Enemy Action: Ardennes

Enemy Action: Ardennes is the first in a series of card-driven war games on pivotal operations and campaigns in World War II, from John Butterfield, designer of RAF, D-Day at Omaha Beach, Ambush! and Hell€s Highway. Each game in the series allows for play by two players or one player, playing either side in the conflict.

Enemy Action delivers fun, tense wargaming with a focus on command and capabilities:
– Low complexity with constant decision points for both sides;
– Two-player competition;
– Solitaire play of either side with an innovative system governing enemy command and tactics;
– Card-driven impulse system, with multi-purpose cards that can be played to activate formations, implement command events, or gain tactical advantages in combat.
– Diceless and chartless combat system ?C players draw combat chits that build a narrative of each combat.

EA: Ardennes portrays the German offensive against the western Allies in December 1944 — the Battle of the Bulge. Each player controls the German or Allied (US and British) side. If playing solo, the game system controls the other side.
– Map scale: 2.5 miles per hex. Hexes are oversized for easy counter handling.
– Unit Scale: Regiments, brigades and divisions
– Time scale: One day per turn, with several impulses in each turn.

Preliminary components for EA: Ardennes ?C
– Three 22″x34″ maps, each portraying the entire Ardennes battlefield — one for the 2-player game, one for Allied solo play, one for German solo.
– 110 cards (poker quality)
– 504 .65€ counters
– Several player aid cards
– Three rules books ?C one for each game.

Developed by John Foley. Scheduled to be published by Compass Games January 2015.