The “Armies of Germany” supplement is designed to provide players with extensive rules and unit profiles for deploying German military forces in Bolt Action: Third Edition. It will cover a range of units from the Panzer divisions to the Fallschirmjäger paratroopers.

In addition to game rules, the book will include full-color illustrations and detailed miniatures, complemented by historical background to enhance the gaming experience. This release aims to add depth and context to the representation of German forces during World War II.

Following “Armies of Germany,” Warlord Games plans to continue the “Armies of…” series with more national supplements, releasing them on a quarterly schedule. Each new release will be accompanied by a new set of miniatures for the respective nations featured.

The “Armies of Germany” will be available through Warlord Games, Osprey Games, and various wargames retailers.

The game is unique in its variety of play modes, catering to different gaming preferences. The primary mode is competitive, where the game ends either when Germany collapses or at the end of the 1945 spring turn. Players aim to accumulate the highest Prestige, with intriguing elements such as the Dissidents’ agenda, which includes the potential to end the war early by assassinating Hitler.

In cooperative mode, the goal is to ensure Germany’s survival until spring 1945, fulfilling specific objectives like controlling Festung sectors and concluding technological projects. The solo mode mirrors the cooperative mode, with a single player managing all game aspects.

Two additional modes add further depth: the semi-cooperative mode, similar to the cooperative mode but with a competitive edge, and the Campaign mode. In Campaign mode, players engage in sequential short scenarios, accumulating Prestige Points across multiple sessions.

Prestige Points, a central element of the game, can be earned through various means, reflecting the tensions within the High Command. Players can earn Prestige by leading sections of the High Command, managing historical generals, and fulfilling agenda cards representing different factions within the Wehrmacht.

The game’s structure is meticulously designed, with each year starting with the allocation of Prestige Points and the distribution of new General and High Command section cards. Players navigate through administrative and operations phases each season, making strategic decisions about reinforcements, resource allocation, and military directives.

Combat in the game follows a detailed process, with battles influenced by terrain, air power, and generals’ abilities. Successful generals gain Prestige, while defeats lead to questioning and potential dismissal.

The game recreates the dramatic events of the summer of 1940 when Britain stood as the last bastion against the advancing German war machine in Europe. The game allows players to command either the battle-hardened Luftwaffe, aiming to quash all resistance for a potential invasion, or the resourceful and resilient RAF, fighting determinedly at every juncture to protect their homeland.

“Undaunted: Battle of Britain” adapts the core gameplay of previous installments in the Undaunted series to capture the dynamic dogfights of aerial combat. Players must maintain cohesion among their pilots, evade anti-aircraft artillery, and take full advantage of talented aces to win the battle for the skies.

A promotional image shows the game’s box alongside a fully set-up game board made up of hex tiles and covered with various tokens depicting planes, clouds, barrage balloons, and anti-aircraft guns. Surrounding the board is a broad array of cards representing each faction.

The game includes 116 cards, 31 large map tiles, 4 dice, 58 tokens, and a scenario booklet. Suitable for players aged 14 and above, each game session lasts between 45 to 60 minutes, offering a gripping and immersive experience of historical strategy and tactics.

With 13 days left until the campaign closes on June 18, the project has already attracted 278 backers, significantly surpassing its original target of $3,000 with pledges currently totaling $23,719.

The Guadalcanal Campaign was an arduous chapter in the history of the US Marine Corps. Despite operating under constrained supplies and using bolt action Springfield Rifles, the Marines managed to combat an entrenched veteran enemy and come out victorious in harsh conditions. Studio Historia’s range aims to honor this victory and the grit of the Marines involved in this campaign.

The Guadalcanal Collection is the first of Studio Historia’s planned series showcasing the US Marines in the Pacific theater during World War II. Backers can choose between physical miniatures and STL digital files for 3D printing, with models scaled to 28mm (1/56) for physical offerings and default scale for digital printing.

Studio Historia ensures high quality for its physical miniatures by using a proprietary blended flex resin for printing, ensuring sharp prints with durability in mind for painting and gameplay. Pledge rewards vary and include stretch goal unlocks for additional content for digital pledges. Physical pledges can add unlocked stretch goals at a discounted price.

The core pledge encompasses a rich variety of figures, including a HQ unit, two rifle squads, a BAR squad, an M1919A4 machine gun team, an M2 60mm mortar team, and an M2A4 light tank. Furthermore, early bird backers within the first 48 hours will receive a unique figure set of Navajo Code Talkers, who played a crucial role in secure communications during the war.

