Balagan Point System for Crossfire

Dick Bryant got in contact this week and said “I just spent an unproductive 1/2 hour looking for your write ups on using points to balance a scenario. Where did you put it?” It isn’t there. Sorry about that Dick. My points system was missing because it is based on the points at the back of the rules. However, on reflection, I think there are sufficient differences between what I do now and what the rules say, that I should share.

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Why points

I use points because I want my games to have flavour, be fair and be fun. Points help with the “fair” bit. I’m looking for games where each player has an equal chance of winning. This isn’t about identical forces or sizes of forces. I think players will have more fun if they have a good chance to win. That, to me, is fair.

So I use points to design my scenarios. All other things being equal, having forces that are equal points give each player an equal chance of winning. But equal points does not mean identical. A force that is Veteran, with good Command & Control, and has excellent commanders (lots of +2 and the rest +1) is going to be very small – this describes the stereotypical Germans. Compare that to a Green force, with poor Command & Control, and mediocre commanders (e.g. rated as +1/0). The Green force, the Soviet stereotype, is going to be huge. Or imagine the Germans are Panzer Grenadiers, they might have all the above plus half tracks and tanks. The Soviets might go a completely different route and field a force representing a Machinegun-Artillery Battalion of a Fortified Region. Lots of HMG and anti-tank guns in fortifications. Deployed hidden. Equal points is not identical.

My points system is based on the “Bonus Selection” bit at the back of the Rules (CF14.0 p. 33-37), modified by

• my fortification points
• my Revised points system for Crossfire armour (listed in my Crossfire data sheets)
• my rules for modifying costs based on deployment, mentioned in The 3Fs of Crossfire Scenario Design: Flavour, Fair, Fun
• my undocumented rules for the number of points for the size of the game

A bit messy, I admit. And not super easy for others to follow my lead. Particularly the “undocumented bits”. All that can now change

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How many points do I get to spend?

You can pick any points total you want. However, as a starting point a small game is about 70 points, medium about 140 points, and large about 210 points. [CF defines game size in terms of number of companies. Then adjusts points based on the fact that the companies of different nations cost different points. I find easier just to start with a certain number of points.]

I use the standard Bonus Points modifiers. CF gives each side Bonus Points to spend depending on the size of the game (Small, Medium, Large), posture (Attacking/Defending), and the Command & Control (Good/Okay/Poor).

Game Size	Base Points	Posture	Bonus Points for Command & Control			Base + Bonus Points for Command & Control
			Good	Okay	Poor	Good	Okay	Poor
Small Game	70	Attacking	+10.0	+13.0	+17.0	80.0	83.0	87.0
		Defending	+6.0	+9.0	+12.0	76.0	79.0	82.0
Medium Game	140	Attacking	+12.5	+16.5	+21.0	152.5	156.5	161.0
		Defending	+8.0	+11.5	+14.5	148.0	151.5	154.5
Large Game	210	Attacking	+15.0	+20.0	+25.0	225.0	230.0	235.0
		Defending	+10.0	+13.0	+17.0	220.0	223.0	227.0

So, for example, an attacking German player in a medium sized game would get 152.5 points, 140 for the size of game and 12.5 bonus points for good Command & Control. Their Soviet opponent would get 154.5 points, the same 140 points for a medium sized game, and 14.5 bonus points for poor Command & Control.

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What can I spend the points on?

Here is my complete points list. My starting point were the “Bonus Selections” from the back of the rules and many of these are unchanged. Where I ignore a point cost from the rules, I list it but use strikethrough to show I ignore it. In the “Who” Column I indicate whether the rule comes from the Crossfire rules (CF) or from me (ST).

These points are modified by how the troops are initially deployed (see below).

