Conflict of Heroes
Encyclopedia
Conflict of Heroes is a tactical-level
board wargame
series that simulates firefights at the platoon
or company
level. Currently, only one game has been released in the series, Awakening the Bear!
, set in the World War II
Eastern Front
between the years 1941 and 1942. A second game, Storms of Steel
, will be set in Kursk
, in 1943. The game is played on one or more interchangeable map boards
which are divided into hexagons for movement and firing regulation.
The first game in the Conflict of Heroes series, Awakening the Bear!, is a 2009 Origins Silver Award Winner for the Best Historical Board Games category. A jury of experts drawn from the Academy of Adventure Gaming Arts & Design and the Game Manufacturers Association’s (GAMA) three divisions select the top ten of the submitted games and present them to game store retailers in attendance at the GAMA Trade Show in April each year.
, the front page of the publisher's website describes the game as following the development of modern day squad and platoon level tactics starting with World War II through modern day Bosnia
, Iraq
, and Afghanistan
, and goes on to list Korea
, Vietnam
and Africa
as further examples. Therefore possible future game expansions might be set in any war scenario of the last 60 years or more.
The game has been hailed as an excellent edition to the available wargame lineup in that Conflict of Heroes uses simplified rules compared to other wargames such as Advanced Squad Leader
. It is easy for beginners to learn and games can be quite short if all players are experienced. The game can accommodate up to four players, but many of the included firefight scenarios are only designed for two players.
. Events such as artillery strikes and extra weapons, as well as game features are included on the 55 included action cards. Also included are 5 map boards with terrain features such as lakes, buildings, hills, forests and roads.
In addition to the APs that each unit receives, each player receives an amount of Command Action Points (CAPs) that can be used at any time to move/fire units that are not active, supplement an active unit's APs, or modify a dice roll. After each action by the active player, the inactive player is given a chance to respond one time with one unit. He may use his CAPs in the same manner as APs to fire with or move a unit, or he may choose to use an 'opportunity action', whereby he is allowed to give a unit any single action, but that unit is marked as used after completing the action. After the inactive player is given the chance to respond, the active player continues with his/her turn as normal. The active player is not bound to using strictly APs either, he/she may use CAPs and opportunity actions in between, before, or after using APs, as long as the inactive player is given a chance to respond to every action.
This rule set allows for a very involved gameplay that leaves little downtime for either player. Many of the other rules in the game are similar to other board wargames, but they are often simplified for ease of teaching and for making the game more fun.
1943-1945, several more games are planned, as follows:
Additionally, Nationality Packs have been promised by Uwe Eickert, which will allow players to play as certain countries included in the packs. The two examples that have been given are Poland
and Finland
.
Tactical wargame
Tactical wargames are a type of wargame that models military conflict at a tactical level, i.e. units range from individual vehicles and squads to platoons or companies. These units are rated based on types and ranges of individual weaponry...
board wargame
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...
series that simulates firefights at the platoon
Platoon
A platoon is a military unit typically composed of two to four sections or squads and containing 16 to 50 soldiers. Platoons are organized into a company, which typically consists of three, four or five platoons. A platoon is typically the smallest military unit led by a commissioned officer—the...
or company
Company
A company is a form of business organization. It is an association or collection of individual real persons and/or other companies, who each provide some form of capital. This group has a common purpose or focus and an aim of gaining profits. This collection, group or association of persons can be...
level. Currently, only one game has been released in the series, Awakening the Bear!
Conflict of Heroes: Awakening the Bear!
Conflict of Heroes: Awakening the Bear! is the first installment of the Conflict of Heroes board wargame series, released in 2008. The game is set in World War II, on the Eastern Front, in 1941 and 1942...
, set in the 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...
