Advanced Third Reich
Encyclopedia
Advanced Third Reich is a board wargame
originally designed by Bruce Harper and published by Avalon Hill
, who then sold the license
to Hasbro
. The game was marketed as "the ultimate World War II strategy
game
". A3R, a rewrite of Rise and Decline of the Third Reich
(1974) is a simulation
of the Europe
an and African theatres of World War II
. In 2003 GMT Games
published a new Bruce Harper game, A World at War
(AWAW). AWAW is a substantially revamped, larger, and more complex version of the combined A3R and Empire of the Rising Sun
(ERS). ERS is a stand-alone simulation, also developed by Bruce Harper, of the Pacific Theater of Operations in World War II. A3R and ERS can be played together in a "Global War" simulation using rules that are part of the ERS package, but the integration is not as clean as that which is provided with the gigantic AWAW game.
A3R demands a high level of attention to detail: strategy includes diplomatic, economic, and surrender level conditions, in addition to ground, air, and naval combat. The optional Research rules, which are available as part of the ERS game package, add the ability to focus on additional strategies and capabilities, including Axis fomenting of insurrection in the Middle East, research and production of jets, rockets, and super-submarines, use of British commandos, etc. Designed to reflect the corp scale, a turn represents three months of movement and fighting. Players will find themselves engulfed in complications, upsets, and perhaps victory if their plans meet reality.
A newsletter
, Ultra, is focused on strategy discussions on the play of AWAW. Back issues from 1992 to 2002 are available that focused on A3R and ERS.
Board wargame
A board wargame is a wargame with a set playing surface or board, as opposed to being played on a computer, or in a more free-form playing area as in miniatures games. The hobby around this type of game got its start in 1954 with the publication of Tactics, and saw its greatest popularity in the...
originally designed by Bruce Harper and published by Avalon Hill
Avalon Hill
Avalon Hill was a game company that specialized in wargames and strategic board games. Its logo contained its initials "AH", and it was often referred to by this abbreviation. It also published the occasional miniature wargaming rules, role-playing game, and had a popular line of sports simulations...
, who then sold the license
License
The verb license or grant licence means to give permission. The noun license or licence refers to that permission as well as to the document recording that permission.A license may be granted by a party to another party as an element of an agreement...
to Hasbro
Hasbro
Hasbro is a multinational toy and boardgame company from the United States of America. It is one of the largest toy makers in the world. The corporate headquarters is located in Pawtucket, Rhode Island, United States...
. The game was marketed as "the ultimate World War II strategy
Strategy
Strategy, a word of military origin, refers to a plan of action designed to achieve a particular goal. In military usage strategy is distinct from tactics, which are concerned with the conduct of an engagement, while strategy is concerned with how different engagements are linked...
game
Game
A game is structured playing, usually undertaken for enjoyment and sometimes used as an educational tool. Games are distinct from work, which is usually carried out for remuneration, and from art, which is more often an expression of aesthetic or ideological elements...
". A3R, a rewrite of Rise and Decline of the Third Reich
Rise and Decline of the Third Reich
Rise and Decline of the Third Reich or more commonly Third Reich is a grand strategy wargame covering the European theater of World War II designed by John Prados, and released in 1974 by Avalon Hill...
(1974) is a simulation
Simulation
Simulation is the imitation of some real thing available, state of affairs, or process. The act of simulating something generally entails representing certain key characteristics or behaviours of a selected physical or abstract system....
of the Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
an and African theatres of World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
. In 2003 GMT Games
GMT Games
GMT Games, probably the most prolific of the wargame companies in the 1990s and 2000s, was founded in 1990. The current management and creative team includes Tony Curtis, Rodger MacGowan, Mark Simonitch, and Andy Lewis...
published a new Bruce Harper game, A World at War
A World At War
A World At War is a board wargame published by GMT Games. It is a descendant of Avalon Hill's games Rise and Decline of the Third Reich and Empire of the Rising Sun. It depicts the Second World War in Europe, as well as the war in the Pacific theater....
(AWAW). AWAW is a substantially revamped, larger, and more complex version of the combined A3R and Empire of the Rising Sun
Empire of the Rising Sun
Empire of The Rising Sun is a board wargame published originally by Avalon Hill. This is the companion game to Advanced Third Reich and utilizes the same rule book to bring the Pacific War to life...
(ERS). ERS is a stand-alone simulation, also developed by Bruce Harper, of the Pacific Theater of Operations in World War II. A3R and ERS can be played together in a "Global War" simulation using rules that are part of the ERS package, but the integration is not as clean as that which is provided with the gigantic AWAW game.
A3R demands a high level of attention to detail: strategy includes diplomatic, economic, and surrender level conditions, in addition to ground, air, and naval combat. The optional Research rules, which are available as part of the ERS game package, add the ability to focus on additional strategies and capabilities, including Axis fomenting of insurrection in the Middle East, research and production of jets, rockets, and super-submarines, use of British commandos, etc. Designed to reflect the corp scale, a turn represents three months of movement and fighting. Players will find themselves engulfed in complications, upsets, and perhaps victory if their plans meet reality.
A newsletter
Newsletter
A newsletter is a regularly distributed publication generally about one main topic that is of interest to its subscribers. Newspapers and leaflets are types of newsletters. Additionally, newsletters delivered electronically via email have gained rapid acceptance for the same reasons email in...
, Ultra, is focused on strategy discussions on the play of AWAW. Back issues from 1992 to 2002 are available that focused on A3R and ERS.
External links
- Warplanner, a free program which allows you to play A3R and AWAW over the Internet.
- A3R email list on Yahoo!, an email list for players of A3R and ERS