Introducing Crossfire - World War Two wargaming
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This video introduces the viewer to a particular set of wargame rules by Arty Conliffe. They are unusual in many ways, perhaps chief among these their simplicity, their lack of a turn sequence, and their not needing measurements with rulers. I argue that they produce realistic results, and are fun to play.
This may seem like one long commercial for a set of wargame rules, but there is more to come about this which should make my motives clear. .
Merchandise still not sorted out, but soon(ish), possibly.
Lindybeige: a channel of archaeology, ancient and medieval warfare, rants, swing dance, travelogues, evolution, and whatever else occurs to me to make.
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Introducing Crossfire - World War Two wargaming
/ user "Lindybeige"
Would be great to see Lindy have a game of this against someone to show exactly how it works
*Watches Lindy for like a year*
"HMM I'd like to get into wargames but I want ww1/2 era games"
*TH-cam search "WW2 wargame*
*Clicks random video, on mobile so no name in the pre-view*
*Camera shoot*
"What a nice setting"
*Jump cut, suddenly Lindy*
"Wait what."
I have been late for three years, but may I suggest bolt action
Hey! I demand a "battle report" of this! I don't care if it's a 20-30-minute video or more, I want to see you play it!
Bought the book, convinced a friend to join and bought two companies of infantry per player. At this point we've only played 2 games, but we've spent tens of hours crafting the miniatures and terrain. So much fun.
I'd be interested in here more about this game Lindybeige.
I've personally always been interested in table-top gaming, 40k and D&D but finding a community has the hardest part, so I must live through other peoples eyes like yours, so please do atleast a couple more videos on this topic!
"It's exciting, fluid" and not available on German Amazon.
+DonWoschto
I always found it interesting how, in the pursuit of 'preventing Nazism', they've become Nazis.
+manictiger
I think in this specific case it's less about Germany preventing WW2 symbols from being available and more about Crossfire being seriously niche and hard to find in general ;)
+DonWoschto
Have you ever managed to find a set of rules?
Unfortunately not. But I didn't really go out of my way to find it - I'm sure it's out there somewhere!
DonWoschto
I was in the same boat and did some digging. If you don't mind the amorality of it, this link will live for the next 30 days or so:
www26.zippyshare.com/v/Q6SUXzXw/file.html
Well, I do mind the amorality of it. But I want those rules! Thanks a lot! :-)
I miss Lindy's wargaming content
Sounds really fun, hearing you talk about it got me all excited.
I'd love to see more videos like this, I could honestly watch a full 30 minutes if it were that long
Hmm, I've got it! Send both squads of Space Marines into a charge up the center and use your Whirlwind rocket artillery tank to decimate anyone who exposes himself to take a shot! Wait, oh.
Lol, who uses Whirlwinds? Just ally with AM and throw in a Wyvern. Can't go wrong with some Priests for your Termies to reroll all your saves in CC for 25 pts, too. ;)
And this is why I'm glad I stopped 40k years ago.
Wetcorps I'm only still playing it because i have a big army already, and because it's pretty tough to find people playing other wargames around here.
Elavion Dremorill Sell it off and buy the entire Dawn of War collection! :-D
Elavion Dremorill Screw that, just use space marine SSJ4 power level 9000 with decimator scourge widowmaker rockets and ultra-power fists to get three re-rolls and +2000 to windfury (boosts attack speed).
I think I'd really enjoy more videos on this game. You seem to really be enthusiastic about it, which is always an awesome thing in your videos. Maybe you could go in depth a little more about how some of the mechanics work and why they works so well in making you "think like a commander" compared to other wargames, or something like that. Definitely interesting. I'll have to look this game up :)
How's the online multiplayer? Does it lag?
I couldn't even get to any servers the first time I tried to. And finally when I got to a server the enemy just stood still and did nothing. So I won every match.
6/5 online multiplayer, would play again.
***** What do you mean? Are you saying I spent all those hours THINKING I was playing Crossfire online?
Hmm. No wonder the enemy didn't move.
10 frames per second is UNPLAYABLE.
*****
ten atta ten
There's a lot of hitbox issues and desyncs, probably because the matchmaking connects people from canada to russia or china to england most of the time. I'd reccomend setting up a private server if you can.
