Ultramodern Wargaming – Ukraine 2024
Recommendations: 13004
About the Project
Lately, I've been running war games every weekend with members of the community via web conference. Players log on and play wargames with each other in real time, regardless of location, and we usually have at least a couple spectators as well. Many times it’s been Darkstar, but we’re also running wargames in Panzer Leader, Arab-Israeli Wars, and now Valor & Victory.
BoW/OTT community members @brucelea, @damon, @davehawes, and @rasmus have taken the plunge, leading battalions across thousands of meters of desert, starfleets in pitched battles across the heavens, or vicious firefights in the jungles of Vietnam, all without leaving the comfort of their home.
Hard-core, old-school command-tactical wargames can now be run (complete with spectators and recordings) in real time, with BOTH PLAYERS moving pieces across THE SAME virtual game board, thus maintaining player agency, speedy and instant results (no play by e-mail), interwoven turn sequences, any questions / feedback instantly received and addressed, and with the game being virtually recorded as it goes, a ready-made battle report can actually be created as we go.
All of this without the players having to install any new software on their computer, on any platform (PC or Mac). All that's needed is to agree on a time, a handful of dice, and a bellyful of courage!
Every weekend can now be a boot camp! All without costing me thousands of dollars in airfare, too!
Related Game: PanzerBlitz
Related Genre: Historical
This Project is Active
Soviet Spetsnaz GRU vs. Mujahadeen - Afghanistan 1985
The Sitrep Podcast returns to its roots for some hard-core modern special operations wargaming, but with a decidedly “red” flavor. That’s right, it’s time for a look at how Uncle Gorbachev’s baddest boys might’ve tackled a typical day at the office in the war-torn highlands of Afghanistan.
In particular, we’re looking at 411th Independent Special Operations Detachment (22nd Special Service Brigade GRU, 40th Combined Arms Army), historically tasked with interdicting mujahedeen supply convoys coming across from Pakistan.
Will they intercept the latest shipment of rebel arms?
Will their evac arrive before they’re overrun by the mujahedeen?
Will they run across any CIA operators who of course were “never there?”
Tune in and find out!
Sunday June 13 – 7PM UK, 2PM East US
Here is the map for today's game. Yes, the terrain is a little rough. This is where 411th Spetsnaz Detachment / 22nd Special Service Brigade GRU will be trying to seal off arms and supply routes to the mujahadeen across the border from Pakistan.
Spetsnaz is ready to go, with AK-74s, Dragunov SVDs, RPGs, GP-25 grenade launchers, and PKM medium machine guns. Of course we have the "afghantzy" style bush hat and the distinctive Spetsnaz camouflage.
Mi-8 Hip transport birds to give the Spetsnaz operators a ride to the target.
That's a lot of mujj ... and yes, a CIA "advisor" is with them.
Overview area map showing the approximate location of today's op, near the border town of Asadabad in the Kunar Province.
Zooming in, we get specific about the narrow mountain passes where mujahadeen are trying to get weapons across the border. 82nd Airborne at Ste. Mere-Eglise (D-Day Anniversary Special)
Join us for a special D-Day anniversary of the Sitrep Podcast’s Sunday Wargaming. In this episode, we’ll be using the Valor & Victory WW2 squad-based infantry combat system to recreate part of the parachute drop of 3rd Battalion, 505th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 82nd Airborne Division, early in the morning of 6 June 1944.
Can the paratroopers use their elite status, surprise, and superior training to overcome badly-scattered drops, the confusion of darkness, and heavier German firepower (Kompanie 14., Infanterie Regiment 1058, 91st Infanterie Division)? Tune in and find out!
7PM UK, 2PM East US
Night in France, just west of Ste. Mere-Eglise . . . Note some of the hexes have tiny cows in them. Just for fun.
Forces for the two sides. I have George and Hotel Companies, 3rd Bn / 505th Parachute Infantry Regiment (with their historical commanders) and 14. Kompanie, infanterie Regiment 1058, 91st Division. Note the small counter for 101st Airborne team at the bottom. Historically this nightwas sheer chaos, you never know who might show up!
The immediate environs around today's game, the green rectangle shows the specific area covered by the board to scale (roughly half a kilometer across).
"The Great Crusade" - The overall disposition of forces, D-Day - 6 June 1944. "Irina" - 20mm BMP Completed
Gentlemen, meet “Irina.” While not exactly the youngest girl at the ball, she’s got the classic lines and retro charm that makes her one of the most prolific armored fighting vehicles in the history of warfare. She’s not an expensive date, and will always get you and your squad where you need to go. She enjoys life on the wild side in Georgia, getting into mischief in Bosnia, or “not being involved” against the UAF in Donetsk.
