Fields of Fire 2 Overview

[@thelastmotel]

My grandfather enlisted in the USMC in 1942, aged 17, and retired from military service in 1975. He was at Guadalcanal with the 1st Marine Parachute Regiment, and later at Iwo Jima with the 5th Marine Division. He spent a couple of years as an instructor after the 5th was deactivated, before transferring over to the USAF in 1947. He saw action in Korea and Vietnam, and spent around 27 of his 33 year military career in Asia. Seeing games that cover essentially the same period as his career did made them an instant purchase for me.

[@mister2628]

FoF is for sure a complexity level 8+ game imho.

[@LoftusRoadLad]

Good stuff Devil Dog! And, spot on about the complexity!

[@joesheridan906]

Thank you for your honesty!

[@Coffee4two2008]

I just found this game and bought it because I was with 2/5 from 1993-1996! Glad to find you cover it!

[@thegimpygamer]

You're welcome! Just remember that this was a learning not a tutorial playthrough and as such did have errors. Its a good game but a difficult one.

[@Coffee4two2008]

@@thegimpygamer when I was with 2/5 on our way to Somalia we went by Peleliu while we were on the USS Peleliu and had a ceremony honoring the battle, We were standing at parade rest while the battalion commander read the history of the battle while we were looking at the island of Peleliu. For a WW2 history buff like me it was surreal! Also my wife's grandfather was at Chosin and my uncle was a forward observer attached to 2/5 in Vietnam. never heard of this game, but saw it in a game store and had to buy it :)

[@aacey1149]

Thank You, very good observations.

[@crushingit5128]

I felt like Vol 2 could have been the creators chance to update and iron out a bunch of the rules that everyone had a hard time grasping or rules that werent clearly explained. Perhaps add more examples or clear up some vocabulary. But nope. Imagine all the confusion and complaints from FoF Vol 1, except its like 10 years later and its exactly the same game with the exact same uncertainties and mistakes. That to me just screams bad and lazy design.

[@MrProsat]

This is a toss up on whether I have the time to take it on. Really intrigued on the hidden enemy that will pop up, as in real life. I agree with your take on the "under" rating.

[@nyanates]

Gr8 overview! Makes me look f'ward to your playthru. Good luck!

[@legacyportal]

Rah Devil Dog - lovin it!

[@nyanates]

My blood runs cold just thinking about playing this game - sorta like my first viewing of Alien. Saw it for sale at my local game store. Game box cover photo says it all. Can’t wait to tackle it.

[@cbblackard]

Been wargaming for nearly 40 years. If there is a game more complex than Fields of Fire, I haven't seen it.

[@dennissvitak148]

Carrier. :

[@bwort007]

So they don't worked on a good rulebook? I will pass

[@Stx11]

ASL

[@thelastmotel]

@@Stx11 ASL isn't a wargame, it's a second job

[@larrykuzniak]

How’d the grenade go off with the spoon still attached?

[@madddog6790]

Storage for these games is crazy. I have 3 full Plano 3701s for the first version, and I'm pretty sure I didn't even punch all the counters. Been quite a while since I played it, I keep promising myself to get back into it, but I've gotten way too much new stuff lol.

[@tonycosta3647]

Thanks!

[@TyphoidBryan]

What would be your choice for the second-best solitaire wargame? I buy almost exclusively GMT Games' stuff, so choose from their library if you don't mind.

[@thegimpygamer]

If choosing from GMT I would say Unconditional Surrender. Its not a strictly solo game, but it just plays so damn well with a lot of meat to the game without being overly complex.

[@TyphoidBryan]

I will put it on my list!

[@jose633]

Great review. Is the Action Deck the same that the previous game?

[@thegimpygamer]

almost exactly

[@timreece4278]

I keep trying to get excited about this game, but as good as it might be I just can't pull the trigger. The complexity is concerning in my current stage in life, but if it was being handled well I might be able to give it a go. One of the concerns that I have is that GMT doesn't seem to care about the suggestions from its consumers. The rules aren't any better, from what I have read and heard, the box is still an issue. I guess I am spoiled by Lock n Tactical and DVG.

[@colinalec]

Is there much difference in this one from the previous game in terms of its game play? Or is it just a couple little changes and new location cards?

[@thegimpygamer]

More of the latter. There is a new urban area that changes a fair bit but thats the big thing

[@PaulDaleAuthor]

They streamlined a couple of things, namely signalling and prisoners, but overall the same. I'd say the production values have increased most notably as mentioned on the counters and how they punch but there are a couple of counter errors. Not game breaking, more a nuisance.

[@tonycosta3647]

More than just little changes: WW2 Peleliu includes cards, vehicles and rules for an amphibious assault. The urban terrain cards and rules for Hue City, Vietnam are innovative and a major addition to the system overall when you think of what that can open up for future modules.

[@PaulDaleAuthor]

@@tonycosta3647 True. While we had urban rules of sorts in 1, in 2 Hue is a new proposition. Likewise, there were vehicle rules but amphibious assault is new, and great.

[@TheJoaninhaMendes]

Thanks... you saved me 100 EUR. I was sold when I read complexity 5 and was excited... I will pass :)