They play this along with other wargames at my local game shop. It's fun. I haven't played it in ages.
I still come back this video time and again out of fascination. Wish youd come back to it in greater detail
Got my rulebook. Absolutely crazy and so much more fun than the other wargames I've played (Warhammer mostly)
Dear LB, that was simply marvellous, all three videos, what a great job. Cheers!
Its great to see one of the classic rules sets being discussed, though its not one I've evere relay looked at before. Great vid.
When it was open, Charles Sharp was a regular at American Eagles hobby store in Tacoma Washington. I remember in 1996 after the annual Enfilade Wargaming convention, Charles came in with these rules he was really excited about... It was Crossfire and its been my favorite game since!
This sounds fun also I’ve been wanting to checkout H.G. Wells Little Wars. I feel you could use any scale for these type of rule sets for wargaming
We need more videos like this Mr Beige!!
Greatest game ever! Charles Sharp brought the beta of this game to our hobby store in 95...
More videos about Crossfire please!
I would love a longer video where you play a short game of this or something!
0:26 You have a Finnish version of The Lord of The Rings board game?
Lindy is such a damn creative, wonderful, kind, wild, smart dude.
Awesome! Ive been playing and enjoying Bolt Action. Its a very tense and FUN game. I really want to check this out now! Thanks for the Vid.
For us wargame-fans, I don't suppose there's the future possibility of having a full match recorded? Would mean more work for you, but since some people like trimmed and edited material and others like to see the entire process (especially when things don't go quite according to plan... every double take, every light-bulb moment is wickedly awesome to see) it may be worth it.
By the way, how long did it take to set up that magnificent table? Is there any upper limit on the size of the playing field beyond whatever you have available? Could it even be possible for people to play a 1:1 scale match, using real people and life-size props? Because that... would be the most awesome thing I've ever seen.
1:1 scale? At that point you should just play paintball. :P
chandelure99 let's go all the way to 5:1 :D
I'm very much looking forward to a longer explanation of the rules.
Been in looking for a good WWII wargame for a long time now.
we need more crossfire videos
Eric Plasencia sure do
I play crossfire on tabletop simulator. It's never too late because this game is bloody amazing. I am even launching operations like he did in his operation crossfire videos.
Does anyone know if these rules are still available anywhere? Would be interested in giving them a bash.
Would it be possible to have you upload a play session of Crossfire? It looks really neat
Any have any input as to how adaptable this rule system would be for a scifi setting as compared to oh say warhammer 40k miniatures??? GW's rules generally suck. lol
John try stargrunt 2 the rules are free. Also I know I'm 2 years too late
That is an exceedingly messy room you have there.
To me, a wargaming room have to be like that!
See? I've told him that before as well, and he replied that he saw no mess.... Pffft...
What makes you say that? You can see behind me, I have things stacked neatly on shelves. There is no mess.
Lindybeige Some people are allergic to stacks. Just my experience.
Well in my experience professors and games tend to have a lot of clutter. 'Cause y'know they have a lot of reference books, etc. So its understandable, 'cause you're like the professor of gaming, and all, so yknow Lindy that kind of thing is to be expected, and it kind of fits with your eccentric/mad scientist/professor/gamer thing you got goin' on. Plus you tend to have more important things on your mind, like how impractical Orc weaponry is, or the nutritional value of Kobold flesh, something to that effect.. LOL.. Anyways that's my take on it.. :)
That sounds like it was a lot of fun and gives me a few ideas for my game group. I hope you are able to do something like it again... with a staff of your own though to make it manageable.
It would actually be interesting to see you and a few friends setup a table, play a whole game and make witty banter. It will make a long video, but people put up long videos of themselves playing video games and saying stupid things all the time, this would be so much better!
We are plucky indeed 💂
💂💂💂💂💂💂💂💂💂💂💂💂💂💂💂💂💂💂💂💂💂💂💂💂💂💂💂💂💂💂💂💂💂💂💂💂
Steve Spencer Fine ranks of Guardsmen 💂
Mr ward Indeed💂
Always wanted a full army of Praetorians in WH40K. Bit difficult to get together these days
Indeed fam 💂🏻
If I can't afford a massive table set up and figurines, can I just paint a board with terrain features and use lego people instead?
+Jacob Furrow Nice imagination!
