Holdfast: EastFront 1941-45 (2017) Board Game

Holdfast: EastFront 1941-45 is a strategic board game that focuses on the Eastern Front of World War II. Designed by Sean Cooke and published in 2017 by Worthington Publishing, LLC, this game allows players to simulate the intense battles and campaigns that took place between 1941 and 1945 on the Eastern Front.

Game Components of Holdfast: EastFront 1941-45

Mounted Game Board: Encompassing Berlin to Moscow and beyond, including key cities like Stalingrad.

Blocks: Representing German and Soviet army units, with labels to indicate strength and type.

Resource Points: Used for unit activation, movement, combat, and replacements.

Reinforcement and Replacement Units: Including new units like Russian Air and SS units that appear later in the war.

Player Aid Cards: To help manage rules and turns.

Scenario Setup: Multiple scenarios, including 1941, 1942, 1943, and 1944 scenarios, as well as specific battles like Kursk and Fall Blau.

How To Setup Holdfast: EastFront 1941-45

Setting up the game involves placing the blocks on the board according to the specific scenario being played. The 1941 scenario, for example, starts with the German invasion, and players must set up their units according to the initial deployment rules. The game board is divided into hexes, and supply lines are crucial, with units needing a path of five hexes to a city controlled by their side or the edge of the map.

Gameplay Mechanics and Game Objective

Mechanics:

Block Movement and Combat: Units move and fight using a simple d6-based combat system, with blocks rotating to show reduced strength.

Resource Point Management: Players manage Resource Points (RPs) for unit activation, movement, combat, and replacements.

Supply Rules: Units must stay in supply to avoid elimination.

Weather Effects: Weather can significantly impact gameplay, affecting both sides equally.

Objective:

German Player: Must capture key cities like Leningrad, Moscow, and Stalingrad, while managing supply lines and weather conditions.

Russian Player: Must defend against German advances, trading ground for time until they can counterattack effectively.

Player Experience

Holdfast: EastFront 1941-45 offers a dynamic and challenging experience, particularly due to its resource management system. Players must constantly balance between attacking, defending, and maintaining supply lines, all within a limited resource pool. This creates a high-stakes game of strategic decision-making and tactical bluffing, where each player seeks to exploit the other’s mistakes.

Pros

Easy to Learn: Simple rules that are easy to understand, despite the complexity of the game.

Fast-Paced: Games can be completed in one sitting, even for the entire 1941-45 campaign.

Strategic Depth: Requires careful planning and resource management, offering a deep strategic experience.

Compact: Suitable for players with limited space, with a small number of counters and a mounted board.

Cons

Graphic Design: The game board’s graphic design has been criticized as an eyesore.

Length: The full campaign can be too long for some players, though individual scenarios are more manageable.

Simplicity: May not appeal to gamers seeking highly detailed and complex simulations of the Eastern Front.

Personal Thoughts on Holdfast: EastFront 1941-45

Holdfast: EastFront 1941-45 is ideal for players looking for a fun and strategic wargaming experience without the burden of overly complex rules or extensive setup times. It’s perfect for those who want to delve into the essence of the Eastern Front conflicts without getting bogged down in minute details. However, for gamers seeking a deeply nuanced and historical simulation, this game might not be the best fit.

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