Nevington Rules of Engagement
Game Levels
Through a common game system and interlocking maps, war from Europe, North Africa, and the Near East, from the Soviet Union's Ural Mountains to the Rock of Gibraltar in Spain, from the Norwegian Arctic to the Suez Canal, you are in command of the armies, navies, and air forces that fought the battles of World War II. The rules reflect different types of combat scales from National to platoon level during World War Two.
In WW II there is a huge diversity of vehicle and troop types. Reference Data is provided for many of these. The focus is on the general relationships between unit types as well as the minute gun/armor details of every vehicle at every range. In addition there is material for many other factors affecting war such as Terrain and climate, the levels of skill, training and experience of the soldiers, Air support, Defensive positions and so on. These will be covered in the remainder of this book.
In WW II there is a huge diversity of vehicle and troop types. Reference Data is provided for many of these. The focus is on the general relationships between unit types as well as the minute gun/armor details of every vehicle at every range. In addition there is material for many other factors affecting war such as Terrain and climate, the levels of skill, training and experience of the soldiers, Air support, Defensive positions and so on. These will be covered in the remainder of this book.
Skirmish or Duel Level Game
Definition
A game set at the level of modeling the actions of individual persons in the battle. Differs from a Role-Playing game in that there are usually several figures under the control of the players, and the numbers of players are few (typically only two). They also tend to have fewer individual characteristics assigned to each figure in order to reduce bookkeeping.
Command Level
You are an individual soldier in command of a squad or troop, or a single AFV. You may be a single operative.
Time frame = minutes.
Objectives
Fighting at this level is for local objectives (that clump of trees, or the room at the top of the stairs).
Variants
Infantry Skirmish: are those battles where one figure represents one soldier, and one model equals one actual vehicle. This scale is for infantry squads in action, and it also works well for small numbers of armored vehicles.
Armor Skirmish - One model represents one vehicle, but one “infantry” represents a squad or more of infantry. This is an appropriate scale for handling low-level armor engagements.
Individual Scale – One model represents on man or vehicle.
A game set at the level of modeling the actions of individual persons in the battle. Differs from a Role-Playing game in that there are usually several figures under the control of the players, and the numbers of players are few (typically only two). They also tend to have fewer individual characteristics assigned to each figure in order to reduce bookkeeping.
Command Level
You are an individual soldier in command of a squad or troop, or a single AFV. You may be a single operative.
Time frame = minutes.
Objectives
Fighting at this level is for local objectives (that clump of trees, or the room at the top of the stairs).
Variants
Infantry Skirmish: are those battles where one figure represents one soldier, and one model equals one actual vehicle. This scale is for infantry squads in action, and it also works well for small numbers of armored vehicles.
Armor Skirmish - One model represents one vehicle, but one “infantry” represents a squad or more of infantry. This is an appropriate scale for handling low-level armor engagements.
Individual Scale – One model represents on man or vehicle.
Tactical Level Game
Definition
A game set at the tactical level, with the emphasis on the operation of individual units (battalions and companies or less). Most games that cover a single battle are tactical level games.
Command Level
Battalion, Company, Platoons
Time frame = minutes.
Objectives
Variants
Tactical Action = 1 to 24 hours, Fought by Squads, companies or battalions for local objectives ( this hill, that block of the city).
Tactical Engagement = 1 to 5 Days, Fought by Companies to Divisions for tactical missions.
You are a Division or Brigade commander.
The battle is fought using a minimum of several Battalions up to an entire Division on a side.
Once opposing Battalions are within fighting range, combat takes place within a flexible combat area, where local Company and Platoon Commanders are make tactical decisions for you. At this level details have been abstracted to reflect this level of command.
Half-Platoon Scale - One model represents a half-platoon worth of vehicles.
A game set at the tactical level, with the emphasis on the operation of individual units (battalions and companies or less). Most games that cover a single battle are tactical level games.
Command Level
Battalion, Company, Platoons
Time frame = minutes.
Objectives
Variants
Tactical Action = 1 to 24 hours, Fought by Squads, companies or battalions for local objectives ( this hill, that block of the city).
Tactical Engagement = 1 to 5 Days, Fought by Companies to Divisions for tactical missions.
You are a Division or Brigade commander.
The battle is fought using a minimum of several Battalions up to an entire Division on a side.
Once opposing Battalions are within fighting range, combat takes place within a flexible combat area, where local Company and Platoon Commanders are make tactical decisions for you. At this level details have been abstracted to reflect this level of command.
Half-Platoon Scale - One model represents a half-platoon worth of vehicles.
Operational Level Game
Definition
A game designed at the Operational level of war, where the emphasis is on the employment of Corps and Divisions within a single campaign.
movements and battles along an entire front, such as the Russian and German clash along the Eastern Front.
Command Level
Corps to Field Armies.
Time frame
The operational mission battles last Days to Weeks
At this level and above a turn = 15 days
Objectives
Variants
Platoon Scale - One model represents a platoon’s worth of vehicles.
Company Scale - One model represents a company of vehicles.
Battalion Scale - One model stands for a battalion. Significantly large battles may be fought in this scale.
Corps scale
Division scale
Field Army Scale
Army Group Scale
National Scale
A game designed at the Operational level of war, where the emphasis is on the employment of Corps and Divisions within a single campaign.
movements and battles along an entire front, such as the Russian and German clash along the Eastern Front.
Command Level
Corps to Field Armies.
Time frame
The operational mission battles last Days to Weeks
At this level and above a turn = 15 days
Objectives
Variants
Platoon Scale - One model represents a platoon’s worth of vehicles.
Company Scale - One model represents a company of vehicles.
Battalion Scale - One model stands for a battalion. Significantly large battles may be fought in this scale.
Corps scale
Division scale
Field Army Scale
Army Group Scale
National Scale
Strategic Warfare or Campaign Level Game
Definition
A game designed at the Strategic level of war, usually at the national level with the emphasis on the employment of Armies and fleets.
the actions and battles on all fronts within an entire theater,
Command Level, Fought by Field armies to Army Groups for Strategic objectives.
Time frame
Weeks to months
Objectives
Variants
A game designed at the Strategic level of war, usually at the national level with the emphasis on the employment of Armies and fleets.
the actions and battles on all fronts within an entire theater,
Command Level, Fought by Field armies to Army Groups for Strategic objectives.
Time frame
Weeks to months
Objectives
Variants
Grand Strategic Level Game
Definition
This Level covers the war across the globe.
Command Level
Nations Political and Military leaders
Time frame
Months to years
Objectives
Fought by the entire nation’s forces for national goals and may span every corner of the globe.
Variants
This Level covers the war across the globe.
Command Level
Nations Political and Military leaders
Time frame
Months to years
Objectives
Fought by the entire nation’s forces for national goals and may span every corner of the globe.
Variants
Resources
The Miniatures Page World War II Land Rules
The WD Wargames Handbook Wargames Development
Master Europa Rules – Total War Play Test Report
The WD Wargames Handbook Wargames Development
Master Europa Rules – Total War Play Test Report