Flames of War
Encyclopedia
Flames of War is a World War II
tabletop miniatures wargame produced by the New Zealand company Battlefront Miniatures Ltd. The 1st Edition set of rules was published in 2002.
Flames of War allows players to wargame company level battles from the European and North African Theatres of World War Two, using 1/100 scale miniatures (15 mm figure scale) and miniature armour. In the 1st Edition rulebook basic army lists were provided for the mid-war period (1942-1943), while Battlefront published early (1939-1941) and late war (1944-1945) army lists on their website (subsequently these early and late war lists were removed). The 2nd Edition of the rulebook was published in 2006.
, to quickly learn the rules. The game is optimised for two players, although it can be played by a larger number of players playing against each other or grouped in teams.
Play revolves around company-level tactics, with each stand or element representing an infantry fireteam
(half-squad/section
), an artillery piece and its crew, or a single vehicle (such as a tank, jeep, or armoured car). Air support is also available, in the form of fighters (like the Hawker Hurricane
) and ground attack aircraft (like the Ilyushin Il-2
"Shturmovik"), to players wishing to use it, with aircraft generally being represented by 1:144 scale models.
The main rulebook has numerous scenarios players can use for their games, from a simple all-out battle scenario to objective-taking missions. Additional army sourcebooks contain further scenarios, usually centered around historical events relevant to that particular book. Game play utilizes six-sided dice to pass various skill tests used to shoot at enemies or pass motivation based tests. Movement distances and weapon ranges are provided in both inches and centimeters and are usually measured during the with tape measures or other measuring aides.
Current army sourcebooks are based on particular campaigns and include lists for the German Wehrmacht
(including the Deutsches Afrikakorps
, the Waffen SS and Luftwaffe ground troops), the U.S. Army (including Rangers
and Airborne units), the armies of United Kingdom and the Commonwealth (India, Australia, Canada, South Africa, and New Zealand), the Red Army
of the Soviet Union, (including the Soviet 8ya Gvardeyskiy Strelkovy Korpus), the Italian army (including elite Bersaglieri
and Paracadutisti, regular Fucilieri, and fascist Blackshirts
paramilitaries), as well as nations that played as smaller role such as the Poles, Hungarians, Finns, and Romanians. Sourcebooks have so far been restricted to the European theater
and Mediterranean theater; Battlefront has indicated that future releases may include coverage of the Pacific theater
, but only after army lists and campaign supplements covering the early and late periods of fighting in Europe have been released.
Flames of War provides players who are interested in World War II wargaming but lack an in-depth knowledge of the period with a "one-stop shop". The rulebook and sourcebooks provide not only the rules of the game and scenarios to play but also background material on historical forces and battles and simple guides to organising, assembling, and painting miniature armies.
The current rules are found in the Second Edition Rule Book, which was printed in a hard cover and paperback edition. The paperback edition includes all of the rules found in the hard cover addition with the exceptions of the Fortifications and City fighting rules. Unlike the first edition, where individual nation army lists were included, the second edition rule book does not include any army lists. Army lists for each nation much be purchased separately and are required to play the game. Legal army lists for tournament play typically include only second edition source books and selected "Web Briefings" published on Battlefront's web site.
Other manufacturers produce 15mm figures for wargaming World War II, which can be used in addition to or instead of Battlefront's figures, in either private or tournament play.
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...
tabletop miniatures wargame produced by the New Zealand company Battlefront Miniatures Ltd. The 1st Edition set of rules was published in 2002.
Flames of War allows players to wargame company level battles from the European and North African Theatres of World War Two, using 1/100 scale miniatures (15 mm figure scale) and miniature armour. In the 1st Edition rulebook basic army lists were provided for the mid-war period (1942-1943), while Battlefront published early (1939-1941) and late war (1944-1945) army lists on their website (subsequently these early and late war lists were removed). The 2nd Edition of the rulebook was published in 2006.
Gameplay
Gameplay takes place over a series of turns, with players alternating movement, shooting and close assault. This simple sequence of play, often called "I-Go, You-go", helps people who are unfamiliar with wargames or who are familiar with other games with a similar structure, such as Warhammer Fantasy Battles or Warhammer 40,000Warhammer 40,000
Warhammer 40,000 is a tabletop miniature wargame produced by Games Workshop, set in a dystopian science fantasy universe. Warhammer 40,000 was created by Rick Priestley in 1987 as the futuristic companion to Warhammer Fantasy Battle, sharing many game mechanics...
, to quickly learn the rules. The game is optimised for two players, although it can be played by a larger number of players playing against each other or grouped in teams.
