Advanced Battle of the Bulge game

Second play of Battle of The Bulge.

Not sure how I feel about this one.  I finally think I understand 98% of the rules but it’s so situational on things that can apply.

Overall the game is fun with some cool mechanics like the order of casualties in battle. And the supply aspect adds a level of interest.  It does appear to be very balanced if you manage recourses properly for the Germans.

But it’s so different with a poorly written manual it took me a few reads of the manual and watching a bunch of YouTube videos and 2 play throughs to get it down.

Overall fun but not worth the effort

5/10 for this game

ok so it got here today. I’m re-reading the rule book and things are looking good. I’m answering my own questions at this point. Things I could never figure out I’m finding the answer to and understanding the rules. I think my hang up before was the title Axis and Allies and the combat system is nothing like it.

But there are roads in the north and south ends of the board.

Yeah, the allied player was very generous. I capured a total of 15ish supply tokens from them :-D

Try to maintain a continuous line. If you create ‘hardspots’ where the Axis can get ZOC on the hexes your units need for retreating you’ll find your tactical retreat hasn’t preserved anything.

I’m not advocating reckless use of your forces but this game requires player’s to take more risks than other A&A games. I think that Revised lends itself more to a “What will I lose” thinking while BOTB needs to be “What will I gain” thinking. I’ll admit that is a very subtle difference and perhaps simply one of semantics.

In BOTB things don’t have a cost measured in IPCs so a unit’s value or expendability becomes much more situational. You are buying things (ground and time) with the units and you must know when to pay the price and not be afraid to do so.

Put another way, be more concerened with the sure paths to defeat than the uncertain paths to victory. Playing in ways that only preserve your forces is more a sure path to defeat in BOTB than it is in Revised, Pacific and Europe.

those articles arent necessary …the rules have been on PDF since article 5.