|
|
Post by thegreyelf on Apr 13, 2020 12:36:38 GMT -6
Just scored on eBay. Got a first print Guidon Games woodgrain Tractics set, AND a copy of Fast Rules, both in outstanding condition. I probably paid a bit much--$250 for Tractics and $65 for Fast Rules. But I've been wanting to get my hands on a copy of these for like 20 years. Can't wait to dig in!
|
|
|
|
Post by Finarvyn on Apr 13, 2020 15:06:55 GMT -6
Nice find!  I haven't found a lot of use for either (I have the TSR Tractics, not the Guidon one) but then I haven't thought much about tank warfare for a long time. |
|
|
|
Post by thegreyelf on Apr 13, 2020 15:30:00 GMT -6
Yeah, to be honest, it's just the collector's, academic, and curosity value for me more than anything. But we'll see; maybe I'll end up buying a shedload of army guys and having some fun.
|
|
|
|
Post by Finarvyn on Apr 13, 2020 19:15:20 GMT -6
Too bad we don't live closer together. None of my RPG friends are into wargames and miniatures, and it would be fun to give that kind of thing a try. Well, if it weren't for Social Distancing, that is.  |
|
|
|
Post by thegreyelf on Apr 14, 2020 5:34:42 GMT -6
Yeah, I'm about done with "social distancing," but that's neither here nor there.
|
|
|
|
Post by dizzysaxophone on Apr 15, 2020 13:43:07 GMT -6
Thank you for grabbing this. I've had my eye on it for a week or 2,and was very tempted. I hope you enjoy it
|
|
|
|
Post by thegreyelf on Apr 16, 2020 5:11:44 GMT -6
Thank you for grabbing this. I've had my eye on it for a week or 2,and was very tempted. I hope you enjoy it Yeah, it comes up SO rarely, and at an affordable price like that? I couldn't resist. I try not to whip out the credit card these days, but it came out for this. |
|
|
|
Post by thegreyelf on Apr 16, 2020 11:54:37 GMT -6
WOOT! It arrived today! I'll post pictures when I get a chance...or at least links to pictures, since I seem to have issues posting ACTUAL photos these days for some reason.
Man, Tractics is robust. The handouts alone made my head spin. Between Arduin, Stellar Wars, and this, I have a lot to digest here.
|
|
|
|
Post by thegreyelf on Apr 16, 2020 12:12:39 GMT -6
Nice find! I haven't found a lot of use for either (I have the TSR Tractics, not the Guidon one) but then I haven't thought much about tank warfare for a long time. Turns out my Tractics is a woodgrain TSR, not a woodgrain Guidon. |
|
|
|
Post by thegreyelf on Apr 19, 2020 10:07:57 GMT -6
Okay, I have a couple "scale" questions for those who are far more adept at military miniatures than I.
1. Fast Rules states it is designed for HO Scale military miniatures. What would that equate to in mm scale? 10mm? 25mm? 30mm?
2. Tractics recommends a scale of 1:1000. What does that translate to in mm size? If I'm not mistaken, that comes out to figures that are like 2mm tall, which seems ridiculous.
3. I really want to play some battles out solo to get the feel for these rules but I don't want to spend thousands on miniatures. I'm wondering if I could just use your basic dollar store plastic army men to do it. What's the scale on those?
Thanks for your insights!
|
|
bravewolf
Level 4 Theurgist
I don't care what Howard says.
Posts: 109 
|
Post by bravewolf on Apr 19, 2020 13:45:00 GMT -6
Okay, I have a couple "scale" questions for those who are far more adept at military miniatures than I. 1. Fast Rules states it is designed for HO Scale military miniatures. What would that equate to in mm scale? 10mm? 25mm? 30mm? 2. Tractics recommends a scale of 1:1000. What does that translate to in mm size? If I'm not mistaken, that comes out to figures that are like 2mm tall, which seems ridiculous. 3. I really want to play some battles out solo to get the feel for these rules but I don't want to spend thousands on miniatures. I'm wondering if I could just use your basic dollar store plastic army men to do it. What's the scale on those? Thanks for your insights! I think HO is 1/76, which works for 1/72. Think 1 inch figure is 72 inches tall. It's 25 mm, I think. 1:1000 is the ground scale, perhaps? WRG and many other wargames use a different figure scale compared to ground scale. Army men are maybe 45/50 mm? |
|
|
|
Post by thegreyelf on Apr 19, 2020 15:10:01 GMT -6
Thanks! A buddy of mine who is a hardcore wargamer just gave me this link: theminiaturespage.com/ref/scales.htmlVery helpful across the board. The specific statement in Tractics is: "The scale used is generally one meter equals one kilometer, or 1:1000 However, the scale of the equipment used does not have to conform, all measurements are given in inches, and the range of certain small arms has been extended beyond game scale in the interest of playability." It just strikes me that for the purpose of trying to learn this game, it's going to be a hell of a lot cheaper to secure a few hundred little green army men than to pay the hundreds of dollars I'd likely have to drop on a few squads of actual minis. I just want to be sure the scale will work. |
|
|
|
Post by Finarvyn on Apr 19, 2020 17:30:08 GMT -6
