Spearpoint 1943 Eastern Front

Award-Winning Spearpoint 1943 Eastern Front continues the fast-paced two-player tactical card wargame action set in WWII on the Eastern Front. Spearpoint 1943 Eastern Front, as a new base set in the series, is a standalone game and adds all new Soviet and German units, new Command and Damage Cards, Quick Reference and Scenario Cards, Event Cards, and more!

Spearpoint 1943 Eastern Front won a Grogheads Reader's Choice Award for Best Tabletop Expansion of 2015!

All cards are compatible with the original Spearpoint 1943 game, adding new options for players with both sets. In addition, Spearpoint 1943 Eastern Front is also compatible with our Origins Award Nominated Spearpoint 1943 Village and Defensive Line Map Expansion to take the tactical rules even further with terrain and additional rules and scenarios. A new Scenario Booklet will be released for free to supplement the existing booklet included with the Map Expansion. 110 Unit Cards feature an assortment of historical German and Soviet squad level infantry, artillery, armor, and aircraft. 55 Command Cards give support, intel, and other bonuses and control to players. 25 Damage Cards apply unique Damage Effects if a unit becomes damaged. 10 Event Cards supplement the 12 Scenario Cards and add intrigue to each game.

Combat is quick and tense and resolves using four included d10 dice. Standard and Scenario games play in about 30 minutes including setup. Be sure to pick up the Spearpoint 1943 Eastern Front Heavy Weapons Expansion to add even more deck-building options. Also pick up a set of Spearpoint 1943 Eastern Front Tracking Counters- 1" square and die-cut, these counters make games of Eastern Front even easier and is a highly recommended accessory (available only in our online store).

Contents:

• 220 Cards (Unit, Command, Damage, Event, Scenario Cards, Quick Reference Cards, Promo Cards)
• 4 D10 Dice (2 Gray and 2 Red)
• Rules Booklet
• 12 historically-based scenarios cover selected Soviet-German battles during 1943

Find out more about this game under Details.

Designer: Byron Collins

Funded via Kickstarter!

 

 

 

The Spearpoint line is a series of WWII tactical card games focusing on battles between US, German, and Russian forces in Italy and on the Eastern Front during 1943. The Eastern Front set is a new standalone game in a compact box which allows for easy transport to your next gaming night. Inside that box, you’ll find 185 cards, four d10s (two grey and two red), tracking counters, and the rules and scenarios booklet. The cards are broken into four decks: 55 cards make up the Russian deck, 55 for the Germans, 50 Command cards, and 25 Damage cards. The Russian and German cards are called Units and they include equipment such as tanks, guns, self-propelled and fixed artillery, aircraft, infantry, and the crews required for certain equipment.

A Standard Game begins with each side choosing cards totaling 80 to 100 points, which makes up your Reserves Deck. The remaining Unit cards are placed to the side as they will not be used. Each side has a large number of points worth of unit cards to choose from so you have loads of choices regarding deck construction. Unit Card point values range from 2 points for a crew to much higher point values for more expensive and powerful units. These point values are also their value to the opposing side if destroyed or captured.

Once you have constructed your deck, you’ll choose four Unit Cards to keep as your starting hand, Shuffle your remaining Reserves, and draw three Command cards. Starting forces begin in your hand and the rest make up your Reserves. At this point the first Commitment Phase begins. You may commit up to your entire hand during any Commitment Phase, which effectively brings units into the Battle Area and into engagement range. Committed units come into play either on the frontline or the rearline, as indicated by the Unit Card under the Unit's Title. Frontline Units typically include infantry, tanks, short range guns, etc., while Rear Line Units may include Artillery or Self-Propelled Guns. Aircraft are not committed to a line, but rather, come into play for a set number of turns based on their actual fuel capacity. Multiple lines provide a sense of depth and allow for breakthrough actions with aircraft screaming overhead.

The Combat Phase begins by each player simultaneously declaring the targets of each of his Units in play. To do this, players simply point each card toward its intended target within the restrictions of targeting (or use the included tracking counters in the Eastern Front set). For example, each Unit Card has one or more weapons listed. If an attack value is given for that weapon that corresponds with the Unit Type Icon, the attack is legal. Once targets are set, each player rolls a d10 for Initiative. The highest roll will attack first with one of their units. Since damage is instantaneous (i.e. you can destroy a unit before it has a chance to fire), Initiative is an important roll. Attacks alternate from there until all previously declared attacks are resolved this Combat Phase. To hit a target in an attack, the attacker will roll 2d10, adding or subtracting any modifiers, sum the result, and compare it to a hit number provided on the attacking unit’s card under the weapon in use. Most units have more than one weapon that can be used and you’ll choose which to use based on target type: infantry, artillery / armor, or aircraft. Each Unit may fire 2 weapons per turn against a single target. There are rules for critical hits (sum of 18, 19, 20) that result in extra damage or instant destruction.

If the attack is a hit, the Intensity of that attack (representing how well-placed the shot was) is determined with a d10, which is added to the base damage factor of the weapon that scored the hit. The defense value of the target is subtracted from the total damage and what is left is applied to the target's Endurance. Each unit has an amount of damage that it can sustain and if the break number is reached (normally half of the full Endurance) a Damage Card is drawn and the extra effects are applied to the target. It’s important to at least reach that break number when you attack a unit because damage points do not carry over from turn to turn. In other words, damage in a turn is cumulative but once that turn is over the target is either damaged (and marked with a Damage Card) or returned to full strength (with damage shaken off).

