Avalon Hills Russian Front

[@AI-cp1jg]

World at War, one of the best documentaries out there.

[@gowensbach2998]

I wish I had kept all those Avalon Hill titles I had. Around 50 or so...I only have a couple left. I have picked up a few more since I got back into board games in my old age. At any rate, thanks for the video it brings back fond memories.

[@stevenkeen3481]

This is an amazing game, bought it back in the '80s when it came out, playing it now on Vassal!!!!

[@johntherecluse5121]

I have at least two copies. Probably the best game on the campaign ever made. Definitely my favorite, although the rules, and imo, the map could use some reworking. I played with my own supply rules, basically tracing to the nearest supplied hex(es) for retreat purposes. One of the best things about this game is that both sides attack and counterattack like they did historically with an excellent order of battle. However, there are those who vehemently complained about the effects of naval units for support, but I never found this to be an issue... yet. i'll think about a scenario involving Leningrad and perhaps get back here to post again.

[@bartlettbigx]

At the time it came out this was Avalon Hill's most beautiful looking game IMHO.

[@gwggamingwgaravaglia]

Agreed. One of my favorite maps. AND game .

[@flippered9999]

the background music at the start - from The Second World War series - to date one of the finest series to cover WW2

[@Jezza_One]

Had this and gave it away I could never get even close to producing a historical result it was always a massacre one way or another as soon as one side gets on top they quickly go on to victory.

[@justinsane3909]

I'm dying to find a copy, a game this good shouldn't be discontinued. Even if Avalon Hill vanished, they should allow the game to be remade by someone else. Video game companies do this sometimes.

[@Phalanx11]

Played this game once against an opponent in the '80's. A unique aspect about Russian Front is you have combat IN the hex. No other wargame on this campaign did that, Took some getting used to.

[@markheithorn3905]

I like the music intro from ," The World at War", tv doc series. I had quite a few AH games. Cheers

[@Hammer1126]

Have owned this game since it first came out but have never played it; I would be open to a game if you have the time. VASSAL makes playing these timeless classics a breeze. And this game is colorful and has some great rules; an improvement of the game Russian Campaign IMHO.

[@gwggamingwgaravaglia]

May take you up on that . But it's a big game & time of year is not good for me right now. My gaming season is during the winter months .

[@keithTCU]

Loved this game.

[@jwbjpb1338]

I hear the "World at War" documentary music in the background.

[@fastfreddy3103]

Just got this game on E-bay for way too much but what the hell. I'm newly retired and always wanted this game. Should've bought it 40 years ago for $30 when I had a chance. Big fan of the old Avalon Hill Game Company, Panzer Leader, Blitz, 1776, Wooden Ships Iron Men, Squad Leader, then ASL, and then more ASL. Just finished punching out the units and have it all set up on the dining room table where it will remain through the rainy season. What's her name, my wife, wants to use the table for "quilting". My man cave is too full of stuff for gaming so I have annexed the dr table. Sorry I digress...Anyway just reading the rules, will play "solo". Good idea to keep your forces together...Thanks.

[@gwggamingwgaravaglia]

. . . Hopefully you have better luck than my Germans did .

[@fastfreddy3103]

@@gwggamingwgaravaglia Total retreat to man cave. The evil armies of the quilters forced us back at bayonet point. Banished from the dining room table.

[@Andrew-pp2ql]

@@fastfreddy3103 nuts….that mean you not giving it a go? Wanted to hear what you thought…I too always thought though an old game still be fun to try.

[@fastfreddy3103]

