Defiant Russia:
Operation Barbarossa, 1941
When two people sit down over a table to play a historical board game,
they're not looking for the same thing every time. Sometimes they want
an in-depth study of an event; sometimes it's just the desire for competitive
fun. Defiant Russia leans heavily toward the latter.
| "This
game is only 20 bucks and I think for what you get,
the playability and enjoyment are EXCELLENT!"
— Sean Druelinger |
The topic is the 1941 German attack on the Soviet Union.
The map portrays the western Soviet Union from the Polish
border to the area east of Moscow, and from the Arctic
regions on the north to the Turkish border on the south.
It's divided into hexagons, at a scale of 45 miles across
each.
Players control the actual units that fought in this
campaign. Axis units mostly represent army corps. These
include German, Finnish, Italian, Hungarian, Spanish and
Romanian units. German tank units provide the real striking
power for the Axis, and these are the strongest units
in the game.
| "I
have played about eight games of Defiant
Russia. I have found all of them to be very close
contests. The game is simple and FUN to play as it
stands. With this in mind, I feel that 119694_avalanche Press
should be congratulated for releasing this product.
It is the ideal medium in introducing our hobby to
the novice. Not to mention the price! Great job 119694_avalanche
Press! Hopefully additional titles in this format
will be forthcoming!" — Sam Gatto |
 The
German infantry is also numerous and strong. The other
Axis units are not usually as powerful as the German ones,
though the Hungarian unit is good and there is a Romanian
cavalry corps.
Soviets are generally armies. Some of these are able
to stand up to the Germans, but most cannot. The Soviet
player must place his or her forces carefully and choose
the time and place for counter-attacks. The Soviet player
does have the aid of fleets in both the Baltic and the
Black Seas, allowing landings behind enemy lines and sometimes
support in combat. The Red Army of Workers and Peasants
has many tank units, but they are not as strong as the
German panzers. It can counter with paratroopers and shock
troops, special units not available to the Axis.
Defiant Russia isn't a very large game. The
map is 17x22 inches, and fits easily on a small table.
There are 140 playing pieces, and it comes in a small
box that's easy to store. The game plays very quickly,
concluding in about 90 minutes, with a minimum of charts
and tables to consult. It's suitable for ages 10 and up
and a steal at just $19.99.
The actual campaign took place in 1941, when Nazi armies
and their accomplices launched a surprise attack on the
Soviet Union. The Soviets reeled back at first, then fought
to defend Mother Russia with ferocious determination.
Eventually they would march into the ruins of Berlin and
bring an end to Hitler's evil regime. The game covers
the first vital months of this campaign, when the Germans
tried to capture Moscow but failed. The Axis player must
try to do better than this, while the Soviet player must
defend both Moscow and the other key Soviet cities.
| "A
great game to catch a newcomer’s attention,
and/or to introduce a newbie to the hobby. This game
seems to combine the best of the older, low-complexity
games." — Pieter de Wilde |
Red
Vengeance, the sequel to Defiant
Russia, reverses the roles as the German
player tries to fend off the vengeful Red
Army in the war’s final months, 1944
to 1945. Play is just as fast and fun!
 Links:
Stock Code: APL0027
Price: $19.99
Status: Now
available!
The 119694_avalanche Press Online Store is LIVE!
Order
this game now!
OR CALL OUR TOLL-FREE ORDERING
LINE! 1-800-564-9008
|
