Been wondering why such decks have not been introduced to the game yet. Hope they will some day. They'd be very similar to the personel reinforcements decks we already have. Maybe later, though, because some nations could definitely use some more variety. Also when used in scenarios set in a certain year, cards allowing for tanks that weren't yet available should be discarded prior to game start. Some cards that could be included in a German armored reinforcements deck (example) are:

Panzer III reinforcement- cost 2

Panzer III reinforcement battalion (2 tanks)-cost 4

Panzer IV ausf E reinforcement-cost 3

battalion: cost 6

Panzer IV ausf H-cost 4

batallion: 8

Stug g-cost 4

battalion: 8

Jagdpanzer IV- cost 4

battalion:8

Panther-cost 5

battalion: 10

Tiger-cost 6

battalion: 12

Kingtiger-cost 7

batallion: 14

haphazard reinforcements: roll a red and black die. The results on the black die indicate which units become available, the result on the red die is doubled and is the cost that has to be paid to receive said unit(s).; on a result of 1 no tank becomes available (cost must still be paid) on a roll of 2, you get tank A, on a result of 3, tank B, on a result of 6 you get both tanks A and B etc.

Tank Ace: cost 4. Designate one of your armored units as a tank ace. This unit gains +2 firepower and +1 armor.

Mechanics: Remove a lightly damaged or heavily damaged marker from one of your units. Cost: 1 and 3 respectively.

makeshift added protection: An armored unit of your choice gains +1 armor (tanks crews were very inventive in finding ways to enhance the protection offered by their vehicles). Cost 1

poorly trained crew: Designate one of your opponent's units as a poorly trainde crew. This unit receives -2 firepower and -1 armor. Cost 3

What do you guys think? Might something like this be a nice addition to the game? Just brainstorming above. (Each nation should have one. As I saID, BETTER TO WAIT TILL THERE ARE SOME MORE TANKS AVAILABLE, ESPECIALLY FOR THE bRITISH AND rUSSIANS).

Kingtiger said:

Good ideas, such decks would be very nice for armored engagements such as Prokorovka.

Until the decks come out, scenarios could contain reinforcement lists from which players could by reinforcements with command points.

Very nice thoughts. Would be fun to be able to taylor your tank forces slightly.

But, maybe these decks could come in different flavors, early, mid and late versions? The tiger would not make much sence in the early parts of the war, and some may not make much sence in the later part. Maybe you could mix in a few 'repair parts' into the deck also?

Regarding command cost: its no point in trying to balance the command cost regarding other cards. Having tank-reinforcements must anyway be one of the factors to take into concideration when creating the scenario. But maybe its nice to have a preaty high command cost such that you have to choose between either two panzer IV or one tiger/panther

guess I didnt read your post good enough. You talked about some of these issues...

It might be kind of interesting to have individual tank ace cards with an actual tank ace from WW2 on the card. And there could be some tokens added, like in World of Tanks: game.worldoftanks.com/achievements representing the ace., or designating the particular type of tank, assault gun, vehicle, relative to the card drawn from an armor reinforcement deck.

interesting idea. as for more Russian Tanks you can always use Shermans and Matildas and crusaders as valentines as the Russians where sent over 2000 of each via lend lease. also you could include half tracks in the mix.

BJaffe01

Too right all the texts that i have read on kursk talk about the british and american tanks encountered during the battle (some historians suggest that soviet tank levels were at a critical level due to them having to use the "inferior" (the soviets comparing them to their T34's) UK and USA models that had to put into the field.

BJaffe01 said:

Yes, adding half-tracks and Allied tanks to a Russian armored reinforcements deck might certainly be a nice idea. I suppose each nation could have its own deck, just like the regular reinforcements.

Of course we would like to see new actual miniatures as well (Cromwell, Panzer IV E (just doesn't look right to use a Panzer IV H with an op card...), Jagdpanther, Stug d, Sherman firefly (See comment on Panzer IV E), IS 2, T34/85 (See Panzer IV E and Firefly), SU 76 etc.

The firefly has been used in so many scenarios that I would like to have an op card for that and other sherman varriants.

Actually Lend Lease tanks started helping the Russians in Dec. 1941 when Matlida's where used at Moscow. in 1942 the Counter Attack at Karkov Lend Lease Tanks where probably 20 -25 % of the Tanks Available. I just got several new books on Kursk and yeah the Churchill,Grant and Stuart where there.

Agreed the Firefly needs it's own model.

Soviet Tank Levels where always critical until late 43 for 2 reasons. 1 the Relocated industry had to re gear up production and that took time. 2 they Russians had no Tank Recovery service like the Rest of the Armies and that had to be equipped and trained. those units first really appeared at Kursk and yeomans work.

BJaffe01

Grand Stone said:

Wouldn't a model look much nicer than an op card?

Kingtiger said:

www.tankzone.co.uk/cart/takara_wtm_144s3.htm

Why yes, I do believe Kingtiger is correct.

This is great idea, because it introduces variables like in Axis and Allies Miniatures cards., which is one thing I have kind of missed in TOI.

TOI corrects the problem with AAM, in that initiative and the action phase sequence, allows one player get a "first shot" and can damage/ destroy an enemy unit before it can fire back. In AAM, every unit is guaranteed an initial survival after moving, and damage disruption effects applied only after all units get to fire. (a kind of fair play for game purposes, but not really realistic IMO).

So a combination of the variablility of individual units as in AAM, combined with the more realistic mechanics of TOI, may the perfect tactical wargame.