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noted the relatively high rating of this game in a 1977 poll conducted by SPI (44th out of 209 games), commenting "The poll takes a jaundiced view of many operational-level games, but it rates this one well, and with good reason." Palmer liked the back-and-forth nature of the game, as the NATO forces
194:
can be played strategically makes a game of long-lasting interest." Vickers did find some problems with the rules, especially the special rules for
Denmark, commenting "It is difficult to imagine why these cumbersome, hairy, creaking rules were included in this otherwise lean, clean game." Despite
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Both players earn
Victory Points by destroying enemy units, and by capturing or recapturing cities. Each scenario lasts 20 Turns once hostilities commence. The player with the most Victory Points at the end of the scenario wins the game.
190:(#14), Ralph Vickers gave an in-depth review of the original SPI game, and found that the various design factors of the game "not only allow the players to draw on the full arsenal of subterfuge and surprise but also the many ways
98:"M + 1": Both sides are at peacetime mobilization. The Warsaw Pact player is not obligated to immediately invade, and can delay as both sides prepare for an attack. After the fifth turn, the NATO player can also initiate combat.
259:, Martin Campion noted that "There are a few political rules to complicate the military action." He concluded with a warning: "The game involves a large number of units and is difficult for that reason."
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inevitably thrown back by the
Soviets start to stiffen in good defensive positions. He concluded, "Some queries on realism, but thrilling from start to finish."
76:
map of
Central Europe with a north-south axis of Denmark to Switzerland and an east-west axis of Poland to Belgium. The scale of the map is 15 miles per hex.
275:, was a finalist for the "Charles S. Roberts Best Modern Era Boardgame of 2004", and the "Charles S. Roberts Best Magazine-Published Boardgame of 2004".
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had been created in a rush, as evidenced by the three pages of errata. Despite this, Burtt concluded that he preferred the much more complex
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involve much more complexity, including supply lines, tactical nuclear weapons, and combat. He did feel the rules for
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Campion, Martin (1980). "NATO: Operational Combat in Europe in the 1970s". In Horn, Robert E.; Cleaves, Ann (eds.).
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there are eight different options for movement. Burtt pointed out several other areas where the rules of
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is a tactical wargame at the divisional level for two players that simulates a surprise attack by
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acquired the license to the game, revised and streamlined the rules, and republished it in
8:
301:
293:
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Vickers, Ralph (July–August 1978). "NATO: Operational Combat in Europe in the 1970s".
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104:"M + 1 + Nukes": The same as #1, but with the addition of tactical nuclear weapons
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In 2018, Compass Games acquired the license for the game and reimplemented it as
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properly played is a fascinating game — in almost every regard it's a classic."
107:"M + 31" + Nukes": The same as #2, with the addition of tactical nuclear weapons
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this, Vickers concluded with a strong recommendation, saying, "All in all,
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to be a much more complex game, and used unit movement as an example: In
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379:"Brezhnev's War: NATO vs. the Warsaw Pact in Germany, 1980 (2018)"
38:(SPI) in 1973 that simulates an invasion of Western Europe by the
101:"M + 31": The scenario begins with both sides at peak readiness
58:
437:
The Guide to
Simulations/Games for Education and Training
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Burtt, John D. (February 1984). "World War Three X Two".
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The Guide to
Simulations/Games for Education and Training
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Brezhnev's War: NATO vs. the Warsaw Pact in
Germany, 1980
154:, hypothesizing an invasion of Western Europe after the
228:, all units use one standard type of movement, but in
439:. Beverly Hills CA: Sage Publications. p. 504.
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61:forces defending Western Europe in the 1970s.
31:NATO: Operational Combat in Europe in the 1970s
252:"provided a more satisfying game experience."
208:, John D. Burtt compared the 10-year-old game
407:The Comprehensive Guide to Board Wargaming
173:The Comprehensive Guide to Board Wargaming
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461:"Index to Game Reviews in Magazines"
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409:. London: Sphere Books. p. 163.
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184:In the July/August 1978 issue of
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271:, Decision Games' 2003 edition,
34:is a board wargame published by
491:Simulations Publications games
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424:. No. 31. pp. 31–33.
273:Group of Soviet Forces Germany
160:Soviet invasion of Afghanistan
145:Group of Soviet Forces Germany
132:and published by SPI in 1973.
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340:. No. 14. pp. 8–14.
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36:Simulations Publications Inc.
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496:Wargames introduced in 1973
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25:Original SPI edition, 1973
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481:Cold War board wargames
82:3 pages of rules errata
141:Strategy & Tactics
69:The game comes with:
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302:Fire & Movement
294:Fire & Movement
121:Publication history
486:Jim Dunnigan games
212:to just-published
112:Victory conditions
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170:In his 1977 book
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137:Decision Games
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279:Other reviews
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386:. Retrieved
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267:At the 2005
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205:The Wargamer
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130:Jim Dunnigan
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220:. He found
55:Warsaw Pact
46:Description
40:Warsaw Pact
475:Categories
388:2021-05-12
364:2021-05-12
310:References
65:Components
16:Board game
246:Red Storm
226:Red Storm
166:Reception
135:In 2003,
405:(1977).
143:#220 as
90:Gameplay
74:hex grid
337:Phoenix
187:Phoenix
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263:Awards
286:Moves
441:ISBN
250:NATO
242:NATO
238:NATO
234:NATO
230:NATO
222:NATO
210:NATO
197:NATO
192:NATO
126:NATO
59:NATO
51:NATO
305:#39
297:#15
289:#13
255:In
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346:^
318:^
176:,
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