Studio Historia also offers a tribute figure of Ed Bearss, an influential American Civil War historian and veteran of the Guadalcanal Campaign. The figure, titled “Living the History, He Preserved,” commemorates Bearss’ contribution to military history and his time as a BAR gunner in the Raiders during the Guadalcanal Campaign.

Source

The new Special Packs will feature Observation Balloons, specifically the Caquot M / Ae 800 Drachen models. Historically, these “guardians of the skies” played a crucial role during World War I, assisting in troop support, intelligence gathering, and artillery fire coordination. They were heavily defended by anti-aircraft guns, machine guns, and patrolling fighter aircraft, and were also equipped with special weapons like Le Prieur rockets to take down their challengers.

The Special Packs will provide players with the opportunity to feature these significant aerial devices at the center of their gameplay scenarios. The packs include the Caquot M / Ae 800 Drachen in two base colors, Sand and Brown, and will also contain a decal sheet for customization.

In addition to the Observation Balloon Special Packs, Ares Games will also introduce three new versions of the famous Nieuport 16 fighter airplanes: Navarre, Escadrille Lafayette, and De Guibert.

The Navarre version of Nieuport 16 is named in honor of Jean Navarre, “Sentinel of Verdun”, the first French pilot officially recognized as an ace and the first to shoot down two enemy aircraft in a single day.

The Escadrille Lafayette version is dedicated to the renowned squadron named after the French hero of the American Revolutionary War, symbolizing the long-standing camaraderie between the French and the Americans.

The De Guibert variant pays tribute to Henri De Guibert, a respected French pilot who was honored as Chevalier de la Légion d’Honneur after 19 years of service.

“The addition of Observation Balloons and the new versions of the Nieuport 16 will truly elevate the gameplay experience for our players,” said an Ares Games representative. “We believe these historical elements will further enrich the engaging narratives and strategies in our WW1 Wings of Glory games.”

These new models are expected to release in September 2023, providing players with an enriched and more nuanced WW1 Wings of Glory experience.

Source

Following the success of their previous game, Fighters of the Pacific, Capsicum Games is proud to present a new game that allows players to relive the intense air combat over Europe during World War II. The game is a fast-paced tactical board game that features multiple fighter and bomber squadrons attacking the enemy’s airfields, manufactures, and other ground objectives.

Unlike other games that rely on dice and rulers, Fighters of Europe features dozens of airplanes and a streamlined game mechanic that immerses players in the heart of battle. Each airplane is individually moved on a hex grid, and players must maneuver their planes to get an enemy plane in their sights. The game also allows some airplanes to use bombs to destroy ground installations.

Fighters of Europe is scenario-driven, and the base game comes with 10 different scenarios. The game includes a large modular board, player aids, and all the tokens needed to play the Battle of Britain. The core game also includes several squadrons of Hurricanes and Spitfires as well as Messerschmidt Bf109, Heinkel 111, and Junker 88.

The game series includes two expansions, the first of which is the Battle of France, which allows players to lead the French Air Force in their heroic attempt to stop the German blitzkrieg machine in 1940. The second expansion is Defense of the Reich, which features giant aircraft (B-17) and very fast jet fighters (Me262), among other planes, and includes large objective markers like railways, trains, and German factories.

The game will be available in English, French, and Spanish, and players can choose their preferred language during the Pledge Manager phase after the Kickstarter campaign.

With its immersive gameplay, historical accuracy, and attention to detail, Fighters of Europe is sure to be a hit among board game enthusiasts and history buffs alike.

Source

Heroes of the Pacific is based on the HEROES SYSTEM: TACTICAL SCALE, which won the Best Historical Boardgame of the Year award in 2015. The game is designed to simulate and fight small-scale military conflicts with ease, while retaining a proper wargame feel with necessary tactics.

The Battle of Guadalcanal, which took place during World War II, is the game’s theme. Players can choose to land or defend the Solomon Islands and experience the battle firsthand. The game introduces two new armies, the Imperial Japanese (both Army & Navy) and the USMC, and explores new types of terrain such as the jungle.

The game features a recruitment system that offers players different regiments with their own specializations. The recruitment tiles tell players which units they will deploy on the battlefield. Command tiles provide specific bonuses, represented by Doctrine Cards, which give each regiment a specialization and add replayability to the game.