Commanders
Nationality	Type	Cost	Who	Comment
All	CC (+2)	6.0	CF	Regular or Green
All	CC (+1)	4.0	CF	Regular or Green
All	CC (0)	2.0	ST	Regular or Green. I don’t think CF specifies the cost, but as this is a fighting stand I don’t think it is free
All	Upgrade CC to Veteran	+2.0	CF	Veteran CCs are the only CC/PC that cost extra for morale
All	PC (+2)	4.0	CF	Veteran, Regular or Green
All	PC (+1)	2.0	CF	Veteran, Regular or Green
Soviet	PC (+1 Close Combat; 0 Rally)	1.0	ST	Veteran, Regular or Green. Effectively these are half way between +0 and +1 PCs so I cost them accordingly
All	PC (0)	0.0	CF	Veteran, Regular or Green
Infantrymen
Nationality	Type	Cost	Who	Comment
All	Regular Rifle Squad	3.0	CF
All	Regular SMG Squad	2.5	CF
All	Downgrade Squad from Regular to Green	-0.5	CF
All	Upgrade Squad from Regular to Veteran	+1.5	CF
All	Upgrade Squad to Engineer	+0.5	CF
All	Upgrade Squad from Engineer to Assault Engineer	+1.0	CF
All	Upgrade Squad to have Anti-tank Rifle	+0.5	CF
German	Upgrade Squad to have Early Panzerfaust	+2.0	CF
German	Upgrade Squad to have Later Panzerfaust	+2.5	CF
German	Upgrade Squad to have Panzershrek	+2.5	CF
Soviet	Upgrade Squad to have Bazooka	+3.0	CF
USA	Upgrade Squad to have Bazooka	+2.0	CF
British	Upgrade Squad to have Piat	+2.0	CF
All	Sniper	1.0	CF
All	HMG	6.0	CF	Veteran, Regular or Green
Indirect Fire Weapons
Nationality	Type	Cost	Who	Comment
All	1d6 Pre-planned Bombardment (PPB)	0.5	ST	Comparable to heavy artillery
All	FO for off-table 45-60mm Mortars (inc 2”) (12 FM)	4.0	CF	3 FM cost 1 point
All	FO for off-table 61-84mm Mortars (inc 3″) and Guns (12 FM)	6.0	CF	2 FM cost 1 point
All	FO for off-table 85-120mm Mortars; Guns 85-104mm (10 FM)	7.0	CF	3 FM costs 2 points
All	FO for off-table Heavy Artillery 105mm+ (4 FM)	10.0	CF	1 FM costs 2.5 points
All	on-table 50 mm Mortar (12 FM)	4.0	ST	3 FM cost 1 point
Great Britain	on-table 2″ Mortar (12 FM)	4.0	ST	3 FM cost 1 point
USA	on-table 60 mm Mortar (12 FM)	4.0	CF	3 FM cost 1 point
All	FO for off-table 81 mm Mortar (12 FM)	6.0	CF	2 FM cost 1 point
German	FO for off-table 80 mm Mortar (12 FM)	6.0	CF	2 FM cost 1 point
Great Britain	FO for off-table 3″ Mortar (12 FM)	6.0	CF	2 FM cost 1 point
Soviet	FO for off-table 82 mm Mortar (12 FM)	6.0	CF	2 FM cost 1 point
All	FO for off-table 75 mm Infantry Gun (12 FM)	6.0	CF	2 FM cost 1 point
German	FO for off-table 75 mm Infantry Gun (12 FM)	10	CF	Why does German 75 mm IG cost 10 not 6?
Soviet	FO for off-table 76 mm Infantry Gun (12 FM)	6	CF	2 FM cost 1 point
All	FO for off-table 120 mm Mortar (10 FM)	7.0	CF	3 FM costs 2 points
All	FO for off-table 120 mm Mortar (12 FM)	8.0	ST	3 FM costs 2 points
