ONLINE CATALOG DESCRIPTION: Barbarossa: June 22, 1941,
Germany invades the Soviet Union to begin a titanic four year struggle unmatched
in military history. Test your strategic skills! Command the Soviet Red Army
or the German Wehrmacht on the vast steppes of Russia. Replay the epic Barbarossa,
Stalingrad, and Kursk campaigns.
GAME BOX DESCRIPTION: On June 22, 1941. Germany launched
a surprise blitzkrieg on Russia under the code name Barbarossa, beginning
a titanic four year struggle that remains the greatest military struggle in
history. Few westerners realize how much WWII was decided on the steppes of
Russia. The Soviet fought and defeated the main strength of the German army,
losing 13 million men in the process. By comparison, the Allies lost a third
of a million in North Africa, Italy, France and Germany. By D-day, the Wehrmacht
was already a beaten army in the East. Building on the Columbia Games tradition
of fine games featuring limited intelligence (Quebec 1759, Napoleon,
and Rommel in the Desert), EastFront is a sophisticated
yet highly playable simulation game that provides hundreds of hours of enjoyment.
YEAR PUBLISHED (EDITIONS): First Edition (1991). Second
Edition (2006). Minor map changes (i.e adding Turkey, etc) to accommodate
combination with West Front to create Euro Front. As living rules are available
online, Both edition remain playable. The last version of EastFront
1st edition rules version 3.02 (PDF 2,65m MB) are the last edition I am
aware of. this version has all the rule and chart errata incorporated. The
living rulebook on the Columbia Games site are tailored for EastFront
2nd Edition. Other than the map, there are additional Satellite units
for WestFront/EuroFront use. EastFront 1st edition is now a playable collector
item. EF2 is configured to mate with WestFront. Relative to EFT, is has a
twice the map but about half is extra areas not relative to EFT play. It does
have ulilty counters which are beneficial for
play.
CREDITS
Game Design: Craig Besinque & Tom Dalgliesh
Map and Graphics: Eric Holz
Development and Playtesters: Bob Albrecht, Lou Coatney,
Dave Cox, Ron Gibson,, Ron Hodwitz, Ken Hole, Robert Taylor-smith, UBC
Wargamers, Gary Wright
NUMBER OF PLAYERS:
WGA COMPLEXITY SCALE (1-10):
TYPICAL PLAYING TIME (HOURS): 3-5 hours per 6 month scenario.
A campaign game can start by starting any scenario and playing to war's end
using the 1944 scenario victory conditions.
WBC & AVALONCON HISTORY: Never made it as an Avaloncon
event. Premiered as a Prezcon event in 2012 as part of Columbia Con. Scheduled
start of Friday February 24.
PBEM TOOLS:
Columbia Games published Computer East Front for Windows 95/98?ME/2000
in 2006. I successfully installed and run it on Windows XP; it does run
on Windows7, not sure if it will directly install. Will run off a USB flashdrive..
Supports interactive/hot seat, PBEM, and solitaire play. There is no inherent
AI opponent. No Java application VASSAL
module at this time. WGA will seek to create one cooperatively with Columbia
games as its main advantage is to enable real time server play and an alternate
remote play tool.
PBEM OPPORTUNITES: WGA will seek to use Prezcon 2012 to
establish a pool or players to participate in annual PBEM tournament and ladder
play. The PBEM tournament is slated to begin on 16-April-2012, hopefully on
an annual based. Contact Bill Thomson
(GM) if interested. There is an active independent Computer
EastFront site with a ladder, player ratings, and an annual campaign game
tournaments.
WARGAME ACADEMY COMMENTS: The standard Columbia Games block
game system. If familiar with this system, there is only a minor learning
curve to learn the game. The computer East Front is also a good learning tool
as prompts a rulebook search to find out 'Why can't I ....). Learning how
to play well is another objective.
ACCOLADES: 1991 Charles S. Roberts Award winner for Best
World War II Board Game. Personally I prefer EFT over EF2 as the map area
is 66% enabling it to fit on a table. Assuming there is no intention of mating
with WestFront (creating EuroFront), no playing area is lost.
WARGAME ACADEMY GAME TOOLS: One first edition play copy;
multiple computer EastFront games; one EastFront 2nd edition..
