attack bombers on a higher die roll.
Intruders
Attack any targets at any time. Can pick to attack fuel reserves, landed aircraft or returning aircraft.
Expanded
AA battalions
Available only to the defender at the moment
They start off in cites with factories. They can be used in conjunction with AA fortifications (They add a die to defending AA.) Alternative they can be used alone, moving at 2 hexes a time. They use one fuel for each 2 turns. They can be attacked by certain aircraft which will be listed later.
-Aircraft included
Key
T- Tank Movement
M- Base Movement
TRG- Targets

-Allied Aircraft List

Fighters
P-40
T
M
TRG All Aircraft

P-39
T
M
TRG All Aircraft

Spitfire
T
M
TRG All Aircraft

Hurricane
T
M
TRG All Aircraft and Ground

Heavy Fighters
P-38
T
M
TRG All Aircraft

Mosquito
T
M
TRG Aircraft and Airbases, Ground Units

Beaufighter
T
M
TRG Aircraft

Bombers
All Defend against aircraft
B-17
M
TRG All Ground

B-24
M
TRG All Ground

B-25
M
TRG All Ground

A-26
M
TRG All Ground, Shipping

Lancaster
M
TRG All Ground

Halifax
M
TRG All Ground

-Luftwaffa
Fighters
Me-109
T
M
TRG All Aircraft

Me-163
M
TRG All Aircraft

Me-262
M
TRG All Aircraft

Fw-190
T
M
*TRG All Aircraft

Heavy Fighters
Me-110
T
M
TRG All Aircraft

Me-210
T
M
TRG All Aircraft

Ar-234
T
M
TRG All Aircraft

Bombers
TBA

Intruders
TBA

AA Battalions
M
TRG All Aircraft

Special Aircraft
Allied
YB-40
The YB40 gunship can be added as a escort for bombers. Doing this makes it so that bombers have fighter die rolls all the way to the target. At the moment there is no way to simulate the 40s short comings (reduced speed due to weapons and ammo) However, the bomber that is converted to this role can no longer bomb.
Unlimited
Targets All Aircraft

B-29
Acts as a normal bomber, but only able to be intercepted by SAMS and certain aircraft. Uses Fuel when Allied Fuel is implimented.
Is limited to 4 aircraft at a time.
Targets Aircraft able to reach it

B17/24 Hybrid
The Hybrid is a B24 with a B17 nose. This allows you to have B17 pilots covnert to the new aircraft easier. Defends and attacks as a B24. Penalty On your reinforcement phase, you lose a B17 and B24 to gain the Hybrid. However, it costs less to upgrade a Existing B17 unit to this aircraft.

German
SAMS
The Germans had experimental SAMS. In this version they became operation before the war ended. The sams attack  one hex around them, but are only mobile at one hex at a time. In addition they use a fuel token to launch. Be wise, as a attack on a SAM before launch can cost you the token as well as the SAM.
Limited to 3 Battalions
Targets Bombers

Tribefugel
Acts as a heavy fighter
Moves has a range of 5. May land anywhere but must be fueled before each use.
Unlimited
Targets All Aircraft

-WIP
The Current list is work in progress
At the moment Im playing with a map of Europe, using 1 inch to determine movements.
Targets are at the moment player determined (Solo play will be implemented with target cards

-Example
For Allies
Allied-Target Berlin Aircraft Factory
German Defense 4 Me-109s and AA
Ignore and draw another card if target is destroyed (Applies to factories only)

For Germans
Allied- Target Berlin
Allied Force 4 B-17s and 2 P-51s
Germans Any available forces to defend.

-Mission Types
Bomber mission
Simple. Bomb target you have selected or told. Targets damaged by missions receive one bomb marker. 4 Markers render target useless. At the moment there is no production loss unless its bombed 4 times.
Intruder missions
The Attacking player selects a target. at the start of the German turn, the allied player informs that a intruder mission will be done. At the start of the allied turn, the intruder mission is launched. (WIP)
Intercept Mission
Missions are launched depending on the situation. Allied missions cards determine the German intercept missions (Solo Allied)
The same goes for solo German play (Allied attack Missions).

-Future Expansions.
Im still incorporating the Luftwaffe game rules into this.
The Idea is to create a free version that you need to incorporate other things into the game. At some point in time I may do Units that will be free to print.
If you like this idea, I recommend you look for Luftwaffe, as it will undoubtedly be better play tested than this.
This work is free to use and distribute freely. At no time may this be sold for profit.
By sp111kg

Recommended Parts
AnA parts
HBG
Pico Armor
Field Marshal Games
Anything in 1/600 scale for fighters.
Any parts you can scavenge.
Hand Drawn chips

If any A&A players have Warcraft III: The Frozen Throne, then go onto Azeroth(USA east) add ghr3 to your friends list.  Message me and I can host this exciting variant!

WW2 in Europe/ Europe at war Questions and suggestions

So after having read the rule book and getting a feel for the game and its mechanics, I’m now ready to play a more serious (solo) game. However, I do still have a fairly large number of questions:

1.) Does attacking artillery also fire in the shore bombardment step? The rules suggest that it does as it states: “artillery that fired in step 2 cannot fire now” or something along those lines (land combat sequence).

Mt 2cts: I suggest renaming “shore bombardment” into “opening fire” when it comes to land combat. I’d also go for giving both sides a choice: Either fire your artillery in the opening fire step and any casualties caused are removed immediately (firing side’s choice on a roll of “1”) or attack/ defend during each round of normal combat along with other units. In this case any casualties caused are always the owning player’s choice.

