Ukraine invasion

[Rabulias]

I was wondering to, and had to check. Nope, not that one:

I learned the word ages ago, probably in the early 2000s as Putin began to solidify his hold on Russia. As for DMGs, 5th edition has you covered!

Kleptocracy. This government is composed of groups or individuals primarily seeking wealth for themselves, often at the expense of their subjects. The grasping Bandit Kingdoms in the Greyhawk campaign setting are prime examples. A kingdom run by thieves’ guilds would also fall into this category.

 

[MGibster]

I've often said that I've learned quite a few things from RPGs over the years. From the various types of polearms in existence to a myriad of words I've added to my vocabulary, RPGs have broadened my horizons. A few months back, I purchased Twilight 2000 with the intention of running a campaign, and the book details a lot of Soviet and NATO military equipment including tanks, infantry fighting vehicles, RPGs, anti-tank guided missiles, etc., etc. I was watching some news about the war and they described a vehicle as a tank and I immediately thought, "I think that's a BMP, not a tank." (A BMP is an infantry fighting vehicle originally produced during the Soviet era.) I can't normally tell the difference between specific types of military vehicles so it was odd being able to.

 

[Davies]

Think I learnt that word in 1993. 1E dmg iirc.

For me it was GURPS Voodoo: The Shadow War in 1995 or shortly after.

 

[Zardnaar]

I've often said that I've learned quite a few things from RPGs over the years. From the various types of polearms in existence to a myriad of words I've added to my vocabulary, RPGs have broadened my horizons. A few months back, I purchased Twilight 2000 with the intention of running a campaign, and the book details a lot of Soviet and NATO military equipment including tanks, infantry fighting vehicles, RPGs, anti-tank guided missiles, etc., etc. I was watching some news about the war and they described a vehicle as a tank and I immediately thought, "I think that's a BMP, not a tank." (A BMP is an infantry fighting vehicle originally produced during the Soviet era.) I can't normally tell the difference between specific types of military vehicles so it was odd being able to.

Watching the news is like watching my early 90's model collection. "There's a T-72, there's a MiG29" etc.

 

[Ryujin]

Watching the news is like watching my early 90's model collection. "There's a T-72, there's a MiG29" etc.

At this rate it might start to look like my 1980s board game collection.

"Oh, look. There's a MiG-15!"

 

[Zardnaar]

At this rate it might start to look like my 1980s board game collection.

"Oh, look. There's a MiG-15!"

Well might see ex Romanian MiG21.

 

[Nikosandros]

Well might see ex Romanian MiG21.

Haven't they grounded all of them?

 

[Zardnaar]

Haven't they grounded all of them?

Yes but theoretically they can still fly.

In a wartime situation things like safety standards go out the window.

Aren't the Ukrainians getting F-16's though?

 

[nedjer]

Ukraine have nothing to gain from simply slugging it out with tanks and MIGs. They're using v up-to-date kit but for the type of conflict they're dealing with. Fancy snipers' rifles, loitering drones, real-time intelligence, SUVs, quad bikes, backpack missiles, night sights . . . Sorry but anyone in the middle of designing Ukraine the counter boardgame needs some new counters and no tanks on the table until General Mud departs the scene.

Kind of hoping there will be a squad level boardgame called Tractors.

 

[Zardnaar]

Ukraine have nothing to gain from simply slugging it out with tanks and MIGs. They're using v up-to-date kit but for the type of conflict they're dealing with. Fancy snipers' rifles, loitering drones, real-time intelligence, SUVs, quad bikes, backpack missiles, night sights . . . Sorry but anyone in the middle of designing Ukraine the counter boardgame needs some new counters and no tanks on the table until General Mud departs the scene.

Kind of hoping there will be a squad level boardgame called Tractors.

They need that sort of stuff to throw the Russians out.

Training time as well general mud lasts another month or two.

 

[Eltab]

At this rate it might start to look like my 1980s board game collection.

I once invited some high-school friends over to play "Rise and Fall of the Third Reich". It took 2 hours to put out all the counters, we started to play, did not finish the first turn before we had to pack it all up (because we had taken over the dinner table and the pizza arrived).

 

[Ryujin]

I once invited some high-school friends over to play "Rise and Fall of the Third Reich". It took 2 hours to put out all the counters, we started to play, did not finish the first turn before we had to pack it all up (because we had taken over the dinner table and the pizza arrived).