"Badges? We don't need no steenkin' badges!" My vote would be to not worry about the scale and just jump in with whatever cheapo army dudes you can find. If you really get "into" the game you can start thinking about getting everything to scale and whatnot. |
|
|
|
Post by Piper on Apr 19, 2020 17:51:50 GMT -6
"Badges? We don't need no stinking badges!" man ... get it correct! LOL! |
|
|
|
Post by thegreyelf on Apr 20, 2020 16:09:04 GMT -6
"Badges? We don't need no stinking badges!" My vote would be to not worry about the scale and just jump in with whatever cheapo army dudes you can find. If you really get "into" the game you can start thinking about getting everything to scale and whatnot. Good point. The literal 30 reference sheets predict I probably won't really get into it |
|
|
|
Post by Finarvyn on Apr 21, 2020 11:13:36 GMT -6
The literal 30 reference sheets predict I probably won't really get into it. I get that. I bought TRACTICS back in the 1970's I think, then sat on it for a decade or so, then gave it to a friend who is really into WWII stuff (the same guy who introduced me to OD&D, actually), then decades passed, then I asked him about 5 years ago if he still wanted it and he didn't so he gave it back, then I never did a thing with it. So I've had the thing in my possession off-and-on for something like 15 years and never really tried to play. I don't know enough about weapon caliber and the like, and the minutia of the game seemed too detailed for me. I had always hoped that TRACTICS would have given me some insight as to the design of OD&D but never found such insight. That's why I said it's too bad we don't live in the same city. Together there is an off chance that we might push each other to give it a shot. Alone, I clearly lacked the motivation.  |
|
|
|
Post by derv on Apr 22, 2020 17:17:57 GMT -6
"Badges? We don't need no stinking badges!" My vote would be to not worry about the scale and just jump in with whatever cheapo army dudes you can find. If you really get "into" the game you can start thinking about getting everything to scale and whatnot. Good point. The literal 30 reference sheets predict I probably won't really get into it I recently picked up Guidon's Fast Rules off of BoardGameGeek for $15. It cost me another $10 for shipping. I was very pleased with it's condition. My suggestion would be to start with the Fast Rules. They are a simplified rule set- observation is vastly distilled, 2d6 roll to hit & roll to destroy. Morale is also a simplified form of what's in Tractics. The thing about Tractics is that it is meant to be played with a judge. But it can certainly be set up to be played solo in order to familiarize yourself with the rules. If you want to tackle Tractics follow their suggestions and start small. Begin with a few armored vehicles using Direct Fire Mode only before moving on to the Infantry rules and Indirect Fire rules. Familiarize yourself with Book 1, follow the turn sequence, and try a short game. If you start with a game using, let's say, a couple Panzer IV's vs. Sherman M4's (both use the 75/L40 gun and APCBC rounds), the only Pull Out's you'll need is #1, 3, 4c, 5, 6b & e, 8, 9, 10, 11, 14a & b. Some of these you'll only need to reference once to jot down the info. 14a & b are morale tables, which isn't as big of a factor until you introduce infantry. I'd just consider my units "veterans" for this. Provide yourself with plenty of terrain for cover and give it a go. Since I play some Flames of War, that's the figures I'd use. These are basically 15mm. A very manageable size. Another popular war game is Bolt Action and it uses 28 mm figures. I think either of these would be a good option. HO was a railroad scale- figures are about 20 mm. 1/72 plastic army men are about 24 mm. So, they could work just as well. |
|
|
|
Post by thegreyelf on Apr 23, 2020 7:01:46 GMT -6
Good tips. Thanks, derv!
|
|
skars
Level 6 Magician
Posts: 407
|
Post by skars on May 11, 2020 11:54:47 GMT -6
Okay, I have a couple "scale" questions for those who are far more adept at military miniatures than I. 1. Fast Rules states it is designed for HO Scale military miniatures. What would that equate to in mm scale? 10mm? 25mm? 30mm? 2. Tractics recommends a scale of 1:1000. What does that translate to in mm size? If I'm not mistaken, that comes out to figures that are like 2mm tall, which seems ridiculous. 3. I really want to play some battles out solo to get the feel for these rules but I don't want to spend thousands on miniatures. I'm wondering if I could just use your basic dollar store plastic army men to do it. What's the scale on those? Thanks for your insights! I think HO is 1/76, which works for 1/72. Think 1 inch figure is 72 inches tall. It's 25 mm, I think. 1:1000 is the ground scale, perhaps? WRG and many other wargames use a different figure scale compared to ground scale. Army men are maybe 45/50 mm? It's closer to 20mm scale. You will see even classic grenadier and heritage will even look big to them. Is this fast play by Newbury rules |
|