Play revolves around company-level tactics, with each stand or element representing an infantry fireteam
Fireteam
A fireteam is a small military unit of infantry. It is the smallest unit in the militaries that use it and is the primary unit upon which infantry organization is based in the British Army, Royal Air Force Regiment, Royal Marines, United States Army, United States Marine Corps, United States Air...
(half-squad/section
Section (military unit)
A section is a small military unit in some armies. In many armies, it is a squad of seven to twelve soldiers. However in France and armies based on the French model, it is the sub-division of a company .-Australian Army:...
), an artillery piece and its crew, or a single vehicle (such as a tank, jeep, or armoured car). Air support is also available, in the form of fighters (like the Hawker Hurricane
Hawker Hurricane
The Hawker Hurricane is a British single-seat fighter aircraft that was designed and predominantly built by Hawker Aircraft Ltd for the Royal Air Force...
) and ground attack aircraft (like the Ilyushin Il-2
Ilyushin Il-2
The Ilyushin Il-2 was a ground-attack aircraft in the Second World War, produced by the Soviet Union in very large numbers...
"Shturmovik"), to players wishing to use it, with aircraft generally being represented by 1:144 scale models.
The main rulebook has numerous scenarios players can use for their games, from a simple all-out battle scenario to objective-taking missions. Additional army sourcebooks contain further scenarios, usually centered around historical events relevant to that particular book. Game play utilizes six-sided dice to pass various skill tests used to shoot at enemies or pass motivation based tests. Movement distances and weapon ranges are provided in both inches and centimeters and are usually measured during the with tape measures or other measuring aides.
Current army sourcebooks are based on particular campaigns and include lists for the German Wehrmacht
Wehrmacht
The Wehrmacht – from , to defend and , the might/power) were the unified armed forces of Nazi Germany from 1935 to 1945. It consisted of the Heer , the Kriegsmarine and the Luftwaffe .-Origin and use of the term:...
(including the Deutsches Afrikakorps
Afrika Korps
The German Africa Corps , or the Afrika Korps as it was popularly called, was the German expeditionary force in Libya and Tunisia during the North African Campaign of World War II...
, the Waffen SS and Luftwaffe ground troops), the U.S. Army (including Rangers
United States Army Rangers
United States Army Rangers are elite members of the United States Army. Rangers have served in recognized U.S. Army Ranger units or have graduated from the U.S. Army's Ranger School...
and Airborne units), the armies of United Kingdom and the Commonwealth (India, Australia, Canada, South Africa, and New Zealand), the Red Army
Red Army
The Workers' and Peasants' Red Army started out as the Soviet Union's revolutionary communist combat groups during the Russian Civil War of 1918-1922. It grew into the national army of the Soviet Union. By the 1930s the Red Army was among the largest armies in history.The "Red Army" name refers to...
of the Soviet Union, (including the Soviet 8ya Gvardeyskiy Strelkovy Korpus), the Italian army (including elite Bersaglieri
Bersaglieri
The Bersaglieri are a corps of the Italian Army originally created by General Alessandro La Marmora on 18 June 1836 to serve in the Piedmontese Army, later to become the Royal Italian Army...
and Paracadutisti, regular Fucilieri, and fascist Blackshirts
Blackshirts
The Blackshirts were Fascist paramilitary groups in Italy during the period immediately following World War I and until the end of World War II...
paramilitaries), as well as nations that played as smaller role such as the Poles, Hungarians, Finns, and Romanians. Sourcebooks have so far been restricted to the European theater
European Theatre of World War II
The European Theatre of World War II was a huge area of heavy fighting across Europe from Germany's invasion of Poland on September 1, 1939 until the end of the war with the German unconditional surrender on May 8, 1945...
and Mediterranean theater; Battlefront has indicated that future releases may include coverage of the Pacific theater
Pacific War
The Pacific War, also sometimes called the Asia-Pacific War refers broadly to the parts of World War II that took place in the Pacific Ocean, its islands, and in East Asia, then called the Far East...
, but only after army lists and campaign supplements covering the early and late periods of fighting in Europe have been released.
Flames of War provides players who are interested in World War II wargaming but lack an in-depth knowledge of the period with a "one-stop shop". The rulebook and sourcebooks provide not only the rules of the game and scenarios to play but also background material on historical forces and battles and simple guides to organising, assembling, and painting miniature armies.