Players may also control heroes, such as Tetsuo Ugaki, who possess crucial characteristics or weaponry that can tip the balance of battle to their advantage.

Heroes of the Pacific is played over a series of game turns divided into three phases: Supply Phase, Order Phase, and Activation Phase. The game also features Action Cards, which allow players to perform heroic actions and add a unique element to the game.

The Kickstarter campaign offers a core box and a Battle Pack, which will allow players to relive the battles that took place during Operation Watchtower, mainly on the island of Guadalcanal. The campaign also features Stretch Goals tied to its financial progress, and surprises are promised along the way.

Heroes of the Pacific: Battle of Guadalcanal promises to be an exciting addition to the Heroes System range, transporting players to the steaming depths of the Pacific jungles. The campaign will end on April 14th, 2023.

Source

The 28mm white metal figures have been sculpted by Paul Hicks and feature maximum character with extra passion. The figures cover British airborne troops, and the research has taken into account all evidence on equipment and uniforms, as well as historic details and stories regarding the personalities. This has resulted in the best portrayal of the Arnhem Heroes.

The figures have been designed to fit into other existing collections, making them a must-have for collectors. The range has been organized into three separate deals, which will unlock as stretch goals are reached. Deal 1 includes a special miniature of Captain James G. Ogilvie, while Deals 2 and 3 consist of unlocked stretch goals.

Empress Miniatures and Paul Hicks have also included a special thank you for backers who pledge at the Bugler level. They will receive a special edition Bugler miniature as a token of appreciation.

The Kickstarter campaign for Arnhem Heroes has been a huge success, and if this continues, future Kickstarters will cover the operation, including German and Polish troops and much more.

Empress Miniatures and Paul Hicks have shown all the deals upfront, allowing backers to make their pledge accordingly. The stretch goals are lined up and ready to go, and when they are reached, the packs will become unlocked and added to the campaign at the value shown.

The Arnhem Heroes range is not expected to be offered to retail customers in the foreseeable future, making it essential for those interested to back the Kickstarter campaign.

Source

In the game, it’s late 1942, and the Axis nations of Germany and Italy control much of the Mediterranean Theater. But the US and Great Britain are on the move, launching a massive offensive called Operation Torch. The game features innovative mechanics that allow players to fight the war as it was meant to be fought, with lighter and faster units moving first and more often, followed by heavier units with stronger firepower.

Song for War: Mediterranean Theater is a 2-4 player game with various scenarios to choose from. In the 1-vs-1 scenario, Player 1 is the Allied team, playing both nations, while Player 2 is the Axis team, also playing both nations. In the 1-vs-2 scenario, Player 1 is either the Allied or Axis team, playing both nations, while Players 2 and 3 are the opposing team, playing one nation each. In the 2-vs-2 scenario, Players 1 and 2 are the Allied team, playing one nation each, while Players 3 and 4 are the Axis team, playing one nation each.

The game is divided into different phases: Tactical, Victory, National Support, and Resupply. The Tactical Phase allows players to move their land, sea, and air units, resolve battles, and wrest control of strategic objectives. The Victory Phase allows players to gain victory points by taking control of objectives from across the theater. The National Support Phase allows players to call on their home country to gain advantages on the battlefield. Finally, the Resupply Phase allows players to deploy new land, sea, and air units to reinforce key forward positions.

The Kickstarter campaign is well on it’s way to reach it’s $50.000 goal with over 100 backers pledging almost $12.000 in the first day of the campaign.

Source

From the article:

This article is a set of guidelines about writing scenarios for Bolt Action. This advice has been derived from my own personal experience of writing many many scenarios for different purposes within the Bolt Action game system over the years.

From that experience I have to say that there is a huge difference between writing balanced ‘battle scenarios’ and more uneven ‘historical’ scenarios. The first are aimed at being playable in competitive events like tournaments, with both players having equal chances of winning. The latter are more for fun and aimed at capturing the flavour of a particular historical engagement or campaign/sector of the war. And they are, in my opinion, very different beasts!

As the historical ones are those that are far more commonly designed by players all over the world, this article will concentrate on them. Players that are interested in ‘balanced’ tournament scenarios are more normally happy to use the existing ones in the rulebook, or simple tweaks thereof to adapt them to their needs and likes.

Source