World at War 85 – Hex and Counter Kickstarter of cold war grand tactical warfare

[rastamannParticipant 2735xp 1]

This has been one of my favourite hex and counter systems of all time, and now it’s coming to a second edition. The world at war system has units that represent platoons, and the kickstarter has already succeeded and will be a reality this year, complete with a campaign system and scenario design rules, as well as built-in adaptation of the rules to miniatures (at least 6mm and 15mm)!

I think it has great potential, mainly because there is random activation of formations, variable turn length, battlefield chaos, etc., and there is no need to look up tables, as all information is right there on the counters, which I find awesome as all stats in the counters can simply be turned into statlines for miniatures. Then there’s a step up in command level from what we have in Team Yankee, which I find very appealing. You command a taskgroup or a NATO battalion or a Pact Regiment, which is very interesting to me.

The lower number means how many dice to roll, the upper right is the target number to equal or beat, the upper left is range in hexes.

[limburger 21708xp 0]

I saw this one in my kickstarter updates and mentioned it in the modern war thread.

I noticed the project page mentions 1-4 players so … solo is possible and fun?
If so then I’m tempted.

 

[rastamannParticipant 2735xp 1]

The solo part of the system as it stands now is possible because of the random activation mechanic in combination with the variable length. Basically at the beginning of the game you make up a deck consisting of all the different formations (though some formations have 2 activation cards instead of 1, usually on the NATO side) plus 2 or 3 end turn cards, plus any air support and eventually chaos battlefield (maybe a few others, that I don’t know). You then shuffle and draw cards one at a time. Whenever a formation is drawn, it gets activated. A formation is a pre-set group of multiple counters (which don’t have to be in the same hex at all, but ideally should be within a certain range of the HQ unit).

 

That, in itself, allows for solo play, but they have announced a Solo Assistant system, which I think is also card driven, as the final stretch goal. Yesterday, they told us in a livestream that the solo assistant will be available as an add on if not reached via stretch goals. I think right now it has a nice value for money. They have unlocked 12 out of 15 stretch goals, including more nationalities, scenarios and geomorphic maps.

[oriskany 60771xp 2]

You had me at Hex & Counters.  😀

[limburger 21708xp 1]

LOL …

@rastamann : thanks … If that means there’s going to be a ‘better’ solo experience regardless of the stretchgoal then *eh*finding an excuse.

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