Rules and sourcebooks
Battlefront divides World War II into three periods. Early-war (1939–41), mid-war (1942–43) and late-war (1944–45). There is speculation amongst the FoW community that when Battlefront releases rules and models for the Pacific theater, it will separate it from the European theater for game play reasons.The current rules are found in the Second Edition Rule Book, which was printed in a hard cover and paperback edition. The paperback edition includes all of the rules found in the hard cover addition with the exceptions of the Fortifications and City fighting rules. Unlike the first edition, where individual nation army lists were included, the second edition rule book does not include any army lists. Army lists for each nation much be purchased separately and are required to play the game. Legal army lists for tournament play typically include only second edition source books and selected "Web Briefings" published on Battlefront's web site.
Early-War period
- Blitzkrieg, covering the Invasion of Poland and the Fall of France. includes Polish, French, British and German Lists.
- "Hellfire and Back", covering the early war battles in North Africa, it includes English, German and Italian Lists.
- "Burning Empires", a continuation of Early War battles in North Africa and Greece, it includes lists for Raiding Forces as well, including one American one.
Mid-War period
- Ostfront, covering all the armies that fought on the Eastern or Russian 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...
, both Axis (including their allies such as the Hungarians, Finns and Romanians) and AlliedAllies of World War IIThe Allies of World War II were the countries that opposed the Axis powers during the Second World War . Former Axis states contributing to the Allied victory are not considered Allied states...
forces. Replaced by "Eastern Front" (see below). - Afrika, this covers the war in North AfricaNorth African campaignDuring 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...
and ItalyMilitary history of Italy during World War IIDuring World War II , the Kingdom of Italy had a varied and tumultuous military history. Defeated in Greece, France, East Africa and North Africa, the Italian invasion of British Somaliland was one of the only successful Italian campaigns of World War II accomplished without German support.In...
. Again this sourcebook includes both Axis and Allied forces, including their various allies. - Mid-War Monsters, this covers various experimental armoured fighting vehicles of World War Two, including the M6 Heavy TankM6 Heavy TankThe Heavy Tank M6 was an American heavy tank designed during World War II. The tank was produced in small numbers and never saw combat.-History and description:...
, the Boarhound Armoured CarT18 BoarhoundThe T18 Boarhound was an American heavy armoured car produced in small numbers for the British Army during the Second World War.-History:In July 1941 the US Army Ordnance Corps issued specifications for a heavy armored car to be built for supply to the British...
, and the KV-5 Heavy TankKliment Voroshilov tankThe Kliment Voroshilov tanks were a series of Soviet heavy tanks, named after the Soviet defense commissar and politician Kliment Voroshilov. The KV series were known for their extremely heavy armour protection during the early war, especially during the first year of the invasion of the Soviet...
. - North Africa, this updates and replaces the Afrika sourcebook. The specific organizations for the Deutsches AfrikakorpsAfrika KorpsThe German Africa Corps , or the Afrika Korps as it was popularly called, was the German expeditionary force in Libya and Tunisia during the North African Campaign of World War II...
and Italian forces in Libya and Egypt have been included. Forces are split into North African, Tunisia, Sicily, and Italy briefings. New forces previously not found in Afrika, such as British AirborneBritish airborne operations in North AfricaBritish airborne operations in North Africa were conducted by the British 1st Parachute Brigade as part of the Tunisian Campaign of World War II over the period between November 1942 and April 1943....
or a Panzerspähwagenkompanie, are included. - Eastern Front, this updates and replaces the Ostfront sourcebook similarly to the North Africa book. It was released January 9, 2010.
Late-War period
- Festung Europa, army lists for German, US, British and Soviet infantry, motorized, reconnaissance, and armoured forces.
- D Minus 1, army lists for the Allied paratroop and air-landing units active in the European theater during January 1944-August 1944.
- D-Day, containing rules for the Normandy campaign, including beach landings, fighting in the bocageBocageBocage is a Norman word which has entered both the French and English languages. It may refer to a small forest, a decorative element of leaves, a terrain of mixed woodland and pasture, or a type of rubble-work, comparable with the English use of 'rustic' in relation to garden...
. - Bloody Omaha, army lists for German and US infantry divisions engaged in Operation OverlordOperation OverlordOperation Overlord was the code name for the Battle of Normandy, the operation that launched the invasion of German-occupied western Europe during World War II by Allied forces. The operation commenced on 6 June 1944 with the Normandy landings...
on 6 June 1944. - Villers-Bocage, army lists for German and British tank units fighting for control of the Normandy town of Villers-BocageBattle of Villers-BocageThe Battle of Villers-Bocage took place during the Second World War on 13 June 1944, one week after the Allies landed in Normandy to begin the liberation of German-occupied France. The battle was the result of a British attempt to improve their position by exploiting a temporary vulnerability in...
on 13 June 1944. Includes new heroes, new unit organisations, and new scenarios. - Monty's Meatgrinder, army lists for German and British/Canadian forces fighting for CaenCaenCaen is a commune in northwestern France. It is the prefecture of the Calvados department and the capital of the Basse-Normandie region. It is located inland from the English Channel....
from June to August 1944. This book is the first to remove the number of support units limitation based on combat platoons. - Cobra, the Normandy Breakout, army lists for SS and American troops fighting during Operation CobraOperation CobraOperation Cobra was the codename for an offensive launched by the First United States Army seven weeks after the D-Day landings, during the Normandy Campaign of World War II...
