From: Francois Charton <deef@pobox.oleane.com>
Subject: Patrol [was: Firepower Formulae in Tactical Consims]

BillR54619 wrote:
> 
> But I do see a game out
> there called Patrol! Does anyone remember what that game was ?
> 

Patrol! was a companion game to Sniper! for non-urban environment. The 
subtitle to the game says it all: "Man to man combat in the 20th 
century". 

As in Sniper, each player controls the equivalent of a squad of 5 to 15 
men depending on the period, the scenario, and whether you attack or 
defend. One scenario corresponds to a few (one to five) minutes of real 
time action. The scale is a little larger than in Sniper (5 meters/hex, 5 
seconds/turn vs 3 and 3 in Sniper), and there is no facing.

The game system (though rated 7.1, ie pretty high, on SPI complexity 
scale), is quite straightforward and easy to learn. In the beginning of 
each turn, players secretly "buy" actions for all of their men. A normal 
man has 10 Movement Points to expend per turn. Fire, direct or 
opportunity, consumes all MP, as reloading one's weapon, or rearming (ie 
readying to use it after throwing a grenade or shooting a rifle grenade). 
Standing up, preparing a grenade, throwing it, cost 5MP. And movement 
costs MP depending on terrain...

After all actions have been plotted, players check for panic: a certain 
percentage of all your men, depending on their hex number, have their 
actions cancelled, or move randomly. (although very annoying, this rule 
does wonders at simulating low level control problems).

Then, all remaining actions are performed: combat, movement, and finally 
grenade and artillery impacts. 

Rules cover a large variety of equipement: weapons like rifles, MP, MG, 
rocket launchers, grenade launchers and flamethrowers, but also barbed 
wire, pillboxes, artillery, mines, and up to one vehicle (APC or tank) 
per side.

Five kind of combat situations are covered: patrol, reconnaissance, 
ambush, raid and assault. Some lending themselves quite well to solitaire 
play.

A large number of scenarios (from WWI to modern) are provided, and you 
can easily design your own. A standard scenario plays in a couple of 
hours.

Altogether, I think the system is pretty good for such a man to man 
combat situation. However, be warned that this very detailed scale has a 
peculiar feeling, which not all "tactical" game players (ie players used 
to ASL or Gamers TCS, which focus on company/battalion level units) will 
like: in Patrol! the player is a sergeant, not a captain.

Francois