World At War 85 Bootcamp Training Videos v2.0 Rev47

[David Heath]

David Heath submitted a new resource:

World At War 85 Bootcamp Training Videos - Bootcamp Training Videos from the Gimpy Gamer

View attachment 8042

We have created a series of videos de- signed to enhance the learning of the core concepts of WaW85. These videos should not be considered a substitute for reading the WaW85 Core Rules manual but should be considered a video player aid for the Core Rules manual.

Read more about this resource...

 

[Peter Bodley]

Have a look at The Original Grognard on Youtube:
https://www.youtube.com/user/Steelwhip2001/videos
Devin Heinle has two sets of videos where he plays through 2 scenarios in World At War 85.

 

[Starman]

Sadly OG isn't very rules compliant which he readily admits and tactically seems to play as if they are individual tanks and not platoons, so tactically it's more like high noon than combined arms. He doesn't soften up units before assaulting , leaves units out of command to cover areas they could easily move to if needed , sacrifices recon when it could be used to circle round and call in arty but instead hovers within HQ range and although he uses the solo assistant he overrules it mist of the time.

They do give a good flavour but feel his style needs a human opponent.

 

[Peter Bodley]

Yeah, I have to agree that Devins tactics aren't what I would necessarily follow.

Nate, The Gimpy Gamer on YouTube, who has made all the Bootcamp videos has a few playthrough videos he made when the developer's copies were being passed around, but again they are more showing how the game plays.

Mark Faircloth (mefaircloth2), also on YouTube, has a series of videos on WaW:85 where he provides an AAR of various scenarios, so you dont see the actual gameplay but you do see how the games plays with 2 players.

And there is a 'live stream' of Mark's Contact Atlanta game where he plays through the large Frankfurt scenario with 8 or so players. Sound is not so good but again it shows the game play.

I'm hoping that the new WaW:85 Tactics series of videos will cover the appropriate tactics and doctrine for both sides and how they play out in the game - should be interesting.

/Pete

 

[Starman]

Agree with you on Nate and Mark.
Not forgetting Big Board Gaming on YouTube and blog site.
https://bigboardgaming.com/storming-the-gap/

OG is entertaining but it is concerning that he is the face of World at War 85 Tactics Training.
He is very fixed in his tactics as we both observed and certainly not inline with 1980s US or NATO strategic/tactical training manuals or some now released Warsaw Pact analysis.
I understand his emphasis seems to be fun over simulation but WaW85 works as a simulation. The starting point for any tactical training are the units roles, their strengths and weaknesses within those roles and for WaW 85 that has to take into account overall battlefield strategic positions. Even though the stats have changed since the original there are still many great tactical articles out there included in LoF and the WaW compendium, including a unit by unit analysis.

In the 80s unit specialisation was a driving factor for battlefield Strategy and tactics. IMO WaW works so well because it reflects that in a very easy to use fun way although it plays out tactically you are always thinking about the bigger strategic picture companies/divisional fronts and this lends itself to campaign play building a narrative which most of the classic platoon level games never managed to capture as they leaned towards tactical chrome and not strategic gameplay.

 

[Peter Bodley]

yes, agree with all the above.
I haven't played the previous edition but I'll try to hunt down the articles you mentioned - always interested in a practical application of tactics and doctrine, especially this era
/Pete

 

[Starman]

I think all the LoF and the compendium were available as digital editions. I have some physical and all digital.

Some may still be available from the store. If Inget a chance I will list which ones have unit/tactics analysis which should still be relevant though some of the stats have changed.

 

[Peter Bodley]

I've found the digital version available on the LnL store for all the LnL Magazines and I have even found a hard copy of the WaW Compendium Volume 1 but it would be really useful to know how many articles in the Magazine are of interest before I buy anything.
Of course, this is if and when you have time. Thanks very much for the offer.

 

[The Plodder]

These are really good, thank you for making these. There are a couple of videos in the playlist that are in the wrong order, no's 20 & 19 are in-between 17 & 18 and the line of sight video should really be after 16.

 

[Starman]

I've found the digital version available on the LnL store for all the LnL Magazines and I have even found a hard copy of the WaW Compendium Volume 1 but it would be really useful to know how many articles in the Magazine are of interest before I buy anything.
Of course, this is if and when you have time. Thanks very much for the offer.

The old gamers guide would be the best solution I have asked if it can be made available digitally.

World at War: Blood and Bridges Preview . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . .1
Hard Calibers: The Math of Eisenbach Gap . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3
One by One: The Platoons of Eisenbach Gap . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .7
The Scenarios and Strategy of Eisenbach Gap . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . .13
Death of 1st Panzer Walkthrough . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . .23
Night Fighting for the Not Faint of Heart . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .25
Scenario Creation for The Detailed Oriented . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .27
Scenario: Clearing Hell’s Highway . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .30
Scenario: Poor Bloody Infantry . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . .31
Battle Report: Ships in the Night . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ... . . .32
Battle Report: Hell's Wings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . .35

Apart from the numerous Campaign Modules, Scenarios, Battle Reports and some variants (notably most the Leadership one by Jeff most of which is now included in WaW85) these are the Tactical Articles.

Compendium Three articles each 3/4 pages of 3 columns small typeface.

Achtung Panzer:West German Forces in World at War
Tactical Notebook: (Commanders/NCO advice after a few weeks in field)
Pact Guide: Improving the play of Warsaw Pact.

LoF 4- Munich’s Highway The Southern Sideshow in World at War By Arrigo Velicogna
LoF 5- How Swede It Is: Swedish Forces in World at War: Operation Garbo.
LoF 8- The Swedish Army in Op Garbo: an OpGarboAnalysis

Confirmatio it is the Gamers Guide is what you are looking for.

 

[David Heath]

We don't see to even have an old copy of the Gamer Guide. We will be making some new ones as we move forward.

 

[Starman]

We don't see to even have an old copy of the Gamer Guide. We will be making some new ones as we move forward.

I have a digital copy of it if that's any use to you a black and white pre print version. I generally proof read and gathered data for the WaW/LnL Heroes/IWD etc Vassal modules I created and maintained back in the day.

 

[Peter Bodley]

The 3 articles in the compendium look interesting and would be the first I would look for.
The other articles from LOF are secondary, for now. I've moved to Sweden recently and so am very interested in the OpGarbo articles although until Red Lightning comes out (in a few years) it's a bit of a moot Point ;-)

I've found a hard copy of the Compendium in my LFGS - local as the nearest from me which is about 300 miles but they do mail order - so I will probably get that if there is any issue with sharing the digital copy.
Then I can save a little and get the digital copy of all LOF from the LnLP shop

 

[Starman]

The 3 articles in the compendium look interesting and would be the first I would look for.
The other articles from LOF are secondary, for now. I've moved to Sweden recently and so am very interested in the OpGarbo articles although until Red Lightning comes out (in a few years) it's a bit of a moot Point ;-)

I've found a hard copy of the Compendium in my LFGS - local as the nearest from me which is about 300 miles but they do mail order - so I will probably get that if there is any issue with sharing the digital copy.
Then I can save a little and get the digital copy of all LOF from the LnLP shop

Be aware many of the Soviet units are not included in WaW85 the T80s and T64(Bs and Rs were in service early 80s) I think T72s are included.
Hopefully they will be available even if it's just for fanmade scenarios

Without trawling through the videos and text there doesnt seem to be any list of force makeup and units for WaW85