2.) I still don’t really get that under some units it is stated that on die rolls of “2” they can choose which unit is hit, but then strangely enough it goes on to say that this is always the owning player’s choice. What exactly does the  firing player get to choose then?!

My 2 cts: allow the firing player to choose the target rather than the owning player (and on a 3 or 4 in case of a tactical bomber, for instance, the owning player decides.

3.) Can the Russians attack the lone Polish infantry on their side of the demarcation line in Fall ‘39? The rules say they may move into the areas designated to them, but it doesn’t say anything about attacking.

My 2 cts: Allow it! This is also what happened historically!

4.) Illustration Page 9 advanced rules: Assuming Belgium is being attacked here for the first time and is therefore suffering from the penalties related to “surprise attack”, how can they possibly reinforce Liege from Brussels as the rules state that units suffering from surprise attack may not move, neither in the movement phase nor in the blitzkrieg phase. Or is this done by “British” units (as the Belgians are now represented by British units after having been attacked) using British redeployment points? From the example I certainly don’t get that impression…I assume this is a faulty illustration??

5.) Does the UK collect money from the neutral territories whose forces it represents? I guess not, but just wanted to make sure…

6.) Do neutrals get to build any forces if they are not defeated at the end of a turn?

My 2 cts: I’d allow them to build units up to the value of the territories they still control, as long as they are still in possession of their capital (to be placed in box 1)
7.) Can ships belonging to belligerent nations pass through ports [with ships in them] belonging to neutral powers? (I.e. French and British ships, for example, while not yet at war with Italy could pass through the sea zone containing the port of Tripoli or French ships could trace a convoy through the sea zone containing the port of Barcelona).

My 2 cts: I’d leave it to the nations controlling the port; they can either allow it or deny it. A denial would not be a declaration of war!

8.) Please emphasize in the rules that if the Axis attacks either the USA or the USSR prior to Spring 1942 both can only receive up to 25% of their income. This is a bit vague.

9.) Why do fighters have such a low combat value when it comes to attacking ground units? (and why such a high one while attacking other air units)?

10.) If I understand it correctly the “4” combat value of fighters is only used in air to air combat? (I.e. escorts vs interceptors and when air units ONLY meet in a certain territory? (for instance in order to pin enemy air units there?)

11.) Was an air-to-air combat phase deliberately left out of the land combat sequence? It would make sense to me if attacking and defending aircraft would first engage one another and that any surviving fighters and tactical bombers (from both sides) would then  get to make a(n) (pre-emptive) attack against an enemy ground unit of their choice.

12.) Do naval units exercise sea control while still neutral? (i.e. would Italian naval units and tac bombers  -that are still neutral in 1939- inflict movement penalties on e.g. a British convoy?

My 2 cts: No. Not until they are at war with one another do such penalties apply

13.) While a (major) nation  is neutral, does it receive supply automatically or does a convoy still need to be established to receive supplies from overseas?

14.) Is it possible for naval units of befriended nations to ever share a port together at the end of a turn? (E.g. British ships in a French port; when dropping off transported units the rules state a transport must return to its port of origin, so e.g. a British transport transporting a unit to Brest would have to return to Bristol rather than remaining in Brest, right?)

15.) The text underneath “Minor flag space” differs significantly between the basic and advanced rules. Is this intentional? For example, in the basic rules it says that units located in a minor flag space only suffer the movement penalty in case of a surprise attack, but this is not listed in the advanced rules.

16.) Why does Italy receive money from the start for Tripoli while the UK doesn’t for its African territories? Because the UK is at war and Italy is still neutral?

17.) Are British and French naval units also bound by the rules governing surprise attack in Fall ’39? If so, this seems like the time for the Germans to attack e.g. Scapa flow!! If so, would the port bonus apply regardless?

18.) It took me a long time before I got the air redeployment example. Air units can only land/refuel/rebase on “factory spaces”, right? And not on NRZ’s? I take it they can also refuel on carriers?

19.) Can air units with a movement value ever fly from the US to Britain or is the only way to do this by means of transporting them by ship? (refueling on Iceland still doesn’t give them enough movement points).

20.) The US starts with $20, however its income is $50 (1/4 of 200). Is this correct? Or do they get to spend $20 on their first turn and afterwards $50? If I’m not mistaken neutral countries do not get to actually buy and place units until activated?(But they do get them to advance up the build boxes?)

21.) How is a convoy set up to the Pacific holding box? (simply to the “picture”?)

22.) What happens when a convoy needs to spend more than 10 mp’s? Does this then count against [naval] rp’s? Do rp’s then need to be saved from the redeployment phase?

@BrentStoudtKY said in Setup on ILs eastern front map:

Love the map, wish rules were more extensive.
How many oil tokens does USSR and Germany start with…
Cost to buy additional token.
Oil token each turn or each attack during turn…?
After CA mission can fighters attack or just fly back during non-combat…

This is a really old game. I don’t remember the oil rules. Do you have a link on where you got the rules? HBG?

Yea well that was in 2004. BTW i am still looking for the files. But the order of battle is totally correct as well as the air power ratios.

Just tweek the existing inventory of units and alter as needed.

I try to implement a scale when it comes to Russia and the US.  Russia whenever it takes occupied nations back from the Germans can either add it to her territory and recieve IPs for it or she can liberate it without gaining any IPs.  The more territories she takes for her own the closer she goes to war with the US and Britian.  Eventually aid is suspended and after a while war is declared.  After that my friends and I have many rules about what happens afterward.  Also the scale to which these consequences occur varies, but it works.