Great Britain	FO for off-table 4.2″ Mortar (10 FM)	7.0	CF	3 FM costs 2 points
Soviet	FO for off-table 120 mm Mortar (12 FM)	7.0	CF	3 FM costs 2 points
All	FO for off-table Heavy Artillery (4 FM)	10	CF	1 FM costs 2.5 points
German	FO for off-table 150 mm Infantry Gun (8 FM)	10	CF	Why does German 15cm IG get 8 FM not 4?
USA	FO for off-table Heavy Artillery (5 FM)	10	CF	Why does USA Heavy Artillery get 5 FM not 4?
Fortifications
Nationality	Type	Cost	Who	Comment
All	Fortification Package: 1 Bunker (2 Squad capacity); 3 Wire; 1 Mine	6.0	CF
All	Bunker (4 Squad capacity)	4.5	ST
All	Bunker (3 Squad capacity)	3.5	ST
All	Bunker (2 Squad capacity)	2.5	ST
All	Bunker (1 Squad capacity)	1.5	ST
All	Mines (4 Stand Section or 1 feature)	2.0	ST
All	Wire (4 Stand Section)	0.5	ST
All	Entrenchment	Free	ST
Armour and Anti-tank guns
Nationality	Type	Cost	Who	Comment
All	Random Tank	9.0	CF	I never assign random vehicles
All	Random APC	8.0	CF	I never assign random vehicles
All	Random ATG	3.0	CF	I never assign random ATG
France	CharB	10.0	ST
France	FT17 with Cannon	6.0	ST
France	Hotchkiss 35/39	6.0	ST
France	Renault 35/40	6.0	ST
France	Somua S-35	9.5	ST
France	AMR Halftrack	8.0	ST
France	25/71 ATG	0.0	ST
France	47/53 ATG	2.5	ST
France	75mm IG	7.0	ST
German	15cm sIG 33 Howitzer, Stu.Inf.Gesch 33	5.0	ST
German	2cm Flak on SdKfz 10/5 Half Track	4.0	ST
German	Marder II	4.0	ST
German	Marder III	10.5	ST
German	Panzerjager IV Nashorn	7.0	ST
German	Panzerjager Tiger (P) Elefant	18.5	ST
German	Panzerjager Tiger (P) Ferdinand	15.5	ST
German	Pz 38(t) A-D	6.0	ST
German	Pz 38(t) E-F, S	7.5	ST
German	Pz II C	4.5	ST
German	Pz II F	5.5	ST
German	Pz II L (Lachs)	6.0	ST
German	Pz III E-F	8.0	ST
German	Pz III G	9.0	ST
German	Pz III H-M	11.0	ST
German	Pz III N	12.5	ST
German	Pz IV D-E	11.5	ST
German	Pz IV F (F1)	12.5	ST
German	Pz IV G-H	14.0	ST
German	Pz V Panther	17.0	ST
German	Pz VI B, Tiger II, King Tiger	20.5	ST
German	Pz VI, Tiger I	16.0	ST
German	SdKfz 165 Hummel	4.5	ST
German	SdKfz 231 (8-RAD)	6.5	ST
German	SdKfz 232 (8-RAD)	6.5	ST
German	SdKfz 233 (8-RAD) “Stummel”	4.5	ST
German	SdKfz 234/1	6.0	ST
German	SdKfz 234/2 Puma	8.5	ST
German	SdKfz 234/3 “Stummel”	4.0	ST
German	SdKfz 234/4	5.5	ST
German	SdKfz 251/22 75mm L/48 PaK 40	9.0	ST
German	StuG III D-E	6.5	ST
German	StuG III F-G	13.0	ST
German	StuG III G 42H; StuH 42	9.0	ST
German	StuG IV	13.0	ST
German	SturmPz I, Brummbär	15.5	ST
German	SturmPz I, Brummbär	11.5	ST
German	Wespe	10.5	ST
German	Pz I A-B	6.5	ST
German	Pz I C	8.0	ST
German	Pz I F	9.5	ST
German	SdKfz 250/1 HalfTrack	8.0	ST
German	10.5 cm leFH 18 field howitzer	9.0	ST
