2020, It 'Twas The Best of Times...Nah, Who Are We Kidding, It Stunk?

 So, I know I've not been as active of late on the blog, and I am hoping 2021 will be better. Partly, I have a paying gig with these nice folks: https://sjrresearch.tumblr.com/.

 It has been busy and I am very proud of the work I've done there. But, it has cut into the time I can give "500 Miles..." That said, I fully intend to put myself on a monthly article schedule and stick to it. I owe my loyal readers that much.

 I also have a lot of Russian Civil War on my mind lately, as I am painting 15mm to do games set during that conflict. 

 As for T2K items, it's been mostly quiet, with the exception of the release of the 4th Edition Alpha to Kickstarter supporters. I will say this much...I wish I could say I was impressed. I wasn't. Sadly, I feel Free League made a very good looking product, that when you scratch the surface, had a lot of problems. Problems that by the time the Alpha rolls around, should at least be addressed, let alone dealt with. 

 I invited Tomas from FL to do another interview to address these questions. He didn't even respond to my request. I am going to repeat that request. But, as of right now, I am going to say this about the 4th Edition. And I say this as a kickstarter backer. Please don't do what Cyberpunk 2077 did and rush this? Take the time and do it right. I am willing to wait. Keep me informed, and keep us in the loop. Want to see a delayed kickstarter done right? Talk to the guys at Catalyst Games Labs. Their Battletech Kickstarters ran into delays, they ran into numerous issues, and they and the fans persevered and in the end, they produced a top-notch product. Free League needs to take that stance.

 Enough said about that. Meanwhile, Mr. James Langham of the "Cold War Goes Hot" vlog on Youtube is coming out with a set of mass battle rules for Twilight: 2000. I suspect they might be based on his current 15mm efforts with "Seven Days to the Rhine" by Great Escape Games. I have a copy of those rules, but something about them doesn't float my personal boat. Not real sure as to why? Too simple I guess? I like my rules with a little crunch in them. Guess it's why I am painting like mad and thinking hard about variants for BG:Northag and FFT3? But who knows, I might be pleasantly surprised? 

I promise I will be posting some more FFT content soon, perhaps some nations OTHER than Poland? 

Other than that, I wish everyone a happy 2021, and we'll talk more very soon! TTFN!

Battlegroup Twilight: 2000, Comments and Ideas

Hi Guys,
 Another short post this time around. I wanted to ask everyone out there a small favor. I have the Unofficial BG Cold War American list for Twilight: 2000., and I wanted comments on it. It's not ready for play just yet IMO, heck, I don't even have some Soviets to pit against it! But, it's 90-95% done IMO, and I need some supplemental rules to go with it.

 That said, I'd also like comments on that, as I do believe one will need chits for Twilight: 2000, to get the special milleu down. Heck, I think "Endkampf" from Fall of the Reich would work very well here.

Just so we're all on the same page!

  So, I wanted to ask the following questions?

1. Does this fit the milleu?
2. Is this doable in Battleground?
3. What other changes to Battleground do you think need to be made?

I look forward to hearing from you all. Here is the link to the draft list. Please make all comments care of the website email at: 500milest2k@gmail.com.

Just want to set one thing straight fellas, the the BattleGroup Cold War effort isn't NORTHAG. NORTHAG is something different Iron Fist and PSC are working on. I am working to put something out as a fan project for a fan project. That's all. 

Thanks in advance.

Battlegroup - Cold War, and how to write some Twilight: 2000 army lists? And, some news from Ehliem Miniatures!

Hey all, sorry I have not written in a while, and this isn't going to be yet another review piece. Right now, I want to talk about converting rules to the Twilight: 2000 milleu and well, how difficult it can be sometimes, especially when you're writing a unofficial supplement to an unofficial supplement!

So, Battlegroup Cold War is the product of Richard Chambers, the fellow who runs the Cold War Hot, Hot, Hot blog. He's basing his fan supplement off of the Battlegroup: World War II rules, written by Warick Kinrade and Piers Brand, which I am a huge fan of (some would say fanatical). I am also as we all know by this blog, a huge fan of things Twilight: 2000. So, like cookies and cream ice cream, I do want to combine the two, right?