Eastern Front
Eastern Front (World War II)
The Eastern Front of World War II was a theatre of World War II between the European Axis powers and co-belligerent Finland against the Soviet Union, Poland, and some other Allies which encompassed Northern, Southern and Eastern Europe from 22 June 1941 to 9 May 1945...
between the years 1941 and 1942. A second game, Storms of Steel
Conflict of Heroes: Storms of Steel
Conflict of Heroes: Storms of Steel is the second installment of the Conflict of Heroes board wargame series, to be released in 2009. The game is set in World War II, on the Eastern Front, between 1943 and 1945. The playable armies in this game are the German Wehrmacht and the Soviet Red Army....
, will be set in Kursk
Kursk
Kursk is a city and the administrative center of Kursk Oblast, Russia, located at the confluence of the Kur, Tuskar, and Seym Rivers. The area around Kursk was site of a turning point in the Russian-German struggle during World War II and the site of the largest tank battle in history...
, in 1943. The game is played on one or more interchangeable map boards
Geomorphic mapboard
A geomorphic mapboard is a game board that can be configured in different ways and reused to create different playing surfaces. The concept was introduced in PanzerBlitz, though the number of configurations was low...
which are divided into hexagons for movement and firing regulation.
The first game in the Conflict of Heroes series, Awakening the Bear!, is a 2009 Origins Silver Award Winner for the Best Historical Board Games category. A jury of experts drawn from the Academy of Adventure Gaming Arts & Design and the Game Manufacturers Association’s (GAMA) three divisions select the top ten of the submitted games and present them to game store retailers in attendance at the GAMA Trade Show in April each year.
Introduction
Conflict of Heroes: Awakening the Bear! - Russia 1941-42 was published by Academy Games in 2008 and is the first and only game so far published in the Conflict of Heroes series. A second game, Storms of Steel - Kursk 1943 is scheduled to be released sometime in 2009. While both games so far announced by the publisher are set in World War II Soviet UnionSoviet Union
The Soviet Union , officially the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics , was a constitutionally socialist state that existed in Eurasia between 1922 and 1991....
, the front page of the publisher's website describes the game as following the development of modern day squad and platoon level tactics starting with World War II through modern day Bosnia
Bosnian War
The Bosnian War or the War in Bosnia and Herzegovina was an international armed conflict that took place in Bosnia and Herzegovina between April 1992 and December 1995. The war involved several sides...
, Iraq
2003 invasion of Iraq
The 2003 invasion of Iraq , was the start of the conflict known as the Iraq War, or Operation Iraqi Freedom, in which a combined force of troops from the United States, the United Kingdom, Australia and Poland invaded Iraq and toppled the regime of Saddam Hussein in 21 days of major combat operations...
, and Afghanistan
War in Afghanistan (2001–present)
The War in Afghanistan began on October 7, 2001, as the armed forces of the United States of America, the United Kingdom, Australia, and the Afghan United Front launched Operation Enduring Freedom...
, and goes on to list Korea
Korean War
The Korean War was a conventional war between South Korea, supported by the United Nations, and North Korea, supported by the People's Republic of China , with military material aid from the Soviet Union...
, Vietnam
Vietnam War
The Vietnam War was a Cold War-era military conflict that occurred in Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia from 1 November 1955 to the fall of Saigon on 30 April 1975. This war followed the First Indochina War and was fought between North Vietnam, supported by its communist allies, and the government of...
and Africa
North African campaign
During the Second World War, the North African Campaign took place in North Africa from 10 June 1940 to 13 May 1943. It included campaigns fought in the Libyan and Egyptian deserts and in Morocco and Algeria and Tunisia .The campaign was fought between the Allies and Axis powers, many of whom had...
as further examples. Therefore possible future game expansions might be set in any war scenario of the last 60 years or more.
The game has been hailed as an excellent edition to the available wargame lineup in that Conflict of Heroes uses simplified rules compared to other wargames such as Advanced Squad Leader
Advanced Squad Leader
Advanced Squad Leader is a tactical-level board wargame, originally marketed by Avalon Hill Games, that simulates actions of approximately company or battalion size in World War II. It is a detailed game system for two or more players . Components include the ASL Rulebook and various games called...
