Demo Game: Bolt Action 2nd Edition

Warlord Games are in the studio to show off Bolt Action Second Edition and we thought we'd get stuck into a Demo Game to show you how to play. Who will win; cast your votes now!
Check out more Bolt Action here: www.beastsofwar.com/bolt-action/
You could win a Bolt Action 2nd Edition: Band of Brothers Starter Set simply by commenting with your best Bolt Action Moments.
John will be playing as the British army and Justin is opposing him with the Germans. Who do you think will win, and will you be diving into the Second Edition ruleset?
Let Battle Commence!
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[@befunk9]

Roll doubles too many times and Switzerland stops being neutral, and declares war against you.

[@worempie]

My Best moment of Bolt Action is convincing my wife I need more models

[@c.michaelfisher1123]

The best of the bet is when you convince she needs her own =)

[@hellcat64]

Just show her the price comparison of 40k to bolt action.

[@chrisfletcher345]

If you haven't wiped out half of your army in a friendly fire artillery barrage, then you're not playing enough.

[@tomdudley5314]

Agree, they needed a points drop, perhaps 10pts each to make them worth it.

[@jamesdelahaye4454]

God damn that guy on the left was super salty the whole game after he drove his tank into destruction.

[@OnTableTop]

Lol.

[@drunkenbattalion]

He did just lose ~300pts to a 10 point upgrade in one turn, to be fair

[@ratelmike8825]

I do think Justine needs to tone it back a bit. Being a gloating wise ass gets to come back and bite you in the aforementioned rear end

[@derkzijp7007]

My best moment is realizing this game exists, can't wait to get my hands on it.

[@Hambone571]

Derk Zijp Whats nice is, after you but pay the initial rules, you can get what troops and vehicles you want, as much as you want, and use what you want. I really over bought, I admit, I have and painted way to much, but my friends and I adjusted some rules for bigger table games.

[@Skringly]

My most epic moment of BA must have been when my Officer charge into an enemy soviet rifle squad alone, killed two of them, survived all the return hits and promptly ran the rest down after the combat result. A single young lieutenant bagged a full 10 man squad single-handedly!

[@Sanosuke30001]

LT. Lutz moves from band of brothers. Nice

[@vengeanceforcatalonia8935]

Harlem Hellfighters style.... noice.

[@Debriefgames]

I think my best Bolt Action moment came from my first time playing. I don't actually own the game but the people at my local gaming club were kind enough to lend me one of their armies for the day at the club and play the game, and what a blast. My favorite moment from that game came about from me being outnumbered completely. I was US and my enemy was Germany, and from the beginning of the game he had the turn advantage, removing my armour from the battlefield leaving me with nothing but infantry and mortars on the battlefield versus his armoured force backed up with some more Jerry firepower. He held the initiative for most of the game, taking my units out left and right, and finally, huzzah! the dice swung in my favour and green after green order dice were brought from the bag, the initiative was mine. Pushing and outflanking my opponent, brewing up his tank in a flurry of bazooka fire, without him being able to defend himself was exhilarating as a first time player. Goodbye to the you go, I go turn order I was used to. This is what the chaos of WWII should feel like. I suppose my best moment of Bolt Action came not from what happened in the match (unfortunately, everything balanced out and the might of the Jerry firepower shredded up the last of my men, and, by the way, when you feel excited to even LOSE a game, that's how you know that this game is for you) but from how the game made me feel. I have watched Band of Brothers, I have watched Saving Private Ryan, but through the kindness of my local club members and through the phenomenal game that Warlord have presented us, I was finally IN the action. I felt it, I could imagine the bullets and shells whizzing past, ripping holes through buildings, followed by the guts and glory of the American infantry charging towards the German defensive line. I was in a miniature band of brothers that day. This game has changed my whole perspective on wargaming, and I cannot wait to finally get my hands on my own army and rulebook. Also, Kris, if you're reading this, thank you so much for allowing me to borrow your army that day, I owe this all to you.