A couple of my friends were big on wargaming. Me, not so much. Axis and Allies was a big one, but they also were running a long-term WWI air combat game, the name of which escapes me. They would bring people in as effective cannon fodder opponents to try and advance their pilots' ranking, which would give them things like more advanced aerobatics. I was invited and realized why very quickly.

They were fans of the Albatros and Fokker D VII, which both out turn most aircraft. Looking at the stats I chose a couple of SPAD S VII and foiled their attempts at taking them out by fighting on the vertical, not the horizontal. It went on for hours and their frustration was mounting. Dinner finally broke the stalemate and as I was the only one to have scored any hits, I effectively won. This, without really ever getting to know the game well at all. Pure dumb luck, I'd say. I wasn't invited to play again

 

[Umbran]

Yes but theoretically they can still fly.

In a wartime situation things like safety standards go out the window.

A plane that's been grounded and not maintained is not making it back into the air any time soon. Modern military aircraft can't be parked for years, and just put back in the air like nothing happened.

 

[Zardnaar]

A plane that's been grounded and not maintained is not making it back into the air any time soon. Modern military aircraft can't be parked for years, and just put back in the air like nothing happened.

Romanians were flying then up to a few weeks ago. They grounded them due to a crash.

Get desperate enough they'll get used regardless if they'll fly a'la Luftwaffe in WW2.

Assuming the Romanians turn them over. Idk if they will or not.

 

[Sacrosanct]

Yes but theoretically they can still fly.

In a wartime situation things like safety standards go out the window.

LOL, no they don't. In certain situations, things become more lax, but they most certainly don't get thrown out the window, especially when it comes to aircraft.

If an aircraft has been idle for any length of time, you don't want to try to be flying it. Between hydraulic fluid and seals, they are pretty temperamental things, and unlike a car (where if your engine or transmission goes you just stop going forward), an aircraft falls to the ground with much prejudice if something fails.

For terms or full disclosure, I have never worked on a MIG or other modern fixed-wing aircraft. But I was a mechanic for several rotary-wing aircraft (primarily UH-60), and you cannot take a grounded aircraft and make it airworthy without a ton of work. Even in time of war.

 

[Zardnaar]

LOL, no they don't. In certain situations, things become more lax, but they most certainly don't get thrown out the window, especially when it comes to aircraft.

If an aircraft has been idle for any length of time, you don't want to try to be flying it. Between hydraulic fluid and seals, they are pretty temperamental things, and unlike a car (where if your engine or transmission goes you just stop going forward), an aircraft falls to the ground with much prejudice if something fails.

For terms or full disclosure, I have never worked on a MIG or other modern fixed-wing aircraft. But I was a mechanic for several rotary-wing aircraft (primarily UH-60), and you cannot take a grounded aircraft and make it airworthy without a ton of work. Even in time of war.

They were flying up to a month or so ago. They got grounded due to safety concerns. They're still capable of flying afaik. It's like when a 737 or whatever goes down and they ground the rest while they investigate.

It was when that Romanian helicopter went down think a MiG went down and 1-2 rescue helicopters also went down iirc. Think it was in early March iirc.

The MiGs haven't been kept in long term storage they were being used up until March or so.

And we've seen footage of both Russians and Ukrainians using stuff that wouldn't pass muster in the west.

 

[Sacrosanct]

I was responding to your initial post in general, before it was pointed out why they were grounded.

 

[Zardnaar]

I was responding to your initial post in general, before it was pointed out why they were grounded.

I know why they're grounded but they can still fly. Whether it's a good idea to do that idk but the Russians have Ben recorded using WW2 equipment while Ukraine has resorted to WW1 equipment.

If Romania turned those MiGs over as part of the cold war clear out of left over ex Warsaw pact equipment they can probably get them into the air.

They're grounded as a safety precaution not because they can't fly as such. May not be a good idea flying them and idk how good Romanian maintenance has been on planes designed in the 50's a d built at best in the 80's.

 

[nedjer]

They need that sort of stuff to throw the Russians out.

Training time as well general mud lasts another month or two.

I don't doubt they can find uses for MIGs and tanks have been helping clear villages alongside infantry. However, anything that Russia has a chance of dealing with should only come after what they can't deal with. The latest fashion is to attach mortar shells to domestic drones and float a few of them over targets. Completely freaks the Russians out, damn all they can do about it and the operators are gone almost as soon as they appeared.

 

[nedjer]

As it happens dropping small firey gifts on your enemies was one of (the infamous) St Olga's specialities.