SCOPE: Allied Invasion and Western Front campaign; France,
NW Italy, and W Germany (not as far as Berlin).
TAHGC CATALOG DESCRIPTION: World War II Western Front
Invasion Game
GAME BOX DESCRIPTION: FORTRESS EUROPA recreates the Allied
campaign in Western Europe from D-Day to March, 1945. The Allied player must
select an invasion site and make a successful landing, break out of the beachhead,
drive across France, and push deep into Germany. The German player must prevent
the Allied invasion or else conduct an orderly withdrawal across France, constantly
delaying the Allies, and then counter-attacking in the winter. An EPIC struggle.
YEAR PUBLISHED (EDITIONS): 1980. Two published editions;
the second had many substantial changes from the first edition rulebook but
no changes were made to the other components. An unofficial softcopy 3nd edition
FSE incorporating published variants has been partially completed by WGA.
Jim Eliason advises that L2 Design Group is planning to publish a major revision
to the game, Deluxe Fortress Europa, that has the same basic structure but
with many changes; under the development of Paul Koenig.
CREDITS (combined 1st and 2nd editions)
Original Game Design: John Edwards
TAHGC Game Development:Alan R. Moon, Richard Hamblen,
Don Eisan
Artwork: Dale Sheaffer, John Edwards, Charles Kibler,
Alan R. Moon
Box Art: Rodger MacGowan
Typesetting: Colonial Composition
Printing: Monarch Services
Production Coordination: Don Greenwood, Thomas N. Shaw
"Battle Of the Bulge" and "On To Berlin"
scenarios: Tony Adams
Playtesting: Don Eisen (w/ Jim Payne, Harry Welch,
Kevin Eisan), Mark Cohen, Chicago Wargamers Assn. (Jeff Clark, Toy Adams,
Dave Miller, Jim Vincent), Phil Evans, Jersy Wargamers Assn. (Dennis Shorthouse,
Bob Riconda, Lew Ritter), Jim Jowski, David Perlman, Larry M. Connor,
Paul Siragusa, William J. Knap, R. H. Winslow, Matt Taylor, John Morgan,
and Dennis Brackman.
Special Thanks: Don Eisan
NUMBER OF PLAYERS: 2
WGA COMPLEXITY SCALE (1-10): 5
TYPICAL PLAYING TIME (HOURS): 4+ hours (scenarios), 20+
hours (campaign).
MAP SCALE: good question, I would guess 25 miles per hex.
UNIT SCALE: Mostly Divisions with regiments and brigades
and a few battalions. Abstract naval and air units.
TIME SCALE PER TURN: One quarter month
NUMBER OF GAME TURNS: 44 for the campaign; 5 scenarios
(4, 7, 11, 12, 28 turns)
GAME INVENTORY: 520 unit counters; 22" x 24"
mounted mapboard; multiple playing aids and charts, 1 die; rulebook (16 pp.
1st ed, 28 pp 2nd ed.).
WBC & AVALONCON HISTORY: 1991-2006. Century event 91-93
& 2001
PBEM TOOLS:
WGA is in the process of completing a VASSAL
module at this time which is 65% complete.
A full Play by Graphics toolset using Claris Draw exists in the WGA archives
to PBEM using a multilayer graphics file. Claris Draw installers exist for
both Macintosh OS9 and Windows. Claris Draw is an orphaned application.
PBEM OPPORTUNITES: Contact Wargame
Academy if interested. A Boardgamer Player Association PBEM tournament
can be organized by WGA pending suitable interest once a VASSAL FSE module
is completed.
WARGAME ACADEMY COMMENTS: FSE is a sequel to The Russian
Campaign adapted to Western Front combat using mostly two step units. There
are naval units, air units on both sides, and several types of air missions.
Each side gets infantry and armor replacements each turn (subject to loss
from air missions). The Allies can make commando raids and both players may
make paradrops. The Allied player selects the invasion site against visible
and hidden German forces. The Germans can crush the beachhead if enough elite
units are located close by. If the Allies land successfully & build up
a large force, the Germans are thereafter on the strategic defensive. Opportunities
for German counterattacks exist throughout the game, but bottling up the invasion
too long risks disaster when the second invasion comes. The Germans must withdraw
to the West Wall with enough strength to hold it.
WARGAME ACADEMY GAME TOOLS: One game play copy (1st edition
rules), softcopy rulebook, complete game editable multilayer map, Order of
Battles, Counter library and charts in Claris Draw.