[@jinxxathomez]

Are the reaction tests from k47 in ba 2.0?

[@Nperez1986]

Dont touch my tank!...the only thing I'll remember from this lol

[@sebastianhoyos1961]

came to back to watch just for this moment

[@crossbones8956]

11:30 "Don't touch my tank"

[@ruzzyshuya4832]

"The commander's said 'today, I wish to be a sniper', the observer's said 'good idea', the MG team has said 'we don't like that guy'". "Meanwhile the sniper team's saying 'did you see what we did to that guy's helmet?'" The banter during war games is why I love war gaming :D

[@kamikazebadger2686]

My favourite BA moment was when my 1Lt did a Victoria Cross run across open ground to claim the the objective in the Top Secret mission. He survived two units of 10 German troops and a mmg firing at him without a scratch. Next round the arty smoke barrage hit right on target and he was safe to run off the field.

[@chrisking1334]

Favourite Bolt Action moment? - easily it's my poor, beleaguered PIAT team running their way forward for three turns before one-shotting a Panther. Genius. Great vid - thanks!

[@hobbyspotnz2833]

Geez that got salty when that first tank got destroyed.....DONT TOUCH MY TANK !!! Man lol

[@Sacrilege83]

^I think that's more sad than dealing with someone who is half salty.

[@Daegren1]

The match was fun to watch, but my favorite moment would have be Justin taking both transports with his forward observer. It was a extremely smart move and you could tell John was completely taken off guard, "There are words to spring to my mind Justin, but known of which I can say on camera."

[@LoOnyCal]

really like the fact that they changed the assault rifle rule. and brought it down to 18 inches.

[@gilbertthompson4183]

My best Bolt Action moment, or rather series of moments, was when my free British artillery observer dropped his strike on my own lines... 7 games in a row. It went from being hugely frustrating to almost becoming some bizarre tradition.

[@owencook9729]

2nd edition seems to add in quite a few things to make the game that slight bit better, really liking it so far, also the models are still incredible.

[@baldguygames]

That whole business with armed transports (unmanned or otherwise) running/breaking from a 1 soldier charge is just plain silly. I'll never incorporate that rule in my games.

[@theforgedlarp]

Same. That was very odd. I came to the comments just to see if someone said anything.

[@matijarasovic4627]

Dumbest rule I've seen in any tabletop game, what is it supposed to represent

[@SaturmornCarvilli]

My most epic moment in Bolt Action was during my first game where my Sherman assaulted 4 units guarding an objective. I caused 3 of the units to break. Some would say those units just ran away unable to hold their position with a Sherman charging them. I like to think I crushed a few of them under the tracks. Because of that, I named my M4 the "Kill Press."

[@AndrutPL]

My most epic moment was when my Staghound menaged to win me the game that I saw as lost cause. My 1st Polish Armoured was pushed back by Fallshirmjager supported by some heavy equipment - Tiger, StuH and Puma. For worse, my own artillery observer shelled my center, pinning most of the infantry down. With half units gone to ground, my armour desperately tried to stop German advance. With Cromwell playing "cat & mouse" with Puma on the right and Stuart desperately defending left flank from waves of Fallshirmjagers (and respectively dying of Panzerfaust fire), my brave Staghound menaged to overmanouvre enemy forces and in two last turns he took out StuH and Tiger. I menaged to unpin my infantry and take objective, which was the bridge somewhere in Holland. Funny thing is, my Stag keeps collecting heavy tanks from that time, with IS-2 on his account too. Remember fellow British Army players - take your Staghound with you, when everyone fails, he will save the day.

[@RockysRoom]

my favorite bolt action moment was being wiped out by the Japanese not knowing about the banzai rules. game on!

[@mylesm7179]

In a tank war game. A troop of German panthers were very confidently assaulting and had destroyed 4 of my shermans. But it was the crafty tactics of the hellcat crew screaming up the flanks and demonstrating expert technical gunnery skills, clipped the claws of the kitties by knocking them all out and leaving the German generals jaw on the floor.

