The QUICK Page
(really nice cover art by Curt Pangracs of USA CGSC)
NOTE: After using this game for the second time at the May, 2023 serial of the Urban Operations Planner Course, and some playtesting later that year, I have had some ideas to revise the game… new files for a “V.2 version” are here! Scroll down a bit. Next serial of the course is August 2024 so there is time, but stay tuned… [25 February 2024]
QUICK stands for “Quick Urban Integrated Combat Kriegsspiel”. The QUICK is a fairly simple game on large-scale combat operations by elements of a Division/ Group Army in a generic large city. I designed it to be used by students of the Urban Operations Planner Course held by the US 40th Infantry Division. I was not paid or compensated in any way to design this game (beyond being allowed to attend the course to teach it). It is my intellectual property.
See the following web page for an array of very good resources and material on contemporary urban warfare.
https://calguard.ca.gov/40id-urban-warfare
From the introduction to the game:
Quick Urban Integrated Combat Kriegsspiel (QUICK) is a semi-abstract game about opposing modern-day forces engaging in kinetic conflict in a large city. In the game, players take on the role of Division or Group Army commanders, vying to gain control of critical terrain within the city known as Objectives. To succeed, they must successfully manage Enablers, the large array of skilled troops and machinery that exist to support and augment the power of the main Maneuver Units in the forces they command and maneuver these units for victory.
The game is played in rounds. Each round both players will select colored cubes and then take turns using them to perform actions. The color of a cube determines what can be done, and with what unit. During play Enablers will be brought onto the battlefield or returned to it by being allocated to larger Maneuver Units, and these reinforced Maneuver Units will engage the enemy assisted by the special powers and abilities of their allocated Enablers. The player who is best able to exploit the mechanisms and timing of movement, combat and appropriate design of task forces will win.
QUICK V2 Version (2023)
This is the most recent version and should be used.
Differences between this and earlier versions:
- Single intermediate version with many independent options.
- Smaller number of cubes and only two colors (24 Blue and 16 Red).
- Created 6-row Execution Matrix with 7 choices in each row; place 6 cubes in Planning Phase and step through rows in order, possible to reorient and reorder cubes to pivot and change.
- Choices of actions simplified.
- Variable levels of Fatigue in Maneuver units; Fatigue reduction in dice does apply to defender, who still fires first.
- A new map: an area-movement map of downtown Manila, sized to print at 22 x 34″.
- Adjustments to capabilities of Enablers.
- Added optional rules for effect of infrastructure destruction and crossing wet gaps.
New map, of downtown Manila.
Print and play files:
Change Log: QUICK Change Log 25 feb 24
Rules: Quick V2 rules 25 feb 24
Play Aids: QUICK V2 play aids 25 Feb 24
Annotated Sequence of Play: Quick v2 annotated SoP 25 feb 24
QUICK org display vertical 21 Aug 23
Scenarios (Manila area map): QUICK V2 scns Manila 30 oct 23
Counters: QUICK ctrs single set 26 Jun Notes on making the counters
Map: Manila areas 25 oct 70pc 6vo (PDF) (PNG format linked above)
Popular Support Table: QUICK Pop Spt Table 6 June 23
Fate Table: QUICK V2 Fate Table 21 Aug 23
Besides these files you will need to supply the following items:
- 40 cubes or other tokens in the following colors: 24 x blue, 16 x red.
- 8-12 six-sided dice. (You could get by with just 4 or 5 if they are scarce in your house. Or you can use a die roller app – I have found Natural20 Lite for the iPhone to be very useful, and it’s free: https://apps.apple.com/au/app/natural-20-lite-app/id659713461)
Coming later: new Vassal module and new teaching materials to fit the new game format. Also considering making several short videos to illustrate mechanisms in the game, as many people learn better by watching demonstrations this way.
QUICK EARLIER VERSION (2022-23)
This version was used in the July 2022 and May 2023 serials of the Urban Operations Planner Course.
This version is superseded by the V2 version above, but I’m going to keep it available for a while.
I realized that while the students on this course are very intelligent and experienced people, a hex-and-counter manual wargame might be unfamiliar to them, so I created an introductory version which cuts down on the options and intricacies.
Here are the print and play files for the game, in both its versions (.odt = Open Document Text file created by LibreOffice, should be easily readable by any word processing program).
Files for the Introductory version
QUICK INTRO play aids 16 March 23
QUICK INTRO scenarios 16 Mar 23
Files for the Standard version
QUICK from Intro to Standard versions 2023
QUICK STD Fate Table 16 Mar 23
QUICK STD annotated SoP 16 Mar 23
Files used in both versions
QUICK map Manila terrain 23 May 35pc
QUICK Pop Spt Tables 16 Mar 23
Besides these files you will need to supply the following items:
- 80 cubes or other tokens in the following colors: 24 x blue, 12 x green, 16 x red, 8 x yellow, 12 x pink, 8 x black. (The Introductory version uses only the blue and pink cubes.)
- 8 six-sided dice. (You could get by with just 4 or 5 if they are scarce in your house. Or you can use a die roller app – I have found Natural20 Lite for the iPhone to be very useful, and it’s free: https://apps.apple.com/au/app/natural-20-lite-app/id659713461)
Thanks for your interest!
Brian
ADDENDUM: VASSAL module
Curt Pangracs at the Command and General Staff College has created a VASSAL module for both introductory and Standard versions of the QUICK.
The latest version of Vassal is recommended for this module and can be downloaded from the Vassalengine.org site, see below.
Thanks so much for your quick work Curt!
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1H5M9rI1J2SSZeLKucvbGbP4QzgS68lI7/view?usp=sharing
OK, so what is VASSAL and what do you do with it?
Frankly, I do not use it much myself as I am irredeemably old-school and analog, but this program which allows play of digital ports of board games. Though it doesn’t enforce the rules for your, it is very very useful in situations like these! Here are some links you can refer to so you can get started, if you cannot find a helpful tutor.
https://vassalengine.org/wiki/Getting_Started
http://www.garykrockover.com/vassal/
The above two links are kind of old, here is a recent Youtube video (December 2021) that will take you through the more recent features of the program.
Teaching Materials
Here are the lesson plans and slides used in May 2023 to teach the game. You are welcome to use these for a start if you want to teach the game at your home unit.
QUICK Lesson 01 slides 28 Apr 23
QUICK lesson 01 handout 29 April 23
QUICK game day outline 26 April 23 (1)
QUICK lesson 01 plan 26 April 23 (1)
QUICK Lesson 02 slides 29 Apr 23
QUICK lesson 02 plan 26 April 23 (1)
QUICK Lesson 03 slides 29 Apr 23
QUICK lesson 03 plan 26 April 23 (1)
brtrain 
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