German	150mm IG	9.0	ST
German	2cm 30/38 Quad Flak	4.5	ST
German	3.7cm PaK 35/36 ATG	1.0	ST
German	3.7cm PaK 35/36 ATG using Steilgranate 41	6.0	ST
German	5.0cm PaK 38 ATG	3.0	ST
German	7.5cm le IG	6.0	ST
German	7.5cm PaK 40 Aufgw 39H(F) ATG	6.0	ST
German	8.8cm Flak 18, 36	10.5	ST
German	8.8cm PaK 43 ATG	8.5	ST
Italy	Carro Armato L6/40	7.0	ST
Italy	Carro Armato M11	7.0	ST
Italy	Carro Armato M13/40 M14/41	7.5	ST
Italy	Carro Armato M15/42	9.0	ST
Italy	Semovente M41 (DA 90/53)	6.0	ST
Italy	Semovente M41-42 (DA 75/18, DA 75/32)	8.5	ST
Italy	Semovente M43 (DA 105/25)	12.0	ST
Italy	L3-35 Tankette	5.5	ST
Italy	37mm ATG	1.0	ST
Italy	47mm ATG	2.5	ST
Italy	65mm IG	6.0	ST
Japan	Type 89	8.0	ST
Japan	Type 95 Kyugo (HaGo)	4.5	ST
Japan	Type 97 ChiHa	7.5	ST
Japan	47mm ATG	2.5	ST
Japan	57mm ATG	2.5	ST
Japan	75mm IG	7.0	ST
Soviet	BT 7	8.0	ST
Soviet	IS II	18.0	ST
Soviet	ISU-122	16.5	ST
Soviet	ISU-152	16.5	ST
Soviet	KV-1 M1939	14.0	ST
Soviet	KV-1A M1939, M1940	14.5	ST
Soviet	KV-1C M1941	15.5	ST
Soviet	KV-1E M1940	15.5	ST
Soviet	KV-2 M1940	15.5	ST
Soviet	SU-100	11.5	ST
Soviet	SU-122	9.5	ST
Soviet	SU-152	11.0	ST
Soviet	SU-76	5.0	ST
Soviet	SU-76i	7.5	ST
Soviet	SU-76M	8.0	ST
Soviet	SU-85	10.0	ST
Soviet	T-26	7.5	ST
Soviet	T-34/76 B M1941, C M1942, M1943	12.0	ST
Soviet	T-34/76A M1940	10.5	ST
Soviet	T-34/85	16.0	ST
Soviet	T-60	5.5	ST
Soviet	T-70	8.0	ST
Soviet	100mm BS-3 ATG	7.5	ST
Soviet	45mm ATG	3.0	ST
Soviet	57mm ATG (57/73)	4.5	ST
Soviet	76.2mm Field Gun (76/41)	7.5	ST
Soviet	76.2mm IG	6.0	ST
Soviet	85mm M1939 AA Gun	7.5	ST
Great Britain	Churchill I	12.0	ST
Great Britain	Churchill IV	12.0	ST
Great Britain	Churchill V	13.0	ST
Great Britain	Churchill VII	15.5	ST
Great Britain	Churchill VIII	15.5	ST
Great Britain	Cromwell I	12.0	ST
Great Britain	Cromwell IV	13.0	ST
Great Britain	Cromwell VCS	14.0	ST
Great Britain	Cromwell VII	14.0	ST
Great Britain	Cromwell VIIICS	14.0	ST
Great Britain	Matilda	11.0	ST
Great Britain	Matilda CS	12.0	ST
Great Britain	Sherman Firefly (17 Pdr)	14.5	ST
Great Britain	Valentine (2pdr)	11.0	ST
Great Britain	Valentine (6pdr)	11.5	ST
Great Britain	Bren Carrier	7.5	ST
Great Britain	17 Pdr ATG	6.0	ST
Great Britain	2 Pdr ATG	1.5	ST
Great Britain	6 Pdr ATG	3.0	ST
USA	M10 TD	12.0	ST
USA	M24 Chaffee	11.5	ST
USA	M3 Lee/Grant	10.5	ST
USA	M3 Stuart/Honey	7.5	ST
USA	M36 TD	13.0	ST
USA	M26 Pershing	16.5	ST
USA	M7 Priest	9.5	ST
USA	Sherman 105mm Howitzer	14.0	ST
USA	Sherman 75mm	13.5	ST
USA	Sherman 76mm	14.0	ST
USA	Sherman Jumbo 75mm	16.5	ST
USA	Sherman Jumbo 76mm	17.0	ST
USA	T30/M3 GMC Halftrack	8.0	ST
USA	M3/5 Half track	8.0	ST
USA	57mm ATG	3.0	ST
USA	76mm ATG	6.0	ST