[@MrRavoss]

My favorite Bolt Action moment was my bazooka team, after making three run moves and with 3 pins, advanced behind a tiger and took it out point blank. We were playing in a city table with really hard LOS but I was constantly under sniper fire. He was taken out on the next dice, but my challenger will never again leave a tank without infantry support.

[@j.c.drescher4444]

Unfortunately I did not have any cinematic moments yet, but with that starter box, I would be off to a great start and I would definitely post the most epic moments as replies under this post!

[@836dmar]

I think I prefer the quick patrol stage of Chain of Command as a way of starting the game. The line up and start rolling feels awkward and kind of forced. I suppose you could add that sort of start to BA.

[@copeious3045]

I not sure if this completed, but I haven't been able to play bolt action, but over the passed month I have watched a number of these videos. They peeked my interest and now I building my army. I would say my best moment so far was watching one of the D-Day scenarios play out and when the Americans were attempting to land 5 Boats and none landed!

[@OnTableTop]

Glad you've enjoyed the Bolt Action content :D

[@nehrigen]

I have been waiting for a batrep with the new edition for a while. Well done guys.

[@521wallace]

My favorite Bolt Action moment was when my Sniper team took out my opponents sniper and machine gun teams in the same game. Turned the tide of the game in my favor and was epic to boot.

[@neilevans5676]

How can the been carriers be classed as unmanned after they had fired at the flame thrower team, surely someone has to be in them to fire the been.

[@mitchcowan1446]

My favourite moment in BA was an air strike that came in at the perfect time to wipe out or out enough pins to really neutralize an SS opponent. I was on the ropes and it turned the game around with a win for my US airborne

[@gulliverthegullible6667]

I would have liked to have had a closer look at the minis. The game mechanics seem to be interesting.

[@DeimosPC]

"DO NOT TOUCH MY TANK" Wow, fuck me. Someones salty about losing one of their tanks lmao

[@philiplawrence9188]

Deimos He's also very "generous" with his measurements. That first unit to debuss must have moved nearly 9" with some of those models!!

[@mistyfair5798]

I have never played Bolt Action and this wargame was a great advert. It seems very playable and good fun. The presentation from John and Justin was just how wargames amongst friends should be played, that is, having fun and making your friend suffer!!! Really enjoyed the post game analysis. Just one real criticism: the FO walking out into the open and claiming victory points on the armoured transports, really did not get the logic of that rule. Experienced Bolt Action games may be able to advise.

[@ProjectMEW]

Cannot wait for second edition! The most epic moment I've had is when my opponent needed a 6 to hit a target with a Brumbar tank. He rolled a six, but wait! We forgot the target was a small team, so he actually needed to roll a 6 by 6. Without skipping a beat, he picks up the die and without breaking eye contact, rolls another 6. It was glorious.

[@Vorpal_Wit]

13:50 That face! Lol! I feel for ya, brother.

[@kastork82]

One of my early games, being out of targets and a bit on the ropes, I shot a bazooka at a two-man sniper team, the shooter of which was peeking from behind a corner. 7+, hit, 6 on damage, 6 again to choose. The shooter went SPLAT! in a fountain of gore and the spotter failed his test, considering this being WAY too much for him and bolted :P

[@droppod101]

Would be great to see close ups of both these armies!

[@brains4845]

My best moment in Bolt Action was in the middle of a 1250 point game, my Cromwell held the entire middle crossroad by himself. He got hit a ridiculous amount of times with only one doing any damage, breaking the tracks. I won the game by the skin of my teeth thanks to my wonderful Cromwell. Both me and my opponent agreed that he was man of the match.

[@MrAmac97]

my best bolt action moment was seeing those beautiful miniatures

[@TheEccentricMan]

Thanks for the video, a good move to show the changes. The changes look to work well without changing the game dynamics. Best game moment for me was in fact my friends in a game against me. I was about to take an objective to win the game with my sniper team when his artillery obs who needed double 6 to hit promptly did so, rolled 6 to wound followed by 6 for exceptional damage to take out the sniper. My one remaining man failed his morale test and fled! Game to my opponent, but was really exciting.