Well, it's not as easy as it sounds. For starters, a lot of the "units" in Twilight: 2000 are smaller cores of once proud divisions and brigades that have been shattered by unceasing combat, as well as the breakdown of the logistics network. They're often a collection of survivors who would have, under better circumstances, been pulled off the line and given a bit of rest. Not so here. Then you have all the other armed groups, some that made Twilight: 2000 pretty memorable indeed, such as the Black Baron's Army, or the ORMO of Krakow? I mean, I still would love to do the culminating battle of the Ruins of Warsaw module on the table top?

But one of the main features of Battlegroup is the army list. Not a bad thing. To me, Battlegroup does army lists right. No min-maxing, stress on the historicals and going for a "feel" of a given army. So far, so good. But how does one do a "feel" for an army for a war, that thank god, never happened?

It's not easy, but I am attempting it. Let's talk about the American list. It's the first list I am working on, and it's becoming I think, the "rosetta stone" for the other lists I intend to work on.

First, I made most of the troop types more experienced, why? Simple. If you've managed to live this long in Twilight: 2000, you probably at least know which end of the rifle goes bang, and how to use it to stay alive. Sure, there's all kinds of levees en masse, but survival in this milleu is a hard school, and one had better be smart about it. So thus, better experience levels.

Second, I reduced numbers. There's now a generic infantry platoon, and it's running around in trucks, with restricted upgrades for more advanced ironmongery. Lots of the cool gear is restricted, or in some cases, unique. It's only going to get worse for the "other armed groups". Point totals have also been increased to make the armies smaller, which also fits in with the milleu, and I am making heavy use of the "War Weary" rule, which makes the likelihood of anybody wanting to be a hero much smaller. As for artillery, well, Mortars are about the only common means of fire support, which also fits in with the milleu.

Third, I am toying with some ideas like allowing stills to refuel units that have run out of gas. "Still Trucks" anyone? I have some American horse cav in the recon section (Hey thanks Ehliem Miniatures for that one!) and I intend to really go nuts with it in the Soviet and Polish lists. Hey, they have whole cavalry divisions!!

The list isn't ready yet, and there's still some special rules I want to play with before I send it to Richard for his looksee, but I want to let people know, yep, I am writing this thing, and yeah, I am having fun with it.

*************************************

Now, the news. Ehliem Miniatures conducted a survey on Facebook about a month ago, and the winners were Post-Apocalyptic figures and WWII Hungarians (I voted for both of em). I've submitted some ideas, and the first stuff has come out, and while it's more Mad Max than Twilight: 2000, it's got some ideas for arming all sorts of stuff, like Polish River Tugs maybe?

Here's Matt Hingley in his own words:

A quick message to tell you lots of new releases now available (see the All New section) including Strykers, USMC, Sci Fi, Gasland modifications parts.

Last month on Facebook we asked you (well, those on FB anyway) for ideas for our next range. The top 10 requests were then voted on and Gaslands/Mad Max/Post Apoc won, followed by WW2 Hungarians. Both of these projects are underway now with Phase one of the Post Apoc ranges now up. Next on the list are the first of the PA factions in miniatures.

Some of the pictures have got some really useful stuff!

Both pictures taken from Ehliem Miniatures website

I like em, really well casted for the most part, usual high level of detail we expect from Matt. Yep, I will pick some of these up when I can, I've got some plastic Battlefield Evolution trucks that need machine guns.....

Well, that's it for now. More is coming from Jorge, as he is busy building up a storm down in Florida, and we will see what he can write up for us!

The Games Tavern, Chronicle of a Visit...and it's POST # 75!!!

Hello all, welcome to another thrilling installment of "500 Miles.." I wanted to get into letting you all know that I recently visited a new game store in the Washington DC area, a store I've mentioned previously in this blog. We here at "500 Miles..." want to support our local FLGS, and we encourage our readers to do so as well! 

So, how is it? Games Tavern has some real promise folks. It's only been open two weeks, and I did like what I saw. The paint selection was well, impressive, to say the least...AK, MiG, Vallejo. The first two you really cannot get anywhere else in the area, and the third, well, how many stores do you know that carry the ENTIRE Vallejo Panzer Aces line?

What I also liked is that they have room for expansion. During discussions with John, the shop owner, he told me they will be carrying a selection of 20mm from Covert Intervention Games, as well as Fantasy Flight Games and a variety of other lines to be named. In short, they have a plan, and they are executing it. 