This was the first WW2 miniatures game I played and loved it! I enjoyed playing Flames of War too but as you said that can end up as an unfinished slog fest.
Where can I buy pieces for Crossfire? I can't seem to find anything.
Nice jumper. We used to play this as kids after seeing a similar thing on Why Don't You. Remember that?
The use of only a small number of d6s is what drew me to the old shadowrun tabletop rpgs. If you had a copy of the basic rules, it was possible to play the game with nothing but printed character sheets and the dice from a yatzee box.
I think I was born in the wrong era....I would have loved this game as a child.
same, total war is the closest I have to it
Steve Spencer Except every total war game has AI that's afflicted with down syndrome. Multiplayer is fun though.
Sailor of the Soul yeah but I still find medevieal 2 fun after all these years
i have both games! they are great!!!
i play miniture war games, not cross fire i play flames of war which is closer to battalion level as i can field multiple companys or just one with a lot of support platoons but you could find games anywhere
i was a 40k player but got fed up with all the rulebook changes and price rises, it doesn't seem like crossfire would be like that, am i right?
This looks good to me.
I would love to see a video on the board game _Axis & Allies_. Board games are much more my style than tabletop, and though I have only played this game maybe half a dozen times in total, and never really properly understood the strategy, I always felt like it was a very deep game. In particular, I played _Pacific_ (a different board from _Europe_ with slightly different rules), in which Japan must establish a powerful early lead with its initial advantage or be slowly ground to dust by USA's grossly superior economy.
Do you think the Allies have an advantage in this game? If not, do you have any ideas about how Japan should start?
Sounds good, Where do we get the rule book???? Got lots of Bolt Action and working on the game board.
That rule set does sound very interesting. As someone who's dabbled in other "traditional" war games, I feel the strongest point is that you're "actually thinking like a commander" rather than juggling the rule set.
As someone who personally enjoys fantasy more than sci-fi, and sci-fi more than historical, in regards to games, I don't think the rule set would apply very well to non-grid (human architecture/city planning) environments. Things like castles, ancient forests, alien planets, don't sound like they create boards which balance the game well. So it seems like it's at least somewhat naturally restricted to being a WW2 simulation (which isn't necessarily a criticism, but makes it less applicable to many war gamers).
Now I really want to try to make that kind of rule set using 40k units abilities and statistics as a template.
Dear lindybeige
I would like to create my own table top game based in a post apocalyptic world but I'm not 100% set on the rules and so forth but would appreciate any ideas
Heck I'm also writing a plot to a Tv animation series i would love for some advice as it is partly historical I'll spare the details at this time for prying eyes haha
This sounds awesome. I'd like to see variants for other settings.
If you like that game, check this out! : th-cam.com/video/_wibltmswYU/w-d-xo.html
More of this please!
Great rules, use on our grass mats, great game!
Very interesting stuff, I have had absolutely no experience with such board games exactly because I don't like sluggish turns with loads of dices (biased image right there). Thanks for bringing this up, would gladly watch deeper introduction or even a match against someone.
Also, how come you have Finnish Lord of the Rings (far as I can see the title) boardgame? That's been haunting me the whole video.
Would definitely like to see more of this.
Can we get a video of a full crossfire game? Maybe it can be in parts? Ive always wanted to play these but never got the chance to.
Recognized the munchkin box in an instant :D
Lindybeige, I'm genuinely curious how you never did a series on this :/
It IS a good tabletop game and your passionate enough about it to do one... and we desperately need one from the point of view of someone like you :P
(someone who's read enough to know which history books are fiction xD)
Hey Lloyd,
Have you taken a look at the "Tabletop Simulator"? I've never played crossfire but really want to now, however my life style has me moving around a lot and keeping miniatures and a board in working condition would be a nightmare. I'm hoping some more wargame type add-ons for the Tabletop Simulator come about so we can play some crossfire! Just imagine doing your operation crossfire on an online platform.
Fantastic ramble!
How do you measure range? Sorry, its Bolt Action for me. All the tactical and strategic elements but with no 'initiative', just the random event sequence of real battle. And the miniatures are gorgeous. (28mm/1:56 is the perfect scale for toy soldiers lol)
I like this. Maybe we could see some gameplay footage?
This actually seems quite fun.