Points cost of Commanders

The cost of commanders depends on their type, Platoon Command (PC) or Company Commander (CC) and command ability (0, +1 or +2). PCs cost the same regardless of morale (Green, Regular, Veteran). Green and Regular CCs cost the same. Veteran CC’s cost more. BCs, although not in the table above, cost the same as CCs.

For example, a Regular CC (+2) costs 6 points. Upgrading the CC to Veteran adds 2 points to 8 total. You can buy a Platoon of SMG Squads for less than that.

Points cost of Infantrymen

Snipers have a fixed cost (1 point).

HMG have a fixed cost regardless of the morale (Green, Regular, Veteran) (6 points).

The cost of Squads depends on their weapon (Rifle or SMG) and upgrades. More upgrades equals more expensive. A Regular Rifle Squad (3 points), upgraded to Veteran (+1.5 points), upgraded to Engineer (+0.5 points) and then Assault Engineer (+1.0 points), and upgraded to have a Panzershrek (+2.5 points) is going to be expensive. 8.5 points for this super trooper compared to a mere 3 points for a plain Rifle Squad.

SMG Squads are 0.5 points cheaper than their rifle armed equivalent. So 2.5 points for a Regular SMG Squad.

Points cost of Indirect Fire Weapons

The points cost of Indirect Fire Weapons depends on the size of the weapon and the number of Fire Missions (FM). Crossfire gives a standard number of FM per type of weapon but you are not bound by this. You can increase and decrease the number of FM. I’ve provided the cost to do this in the comments column in the table.

For example, 10 points buys 4 FM of Heavy Artillery. But 12.5 points buy 5 FM. If you only want 2 FM of Heavy Artillery then you only need to pay 5 points.

Points cost of Pre-planning Bombardment (PPB)

A point cost of 0.5 per pre-planned bombardment die gives rough comparability to heavy artillery. 2.5 points would buy 5 PPB dice or 1 FM of 5d6 heavy artillery. PPB actually has a greater chance to kill but you have to guess where the land it.

Points cost of Armour and Anti-tank guns

Check out my Crossfire data sheets if you want to know what the points for a particular vehicle gives you. The calculations behind this are described in myRevised points system for Crossfire armour.

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Deployment modifiers on points cost

I vary the point costs above based on how the troops are deployed. I don’t change the points cost of visible troops, but hidden troops cost more. Off table reinforcements, because they might not turn up at all, cost less.

Deployment	Percentage modifier
Visible	0%
Hidden	+50%
Hidden Reveal on 1	+100%
Off table reinforcement	-50%

For example, a Regular Rifle Squad costs 3 points if deployed visible, 4.5 points if hidden, 6 points if hidden and reveal on a 1, but only 1.5 points if it starts off table as a reinforcement.

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Multi-player modifiers on points cost

Martin Groat’s Three Player Crossfire gives the defender one initiative and gives the two attacking players an initiative each. Two initiatives to one. This can seriously unbalance a game so would penalise attacking players in points to give them a smaller force than they would have with only a single initiative.

Balance of Players	Percentage modifier
Evenly balanced e.g. 1:1 or 2:2 or 3:3 etc	0%
2:1 i.e. two attacking initiatives to one defending	+50% to Attacker points costs or award the force only 67% of the points they would normally get

For example: The defending Soviets in a medium sized game get 154.5 points. Normally, with a single attacking German player, the Germans would normally get 152.5 points in a medium sized game. If there are two German players, each with a separate initiative, then either:

• Make every single German stand +50% to points cost. So the attackers will have less troops.
• Or, perhaps more simply, give the Germans 67% of the points they would normally get, i.e. 102 points. So the attackers will have less troops.

+50% (or x67%) is a big penalty. But the advantages of multiple initiatives is a big benefit.

Warning: I have not play tested this. It is just based on Martin Groat’s play testing / recommendations.

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Then tweak

As I said in my post The 3Fs of Crossfire Scenario Design: Flavour, Fair, Fun, you will have to tweak the points to achieve balance.

After doing all that maths you need to adjust for any scenario specific weirdness. And scenarios can be quite weird.

Some of my scenarios do not look at all balanced – at least in relative force compositions. Here are four notable examples:

• Krasny Bor Crossfire campaign: Four Soviet divisions attacking the equivalent of four Spanish battalions. Nominally odds of 10 to 1 but in reality each defender battalion is facing three attacking battalions.
• Village P: Two German companies and three StuGs attacking into a battalion of Soviets. The Soviets are constrained on where they can deploy offsetting their apparent advantage.
• Papa Eicke Scenario: Two German platoons (yes platoon) and eight armoured vehicles attack into a battalion of Soviets. Although the forces are staggeringly unbalanced, the Soviets arrive in dribs and drabs and the Germans do not have to hold territory, just get what they need and leave.
• Race Through Normandy: Two US or Canadian battalions (more or less) attack a German battalion. This includes the possibility that each German platoon only has two squads so the allies can have odds of 3 to 1. But the victory conditions do not necessarily encourage total conquest so light defenders can still threaten massed attackers.

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Isn’t this rather complicated?

Not really. I have a spreadsheet to make generating an order of battle, and calculating the points, a rather simple process. Effectively box ticking. The spreadsheet even gives me the HTML to use for the order of battle in a new scenario to post on this site. So, the calculations at least, are simple.

The tweaking is where art comes into scenario design. Equal points is a good start, but game balance is not, unfortunately, just a matter of counting points.

You can Download Crossfire Orbat v5.xls.