. It is easy for beginners to learn and games can be quite short if all players are experienced. The game can accommodate up to four players, but many of the included firefight scenarios are only designed for two players.
Game Components
Conflict of Heroes: Awakening the Bear! includes 192 1" square cardboard counters, depicting either a military unit or a game related token. Units include infantry squads, assault squads, machine gun teams, mortar teams, tanks, and heavy weapons, all pieces either Soviet or GermanGermany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
. Events such as artillery strikes and extra weapons, as well as game features are included on the 55 included action cards. Also included are 5 map boards with terrain features such as lakes, buildings, hills, forests and roads.
Gameplay
Conflict of Heroes differs from many board wargames in that it allows players to instantly react to almost any action by the opponent. On the active player's turn, he/she activates one unit. That unit is given seven action points (APs) (although there are rule variants on the number of APs given per unit) which it can use to move, pivot, fire or build defenses if it has that capability. Each unit, upon activation, receives their APs, but each unit can only be activated once per turn, and each player can only activate one unit during his/her active period. Because of this, play is passed quickly back and forth between players. After any given unit has used all its APs, it is marked at 'used' and cannot be activated again that turn.In addition to the APs that each unit receives, each player receives an amount of Command Action Points (CAPs) that can be used at any time to move/fire units that are not active, supplement an active unit's APs, or modify a dice roll. After each action by the active player, the inactive player is given a chance to respond one time with one unit. He may use his CAPs in the same manner as APs to fire with or move a unit, or he may choose to use an 'opportunity action', whereby he is allowed to give a unit any single action, but that unit is marked as used after completing the action. After the inactive player is given the chance to respond, the active player continues with his/her turn as normal. The active player is not bound to using strictly APs either, he/she may use CAPs and opportunity actions in between, before, or after using APs, as long as the inactive player is given a chance to respond to every action.
This rule set allows for a very involved gameplay that leaves little downtime for either player. Many of the other rules in the game are similar to other board wargames, but they are often simplified for ease of teaching and for making the game more fun.
Future Games
In an interview posted on January 16, 2009, Uwe Eickert shed some light on the future expansions to the Conflict of Heroes series. The second game of the series, Storms of Steel, is due in July 2009. In addition to Storms of Steel, which will now be set in Kursk in 1943, instead of the previously announced Eastern FrontEastern Front (World War II)
The Eastern Front of World War II was a theatre of World War II between the European Axis powers and co-belligerent Finland against the Soviet Union, Poland, and some other Allies which encompassed Northern, Southern and Eastern Europe from 22 June 1941 to 9 May 1945...
1943-1945, several more games are planned, as follows:
- Allied Airborne Battles: D-Day 1944 (2009)
- Under Burning Skies: Afrika 1942 (2010)
- Operation Mercury: Island of Doom (2010)
Additionally, Nationality Packs have been promised by Uwe Eickert, which will allow players to play as certain countries included in the packs. The two examples that have been given are Poland
Polish contribution to World War II
The European theater of World War II opened with the German invasion of Poland on September 1, 1939. The Polish Army was defeated after over a month of fighting. After Poland had been overrun, a government-in-exile , armed forces, and an intelligence service were established outside of Poland....
and Finland
Finnish Army
The Finnish Army is the land forces branch of the Finnish Defence Forces.Today's Army is divided into six branches: the infantry , field artillery, anti-aircraft artillery, engineers, signals, and materiel troops.-History of the Finnish Army:Between 1809 and 1917 Finland was an autonomous part of...
.
External links
- conflictofheroes.com
- Conflict of Heroes: Awakening the Bear! - Russia 1941-42 at Boardgamegeek
- Conflict of Heroes: Storms of Steel - Eastern Front 1943-45 at Boargamegeek