, the breakout from Normandy. - Stalin's Onslaught, army lists for the initial assault in Operation Bagration focusing on the Soviet 8th Independent Penal BattalionPenal military unitPenal battalions, penal companies, etc., are military formations consisting of convicted persons for which military service in such units was either the assigned punishment or an alternative to imprisonment or the death penalty.-Nazi Germany:...
, Soviet IS-2Iosif Stalin tankThe Iosif Stalin tank , was a heavy tank developed by the Soviet Union during World War II and first used in the Kursk area in September 1943...
heavy tank battalion and German 78. Sturmdivision. This is the first of three books to focus on Operation Bagration. - Fortress Europe was released on 15 November 2008 and updates Festung Europa to make it consistent with the new style of army lists and includes options added by PDF.
- Hammer & Sickle, army lists for the drive on Minsk during Operation Bagration focusing on the Soviet GuardsRed Guards (Russia)In the context of the history of Russia and Soviet Union, Red Guards were paramilitary formations consisting of workers and partially of soldiers and sailors formed in the time frame of the Russian Revolution of 1917...
Divisions and German Sperrverband "Armoured Blocking Forces" and 505th German Tiger tank battalion. This is the second of three books to focus on Operation Bagration. - Firestorm - Bagration, a Campaign box focused on Operation Bagration
- River Of Heroes, the last in the Bagration cycle, and focuses on the 3rd3rd SS Division TotenkopfThe SS Division Totenkopf , also known as 3. SS-Panzergrenadier-Division Totenkopf and 3. SS-Panzer-Division Totenkopf, was one of the 38 divisions fielded by the Waffen-SS during World War II. Prior to achieving division status, the formation was known as Kampfgruppe Eicke...
and 5th5th SS Panzer Division WikingThe 5th SS Panzer Division Wiking was one of the elite Panzer divisions of the thirty eight Waffen SS divisions. It was recruited from foreign volunteers, from Scandinavia, Finland, Estonia, The Netherlands, and Belgium under the command of German officers...
SS Panzer divisions, and the Soviet Sapper battalions. - Hell's Highway, the first book in the Market-Garden series, covering German Fallshirmjagers, the American 82nd and 101st Airborne Divisions and the British Guards Armoured Division.
- A Bridge too Far, the second and last book in the Market-Garden series, covering the battles for Oosterbeek and ArnhemBattle of ArnhemThe Battle of Arnhem was a famous Second World War military engagement fought in and around the Dutch towns of Arnhem, Oosterbeek, Wolfheze, Driel and the surrounding countryside from 17–26 September 1944....
. - Firestorm - Market Garden, a Campaign box focused on Operation Market-Garden.
- Dogs and Devils, the first of two Italian front books, featuring the US 3rd Infantry Division, the 'Devils Brigade', and the Fallschirmpanzerdivision "Herman Goring".
- Stalin's Europe, army lists for the German, Soviet, Hungarian and Romanian troops involved in the Siege of Budapest, 1944-45.
- D-Day Slipcase, a case containing an expansion on many of the "Operation Overlord" source books. The box comprises: "Earth and Steel", containing a complement of German forces at the Atlantic wall; and "Turning Tide", the allied army lists of the operation.
- Cassino, released in June 2011, focusing on the battles around Monte Cassino.
First Edition sourcebooks
These books have been replaced with the sourcebooks listed above which reflect the current 2nd Edition rules. All of these supplements below are now out of print. Battlefront provides updates on their website that detail the changes between these old sourcebooks (but not the first edition rulebook) and the new mid-war army lists provided in Afrika and Ostfront. With these changes, players may continue to use these (corrected) sourcebooks for tournament play in the mid-war period.- First Edition Rulebook - German, US, Soviets, British, and Italian basic force lists.
- Diving Eagles - GermanGermanyGermany , 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...
FallschirmjägerFallschirmjägerare German paratroopers. Together with the Gebirgsjäger they are perceived as the elite infantry units of the German Army....
