War Room (2019) Board Game – Board Game Guys

War Room is a strategic board game that was released in in 2019. Designed by Thomas Gale, this game is set during World War II and focuses on economic and military aspects of the conflict. With a runtime of 120-360 minutes, War Room is designed for 2-6 players aged 14 and above. The game features area movement, delayed purchase, dice rolling, scenario/mission/campaign gameplay, and secret unit deployment.

Game Components of War Room

Huge Round Map: A four-piece puzzle map that forms a seamless circle, beautifully illustrated with clear iconography and practical use of colors.

Nation Order Books: Double-sided notepads for tracking orders and purchases.

Resource Trackers: Matchbox-like holders with plastic pegs for tracking resources.

Tactical Battle Boards: Mounted boards for combat resolution, including morale and quick reference boards.

Proprietary Dice: 12-sided dice with color-coded faces corresponding to unit types, also including symbols for color-blind accessibility.

Territory Cards and Command Tokens: For organizing and executing player actions.

How To Setup War Room

Setting up War Room is an endeavor in itself. The game starts with a massive game board featuring many armies, air groups, and fleets already in place. Each player receives their nation’s order booklet, extra command tokens, resource tracker, and territory cards. The setup involves placing numerous components on the board, ensuring all players have their respective materials organized. The process, while exhaustive, is streamlined by the well-designed components and the practical approach to game organization.

Gameplay Mechanics and Game Objective

Mechanics

Simultaneous Turns: Players secretly write orders for their units, then reveal and execute them in turn order.

Resource Management: Players manage three principal resources—Oil, Iron, and OSR (Other Strategic Resources).

Combat System: Uses 12-sided dice with color-coded faces and unit stances for offensive or defensive positions.

Unit Pinning: Units can pin enemy units in place, affecting movement and combat.

Game Objective

Allies: Secure victory by controlling Germany and Japan.

Axis: Win by controlling the capitals of two of three Allied nations: the Soviet Union, Great Britain, or the United States.

Player Experience

Playing War Room is an immersive and demanding experience. The game requires significant time and mental effort, with each session potentially lasting several hours. Players appreciate the game’s depth, particularly the simultaneous turns and the intricate combat system, which allows for deception and strategic planning. The game’s physical components and design facilitate a streamlined gameplay experience, despite the complexity and scale of the game.

Pros

Deep Strategy: Offers a highly strategic and intricate gameplay experience.

High-Quality Components: Beautifully illustrated map, practical resource trackers, and well-designed dice.

Immersive Experience: Simulates the entirety of World War II with a high level of detail.

Innovative Mechanics: Simultaneous turns and unit stances add depth to the combat system.

Cons

Time-Consuming: Games can last several hours, even days.

Space Requirements: The massive game board and numerous components require a significant amount of space.

Learning Curve: Requires a substantial amount of time to read and understand the rules.

Expensive: Priced at around $240, making it a significant investment.

Personal Thoughts on War Room

War Room is for the serious board game enthusiast and wargame aficionado. It is not a game for casual players due to its complexity, time requirements, and steep learning curve. However, for those who are willing to invest the time and effort, War Room offers a deeply rewarding and immersive experience that simulates the grand strategy of World War II in unparalleled detail. It is ideal for groups of dedicated players who can commit to the full scope of the game.

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