| | | | | | |

Quartermaster General: The Cold War (2018) Board Game

Brief History and Background Information for Quartermaster General: The Cold War

Quartermaster General: The Cold War is a board game that was released in 2018 and designed by Nicholas Avallone. It is a modern warfare and political wargame that simulates the tensions and conflicts of the Cold War era. Players take on the roles of major world powers, such as the United States, Soviet Union, and NATO, as they vie for influence and control over regions around the globe.

Game Components of Quartermaster General: The Cold War

  • Game Board
  • Unit Tokens
  • Cards
  • Rulebook
  • Dice

How To Setup Quartermaster General: The Cold War

  • Place the game board in the center of the table.
  • Shuffle the cards and place them in a designated area.
  • Each player chooses a major world power to control.
  • Place the unit tokens for each player on the board.
  • Follow the setup instructions in the rulebook for specific details.

Gameplay Mechanics and Game Objective

The gameplay of Quartermaster General: The Cold War revolves around area majority/influence and hand management mechanics. Players must strategically deploy their units, manage their resources, and control key regions to gain victory points. The objective of the game is to achieve the most victory points by the end of a predetermined number of rounds.

Player Experience

Pros:

  • Strategic depth and decision-making opportunities
  • Engaging theme that captures the tension of the Cold War era
  • Simplicity of rules and mechanics for easy learning curve

Cons:

  • Limited player count can lead to exclusion of players in larger groups
  • Some randomness in card draws may impact strategy planning
  • Components could be of higher quality for the price point

Personal Thoughts on Quartermaster General: The Cold War

Quartermaster General: The Cold War offers an immersive and engaging experience for fans of modern warfare and political strategy games. The game’s mechanics are easy to grasp, allowing for quick setup and gameplay. However, the limited player count and some randomness in gameplay may deter some players looking for a more balanced experience. Overall, Quartermaster General: The Cold War is worth considering for those interested in the Cold War era and strategic board games, but may not be suitable for those seeking a highly competitive or balanced gaming experience.

Game Components of Quartermaster General: The Cold War

  • 44-page A5 rulebook
  • Mounted Game Board
  • 216 cards in six distinct decks (Soviet, Western, Non-Aligned)
  • 59 Army, Navy, and Air Force Pieces (distributed among Soviet, Western, Chinese, Indian, and Nationalist factions)
  • Turn Track marker
  • 3 Victory Point markers
  • 6 Escalation Level markers
  • Supply tokens for each Bloc.

    How To Setup Quartermaster General: The Cold War

    To set up the game, each player or team selects a Bloc: the Soviet Bloc, the Western Bloc, or the Non-Aligned Bloc. Each Bloc has a static initial setup with a selection of armies, air forces, and navies on the board. Players start with 7 cards drawn semi-randomly from their respective decks. The game board is set up with the units and supply symbols in place according to the initial setup rules.

    Gameplay Mechanics and Game Objective

  • Card Play: Players use cards to build armies, navies, air forces, engage in land and sea battles, and manage events, espionage, status, and WMDs.
  • Influence Placement: Units on the map represent influence rather than military formations, combining diplomatic, intelligence, military, and economic elements (DIME).
  • Supply Mechanism: Units must be supplied by tracing a line of uncontested spaces to a supply symbol or by discarding a card to supply a single unit.
  • Escalation: Using WMDs comes with a cost in Victory Points, reduced by the escalation level between Blocs.
  • Scoring: Victory Points are gained for armies on the board, especially those in uncontested spaces with a supply symbol. Scoring rounds occur every two turns.
  • Game Objective: The game is won by the player or team with the most Victory Points after 19 rounds, or if one Bloc leads by 20 or more Victory Points at the end of a scoring round.

    Player Experience

    **Quartermaster General: The Cold War** offers a dynamic and strategic gameplay experience, particularly suited for families or groups of 3-6 players. The game is highly playable, with each turn representing 2-2.5 years of the Cold War era. Players must manage resources, negotiate with teammates, and balance the use of military force and espionage. The game’s design supports cooperative play within Blocs while maintaining an overall competitive environment.

    Pros

  • Scalable Player Count: The game can be played with 3-6 players, with each Bloc optionally controlled by one or two players.
  • Historical Theme: The game provides a unique perspective on the Cold War, incorporating historical events and conditions into its gameplay.
  • Quick Play: Games typically last 90-120 minutes, making it a viable option for family game nights or casual gaming sessions.

    Cons

  • Graphic Design: The game has been criticized for its poor graphic design, particularly the board.
  • Card Dependency: Success in the game can be heavily dependent on drawing the right cards, which can be frustrating.
  • Simplification of Nuclear War: The game’s portrayal of nuclear war and mutual assured destruction has been criticized for being overly simplified.

    Personal Thoughts on Quartermaster General: The Cold War

    **Quartermaster General: The Cold War** is ideal for those interested in strategy games with a historical twist. It is particularly suited for families or groups looking for a game that supports multiple players and offers a quick yet engaging play experience. While it may not be a traditional wargame, it provides a compelling narrative and strategic challenges that make it a great addition to any board game collection. However, players should be aware of the game’s graphic design limitations and the dependency on card draws.

    We are supported by our audience. When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission, at no extra cost for you. Learn more

  • Leave a Reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *