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I have a few scenarios (land based so CMO might not be ideal I think) set in Ukraine I would like to simulate. What do you think the best game to do that would be? SPBMT has horrible AI so I'd only try this as a last resort.

I hear nuclear war simulator is a good option. ... I jest of course, or do i?

DEFCON, or

Backgammon - because no matter how good your strategy there is the roll of the dice.

Napoleon thought he had 90% chance of victory the night before Waterloo.

Combat Mission: Black Sea by Battlefront, and available here at Matrix, directly models the conflict on a tactical level.

Battlefront somehow envisioned this conflict before it happened (before Crimea invasion in 2014), and did the exact same thing with their first CM: Shock Force release (Iraq).

Rosseau wrote: Sat Mar 12, 2022 3:45 am Combat Mission: Black Sea by Battlefront, and available here at Matrix, directly models the conflict on a tactical level.

Battlefront somehow envisioned this conflict before it happened (before Crimea invasion in 2014), and did the exact same thing with their first CM: Shock Force release (Iraq).

Definitely this.

https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q ... K7JGZygDSw

The Operational Art of War has a long history of simulating contemporary conflict, either real or very probable. To give an example, one expansion for TOAW 2 back in the day (late 1990) was titled "Flashpoint: Kosovo".

it depends on what you're trying to do. You just said "scenarios" and mentioned they were on land.

Are you looking at tactical engagements between dismounted hunter-killer AT teams and demoralized tank crews?

Are you looking at non-combatant evacuation operations within a contested traffic corridor?

Do you want to explore MANPADS in an urban environment?

Are we looking at logistical exposure & resupply challenges as the supply lines lengthen with further advances into the country?

Are you trying to figure out radioactive cloud drift from a nuclear incident?

Did you want to experiment with the problems of an amphibious assault into a urban environment like Odessa?

I realize you might be intentionally vague so as not to drift into discussions of actual behaviors on the ground, but unfortunately the question is *so* broad that there's almost no way to meaningfully answer it other than just throwing out random games that happen to have a "Ukraine" scenario in them and hoping you can hammer it into whatever you *actually* need.

It’s not really clear at all why the op does not think Steel Panthers MBT would not fit the bill. The AI IMHO was decent, scenario, map campaign editors and also random, and it’s free!

TheGrayMouser wrote: Sat Mar 12, 2022 1:20 pm It’s not really clear at all why the op does not think Steel Panthers MBT would not fit the bill.

bayonetbrant wrote: Sat Mar 12, 2022 12:57 pm it depends on what you're trying to do.

The games I've got myself are WinSPMBT and TOAW3. ATG too, if it has got mods with modern gear that are on the field in Ukraine right now. I've got couple Combat Mission games (2nd World War ones), but I don't care for their 3d stuff.

Do any games have drones or the NLAWs in?

There's plenty for us war nerds to discuss in the future, assuming there is one.

altipueri wrote: Mon Mar 14, 2022 10:38 pm Do any games have drones or the NLAWs in?

There's plenty for us war nerds to discuss in the future, assuming there is one.

Yes, Combat Mission Shock Force 2 has a UK module containing NLAW. CMSF2 and CMBS both containing few drones.
CMSF2 does not contain MALE drone however.

altipueri wrote: Mon Mar 14, 2022 10:38 pm Do any games have drones or the NLAWs in?

There's plenty for us war nerds to discuss in the future, assuming there is one.

I believe SP:MBT does have those, but will need to check.

And what about the economic and media and diplomatic aspects ?

terminator wrote: Tue Mar 15, 2022 7:52 am And what about the economic and media and diplomatic aspects ?

For any tactical or operational games those are irrelevant.

altipueri wrote: Mon Mar 14, 2022 10:38 pm Do any games have drones or the NLAWs in?

There's plenty for us war nerds to discuss in the future, assuming there is one.

SP:MBT Has some of these types:

UAV




NLAW

Zovs wrote: Tue Mar 15, 2022 9:03 am

terminator wrote: Tue Mar 15, 2022 7:52 am And what about the economic and media and diplomatic aspects ?

For any tactical or operational games those are irrelevant.

CONFLICT ZONE Modern War Strategy was an old wargame with the particularity of controlling the media, managing civilians and producing propaganda:

CONFLICT ZONE Modern War Strategy

There was a mission in Ukraine...

altipueri wrote: Mon Mar 14, 2022 10:38 pm Do any games have drones or the NLAWs in?

There's plenty for us war nerds to discuss in the future, assuming there is one.

CM:Black Sea has drones for both arty spotting/direction and direct strikes.