(paratrooper) lists. Battlefront released a second edition of this book in March 2006. - Old Ironsides - US armour and armoured infantry lists.
- Hitler's Fire Brigade - German armour and armoured infantry lists for the Eastern Front. Two editions of this sourcebook were printed.
- Desert Rats - BritishUnited KingdomThe United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
armoured squadrons and motor companies in the Mediterranean and North Africa. - Desert Fox - German Afrika KorpsAfrika KorpsThe German Africa Corps , or the Afrika Korps as it was popularly called, was the German expeditionary force in Libya and Tunisia during the North African Campaign of World War II...
panzerPanzerA Panzer is a German language word that, when used as a noun, means "tank". When it is used as an adjective, it means either tank or "armoured" .- Etymology :...
, motorized/armoured infantry and reconnaissance companies. - Stalingrad - Soviet and German infantry lists on the Eastern Front. Includes rules for street-fighting in an urban environment, as well as snipers.
- Stars & Stripes - US rifle infantry, RangersUnited States Army RangersUnited States Army Rangers are elite members of the United States Army. Rangers have served in recognized U.S. Army Ranger units or have graduated from the U.S. Army's Ranger School...
, parachute infantry, tank, armoured rifle and armoured reconnaissance lists. (All army lists from Old Ironsides are included in this sourcebook.) - For King and Country - British commonwealthCommonwealth of NationsThe Commonwealth of Nations, normally referred to as the Commonwealth and formerly known as the British Commonwealth, is an intergovernmental organisation of fifty-four independent member states...
forces such as Australian, New ZealandNew ZealandNew Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
, IndianIndian subcontinentThe Indian subcontinent, also Indian Subcontinent, Indo-Pak Subcontinent or South Asian Subcontinent is a region of the Asian continent on the Indian tectonic plate from the Hindu Kush or Hindu Koh, Himalayas and including the Kuen Lun and Karakoram ranges, forming a land mass which extends...
and Canadian forces. - Avanti Savoia - ItalianItalyItaly , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
infantry, tank and motorized infantry forces to the game. - Za Stalina - Soviet armour and cavalry forces.
Web briefings
Battlefront publishes additional army lists on their web site. This lists are official Battlefront lists and are eligible to be played in many tournaments. Additionally, Battlefront will host "unofficial" briefings developed by fans, although such lists are generally not eligible for tournament play.Models And availability
Battlefront Miniatures also has a line of multipart metal and resin models, at roughly 15mm scale, for use in playing Flames of War. This includes models for ground forces, such as infantry, vehicles and field guns, along with a limited range of 1/144 model aircraft. The models are sold in blister packs and assorted boxed sets.Other manufacturers produce 15mm figures for wargaming World War II, which can be used in addition to or instead of Battlefront's figures, in either private or tournament play.
Tournaments
Battlefront supports the tournament scene that revolves around Flames of War. Flames of War tournaments are held across the world and through the Flames of War website players have access to listings of upcoming events through the Flames of War Events Calendar. Each area of the world has a specific events calender that players can look to to find events near them. In North America Battlefront promotes a National Tournament Season in which winners of regional tournaments are qualified to play in any of the three National Tournaments. Players winning an Overall Championship or Best General Award from the three Nationals receives an automatic invitation to the North America Masters tournament. Other spots on the Masters Tournament are filled by the top ranked players on the Rankings HQ website. Individuals, clubs, or shops wishing to run a Flames of War sponsored tournament can contact Battlefront through Battlefront's website.Successor games
In November 2009, Battlefront announced Flames of War Vietnam - The Battle for la Drang. This rule set was released in Wargames Illustrated Magazine #266, and received a limited release of supporting models. In April of 2011 Flames of War Vietnam was made a permanent rule set when the first sourcebook was added as a free addition to Wargames Illustrated Magazine #282, along with the re-release of the original miniatures (In new packaging) and several new box sets. This era will reportedly be updated annually by Battlefront.- Tropic Lightning, the first sourcebook for Vietnam.
External links
- CWF Game Cast gaming blog and podcast focusing on War at Sea, Flames of War, historical and New England gaming.
- What Would Patton Do? gaming blog and regular podcast featuring numerous Flames of War After Action Reports, painting, and discussion.
- Model Dads Flames of War Painting and Basing, Modelling, Tutorials. Blog, Product Reviews, After Action Reports.
- Wargames Spain Spanish Flames of War community, competitions and challenges, tactics, army rosters, explained rules, after action reports, painting, modelling and scenery.
- Times of War e-zine Free electronic magazine focusing on Flames of War and other historical wargames: history, rules, tactics, after action reports and scenarios.