Objective of the Game
Flames of War is a tabletop wargame set in World War II where players take on the role of military commanders. The main objective is to complete missions better than your opponent, which may involve capturing objectives, destroying enemy units, or other specific tasks outlined by the mission.
Game Materials
- Miniatures: Represent infantry, tanks, and artillery.
- Terrain: Model houses, hills, forests, etc., used to set up the battlefield.
- Measuring Tool: A ruler or measuring tape is necessary to determine movement and shooting ranges.
- Dice: Players will need several six-sided dice (D6) to resolve shooting and other events.
- Army Lists: Detail the units and vehicles each player fields at the start of the game.
Setup
- Army List Creation: Players agree on the point size of their forces, create their lists, and deploy based on these lists.
- Table Setup: The board is set up with terrain pieces to create a realistic battlefield environment.
- Mission Selection: Players choose or randomly determine a mission from the rulebook that sets the framework and victory conditions for the game.
- Deployment: Players set up their units in the designated deployment areas as per the mission.
Gameplay
The game is played over several turns, each consisting of different phases:
-
Beginning of Turn: New mission objectives or conditions may be addressed.
-
Command Phase: Players perform command tasks such as activating unit abilities or calling in reserves.
-
Morale of Troops is important; units suffering losses may need to take Morale Tests to determine if they fight on or fall back.
-
Movement Phase: Units move up to their maximum distances without crossing other units or impassable terrain.
-
Shooting Phase: Both sides conduct shooting, selecting units to attack with.
- Hit determination is dice-based: rolling over a target number equals a ‘hit’.
-
Armors function similarly, with defensive rolls potentially cancelling hits.
-
Assault Phase: Units in close proximity fight in melee combat.
-
End Phase: Check if mission objectives are achieved and update overall victory standing if necessary.
Winning Conditions
Players win the game by achieving the mission-specific goals like capturing strategic points or eliminating opposing units.
Strategic Nuances
- Using Cover: Units behind terrain benefit from protection and are harder to hit.
- Army Composition: Balanced forces of infantry, tanks, and support can handle varied tactical challenges.
- Maneuvering and Flanking: Utilizing unit mobility to attack from unexpected angles.
Flames of War offers a deep dive into the tactics and strategies of World War II, rewarding patient planning, flanking, and the clever use of reinforcements and resources.