There's no feeling like watching a lanky British dance instructor sell a wargame to you at 10 PM.
More please, I'd love to know more.
Sounds intriguing. Wondering if you've tried his medieval rules _Tactica_, and whether these rules are similar to _Crossfire_.
You've been playing it for over a decade now? So would you say you've been caught up in the Crossfire?
I haven't played tabletop war games in years. The biggest thing that caused my loss of interest was the fact that no matter how much you try to get away from it, the stakes aren't real and you will take risks that people in the real situation just wouldn't, especially if you are losing. A real commander has to consider the next skirmish/battle/war, the cost to the society paying for the war including things like the loved ones of the dead soldiers, whether the cost of victory is worth the reward.
Very few armed conflicts end with the vanquished completely unable to inflict damage on the victorious. Sometimes they could have won but just didn't find the cost of doing so worth it.
I've thought that the only way to simulate this in a game system is to put money into it. The victory would be worth X Locurs (That's my new fictional currency from 'local currency') and and players would have to buy their forces and matériel. That money would *not* go into the pot since dead soldiers and fired bullets don't don't become booty in real life. It would go to polio vaccines or something, to represent the real life issue of sunk costs in war.
Could a wealthier player buy victory? Yes. That happens in real life. At any point in the game, players could negotiate a settlement, which also happens in real life.
Question I have is "what is the objective of Crossfire"? I was introduced to Tabletop Gaming through Warhammer 40,000 and that had (in my opinion) fairly straightforward objectives. You either take certain locations on the game board and try and hold them until the conclusion of the game, or you wipe out as many of your opponent's troops as you can.
What is the point of Crossfire?
There is no set objective for every game. You the player can decide what it is or there are pre written scenarios. Some examples of objectives would be to hold a specified terrain feature for a certain number of iniatives or get a certain unit to the other side of the table etc...
Interesting. Novel approach to battle dynamics.
Wait a second... You got a board game in the backround that reads "Lord of the Rings" in finnish.
FinestSeven There is no such language as Finnish. You guys don't exist.
DonWoschto Nuuuuu D:
FinestSeven Sorry, but you're like the German city of Bielefeld. You simply do not exist.
DonWoschto Am I mad or why I am I talking to people who don't exist? Confusing.
I know you don't know like video games but try the combat mission series of games, it's a company level tactics simulation, and it's painfully realistic.
Super complicated and the UI is a bit clunky, but if you have the patience to learn it, and the patience to execute correct tactical maneuvers, it can be very rewarding.
so its a boardgame using terrain as the grids? what if you have little or no terrain?
Initially I wondered why you did 'and not bucket loads of them either'.
Then I was talking to a friend who plays Warhammer, and he said that once he was playing a game where an attack required 25 dice.
cool video now i have a goal to finish my 1:87 battalions. :P
have given up the whole thing since i have flash point, arma, steel panthers and co.
You see, this is really the type of gameplay Games Workshop should move Fantasy and 40k over. It gives a lot more options too for the sci fi and fantasy elements to come to light in the game, instead of the state they're currently in, with one or two horribly broken armies and the game focusing entire on buying more powerful units.
Sure you can build armies true to the fluff, but yeah, don't expect to win.
Any way to convert this type of game to 40k? Hell this type of free flowing gameplay would fit perfectly with a true-to-the-fluff 40k game, considering most armies in 40k SHOULD be highly mobile.
(Orbital deployment via drop pods, valkyrie gunships, thunderhawks, teleportation, etc.)
Wyatt Wilmot age of sigmar :)
So, its Wargame: (insert what one it is here) but in tabletop form?
Right, where can I get this?
Err, no. Wargame is tabletop by definition. Just because some PC game makers stole the term doesn't mean it's primary meaning has changed.
As for where you can get this, well, if I'm not mistaken Crossfire is no longer produced (so if you are interested in this particular game you probably should search ebay or something), but there are some other cool ones around; just keep in mind they are pretty darn expensive.
Some popular sample titles are:
Games Workshop's games (those are absurdly expensive, but they are also the most popular ones) Warhammer 40,000 (sf), Warhammer Fantasy Battle (fantasy)
Corvus Belli's game: Infinity (sci-fi)
Battlefront Miniatures's game: Flames of War (ww2)
Privateer's Press game: Warmachine & Hordes (Steampunk)
There are many others, but because of relatively small market most games die off sooner or later. Those that I listed seem to be here to stay.