I have had a chance to revisit this game. When you play solo it is good to hear other view points. For me it is to make sure that I am following the rules correctly. "GENERAL" volume 22 #4 by Avalon Hill 1986 is dedicated to this game. However there is some confusion or misinformation it seems to me. A. Initial Russian Set Up. Dan Thompson in his article "Before the Snow Flies" places the small armored corps behind the lines. Is this not a clear violation of the combat setup (2.3) rule on the basic game card which says "every hex that containing a national boundary hexside must contain a combat unit..."? Can't do that if some are placed behind the line. B. Battle Location Card & Supporting Units. Love this system. Shows the importance of Air Power. Axis player should engage enemy Air at every opportunity. Romanian, Italian, Hungarian, and Finnish Air should avoid direct combat used only for support of their respective forces. C. Optional Rules. I use all of these. Soviets have paratroopers and marines. The presence of marines and naval units in a body of water gives the Soviets amphibious landing capability. The Axis player MUST garrison Helsinki & Constantia. Soviet occupy Helsinki = Finland automatic surrender. I have yet to actually do a para drop in this game. Strategic Movement gives both players added mobility but favors Soviets. Double MF if all done on RR line. Extra Movement Factors can be used to gain ground costing additional "hits" D Finland. Do not attack Hango until August or Sept. Allow German Air and Army Group North to get in place first. Eliminate Soviet Air before risking Finnish Air at Hango. Use the 5-5-4. Finns get reinforcements in August. One holds Helsinki the other goes in the line. Two Finnish units enter Russia W & N of L. Ladoga and threaten Petrozavodsk & Poltava. Soviets must give these up or reinforce by RR. If Soviets reinforce then it weakens the real front and then the Finns go for the RR line at Tikhivin. This cuts off Leningrad from the N. E Army Group North. June blitz attack takes Riga. Exploitation move and Extra Movement optional rule allow capture of Tallinn forcing evacuation of Soviet Navy. Holding Vilna, Riga, & Tallinn gives Axis +1 additional replacement factor (very important). Tallinn very exposed to Soviet counterattack so get infantry there ASAP F Army Group Center. The main strike force with five armored corps. Blitz attack takes Vilna. Secure RR at Kaunas and convert RR to Axis gauge. Do not allow retreating Russians to block RR. July reinforcements RR to Vilna for attack on Minsk. G Army Group South. Blitz attack takes Lwow. Two armored corps drive on Kiev, the other on Odessa. Romanian June attack with Air at CQ5 to cut RR at CS6. The Mountain Corps is kept in reserve and then moved to support AGC. Its mission is to gain the RR line from Moscow to Leningrad. Once at Vitebsk (August) it heads for AMM20 across the mountainous area. This game requires a lot of record keeping so I have made some spread sheets to keep track, etc. Plus, just yesterday, I ordered two new game boards and new and improved counters from Camelot. One of the new games boards is an expanded version. Can't wait to see them. Having some trouble with this old game as the boards are not perfectly flat. Thank you GwG Gaming for this forum. Only content on KZbin on this game that I can see. I apologize for the length of this post.

[@jobu88]

I tried to like this game when it came out back in 88 or 89, whenever it was, but it just didn't work for me. I will still take Russian Campaign.

[@Andrew-pp2ql]

What about it did not work for you? Never played it but yes always looked interesting. Russian campaign loved it as a teenager….I think Russia besieged looks like a worthy successor to ir

[@jobu88]

@@Andrew-pp2ql Not sure, it was 30 years ago LOL. I vaguely recall the attack rules being different, and maybe I was just really used to Russian Campaign.

[@antoniocarrascosa6060]

Me encanta ese juego...Lástima hace no lo practico...Gracias x el video...

[@SK-lt1so]

One thing I didn't like about this game was the "retreat forward" stunt.

[@SaxonChronicles]

remember to keep your armor out of woods, cities and marsh

[@gwggamingwgaravaglia]

ya well a dependable opponent is hard to come by. sent off my moves. only response was crickets . but will avoid negative modifiers when possible . funny place that Vassal . Why answer an ad if you have no time to play ? My vassal experience is 0-3 when it comes to opponents. All eventually no shows :(

[@SaxonChronicles]

@@gwggamingwgaravaglia I used to play this on ADC2 15+ years ago. I think we ditched the naval rules to speed things along by email. I don't know how to use Vassal. If I ever figure it out I may get in contact with you. Not the easiest game to Play by EMAIL though.

[@gwggamingwgaravaglia]

Sorry but my opponent (who supposedly played this game 7 times ) did not even know enough of the rules to make it thru turn 1 . However i really was looking forward to playing the ole Russian Front , all its mechanics & optional rules, after a week of study myself , and hopefully will find a opponent soon. When and if i do "GAME ON " !

[@Redmow51]

This is my favorite game. I'd be willing to play VASSAL with you. But....I've never played VASSAL with a live opponent. And let me refresh myself with the game. Playing solo at the moment to refresh. Last time I played it was in the 80's while in the Army. Talked my commander into playing it...he loved it so much, he made sure I had duty with him over the weekends so we could play all weekend. I didn't mind. ;) Oh, and check out YT channel TIK. I love his fresh outlook on the Russian Front historically. At least, fresh to me.

[@Phalanx11]

I might add that AH's Russian Campaign is far better. And was more popular back in the AH days.

[@diogenesthedawg9172]

I had both games and recall enjoying them both. Neither is a “bad game” IMHO, but for whatever reason I sold off my copy of Russian Campaign decades ago, but kept the Russian Front game, which my former father-in-law and I played about a dozen times. We enjoyed it immensely. It remains one of my all-time favorites, even though I have not had an opportunity to break it out and play it since the 1990’s. Been thinking about setting it up for a little solitaire fun, but life just keeps me too dadgum busy with other priorities.

[@MrBrahe]

What is the software you are running on the PC?

[@Diabolik771]

HA HA I got that documentary on DVD

[@SaxonChronicles]

I think this game is very tough on the Germans. Waiting to see how your strategy works. You have to achieve much progress as the Germans just to keep the game going the next six months

[@josealvarollopeznavarro1403]

yo uso los marcadores de barbarrosa,son más chulos