Bureaucracy has been really something, but now the NATO SHAPE order is finally ready to ship! A moment that deserves entering in Thin Red Line Games’ history.
The cat is obviously a Soviet spy.
SHAPE Gearing Up!
Interpreting the Oracle – Part One
Ancient History has always been my other passion, and when I decided that a break was needed after 6 years of NATO vs Warsaw Pact, I had no doubts on the next subject: Alexander the Great, and his legendary campaign against the Achaemenid empire.
To my surprise, I discovered that the more you dig in Alexander’s history, the less certainties you have. This made the research phase even more interesting to me, as collecting and verifying data wasn’t enough: A real interpretation effort was needed.
Let’s see what I mean in practical terms. What follow is the first part of a work-in-progress diary detailing some interesting facts, evaluations, and decisions we encountered during development. As I said, in most cases uncertainty reigns sovereign, and the “most accepted theory” was followed – or in its absence, the most plausible one.
And remember, the Gods observe and judge your deeds. Send a Votive Tablet to info@TRLGames.com to reserve your place in Perdiccas’ Phalanx!
Play? I Ain’t Got Time to Play.
BREAK BREAK BREAK
SITREP 20230705 1631ZT:
1. 1985:Under an Iron Sky resisted the enemy assault for 23 minutes, 1985:Sacred Oil heroically stood for 60 minutes. There are no survivors.
2. US POMCUS for Less Than 60 Miles 2nd Echelon has been overran.
3. The remaining copies of Less Than 60 Miles 2nd Echelon will be shipped from FRANCE.
END
Since Thin Red Line Games started, I’ve had this insane habit to keep some copies in “strategic reserve” for any eventuality: SACEUR asking one to decorate his office, sudden collapse of the frontline, conventions….you never know!
This kind of behaviour has been sometime criticized, as just a few days after you’ve paid 400 bucks for a 1985:Under an Iron Sky copy on the private market, I suddenly announce that there’s “some reserve copies available”…Of course, at 4AM in your time zone.
In short, I’m a pain in the ass…and here’s another chance to prove it beyond any possible doubt! Sorry for that 🙂
I’ve finally realized that the time I can dedicate to conventions is very limited, so there’s no point in keeping several copies aside for similar events. Therefore, I’ve just committed the following to the FEBA:
- 9x 1985: Sacred Oil copies, shrink wrapped at the original cost of 165 euros
- 6x 1985: Under an Iron Sky 3rd echelon copies, shrink wrapped at the original cost of 163 euros
- Moreover, the remaining copies of Less Than 60 Miles 2nd Echelon can now be ordered from US and Canada too
The Fate of All – Ares is Watching
For several months we’ve kept Thin Red Line Games next project hidden. The only details shared publicly were the operation codename (HADES EMBRACE) and the secrecy level (NATO COSMIC SECRET, an official NATO term no matter how ridiculous it sounds).
One month ago, some details have been disclosed on my personal blog. Now, the Auguries have determined that it is time to fully reveal the Will of the Gods.
Touch the mosaic below to know more, or enter this room. And don’t forget to send a Votive Tablet to info@TRLGames.com to reserve your place in the Phalanx!
NATO WIN23 – Aftermath
As you maybe know, Thin Red Line Games (err, me!) is just back from Rome where I’ve attended the Wargaming Initiative NATO 2023 (WIN23).
This was my first time as part of such a high-level event, so it took me the whole first day to get over the “Shock & Awe” effect, with some precious help from the French and Italian expeditionary forces there….Thank you guys 🙂
In short, it was a blast. During the plenary meetings I’ve learned a lot about NATO ACT (Allied Command Transformation) and its approach to the present and future challenges. Several things, including the position of ACT in NATO’s hierarchy, were quite new to me.
And of course, we had wargames! The schedule was densely packed and the time short, particularly when you have a demo to run and a lot of “networking” activity, so I was able to explore only the tip of the iceberg but I had a lot of fun commanding the Iraqi Special Forces in an urban fight against the Insurgents, well led by a couple of French Officers. In the end, our Iraqi Security Forces lost horribly after a disastrous disengagement and a strike with chemical weapons previously hidden in some kebab shop of the old city (“The best Mustard Kebab in Iraq! Try it, and you’ll never go for anything else!”).