[@daveclark7924]

Sadly haven't been able to get Bolt Action in any form so I have no great game stories to tell. But I would think that it would be a good idea to put the forward observers into the transports when the original mounted troops de-bus, that way you would have got the extra bren dice and couldn't be made to run by the enemies danger close. Great game.

[@robertlambert3774]

Best Moment, Game was at the end, as it stood, all even looking for a draw. Last die, Med mortar, ranging on a 6, rolled a 6 took out a HQ squad, won

[@philboshobbybunker4677]

Great video guys! Love the changes we might actually see some rally orders in our games. My best moment was the first time I played at my house. We spent an age placing terrain setting up a small village and ruined church to fight over and once the armies where setup it just looked so epic I was hooked right there! Great game. Roll on 2nd edition!

[@Howitzer933]

They highly overestimate the power of a machine gun firing ground to air at an aircraft, should definitely be 6's to hit

[@frozeniguana9448]

Probably the best game I ever played was against a player running Germans ( late war) vs. my early war French. Coincidentally, it was not only my second game ever, but his as well. In the .first of a convention, surrounded by bloodthirsty plastic death Lords, we had a blast, and he thoroughly condemned the armor thickness of the Char B-1 and the savagery of Senegalese, while I learned of the stinging bard of assault rifles, and near invincibility of veteran SS.

[@SlotraceDK]

11:35 ha ha........Don't touch my tank!

[@robertmitchell3030]

Awesome battle report! I'm new to the Bolt Action scene, but this game looks like my kind of miniatures combat game. They had me with Konflikt 47 and now they've hooked me with Bolt Action 2.0!

[@angelgarcia4848]

Great explanation of rules. Entertaining game as well. Saving my money to finally get my own setup.

[@SGusky]

Most cinematic moment for me in a game was , on the last turn my French Med Arty piece was manhandled into a position ( observer was killed in previous turn) to get sights on the remaining German infantry and rolled a 6 and then 11 for number of hits and evaporated that squad and won the game for me ( it's shown in my battle of Stonne video on my channel)

[@theoutlander1411]

You won't be able to do that now with templates, they will only be able to kill on a 4+ units underneath it, which means good luck being able to kill anything with artillery.

[@SGusky]

+John W agreed but the squad was about six guys Tylee packed on the roof of the building

[@Jebjeb]

Best bolt action moment was a 3 turn battle between a Semovente and a cromwell, semovente just started to get the upper hand and a 6 pounder that could see only a 1/4 of the vehicle rolled the 6&6 to hit, a 5 to pen and blew the ammo rack sky high! i was gutted but it was awesome

[@matthewfridirici3025]

Can't wait for the new book to get to the FLGS, I really like the changes you've shown in the demo, especially the new officer rules. Very neat stuff.

[@matthewlatham4570]

My only bolt action moments are enjoying your reports and videos as I have never had an opponent, a starter set and persuasive language could change that! Thank you for the videos, even if they leave me window shopping

[@Hazdrubal_Wargaming]

Most memorable Bolt Action moment. My Veteran Flamethrower team gets charged by an enemy squad of 8 SMG armed vetrans and Wins, with no losses to me being a nice bonus.

[@ShawnEnge]

I've never played but have loved the games I've watched. not a big enough community but if it grows I'd love to get into it!

[@Blipvertus]

My group has been going through the scenarios of Battleground Europe in order and the most epic game was Scenario 3, Omaha beach. The allies took a pounding while in the water and at the shore line but once on the beach just rolled up to those pillboxes and just let loose with the flame thrower engineer teams.

[@Brian-yc4mi]

I'd love to give this game a shot! Enjoyed watching the demo.

