BG:NORTHAG - What year should it be set in?

Everyone has an idea in their imagination of when World War 3 kicked off. Some associate it with a real event like Operation Able Archer or the shooting down of KAL007 or if Mikhail Gorbachev did not come to power.

So I'm wondering what year people would prefer BG:NORTHAG to be set in? I think it might be easier if we limit ourselves to sometime from 1980 to the end of 1989 and the fall of the Berlin Wall.

So - what year and why? Let us know!

Richard

1980-1989

For me 1980 -89 too. SHOOTING DOWN OF Korean flight could be trigger or the classic Gulf incident.

What about a specific year within the 1980-89 period?

Richard

I think 1983 would be a great year.  That was the  year we had a large military exercise and forgot to tell the USSR about it

I would say 1984. On February died Secretary of Soveit Party Yury Andropov. Se could Think about q different timelime where Gorbaciov was not elected and a group of ortodox communist decides to attack the West before project like Star Wars etc could be put in place. Innthe years Warsaw pact could benefit still of a superiority in numbers

Beside this on May 1984 an explosion occurred in military base of Kola peninsula. Real causes never revealed but in pur timeline could be a fake attack to justify Warsaw pact Reaction

1988.

The year I participated in the last Reforger and NORTHAG Corps level excercise "Free Lion"..

Interesting to read this... I'm following with interest.

My 'date' has always been 1984. Tends to be a period of transition to the new 'uber' MBTs.

Why does it need to be set in a particular year? Plenty of kit in use in the 70s was still about in the 80s. Why not a base set of rules, with add ons for particular equipment and a caveat for year of introduction.

Well it maybe Nick... we simply ain't decided yet.

But following the 'style' of Battlegroup books, they tend to be set in a historical period.

This way the lists are tailored to that setting.

To cover 10+ years of vehicle and technology development in a single set of lists could be problematic, not just within one list but in how those lists then work against each other.

So you may have a caveat on year of introduction on your list, but you also have to then make sure your opponent has the same restrictions.

One way forward maybe to have a set background narrative that informs the period for the lists but then have various other stats and equipment listed for those who want to play outside the period.

But I think for the lists they may have to be set to a specific date range for ease of development, use and play.

But... Nothing is set in stone on that side of things.

A single year just makes life a bit easier getting the army list sorted and the kit right... it's one less thing in flux... we'll know what was available, not in service yet, etc... early 80s seems most likely, pre-uber tanks. I could see us doing a second set of lists for late 80s/early 90s if it goes well, but we have to start somewhere and keep it manageable. '83-84 seems a good compromise.

I agree. From my experience of the Battlegroup rules the year is quite important. I’m currently working on a British Force but I’m aiming them at the late 1970’s/ early 1980’s so that’s where my vote would be.

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If it has to be a period, for me it would be 85-88 when I was first at 3(UK) Armd Div and then HQ 33(UK) Armd Bde as a young Int Corps JNCO!

1985...only because NATO three color camo is much easier to paint then MERDC!

I would like to see it set before the super tanks came into being. So still the M60, L1 etc. I think once you go over to edge it becomes too lethal from a gaming fun perspective.

1980/81 because that’s when I was an infantry platoon commander prior to leaving to pursue a different career. I always liked SPI’s B.A.O.R. game because it had my battalion represented by one of the counters. Got to feel like you’re involved somehow!

Yes if it has to be a year 1980 for me too please - the earlier the better!

I'm attracted to 1984 mainly because of the ominous associations with the Orwell book. Plus, I do like the idea of the historical divergence beginning with the death of Andropov and the sidelining (or even assassination) of Gorbachev.

1988. There's a big mix of capabilities amongst AFV's of both sides and you'll still be able to have M60A3's up against T-64B's as well as some (restricted) M1A1's going head to head with T-72B's. But if it's 1984 I'll still be happy!

I would prefer 1986. That is the year Tom Clancy wrote "Red Storm Rising". According to Wikipedia the books plays in the year 1988, but no date is given in the book.

Greetings
Wolflord

Honestly I'd be okay with any year in that range, but put my vote down for somewhere around the middle - 1984, 85, or 86.

And yes, enjoying Clancy's Red Storm Rising may have something to do with that.

1984. Only a handful of the supertanks were available to both sides. By 83, the Regan buildup meant the US Army could give the Soviets a hard fight. By 85, the balance of forces had tipped clearly to NATO's advantage.

My own mod that I've been playing has been focused on 87-88 for its timeframe, but is easily able to be set earlier.

Interesting choice. I think the middle years (83-86) as it was a time for big changes in weapons, so you can take Chiefies or Challys, 432s or Warriors and so on. If it has to be a particular year, 1985 would be my preferred choice. 83 would be a good second choice.

Cheers, Andy