Pendraken Miniatures Forum

Wider Wargaming => Rules => Topic started by: Chad on 16 May 2015, 02:20:57 PM

Title: Modern Spearhead
Post by: Chad on 16 May 2015, 02:20:57 PM
Anyone used these and could recommend them?

Chad
Title: Re: Modern Spearhead
Post by: Lord Kermit of Birkenhead on 16 May 2015, 03:14:50 PM
sell you a copy for £15.

They give a reasonable game but do have some oddities. I would play again, but club uses CWC.

IanS
Title: Re: Modern Spearhead
Post by: Chad on 16 May 2015, 03:21:09 PM
Ian

Is CWC better in your opinion?

Chad
Title: Re: Modern Spearhead
Post by: Jim Ando on 16 May 2015, 05:32:19 PM
Hi
Helped play test them with my pals.
Loved them.

jim
Title: Re: Modern Spearhead
Post by: Chad on 16 May 2015, 05:52:27 PM
Jim

Which? CWC?
Chad
Title: Re: Modern Spearhead
Post by: toxicpixie on 16 May 2015, 06:57:53 PM
I really like MSH - the focus is very different from CWC, as it's written/drawn orders, limited movement options till in contact when unless you're top end NATO you're down to local manoeuvre only as opposed to CWC where you can do anything with anyone but are subject to the vagaries of the command rolls.

MSH platoons are really just strength markers for the battalion, whilst CWC platoons take quite a lot of killing!

The Commander series recce rules are really good, but MSH is "recce by death".

CWC works oddly at times for targeting things and I really like MSH target priority rules; others hate the restrictions!

They're actually pitched at different levels IMO - CWC is about battalion to regiment, MSH regiment to division - despite the same nominal one model/stand is a platoon-ish!

Different strokes for different folks, but I prefer MSH - which I haven't played for years! But have played CWC much more recently as others prefer it and I'm more than happy enough to play it :D
Title: Re: Modern Spearhead
Post by: paulr on 16 May 2015, 08:24:18 PM
I haven't played CWC but have played lots of MSH, I agree with toxicpixie's comments on MSH

Simple to play once you get use to it and lets you play BIG games One player can handle a Division if you have enough table space ;)

Keith McNelley provides some very useful pages on SH and MSH https://modernspearhead.wordpress.com/an-introduction-to-modern-spearhead/ (https://modernspearhead.wordpress.com/an-introduction-to-modern-spearhead/)

And the Scenario Generation System is brilliant https://modernspearhead.wordpress.com/scenario-generation-system/ (https://modernspearhead.wordpress.com/scenario-generation-system/)

Title: Re: Modern Spearhead
Post by: Lord Kermit of Birkenhead on 17 May 2015, 06:16:18 AM
I prefer CWC - but then I dislike the national biases built into Spearhead and Modern Spearhead. The do give a good game however.

IanS
Title: Re: Modern Spearhead
Post by: toxicpixie on 17 May 2015, 08:37:37 AM
The scenario system does an excellent job of balancing the national advantages - it's a very good piece of kit :)

Another good and easy twist on the command ratings is to apply them whole to different formations - eg the '44 Panzer Brigades might be treated as UK or even Russian command types whilst their American opponents are treated as German command to reflect their experience and flexibility. It's a great tool box when you're comfortable but 'vanilla' it's the same issue as all Arty Conliffe rules - some one is the "defining nation" of the period and super whizzy, everyone else is varying shades of bad :)
Title: Re: Modern Spearhead
Post by: Jim Ando on 17 May 2015, 09:08:04 AM
Hi

Play tested MSH in 97-98.

Having played challenger a bit MSH were like a breath of fresh air.

Haven`t played them for years but I rate them more than CWC.

Jim

Title: Re: Modern Spearhead
Post by: Chad on 17 May 2015, 09:15:30 AM
Thanks all.

Chad

Title: Re: Modern Spearhead
Post by: pierre the shy on 17 May 2015, 10:52:33 AM
I have literally divisions worth of 6mm MSH stuff in my cupboard and an on-going interest in modern period. I was hooked on MSH from the first game I played many years ago. Yes SH and MSH do have their critics but I have had so many great games using both rulesets that, to me, overide the concerns such as "super Germans/NATO" national characteristics.

I would also concur with Toxicpixies comments......I have played a couple of games of CWC but prefer MSH myself as they focus on more brigade/divisional level. Some years ago we played most of a campaign using SPI's 5th Corps to manuvere units then MSH to resolve some clashes:

http://homepages.paradise.net.nz/rbatch/little/fulda.html   
Title: Re: Modern Spearhead
Post by: Fenton on 17 May 2015, 11:03:29 AM
I like Fistful of Tow's 3...gives a good game, probably the same complexity level as Modern Spearhead
Title: Re: Modern Spearhead
Post by: toxicpixie on 17 May 2015, 11:49:05 AM
I've never actually played FFT - people keep mentioning but actual games never materialise...

Shame, they look decent.

But yes - I'd recommend a bash with MSH a couple of times, using the scenario system and see what you think.
Title: Re: Modern Spearhead
Post by: Chad on 17 May 2015, 04:38:43 PM
FFT is very expensive and very large in terms of pages. A PDF is $39.50 or roughly £26. Then there is the cost of printing, although I suppose you only need to print the rules you need ( ignoring nuclear for example) and the data sheets you need.

Chad
Title: Re: Modern Spearhead
Post by: paulr on 17 May 2015, 07:53:15 PM
Quote from: pierre the shy on 17 May 2015, 10:52:33 AM
I have literally divisions worth of 6mm MSH stuff in my cupboard and an on-going interest in modern period. I was hooked on MSH from the first game I played many years ago. Yes SH and MSH do have their critics but I have had so many great games using both rulesets that, to me, overide the concerns such as "super Germans/NATO" national characteristics.

I would also concur with Toxicpixies comments......I have played a couple of games of CWC but prefer MSH myself as they focus on more brigade/divisional level. Some years ago we played most of a campaign using SPI's 5th Corps to manuvere units then MSH to resolve some clashes:

http://homepages.paradise.net.nz/rbatch/little/fulda.html   

That brings back great memories of several mega games  :) :D