The reason why I said wargame: () is because thats the series name...
Thanks for the suggestions though!
These games live forever on Ebay for usually very little money.
Out of print means nothing in the tabletop world.
cygil1 Well, yes it does. It usually means "Get your friends to play this game if you want to have someone to play against". ;)
Well, the Wargame series is derived from tabletop games. It's basically if you took a tabletop wargame and turned it into an RTS. That's why it's similar ;)
This sounds absolutely awesome.
Any recommendations on where to pick up the little table top models?
Meanwhile, the other crossfire video at the top of the youtube search list is 25 minutes long and takes about 7 minutes to explain movement.
Show us some games! Awesome video, very interesting.
Please play this in a video
good vid
I remember as a yoof being suckered into WH40k by the exciting scifi fantasy figures, artwork, and backstory and novels. Playing the tabletop game was unfortunately like staring at a vignette while endlessly playing craps. Exciting new rulesets were simply compilations of even more dice rolls. I wonder how popular "warhammer 40-Krossfire" would be, as games workshop can't actually design games to save their lives but they CAN make space marines!
What scale are the figures? Do the rules even require a specific scale since there are no measurements necessary? Could this also be adapted to shipboard actions like the scene in 'The Sand Pebbles' where Steve McQueen has to cut the cable across the river so the gunboat can sail to safety?
In the states we call this Flames of War, but that system uses rulers and measuring tape.
Then it's not really a CrossFire but some other WW2 gaming system, isn't it?
I wonder what this kind of ruleset would be like if applied to other settings, such as medieval or warhammer/40k...?
I'm almost beginning to wonder if there is a "plucky" rule for British infantry. Do you get modifiers based on how bold and daring the plan is or is it based on how dastardly and arrogant the German commander is?
looks fun. can I buy a table that comes with all the pieces? Never played but looks really interesting.
I don't think you can anymore but myself i play it on tabletop simulator and are right now about to launch an operation similar to the one he made videos about. Also humble bundle got the game 50% for this week.
I was thinking of collecting flames of war, this looks interesting too though :)
I play crossfire on tabletop simulator. It's never too late because this game is bloody amazing. I am even launching operations like he did in his operation crossfire videos.
I think I'll stick to Steel Panthers. ;)
I wonder if I still have the CD somewhere...
You can always downkoad the free version World at War.
***** Did that years ago. Didn't like it.
So how do you do an offensive if everytime you get in line of sight of the enemy they can decide to fire and you lose your turn?
You suppress them first, then overrun them with assault. That is what you have to do in real life unless you want to re-create the first day of the Somme.
Looks cool, sounds somehow like the tabletop version of Close Combat PC games series (which I would strongly recommend by the way to people who like tactical simulation type of war games!) One thing: How do you manage the fog of war, or the spotting of enemy troops? Do you turn your back when the other guy moves his troops or something? :)
Oh god, no! Don't drag me back into the abyss of table-top wargaming! I can't go back there! All the hours! All the money! All the amazing fun you can have...
This looks like a system I want to play!
WHERE do I buy the corebook/whatever original rule compilation there is? All I can find online is additions n side materials. ffs
Making a set up for all of this for myself, but can't find the rules anywhere or anything about the whole game, does anyone know of a single site where you can find out about crossfire? you google it and you get some video game come up.
Have you ever tried playing company of heroes lindybiege?
Played Crossfire several times, including Red Poppy/White Feather and my experience is that it boils down to figuring a way to block your opponent without any regard for historical use. I guess if you grok it, it's an excellent game, but the way I saw it played, it was all about blocking all your opponent's options in a very beardy and gamey manner. I prefer I ain't been shot mum ! and Chain of Command for WWII.
How does it compare to SLI?
Is this very similar or even compatible with Flames of War
This sounds like Men of War before it was possible on a computer haha
A friend and I have always been great fans of traditional games. Unfortunately wargames are exceedingly niche and very expensive, so we're more or less stuck to playing 40k. It's a fun enough game, even if pieces are painfully overpriced, but we've considered trying out Flames of War to scratch that WWII itch, as it's quite popular at our local gaming store. I'll look into this one!