Ambush Alley Games Forum

Goomb

Perhaps I missed this somewhere or it is scattered about the rulebook and online here, but it might be useful to have one thread that discusses what basic materials new players need to run an AA game successfully.

Of course, a lot of this is scenario dependent, but it would be great to see what a new player will need to get started (number of figures, number and types of dice, templates, etc.) based on your experiences. Here are some things I thought would be helpful to address for new players (like me).

List of Materials

Rules and Cards
http://www.ambushalleygames.com/
AA Rulebook
Fog of War Cards
Asset Cards

Dice - Types and Numbers
http://www.ambushalleygames.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=1194&postdays=0&postorder=asc&start=0

Miniatures - How many minimum?
Regulars
Insurgents
Contractors
Civilian Mobs - I see advice on this on Page 39 of the AA Rulebook

Vehicles - How many minimum? Types?

Gaming Area
Obviously you will need a gaming area depending on the scale (minimum 2'x2' for 15mm to 4'x4' for 28mm).

Scenary and Obstacles
You can use proxies, build buildings from card, cork or foamcore; or purchase commercially available.

Other Ideas/Suggestions?

Selfishly, I am coming up with a laundry list of items I am going to need to purchase as I am a new player, so this helps me out as well!

Goomb

Peggy · Posted: Thu Jun 04, 2009 9:31 am Post subject:

This is a great topic idea, Goomb. I'm going to go ahead and sticky it and maybe in a couple weeks once it's all done to everyone's nitpicky satisfaction we can get Shawn to pretty please make a nice downloadable pdf for it that people could print and use as a checklist. Very Happy

I like lists though. Maybe it's just me.

Piers · Posted: Thu Jun 04, 2009 9:34 am Post subject:

Now... I will have a stab at minimums...

Miniatures - How many minimum?
Regulars 16 (four fire teams)
Insurgents 40
Contractors 4

Then add as you go along with more specialist teams and such.

Another good way to build regulars is by the platoon.

Now... that of course is nothing like what I have... Insurgents are addictive... I must have over 200 various types painted now.
_________________
www.guildwargamers.com

CYC · Major Joined: 02 Dec 2008 Posts: 478 Location: Ireland

Leigh · Major Joined: 28 Oct 2007 Posts: 928

For someone brand new to AA, I'd follow Piers' numbers but use regulars as contractors- they aren't essential for your first few outings. I think 40 insurgents should indeed cover most situations. Vehicles? You can pretty much play any of the AA scenarios without vehicles with some modification.

However, if you wanted to purchase everything in one go, I suspect things (before "shiney kit syndrome" kicks in Laughing

) would look something like this (and I'm assuming Iraq being the setting here);

4 x regular fire teams (2 x rifle/carbine, 1 x GL, 1 x SAW per team)
1 x regular machinegun team (1 x GPMG, 1 x rifle/carbine)
1 x regular SMAW or similar anti tank
1 x regular sniper team (1 x scoped rifle, 1 x spotter with carbine/rifle)
1 x medic with rifle/carbine

40 x insurgents- perhaps 30 x AK and the remainder split pretty evenly between RPGs, PKMs (Medium Support) and RPKs (Light Support) and a sniper with Dragunov SVD or similar.

2 x contractors (carbines)
10 x civilians (to be based in groups)

1 x AAVTP7 if USMC or M1126 if Army (this can double as a armoured ambulance)
1 x M1A1/A2
1 x LAV-25 if USMC or M2A3 if Army
2 x M1114

Technicals can be proxied for the insurgents and they are extremely rare anyway (I've never drawn one from memory in over maybe 50 + games). Even the Army/Marines vehicles can be proxied for your first few outings- they are still pretty rare in AA with the AAV only featuring prominantly in one scenario.

Just a few thoughts there- excellent idea for a post Goomb Cool

nikharwood · Posted: Fri Jun 05, 2009 4:06 pm Post subject:

I'd echo all the above - but don't forget the terrain-list:

- hescos
- roads
- buildings & ruins
- walls & ruins
- battlefield debris
- hotspot counters

Oh - and for completeness: digital camera & batteries: we *like* pics Cool

commissarmoody · Posted: Fri Jun 05, 2009 8:14 pm Post subject:

Yes we loves the gamer *beep*, I mean pic's Very Happy

RichardC · Posted: Mon Jul 20, 2009 10:08 pm Post subject:

Insurgentwise you might also want to pick up a Dushka or two and some IED markers.

Chandak286 · Recruit Joined: 04 Jun 2008 Posts: 18 Location: Scotland

I think the aforementioned sound like good forces for someone who has got into the game but for someone who has just come across the rules and wants to give them a go, I would suggest you can get away with less and that you don't need to be period specific either.

My "gateway" to AA was using 10 colonial Brits v 25 Pathans on a terrain board with rocks and trees instead of lots of the buildings and it worked fine. Then we used about 10 Space Marines v 25 Orks to get my son involved with figures he liked. Finally, we got ourselves a modern force along the lines suggested above and made up a heap of buildings.

I just wouldn't want to put someone off a great set of rules for want of the right figures. AA took me into 2 periods I never thought I'd game (Scifi and modern) and gave me the best rules I've found for small colonial actions on the North West Frontier.
_________________
If I had had more time I would have written you a shorter letter - WS Churchill