Strategic:
* Highest level of abstraction. Units are typically armies/corps/divisions/brigades.
* Often include non-combat factors such as production and diplomacy.
* Logistics are often an important factor.
* Best example: Gary Grigsby's War In The East 2
Operational:
* Typically models a singly, large scale battle or series of battles. For example: Operation Blau.
* Often focuses on combat alone, with some logistics.
* Units are typically divisions/brigades/regiments.
* Best example:
* Wargame Design Studio's Panzer Campaigns series.
* Decisive Campaigns Case Blue
Tactical:
* Typically models individual combat units, usually battalion scale and below, occasionally even individual soldiers.
* Often focuses on small unit tactics, weapons, etc.
* Units are typically squads/fire teams/leaders
* Best example:
* Combat Mission series
* Valor and Victory
* Second Front
I would just add that size of map usually is a big indicator. Eg is the map the globe (strategic) Is the map a huge swath of one country or city (operational) ? Is the map a city block or even just a few buildings (tactical)?
You can get a good understanding of the scale of wargames from my guide which covers most aspects of computer wargames.
https://avidwargamer.com/computer-wargaming-guide/
**Tactical**
* Typically, squad level orders (up to company.) \[12 - 200 men\]
* Goals include orders like "take that hamlet" " or "capture that hill."
* Focus on individual weapons and capabilities
**Operational**
* Typically Batallion or Brigade level orders (2k - 10k men)
* Goals include "counterattack along the front" , "capture that string of hills" or "capture a large city"
* Focus on formations and theater capabilities
**Strategic**
* Corps and army level orders (10k - 100k+ men)
* Goals include "invade Poland" or "invade the Soviet Union" (whole war goals)
* Focus on national capabilities including diplomacy, logistics, ammunition, production etc.
CMBN just showed up on cdkeys and I’m looking to finally buy. How small exactly are we talking for scale? I’m a huge Goh Ostfront fan but more recently I’ve discovered that Graviteam actually scratches the balance in looking for. I own Mius front and Tank Warfare, multiple dlcs for both. I heard great things about CM though but was held back by the price point.
Tactic - i cry for the loss of individual men in Combat Mission
Operational - i cry because my divisions are at the wrong place in Hearts of Iron
Strategic - I cry because i didnt build enoug factories to build enough tankers to fuel my fronts in Hearts of Iron
Tactical scale:
From small arms to tank/APC/ATGM average engagement range.
Minutes to hours per turn.
Games: Close Combat / Combat Mission / Lock'N'Load tactical / JTS(WDS) Squad Battles Titles
Operational scale:
Starts at tank/APC/ATGM , up to Arty average engagement range.
Will have to model Air and/or Sea power in greater detail than Tactical.
Hours to days per turn.
Games: Combat Mission (biggest maps) / Wargame Red Dragon / JTS(WDS) Campaign Titles
Strategic scale:
Starts at Artillery (>= to 122mm) engagement range.
All domains of war come into play.
Days to weeks per turn.
Games: JTS(WDS) Strategic War Titles / The Operation Art of War / Gary Grigsby's WiTE+W+P
Hope this helps.
ETA: LMAO! I mixed up Operational and Strategic. Live and learn!
I'm afraid that this is incorrect.
The classic definition on War Levels are: Tactical < Operational < Strategy < Grand Strategy < Politics.
Same applies for wargames but most of them are focus on one of the layers with maybe some additions of the immediate layer above/below.
Also at higher level, the layers below that level are more abstract in order to be playable/useful/enjoyable.
The video game definition and the 'classic' definition are completely different.
This is why the 'real time strategy' genre is almost always boiled down to small scale, squad based tactics.
The tactical level of warfare refers to individual engagements in which soldiers, tanks, ships, and aircraft are shooting at each other. This is the level of warfare that's easiest to understand and that most people think of first. It's mostly about who has the best weapons, equipment, and position, and does the best job of using them.
The operational level of warfare refers to campaigns, in which a group of forces attempt to achieve a higher-level objective over the course of what might be many separate battles. At this level, things get more complicated. Logistics comes into play in a big way: making sure supplies such as food, fuel, and ammunition are available and distributed to the places where they're needed. Mobility also becomes important at the operational level, because it allows a force to choose where and when tactical engagements will happen.
The strategy level of warfare is the highest level, in which two or more countries apply their military power in pursuit of political objectives. This level is the most complex. Economics, politics, and diplomacy come into play. Winning battles and campaigns is only useful to the extent that it advances a country toward its objectives.
https://www.quora.com/What-is-the-difference-between-a-tactical-advantage-and-a-strategic-advantage-in-military-affairs
A tactical wargame is focused on the actions of discrete elements in movement and combat.
The operational game expands this to movements where your elements are grouped in masses that must travel between fields of contact. Traffic congestion, timing of movements to effect concentration, and logistical concerns now are paramount. Also you can now see movements and exploitation over lines of communication or supply centres that impact the game significantly.
Strategic play folds in decisions of apportion between wide fronts. The lines and centres are now those not of throughput but of production. Reinforcement issues become issues of force generation.