[@bccooper2418]

This play test has helped me a lot with the new rules in 2nd edition. I was wondering if you guys would mind posting your full play list for each side and the total points used? I am still learning to play and I would love to play that German Army as it is in this playtest. I like using infantry more and getting those extra dice.

[@bigeye6606]

Best BA moment? When the preliminary bombardment took out my tank, my HQ, my sniper team and my medic. lost the game of course but those roles were just insane.

[@WoWdreamWoW]

My best bolt action moment is... when my sniper was shot at by a lone enemy sniper that I had forgotten about and his shot barely missed. The next dice pulled was mine so my sniper returned the favor, but rolled six followed by six.

[@alistairscott678]

Longstop hill scenario - british regulars take the fire of two german mmgs and a grenadier squad, unpin with the help of the nearby officer, charge the grenadiers, win the close combat, consolidate to cover, charge the first mmg, win the combat, consolidate behind the second mmg, get charged by a reinforcing grenadier squad, win that combat and next turn take the last mmg squad in the rear! V.C. Awarded to the corporal leading the squad.

[@graemecollin]

Was that Artillery Observer called Mulligan, perchance? Would've been nice to see each of the army lists ...

[@connorhudston6895]

Best Bolt Action vid YET! You need to, you have to, I BEG you to make more Bolt Action Vids! Pleaseeeeeee

[@graydrifter3377]

I haven’t got the chance to play yet, especially with the Coronavirus. But I have started assembling my Afrika Korps starter army and am looking forward to playing soon.

[@TabletopGorillas]

Managed to win a game of Bolt Action without firing a single shot. That was mission 5 from the rulebook where you have to grab the objective from the middle of the table and bring it out. Can't wait for 2nd Edition!

[@angelsainz3021]

Looks cool. Nice to see some of the changes from Antares making it to Bolt Action

[@thepharos]

allowing multiple tanks and templates makes bolt action worth a second look. good job warlord.

[@thislostendevour]

Bolt Action is something I've wanted to play for a while, so second edition is a nice surprise.

[@Chauc3r]

John missed an opportunity to drive his firefly thru 2 german infantry platoons making them take a motivation check or run off. i like the v2 changes overall. The only thing that I'd like to see have a minor change to the rule of when your own troops provide soft cover to units behind them. What I mean is this. If your own troops can provide soft cover for troops behind them, then the shots that miss the far platoon, should be rolled again to see if they hit the platoon providing the soft cover. It would only make sense that if i'm having to shoot through a unit at another, then they should be in jeopardy also.

[@312Cherry]

My best Bolt Action moment was the purchase of Bolt Action!!!

[@MrGeorge175]

Best moment was rolling a six for an artillery barrage, then six for range catching 5 enemy units. However it did not stop there, I then rolled a six for the first unit which brought down the heavy howitzer and then three sixes for 18 hits. My opponent had chosen to go down and only took nine hits but his mmg team was gone. I then rolled another six again for the next unit which suffered only 4 hits after going down. I only pinned the next three units but at this point his charge across Pegasus Bridge had all but faltered. I know I will probably never roll that again so it was lucky that I was at my local club at the time with a few others who were watching.

[@geoffreywing9099]

My Best Bolt Action Moment was when my British Para PIAT team hopped out of their Jeep and set to fire at a Puma which decided to Recee. He didn't move far enough away and I still got a shot... needed a 6 and got it! Followed by another 6! Boom!!! Dead Puma to a PIAT!

[@ClassicColt45LC]

cant wait for 2nd edition. i play the usmc and love using LVTs, for fluff mostly but now that they can stay and fight which makes them much more worth the points. still dont like the run away if close to an enemy thing but thats easily changed as a house rule

[@warpheadz]

The changes look really good so far.

[@GVGames1986]

What would be cool in the future is a Space Invaders style glass table (old people will know what I mean). But holograms. A mix of tabletop and technology. Of course not replacing this, just a fun new technology. I put this out a few years ago, but thought I might mention again.

[@KjetilKverndokken]

I have not yet had any awesome Bolt Action moments, but I want to - but need more minis so I can start demoing it.