On a more serious note, this is the completed 20mm BMP-1 originally sent to me by @madman1960 (thanks again!). Added chipping, mud splatter, and some stowage. The large bag on the back of the turret is scratch made with kneaded eraser. Other pieces are out of my bits box. Antenna is a dust broom bristle. Ditching log is a semi-snapped wooden dowel.
As mentioned previously, I’m keeping the markings generic so I can use the model on a variety of Eastern European trouble spot tables. “Irina” is free-handed on the turret in Russian, the commander’s wife or girlfriend, perhaps. I won’t lie, I wish the turret would sit a little more easily on the hull, but I certainly won’t complain. A great kit, sure to get a lot of use.
Community Game Video Replay
Here is the game video (replay from live stream) between myself and @cbrenner. Might be a fun thing to have on in the background while building or painting, as long as you don’t my butchery of German too much. “Panzeraufsklärungs Abteilung” – say that correctly live on camera on the first try.
We wanted to focus on American forces for Memorial Day weekend, and also had an opportunity for a May 3o anniversary.
And did I mention StuGs? Yes, we have historically-verified StuG-IIIGs. 😀
US Armor at Anzio 1944 - Memorial Day Special (Panzer Leader Community Wargame)
Join us for a special Memorial Day edition of the Sitrep Podcast’s Sunday Wargaming.
In this episode, I’ll be joined by community member Chip as we take a look as 1st US Armored Division’s part in the Anzio Breakout, starting on 29 May 1944 (making this an anniversary game as well).
After months of brutal combat, this was the beginning of the final drive that would lead to the capture of Rome, first of the Axis capitals to fall to the Allies in World War II.
All set for today's game - Here is the map, about half the usual size (14 hexes x 24 hexes, or only 336 instead of the usual 660). Part of 1st US Armored Division's breakout from the Anzio Beachhead (stage two, May 30, 1944)
German forces. Again, we're keeping this Panzer Leader scenario nice and small. Call it "Panzer Petite." :D Note PzBn 103 is made up entirely of StuGs. This lines up with the historical record. 
Leading elements of Combat Command "A" , 1st US Armored Division. Plenty of P-47 "Jug" Thunderbolts in support. These are the aircraft most often used in tactical ground support, despite the P-51 porn we see in Saving Private Ryan.Painting Stream: 20mm BMP-1
Here’s the BMP-1 featured in an earlier video so far.
Definitely miles to go on this one, starting with a pin wash and some dry brushing, maybe some chipping, followed by some smaller details afterwards.
I’m not going to put too many markings on this, I want to keep it “army agnostic” so I can use it in several 1991-2015 Eastern European conflicts.
Here's where we are at the moment. Getting closer! :DValor & Victory Modern Expansion Demo Game – Vietnam Helo Assault
In this stream we will be taking a look at the new Modern Expansion rules published for the Valor & Victory squad infantry wargame system originally published by Barry Doyle (modern expansion by James Johnson).
We’ll be throwing in at least a taste of many of the new rules, including booby traps, helicopters, enhanced options for air strikes, civilians, medics and CASEVAC, POWs, new ground vehicles, and a beginning look at hidden insurgent movement and basic AI system.
5PM UK Time, 12 Noon US East Time
Cover Sheet to the new release pdf, available on Boardgame Geek or Sitrep Discord.
The map for tomorrow's game, a village in the Central Highlands, III Corps TCZ Sector.
Some of the units and game function counters in tomorrow's game.
As part of set up, the Americans have entered the board and alredy there is going to be some heavy action here at "LZ X-Ray." Note the leader, named for characters in the file "Platoon."
Here in the south, Hueys h ave dropped rifle squads in these rice paddies, hopefully under the cover of the UH-1H gunship. 
This will be a solitaire demo game, and I'm trying some "AI" mechanic and hidden movement for the PAVN / NLF force. Cards will be drawn from a select deck, with the card indicated the forces that appear (when spotted, encountered, or when they fire).. 
I'll be experimenting with a VERY RUDIMENTARY AI mechanic to help govern larger units in the PAVN / NLF force. Also shown are the American support assets, includiog submunition artillery, Snake-Eye bombs from air strikes, and napalm. Time for some "Snake n' Nape!"BMP-1 WIP so far
Here’s the BMP-1 featured in an earlier video so far.
Definitely miles to go on this one, starting with a pin wash and some dry brushing, maybe some chipping, followed by some smaller details afterwards.
I’m not going to put too many markings on this, I want to keep it “army agnostic” so I can use it in several 1991-2015 Eastern European conflicts.
Yes, this is a little garish, bright, and high-saturation at the moment. This is intentional, I'm anticipating the wash and drybrushing will tone this down a little. :)
