Dice Command (2021) Board Game

Dice Command is a wargame set during World War II, designed by Tyler Holman and published in in 2021. The game incorporates dice rolling, grid movement, King of the Hill, open drafting, and take that mechanisms to provide players with a strategic and engaging gameplay experience.

Game Components of Dice Command

Dice: Serve as both worker placement units and soldiers on the field.

Game Board: A small grid board divided into Enemy Zones, Front Lines, and Facility Spaces.

Tactical Advantage Cards: Offer various actions and strategies, including offensive advantages and espionage.

Facility Tiles: Provide special benefits to controlling players, such as the Nuclear Silo which grants research tokens but causes damage.

Research Tokens: Used for upgrading technologies.

Special Ops Deck: Available in the Limited Kickstarter edition, granting unique abilities to each player.

Credits: Used for assigning actions.

How To Setup Dice Command

To set up Dice Command, players begin by preparing the game board, which includes placing the Facility Tiles and dividing the Tactical Advantage deck. Each player starts with access to the same actions, but the game becomes asymmetrical as players invest in different technologies. For 3 and 4 player variants, the game uses both sides of the double-sided boards, offering options for team battles and free-for-all skirmishes.

Gameplay Mechanics and Game Objective

Preparation Phase: Resolve start of turn effects.

Rolling Dice: Players roll dice to determine available actions.

Assign Phase: Assign dice to actions such as conscripting units, deploying units, researching technologies, or using Tactical Advantage cards.

Resolve Phase: Resolve assigned actions in any order.

Advancing Phase: Advance units on the battlefield; units engaging enemy units deal damage based on strength values.

Game Objective: Be the first player to get four of their units behind the enemy’s front line (five in the 4-player Team variant), or until the Cease Fire card is revealed.

Player Experience

Playing Dice Command involves a delicate balance between deploying units on the battlefield and managing resources for important actions like research and tactics. The game feels streamlined despite its numerous components and actions. Players must carefully plan their moves, anticipating their opponents’ strategies and adjusting accordingly. The Tactical Advantage cards add a layer of complexity, forcing players to make strategic decisions about which cards to use and when.

Pros

High Replayability: The game offers a wide range of actions and strategies, particularly with the Tactical Advantage cards and Facility Tiles.

Interactive and Tactical: The game provides a highly interactive and tactical battle experience.

Balanced Mechanics: The balance between units on the field and resource management is engaging and challenging.

Well-Integrated Theme: The theme is well-integrated, especially in the Facility Tiles and Tactical Advantage cards.

Cons

Complexity: While the game feels streamlined, managing all the components and actions can be overwhelming for new players.

Resource Management: Over-deploying units can leave players with insufficient resources for other important actions.

Personal Thoughts on Dice Command

Dice Command is ideal for players who enjoy tactical wargames and strategic planning. It is particularly suited for those who appreciate games with high replayability and a good balance between resource management and battlefield tactics. The game’s ability to scale from 2 to 4 players, including team and free-for-all variants, makes it versatile for different gaming groups. However, it may not be the best fit for casual gamers due to its complexity and the need for careful planning and resource management.

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