A Nice View of the Gaming tables

The store in total is 2500 square feet, and has even private gaming rooms of what looked to be ample size to rent (I didn't get details on rates for that). I was rather impressed by the amount of natural light to be had in the place, in addition to the other lights. A well lit hobby shop is a good thing. I've been in too many where "Dark Dungeon" wasn't just a name, it was a description of the lighting conditions. Kudos to the Game Tavern for this alone. It was clean, the employees were engaged and customer oriented. There were Flames of War demos set up for people to try. And the entire FRONT of the store was tables for people to play at or paint at. Yes folks, this store has a good plan, a plan I cannot wait to see where it goes.

They have quite the internet presence on Facebook, and they are advertising events all the time, as well as a website which can be found at: www.thegamestavern.com. 

In short, pay Games Tavern a visit. I give them 4 out of 5 Mushroom clouds, and we'll be back in the near future to see where it goes from here.

I also want to let folks know, the Iran-Iraq war books are being read and digested, and an interview is coming. They're a bit harder of a read than anticipated, and to be honest, for reasons I wish they were not. I also will have that review of PSC's T-55s in 20mm. My capsule statement: They're good, but there are some niggling concerns I have with them, but we'll address that in the near future. I also promise more Twilight:2000 focused content soon, as I intend to do a review soon on the Cold War Battlegroup effort on the Cold War Hot Hot Hot Blog. Short word? I like it enough that I am working on a Twilight: 2000 variant for a variant, eh?

There is one other thing I wanted to mention! This is the 75th blog post here at "500 Miles..." That's right, 75 posts, 40,000+ visits, and 46 of you are following this little blog of mine. I hope you're enjoying what you are reading. I really am happy that you, the reader continue to enjoy what is posted here, and as long as you keep reading, I will keep writing.

Yay, we hit 75!!!

UPDATE: I have been remiss, dear readers, in that I forgot to mention a new Cold War-era wargaming focused blog. The Red Storm Rising blog is fairly new and looking for contributors, so far, I rather like what I see, and I would love for folks to post more.

Module Suitability Review: Korean Sourcebook

Taken from DriveThru RPG

Hey all, been a long time since we did one of these, eh?

Well, this has been long threatened for Twilight: 2000, long demanded, cajoled, and pleaded for, and now, it's finally here. A canon sourcebook for the Land of the Midnight Calm. And, like the last time, it seems this 2nd Korean War has settled into a stalemate again, this time, both combatants are at the ends of long, shattered supply chains, fighting in a nuked, blasted landscape, and they are surrounded by a population that really wishes they'd leave. (Pretty much sounds like a lot of Twilight: 2000).  

So what do you get? For starters? I must say, Raellus did a good job. For a $2.99 PDF download, you do get a lot for your money. A very good description of events in Korea, a whole chapter on Korean Culture (a very useful thing for non-Korean GMs and players!) It has a lot of information on all the players in North and South Korea in 2000, important NPCs, character generation rules, as well as campaign ideas and missions and equipment unique to the Korean peninsula.

What I really like about this module is how it plays off the split between the Soviets and their North Korean "allies" (who are basically allies in at most, name only, really.) and the Milgov/Civgov - esque split in South Korea (which makes a lot of sense considering South Korea's history of Military/Civilian relations in the past). Rae also manages to throw a bit of horror elements into it for those so inclined. 

While the book has some editing issues, it's a solid book overall, I had a lot of flashbacks to the format and writing style of RDF Sourcebook, which as a model, you could not ask for a better template if you ask me. 

Now of course, you ask, what is the miniature gaming scenario potential for this book? Well, as it turns out, a lot, so let's get cracking, eh?

Skirmish Games

Like it's spiritual ancestor, the RDF Sourcebook, the Korean Sourcebook doesn't have any specific ideas for skirmish gamers, but the Mission Generator has some really good skirmish game fodder, as well as the rules for North Korean tunnels (Yes, that alone would make a great table setup and a very unique idea, a post-apocalyptic dungeon crawl! Always a hit!)

But here's some other ideas:

• A small American outpost on the frontline, and it's adventures could be resolved as a skirmish campaign, you could use a mix of rules from the module, and either Force on Force or No End in Sight's campaign systems would shine here, no matter what rules you use. Using Platoon Forward from Too Fat Lardies would be an excellent idea to flesh out the personalities of the American garrison. 
• A race to recover a nuclear weapon that failed to detonate from the remains of Seoul. You could have a three sided race, the US/South Koreans, the North Koreans, and the Soviets all racing to get the warhead before the other side does. And then there are complications with the nuke itself. Black Ops would be a great set of rules for this and a devious referee could make this a very exciting bit of gaming meets an RPG adventure.
• Another great idea is a raid on the remains of the North Korean bioweapons program by either side, neither of whom is going to be really enthused about the Kim family unleashing whatever variety of nasty their scientists have been cooking up on what is left of the world. This would also make great Black Ops fodder.
• Gaming out the initial raids by North Korean commandos and sleeper cells on a South Korean installation (any number of ideas here can be mined), versus a collection of South Korean cops, reservists, and other internal security forces). If the North Korean player can escape with any of his people, you can then game out the hunt for the surviving commandos as a mini campaign for Black Ops?
• A clash between an American/ROK supply convoy and North Korean partisans. Rules for this would be Force on Force.

Larger Games

In terms of larger game fodder, like RDF Sourcebook, you really have to mine that from the chronology, as organized military operations do tend to break down after about 1998. But, it seems you can get some really interesting stuff out of it, some of the more interesting ideas to me are:

• The initial attack on the DMZ, you could do a collection of company sized US or ROK outposts along the "Z" hit by a couple battalions of North Korean light infantry, with a bit of armor, and more than enough artillery (which isn't going to hit much outside it's pre-planned targets, but the pre-planned ones should be hyper accurate), and with some pre positioned North Korean sappers already to the rear of the US/ROK positions). The North Koreans have to overrun all of the positions to win, the US/ROK has to just hold one to win. Rules for this in my opinion would be the Cold War Battlegroup rules put out by the Cold War Hot Hot Hot blog, as authored by Richard Chambers, as the game is kinda too big for a skirmish game, and too small for a 1:5 game like Fistful of TOWs or Command Decision.
• The fight for Munsan in the early days of the North Korean invasion, it's a desperate rear guard action between dug in South Korean defenders buying time for the ROK/US forces to set up a defense further south, and a North Korean mechanized army trying to push down the traditional invasion corridor. Couple this with a heavy chem environment in an urban area, and you have quite the game for Fistful of TOWs.
• The summer 1997 amphibious landing near Kimpo by US 4th Marine Division and ROK 6th Marine Brigade. This landing and the subsequent breakout has the makings of a pretty decent Fistful of TOWs or Command Decision campaign.
• The retreat of US 8th Army from the Yalu in 1997 as the Soviet Yalu Front enters the war in late summer of 1997. Fistful of TOWs works well here, as you might be using a nuke or two to simulate the heavy use of Soviet tactical nuclear weapons here.
• The "Last Soviet Offensive of the War in Korea" in July of 1998, this could make a decent Fistful of TOWs or Command Decision game, as you have a depleted Soviet MRD with support from a Air Assault Brigade (both short on fuel) attacking towards the Gimwha Valley in an effort to seize the farmland to feed the Soviet army trapped in North Korea, as well as the US/ROK counterattack. This also might work as a campaign for Fistful of TOWs or Command Decision.

Well, that is it for now. We have a bit coming down the pike, a review and build of PSC's recently released T-55 kit for 20mm, a review and writeup of the Unofficial Cold War variant for Battlegroup, and those Iran-Iraq books I have been promising a review of. I will get to them, also, my roleplaying group and I want to try an actual Twilight: 2000 themed miniatures game in the very near future, so I am excited about that, and I will be working on that soon, so lots to come.

Hell By Daylight is Back, and tons of movement on the "Cold War Battlegroup" front.

  Remember when I mentioned a little rules set called Hell By Daylight? I also mentioned that a copy of them was extremely difficult to get one's hands on. Well, god bless Jim Webster. He's reprinting it in a 4 part series in Miniature Wargames Magazine.  Part 1 has come out in the current issue, 418.

Picture taken from Miniature Wargames Magazine website

Now, I will caveat the rules with this. For a small set of figures on either side (like an encounter in Twilight: 2000?), these rules are perfect. They aren't really for larger platoon sized games, like Force on Force, or No End in Sight. (To confess, the mechanics are a bit dated, by modern standards, but I think they hold up well, personally). They have good solid rules for reaction under fire, and they make such reactions unpredictable, to say the least. These were my go-to rules in my high school years, and they were great for those small encounters one finds in every war.

I am very excited about this, and am looking forward to my next three issues to arrive in my email inbox.