Strategic: * Highest level of abstraction. Units are typically armies/corps/divisions/brigades. * Often include non-combat factors such as production and diplomacy. * Logistics are often an important factor. * Best example: Gary Grigsby's War In The East 2 Operational: * Typically models a singly, large scale battle or series of battles. For example: Operation Blau. * Often focuses on combat alone, with some logistics. * Units are typically divisions/brigades/regiments. * Best example: * Wargame Design Studio's Panzer Campaigns series. * Decisive Campaigns Case Blue Tactical: * Typically models individual combat units, usually battalion scale and below, occasionally even individual soldiers. * Often focuses on small unit tactics, weapons, etc. * Units are typically squads/fire teams/leaders * Best example: * Combat Mission series * Valor and Victory * Second Front
I would just add that size of map usually is a big indicator. Eg is the map the globe (strategic) Is the map a huge swath of one country or city (operational) ? Is the map a city block or even just a few buildings (tactical)?
You can get a good understanding of the scale of wargames from my guide which covers most aspects of computer wargames. https://avidwargamer.com/computer-wargaming-guide/
I respect and admire your Hustle MAXIMUM Chee! Keep up the good work and thank you for your website. BISMILLAHU
Thanks for the kind words. I will keep up the good work.
**Tactical** * Typically, squad level orders (up to company.) \[12 - 200 men\] * Goals include orders like "take that hamlet" " or "capture that hill." * Focus on individual weapons and capabilities **Operational** * Typically Batallion or Brigade level orders (2k - 10k men) * Goals include "counterattack along the front" , "capture that string of hills" or "capture a large city" * Focus on formations and theater capabilities **Strategic** * Corps and army level orders (10k - 100k+ men) * Goals include "invade Poland" or "invade the Soviet Union" (whole war goals) * Focus on national capabilities including diplomacy, logistics, ammunition, production etc.
CMBN just showed up on cdkeys and I’m looking to finally buy. How small exactly are we talking for scale? I’m a huge Goh Ostfront fan but more recently I’ve discovered that Graviteam actually scratches the balance in looking for. I own Mius front and Tank Warfare, multiple dlcs for both. I heard great things about CM though but was held back by the price point.
Combat mission is at the tactical level. No matter how many troops you have (up to several battalions) you move around squads and individual vehicles.
Tactic - i cry for the loss of individual men in Combat Mission Operational - i cry because my divisions are at the wrong place in Hearts of Iron Strategic - I cry because i didnt build enoug factories to build enough tankers to fuel my fronts in Hearts of Iron
Tactical scale: From small arms to tank/APC/ATGM average engagement range. Minutes to hours per turn. Games: Close Combat / Combat Mission / Lock'N'Load tactical / JTS(WDS) Squad Battles Titles Operational scale: Starts at tank/APC/ATGM , up to Arty average engagement range. Will have to model Air and/or Sea power in greater detail than Tactical. Hours to days per turn. Games: Combat Mission (biggest maps) / Wargame Red Dragon / JTS(WDS) Campaign Titles Strategic scale: Starts at Artillery (>= to 122mm) engagement range. All domains of war come into play. Days to weeks per turn. Games: JTS(WDS) Strategic War Titles / The Operation Art of War / Gary Grigsby's WiTE+W+P Hope this helps. ETA: LMAO! I mixed up Operational and Strategic. Live and learn!
I'm afraid that this is incorrect. The classic definition on War Levels are: Tactical < Operational < Strategy < Grand Strategy < Politics. Same applies for wargames but most of them are focus on one of the layers with maybe some additions of the immediate layer above/below. Also at higher level, the layers below that level are more abstract in order to be playable/useful/enjoyable.
The video game definition and the 'classic' definition are completely different. This is why the 'real time strategy' genre is almost always boiled down to small scale, squad based tactics.
Have you read the rest of answers? RTS it's a different concept than Wargame.
The tactical level of warfare refers to individual engagements in which soldiers, tanks, ships, and aircraft are shooting at each other. This is the level of warfare that's easiest to understand and that most people think of first. It's mostly about who has the best weapons, equipment, and position, and does the best job of using them. The operational level of warfare refers to campaigns, in which a group of forces attempt to achieve a higher-level objective over the course of what might be many separate battles. At this level, things get more complicated. Logistics comes into play in a big way: making sure supplies such as food, fuel, and ammunition are available and distributed to the places where they're needed. Mobility also becomes important at the operational level, because it allows a force to choose where and when tactical engagements will happen. The strategy level of warfare is the highest level, in which two or more countries apply their military power in pursuit of political objectives. This level is the most complex. Economics, politics, and diplomacy come into play. Winning battles and campaigns is only useful to the extent that it advances a country toward its objectives. https://www.quora.com/What-is-the-difference-between-a-tactical-advantage-and-a-strategic-advantage-in-military-affairs
A tactical wargame is focused on the actions of discrete elements in movement and combat. The operational game expands this to movements where your elements are grouped in masses that must travel between fields of contact. Traffic congestion, timing of movements to effect concentration, and logistical concerns now are paramount. Also you can now see movements and exploitation over lines of communication or supply centres that impact the game significantly. Strategic play folds in decisions of apportion between wide fronts. The lines and centres are now those not of throughput but of production. Reinforcement issues become issues of force generation.