Combat and damage resolution moves smoothly after a few turns. At first, it may seem confusing, but you’ll get the hang of it and the pace of the game definitely speeds up - especially as things begin blowing up.

The Final Phase of each turn is called the Draw Phase. Players each draw a single Command Card from a common deck, and then choose to draw any two additional cards - these can be two Unit Cards, two more Command Cards, or one of each.

Command Cards are used when appropriate (according to the card) to throw a lot of wrinkles into the game. You may receive bonus modifiers for Defense, Attack, or Intensity, or use them to perform special Command functions such as withdrawing a unit, searching in Reserves for a unit you need in Combat right away, or drawing more Command Cards. In addition, a maximum of 1 Command Card may be discarded (burned) prior to rolling any roll in the game to influence the roll's result by +1. This way if you draw a Command Card that is only good for Aircraft but have no Aircraft in your Reserves Deck, you still have a use for that card.

Damage Cards have effects for each of the four unit types and are designed to be placed under the damaged unit so the appropriate effect is shown. These add a lot of flavor to what happens during battles so you’re not just sitting there pinging hit points away from units without any sort of reduction of effectiveness.

For a Standard Game, which represents a meeting engagement, the victory conditions are very simple. The first person to score 51 points worth of destroyed (or captured) enemy units or to be left unopposed by any enemy units for three consecutive turns is declared the winner!

Scenario Games are another way to play Spearpoint 1943 Eastern Front. Scenarios provide a specific setup, including specific objective-based Win Conditions, the potential to score bonus points for achieving secondary objectives, and more. Scenarios typically restrict the types of units that can be put into a Reserves Deck and provide players with special rules and some forces in play at the start of the battle. All Scenarios are available for download and are included in the Eastern Front Rules and Scenarios booklet.

Once you have a handle on the rules you should be able to play through a Standard or Scenario game in about 30 minutes making this an uber wargame filler!

For even more depth using the same core Spearpoint 1943 Eastern Front combat rules and components, check out the Map expansion for Spearpoint 1943 or Spearpoint 1943 Eastern Front.

Enjoy!

 

Spend 5 minutes learning how to play Frontline General: Spearpoint 1943 Eastern Front and you'll have the basics. The rules are direct and easy to follow, making learning the game (and teaching it) a snap. Please watch the video tutorial below for Spearpoint 1943 Eastern Front - this gives you an overview of a typical turn:

 

 

Ready to play? Go to the Downloads tab and get the free Print-and-Play Combat Demo.

We fully support our games. If you ever have any questions about how to play, please get in touch with us through the game's forums on Boardgamegeek.com or direct by e-mail.

 

 

Download Rules, Situations, and other files for Frontline General: Spearpoint 1943 Eastern Front (once released) below. Most files are Adobe PDF format and require Adobe Acrobat Reader to view them.

Rules and PnP Demo

Title and Link	Version	Change Log	File Size
Spearpoint 1943 Eastern Front Rules	1.0	N/A	4 Mb
Print and Play Combat Demo (FREE)	1.0	N/A	5 Mb

Other Files and Player Aids

Title and Link	File Size
Card List (coming soon)	<1 Mb
Starting Deck Suggestions (coming soon)	<1 Mb

 

 

Links to External Reviews

Review on Boardgamegeek.com from Michael Liljequist

Review by Chee Yih Wang

 

Gallery of Spearpoint 1943 Eastern Front In Action

 

General Frequently Asked Questions

Below are frequently asked general questions about this game.

Q: What is the level of difficulty of this game?
A: Easy to learn, easy to play.

Q: What is the level of abstraction of this game?
A: A fair amount of abstraction is used, specifically for terrain and movement, in order to keep the rules very simple. There is less abstraction in the Map Expansion, which adds terrain, asymetric line of sight, spotting, and other rules to the basic combat system.

Q: Is this a "hardcore" wargame simulation?
A: No, the design is light and simple, and intended to be quick to set up, fun to play, and highly portable.

Q: What is the "luck factor" of this wargame?
A: Some cards in the game are randomly drawn and there is a fair amount of dice-rolling for combat resolution.

Q: Is this a good introductory wargame?
A: Absolutely. You could consider Spearpoint 1943 Eastern Front a great gateway wargame.

Q: Does it really just take 30 minutes to play, including setup?
A: Yes. 30 minutes is based on players knowing the rules. The first couple of games may take a bit longer.

Q: How much replayability does this game offer?
A: Infinite. Standard games let you customize every game through deck-building. Scenario games offer objectives for players but still include a deck-building element. Every game is completely unique- even with the same initial setup, and each game tells a story. Replayability goes even further by adding other games in the line.

Q: Is this a collectible card game (CCG)?
A: No. Everything you need is in the box and all boxes are the same. It is however expandable through new add-on games like the Heavy Weapons Expansion and other base sets like the original Spearpoint 1943.

Q: Where can I purchase this game?
A: Directly from our online store (we ship worldwide) or through many US and international retailers.