The Commander Series Forum

Hi folks,

I'm new to this game, and trying to understand hierarchy for units in the game. I'd like to assemble a formation based on 2nd Light Armoured Brigade (UK 1 Armd Div, BEF 1940).

Here's what I understand reading the BKC-III Command Phase rules:

I choose a CO or a HQ (a sub-unit commander) and then - assuming I comply with the requirements to issue an order to my troops - I form and Order Group (which can be any number of units - again complying with restrictions in book).

Here's when I need to clarify my understanding (note that I have an ex-service background and I'm just trying to get my thoughts in order) - While the term CO is used; that is actually the Brigade Commander - and the HQ are actually regiment CO's who will then command (dependent upon situation) the various squadrons I allocated as part of the Order Group.

Is this an appropriate way of thinking about this?

Hope I'm making sense so far - more to follow.

Hi Ken

Being a civvie I always think of the CO as the man in charge of the show. The HQ's are his subordinate officers. Actual ranks will vary, depending on the scale you are using.

At the start of the game, each commander (CO or HQ) has a set of units allocated to them 'their formation'. Doctrine rules may limit order groups that cross formations.

The CO does have the chance to try and get things moving if his underlings mess things up completely.

Does any of that help, or have I just made things worse?

That's great. Thanks mate - conforms to my thinking. I've been playing FOW, and want to try something larger - at the formation.

From my thinking a Formation is a grouping of battalion size units each one led by a 'CO' at LTCOL level, while the formation is BDE, led by the Brigadier.

In any event, your comments made things clear in my mind and assist my understanding. Much appreciated.

In BKC terms the "formation" is a smaller group under one HQ stand. Rigid doctrine HQs can't command stands from other formations at all, normal can at a penalty, flexible command anyone with anything anytime.

BKC probably works out at a large game being a regiment (or Commonwealth Brigade), I guess? Bigger than that and you'll not finish a game in less than a weekend! Your CO stand would be the Regt. HQ, then a HQ stand for each battalion.

Unless they're very small battalions you'll want at least one more HQ stand for each - they might represent the 2iC or XO or senior/most reliable Company commander, whoever drew short straw and got the "forward detachment"/probing force/dumped with defending the main terrain etc etc.

HQs are not necessarily "actual officer of rank X and his radio" but more a "focus of your command & logistics in that place and day", so don't worry about exactly replicating specific real world headquarters elements, just the overall level and focus of command you find you a/ need in game terms, and b/ reflects your interpretation of the real world flexibility and control!

That might change a little with the new 3rd ed as command stands can now be shot at, but the theories the same

Thanks mate. Much appreciated.

Looking forward to getting to grips with the game.

It's a game that produces a right feeling result in an easy fashion without being over complex, even if not all the sub-mechanisms always follow the exact rivet counting detail.

But then highly detailed simulations that try to exactly replicate every subprocess are usually wildly slow, very hard work and produce a historical result even less often than just making it up

It's also a pretty simple "engine" so you can bash up quite a few modifications to suit your taste with ease, but I highly recommend playing "vanilla" until you're really certain that what you want to change is worth it

Ken,

Are you working from BKC III? My hard copy has just arrived and I see "orders group" has a distinct meaning in BKC III and refers to the group of stands being given an order from an HQ in a particular turn. It's effectively a battlegroup used at a particular time. Haven't read it all yet.

Cheers, Andy