Rattenkrieg! is a tabletop miniature wargame system that allows you to simulate battles involving anything from small groups of individual figures to battalion-level units (depending on the scale of the game). Although it was designed with World War II in mind, its mechanics can be used for any conflict where closed formations aren’t employed.
Each vehicle or support weapon represents an individual vehicle or support weapon, and the scenery should also reflect the scale closest to that used for the figures. Throughout the rules, measurements will typically be given for the 28mm scale, but conversion tables for other scales are provided at the end of the rulebook.
Regarding the figures, they always represent an individual combatant, except in very small scales (6mm or less), where the use of bases for weapon teams or fireteams is recommended. However, having individual figures is also recommended to provide greater flexibility in combat.
Rattenkrieg! is not based on preexisting rules. It has been developed from the ground up as a combat simulator, and as a result, some of its concepts differ greatly from those commonly found in wargames. We have strived to make the mechanics similar to what players are already familiar with, but that is where the similarities end.
Regarding the human element of combat, I have also based the rules on doctrine, reports, and personal and legal testimonies written during the war, in order to reflect human behavior during combat, as well as the moments immediately before and after, as accurately as possible.
On the other hand, Rattenkrieg! scenarios—even those based on non-historical engagements—are rarely balanced. Seldom in the history of armed conflict are the forces engaged in battle truly equal. Typically, the attacker only strikes when they believe they possess superiority.
Rattenkrieg!’s approach does not require players to accept it in its entirety. In fact, the rules are modularly designed, and in some cases, offer more than one mechanism to accomplish the same task—a simple, fast one, and a more complex, precise one. Other mechanics are optional and are designed to be applied in very specific cases or to enrich the gaming experience.
The objective of Rattenkrieg! is to provide players with an experience that confronts them with the same types of decisions, situations, and challenges they would encounter in actual combat.
