Counter Terrorist

(rules)

by Dick Bryant

This is a set of rules that simulates Special Forces Warfare. It comes boxed with a pair of D10 Dice an a nice spool tape measure as well a two sets of 20mm figures by Stan Johansen Miniatures.

The rulebook is a 124 page perfect bound book that has the rules, background infromation, weapons charts, scenarios (3) and hints on designing your own scenarios. There is an excellent contents page, but the glossary would have been more helpful if it had included rules and games terms rather than just the “real-life” terms of counter-terrorist combat. Stan Johansen Miniatures has designed and manufactured a line of figures that are packaged as “Squads” for about $4.95 for 5-6 figures that represent all the types of figures need to play the game, there are over 100 different figures in the line. The scale was chosen so that it would be compatible with HO scale railroading and the many buildings and vehicles available in that scale.

The rules are quite detailed and provide for various modern weapons and vehicles. There are some terms that may be confusing to gamers whose only experience is with Historical Miniature rules; the game is divided into SPINS, that are made up of a number of TURNS. Each player has one turn , so the number of TURNS in a spin is determined by the number of players. The authors say that a TURN can take as long as 20 minutes - or 1hour and 20 min spins if there are 4 players. The turns are further broken down into ORDER OF BATTLE. No these are not the make up of your forces, but the phases of your turn, movement, shooting, etc.

There are firing dice and saving dice; you work out aset of factors depending on the shooter’s situation then one based on the target’s situation and compare the two for a “result” on the Universal Outcome chart (UOT). You have to throw a die equal or higher than the result to get a hit. Then you check aginst the target’s armor to see if you wounded him and themn again for a “critical hit”. It seems a bit “dicey” and some of these could have been combined into fewer charts, but they seem to give realitic results. Melees are also determined from the UOT. All in all it seems a sound introduction into a new era for gaming. Compare it with the Civil Disorder Rules found in this issue and the Irish rebellion rules my partner in The Courier, Leo Cronin, is working on and there is a wealth of rules for this genre of gaming!

Counterterrorist sells for $39.95 and can be ordered from the Privateer Games Web site (www.privateergames.com)using PayPal. It can also be ordered through the company’s distribution partner — Collectors Empire — by calling Brynda toll free at 1-800-474-5150. Privateer Games, 917 Vosler Loop, San Antonio TX 78227.

Stan Johansen Miniatures has been in the business for over 20 years and makes a fine line of figures that will be reviewed next issue. You can reach Stan at www.stanjohansenminiatures.com or 128 Barberton Road, Lake Worth FL 33467

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