In other news, I know I have been going on about Battlegroup NORTHAG, and it's being worked on, I can assure you of this. But in the meanwhile, the Cold War: Hot, Hot, Hot blog has released their own unofficial Battlegroup Cold War rules. Now, that said, we're hoping we can convince Leigh to work on a Twilight: 2000 variant for the rules. Another Battlegroup variant for Cold War era stuff is Battlegroup Fulda. I have yet to try either rules set, but I am eager to do so. I will let you know how it goes, and if I can get any breaks from my busy writing schedule, perhaps I will gin up something for Twilight: 2000 myself.

As for other news, rumor is a Korean Sourcebook for Twilight: 2000 might be coming out on Drivethru RPG soon as well. At least, that's what my own RUMINT tells me. I don't know the veracity of such rumors, but they are coming from reliable sources, so I will keep you posted.

Work on my own Charters of Freedom continues apace, and I am also looking at some other projects that will hopefully, be mostly off of my desk in the new year, but as someone who knows the industry can tell you, deadlines can be a bit flexible.

On the modelling front, I found this small company, called Boundless Brooklyn, that does of all things, NYC watertowers that to me, would look good on a wargaming table with a bit of paint and weathering. It comes with everything you need to put it together for $10. It looks great for a potential Armies of the Night - themed game.

Image taken of completed model. Looks pretty good, huh?

My wife also got me some terrain stuff from Ironclad Miniatures for Christmas, and it arrived a bit late. She got me some hedgerow kits for WW-II France, which look great, and a couple of field defenses and a ruins pack. Now the latter items are great, they are well sculpted, the items arrived without cracks or bubbles visible in the surfaces that are to be painted. In short, I am very pleased with the products I got here.

Here are all the products laid out in their glory. Everything looks awesome.

So, lots to report, and more is to come, but I wanted to post all this so you didn't think I was just neglecting this blog. Nope, no chance of that! You keep reading, and I will keep writing.

Lots and Lots of News

See, getting away from the small post format...and the news is just too damn big for a measly short post.

Ok, for starters, the review of Boomer, will be a bit delayed. I am working on a manuscript for something that I will reveal much, much later. For now, it's hush hush all around.

But the big news?

Battlegroup NORTHAG is in development! We don't have too much more other than a mockup of the cover (which I hope remains the final version, as it is too badarse not to use!)

Taken from Ironfist Publishing's Facebook Site

For those living under a rock, Battlegroup is a set of tactical to operational rules for WWII that is wildly popular! And they are making the splash into Cold War Gone Hot. I have the rules and they are the joint subject along with Bolt Action for my other blog, Festungplatz. There has been quite a few modern fan supplements for some time, but to have something official is nice. And when it hits, I promise "500 Miles..." fans that I will immediately begin work on a T2K mod!

Yes, Virginia, this is a development, and I will keep you posted as much as I can.

Also of big news to "500 miles..." fans? Plastic Soldier Company has as some are aware of, released some 15mm T-55s as a test to see how they would do in the market. Sales must have been good, and us 20mm heads have been making quite the noise for our own T-55s! They are now taking preorders for 20mm T-55s, once they get 200 orders, they will be made! At 3 to a box for 17.50GBP, it's a pretty good price (even with the shipping to the US).

And, as an additional incentive, one lucky gamer will be chosen to receive a painted set of T-55s done by Piers Brand, house painter for PSC, co-designer of Battlegroup and all around great guy! I know his work, I have some Soviet Airborne by him that is well, stunning.

I have built quite a few PSC kits, and other than one screwup with a Pz III, I have found them to be awesome kits to build and easy to paint. Walk, do not run to get these kits.

Here is a shot of the projected box for the 20mm:

Taken from Plastic Soldier Company's Website

Run, do not walk to place your preorder, folks.

Also, the word is, 15mm Leopard Is are in development. So there will be a lot more I think coming down the Cold War pike.

Also, I wanted to mention a blog I found on the Red Storm Rising Wargamers page. The Third World War 1987 is some of the best speculative fiction on a potential Third World War in the 1980s I have read in a long time. We are still in the buildup phase, but you can feel the tension, and to be honest, communicating that pre-war tension is almost essential in writing these things (I am still writing a fanfic with that particular backdrop, and this is much, much better).

So, lots of news. I also plan on posting a review of Butler's Printed Models soon, I just have to finish painting them, but so far, I have found them to be very easy to assemble and paint (ridiculously so).

I also intend to do an article on fast-build kits that are out there, as well as the other plastic kits of use to the Twilight: 2000 wargamer.

So, till then, signing off the net.