Firestorm Sicily Campaign (by Pasadena California gamers)

By Tom Richards, Scott Grasse and Christian Sorenson

Firestorm – Sicily is a new mid-war Firestorm campaign that allows gamers to recreate Operation Husky as either Axis (Italian or German) or Allied (British or American) forces.

In the traditional format, Firestorm – Sicily is played as a series of linked battles that are resolved by playing Flames of War games.  The outcomes of the battles affect the larger campaign map and allow players to re-determine the outcome of one of the most critically important operations of WWII.  With the material posted here on NDNG Firestorm – Sicily can be run with your local group or can be played as an online campaign.

Firestorm – Sicily Overview

The campaign has several unique features and player options that expand Force composition and capabilities.  These include several new formations including Italian Coastal Defence, Fucilieri Rifle and FIAT Tank companies, German Fallschirmjager, Hermann Goering and Mixed Panzer companies, United States Parachute and Ranger companies, and British Parachute and Air Landing companies.

Dozens of new units have been added, several of which feature new equipment previously not available like the 4.2” Mortar, 75mm Pack Howitzer, 57mm Anti-Tank gun, M8 Greyhound, Renault R-35 Tank and Semovente 90/53 Anti-Tank Gun.

 

The Firestorm – Sicily Campaign features rules to give players a unique Sicily experience, including;

• Sicily Terrain effects
• Victory point scheme tailored to the Sicily campaign
• New Force Formation diagrams
• New Formations and Units
• New Command Build cards
• Updated Mission Pack for Airborne drops, Glider Assault, and Beach Landings
• Rules for off-board Naval Gunfire Support and Rail Guns
• Bunkers, nests and other entrenchments
• Special campaign rules reflecting the fierce competition between Patton and Montgomery, the effect of the campaign on the Italian spirit and How the campaign affected Mussolini’s grip on power!

 

To assist with the new source material, Firestorm – Sicily will present players two sets of rules: Firestorm Base Rules, and Firestorm – Sicily Player Pack.  These rules will guide and assist campaign organizers and players alike in conducting the campaign and running battles at their local venues.

What is a Firestorm Campaign?

A Firestorm Campaign is a series of linked battles that tie to a larger campaign map. Players engage in standard Flames of War battles at their regular gaming venue to represent the engagements that are occurring on the campaign map.

At the end of each campaign turn, the results of all the battles are used to alter the positions of the units on the campaign map.  Players also receive free Units to add to their games based on the participating Firestorm Troops from the map.

Each turn there will be up to five “Battle Arrows” (attacks represented by big red arrows) on the campaign map. These are determined by the opposing Generals using rules for initiative and supply, and the results of previous turns.

To play battles, choose a Battle Arrow for the engagement you would like to represent with your game. Use the campaign rules posted here and, in the forum, to purchase forces and set up your battle table. Then play the battles! Report back the results to your Campaign Organizer with an After Action Report along with the score. The results will be used by the Generals to direct the movement of troops on the campaign map and set the stage for the next offensives.

How many battles can be played?

Each battle may be played any number of times as there are players willing to play them. Scores of all battles from each turn will be entered into a supercomputer (spreadsheet) and processed using a complex proprietary algorithm (sum and average) to determine the final Victory Point result of each Battle Arrow.

In other words, if some battles fail miserably the overall attack can still be victorious if enough of the other battles are victorious. This represents the mixed degree of impact that small unit engagements can have within a large battle or campaign that has an overall different outcome.

Firestorm Units

Firestorm allows players to choose and build their own pool of Firestorm Support Units, in a similar fashion based on the format in Firestorm – Tunisia by Scott Grasse.  Before each battle is played, you will have the ability to draw from your pool of Firestorm Support Units and add them to your main force. Which units are available to use is partially determined by the Firestorm Troops involved on the battle map.

 

Commendations

Firestorm continues the player award system developed for Firestorm – Tunisia. As battles are fought you can assess your opponent and award commendations for merit.  By gaining commendations players can unlock additional bonuses to be used in subsequent campaign rounds.

Future Firestorm Campaigns in Italy

In anticipation of BattleFronts release of D-Day Late War books, we will be crafting two additional late-war modules titled Firestorm – Italy for release in Q3.   These Firestorm campaign modules will add Southern and Central Italy as theaters of operations for players but all forces, formations, and cards will be based on formations and units coming out with the new late-war BattleFront releases for D-Day, with additions similar to what we are doing for Firestorm – Sicily to reflect that campaign.  Stay tuned for these packs.

Where and When?

Starting May 25th and ending July 6th, players based out of Game Empire in Pasadena, California will run a Firestorm – Sicily campaign.  If you are reading this and are interested in joining this Firestorm – Sicily campaign, ; we’ll get you hooked up.  Also, find us on the

Conclusion

So take your Dramamine, write your sweetheart and get your duffel ready; your shipping out to Sicily soldier. For you, Tenentes, or Oberleutnants, warm up the pasta, crack open the Frappato, get some Lily Marlene playing and carry out your orders under the watchful eyes of il ‘Duce and the Fuhrer!