Continue reading NATO WIN23 – AftermathNATO WIN23
TRLGames will be at the Wargaming Initiative NATO 2023 (WIN23), in Rome!
We will bring the C3 Series (Less Than 60 Miles, The Dogs of War, Die Festung Hamburg) and see what happens…
Dang, I’m nervous.
Charles S. Roberts Awards 2022
Once again, we have a Charles S. Roberts Award Nominee!
Die Festung Hamburg has been nominated in the Best Hypothetical Wargame category, thus joining its brothers in arms in the C3 Series: Less Than 60 Miles (2019 Nominee) and The Dogs of War (2021 Nominee).
A big thank you to the C3 community, who made the series more and more visible and acknowledged, and to the CSR Board of Governors for the honour.
And if you want to taste the bitterness of modern operational warfare, a few copies of Less Than 60 Miles – 2nd Echelon are still available!
Less Than 60 Miles – DEFCON 1
Less Than 60 Miles, the first C3 module covering the Warsaw Pact offensive in the Fulda Gap, is now at DEFCON 1.
This second echelon is more an update than a simple reprint. Here’s a summary of the main changes:
- Rules updated with the most recent changes introduced by The Dogs of War and Die Festung Hamburg.
- Counters with the most used Posture on the back side, minimizing the need for Posture markers.
- Revised NATO OOB, representing West German III Corps as a separate high-level Command.
- Revised mobilisation rules for West German Teilaktiv battalions and Heimatschutz brigades.
- Update of several US battalion designations, more exactly pinning the transition from the Combat Arms Regimental System to the US Army Regimental System.
- Several changes to the Warsaw Pact OOB, from Soviet Army-level independent tank regiments to East German pure tank regiments.
- Several small but significant changes to the map and scenarios.
- An expanded Field Manual 02-002 Battlefield Operations, covering Operational Procedures and Operational Planning. Start reading it immediately, before it’s too late.
CENTAG needs YOU to stop the communist hordes!
Read a more detailed SITREP HERE
Immediately acquire the new Equipment HERE
Watch the latest developments below. Ensure your communication equipment is turned ON.
Less Than 60 Miles – DEFCON 2
Less Than 60 Miles, the first C3 module covering the Warsaw Pact offensive in the Fulda Gap, is now at DEFCON 2.
This second echelon will be more an update than a simple reprint. Here’s a summary of the main changes:
- Rules updated with the most recent features introduced by The Dogs of War and Die Festung Hamburg.
- Counters with the most used Posture on the back side, minimizing the need for Posture markers.
- Revised NATO OOB, representing West German III Corps as a separate high-level Command.
- Revised mobilisation rules for West German Teilaktiv battalions and Heimatschutz brigades.
- Update of several US battalion designations, more exactly pinning the transition from the Combat Arms Regimental System to the US Army Regimental System.
- Several changes to the Warsaw Pact OOB, from Soviet Army-level independent tank regiments to East German pure tank regiments.
- An expanded Field Manual 02-002 Battlefield Operations, covering Operational Procedures and Operational Planning. Start reading it immediately, before it’s too late.
CENTAG needs YOU to stop the communist hordes!
Report for Duty by writing to the Quartermaster at info@TRLGames.com.
NOTE: If you are already enlisted, there’s no need to reiterate. Your enthusiastic desire to die, I mean fight for Freedom is well noted.
SDHistCon Online 2023
Comrades!
Saturday, March 18th we will be at the San Diego Historical Convention Online.
We will run an exercise covering opposed river crossing, retrograde operations, interdiction, bombardment, and more. The scenario will use Die Festung Hamburg and will include the East German 8th Motorized Rifle Division and the BALTAP covering forces of West German 6. PanzerGrenadier Division.
The exercise starts at 17.03.2023 1800 Berlin Time (1000 PDT) and lasts 2 hours, including the time for singing the anthem of Union of the Soviet Socialist Republics and for doctrinal / political questions.
Enlist at this link! Participation is voluntary. Absences will be reported.