[@CesarIsaacPerez]

Really interested in getting the Band of Brothers Starter set and the Konflikt 47 Starter sets for Americans and Germans. I think I could mix those into nice armies for both games.

[@TheRendar]

Had huge jungle battle with my Japanese fighting marines defending a defensive position . Japanese were able to push the marines out and capture the hill . Just to be wiped out by a marine flame thrower team . Brutal game but a ton of fun! Can't wait for 2nd edition !!!

[@mannyuk99]

looking good as always. John went a bit too 'Fury' with that first Sherman

[@e-4airman124]

very good show! Changes look good!

[@JTMC93]

Bolt Action went to Templates and 40K dropped templates... Odd to see that occur. Though shows the difference of needs for the games.

[@richardmacpherson7647]

I asked that question at the games day in the seminar with Alessio, Paul Sawyer and John Stallard and they laughed and said basically "Meh, why not" 🤣

[@Nobleshield]

Bolt Action looks interesting but... I already play 40k. When I think of historical gaming I don't think of balanced lists, points and trying to appeal to the min-maxers who want listbuilding and competitive tournaments. I do like that it can be sort of a "gateway drug" for 40k players to branch out into something else.

[@peaheadwingnut]

fantastic love the changes.

[@waltermelnyk6207]

I'm liking the report and the changes I've seen, but I'd argue the dense terrain rule would prevent the Puma from seeing the Firefly at 17 minutes (at least it warranted a closer look)

[@paulyoung4649]

funniest bolt action moment was my mate going fubar on full squad of American, and then doing friendly fire on his lieutenant who he'd moved closer for the bonus.

[@kenc9236]

Awesome video. Love the table. What is the best gaming system for this style of gaming?

[@face1985ad]

another great video... love bolt action...

[@AK47_ASH]

Will you be doing anymore battle reports like this?????

[@hutchfu]

I like the new changes! I can wait to get my book and ready the new rules!

[@littlejimmy5020]

Loving the look of this, my best bolt action game was two weeks ago.. My first foray into bolt action. Played US infantry against a German team, managed to get a draw so not a bad start.

[@littlejimmy5020]

Although shooting myself with my own aircraft wasn't so good

[@seorwulf1049]

I do love Bolt Action - the only thing I really don't like is how you place a marker showing where your artillery barrage is going to be?! So the enemy can move out of the way? Seems a bit ridiculous - great vid though guys

[@Bladirus]

Enemy Tom Hanks (yep the model from Band of Brothers) needed to get off the map for a victory point in the last round. Failed an Order test with only one Pin marker on him and granting me a victory!

[@RaeveSpam]

Waiting for second edition to drop before I jump into Bolt Action. Therefore my best moment with Bolt Action was watching The Beast of War Demo game! Can't wait to get my own army!

[@Lukecostin1991]

Game looks awesome! Would love to try it out!

[@stacyyoung2316]

As I said on BoW, I love the flavorful troops and while not always epic for me, it's fun to watch my bamboo spear fighters dive head first into a unit of Gurkha or the like. Not to mention the joys of taking out armor with some kamikaze lunge mines.

[@alanwhyte1348]

liking this alot love bolt action

[@MColl81]

K47 and BAv2 has me excited to play again after basically a 12+ month hiatus. Excited about the changes I've seen here (at least 18 changes observed). However, a bit disappointed MMGs didn't go to 6 dice like the BAA Season rules. We'll probably keep that one as a house rule. We'll see.

[@johnsellars2692]

Nice work guys.

[@nrnicebreaker]

Looks interesting, sadly I didn't have a game of bolt action yet, but I'm really keen on starting to play this!

[@MikeyRumi180]

All this is interesting BUT I just find the construction tape measures a bit hilarious every time these dudes have to pull them out for these table games. I'll just try and go for PC...lol

[@WithCroco]

I'm liking the changes. I recently got the older book, but I think I'm gonna have to update right away lol.