Introduction: This provocative article title is not an ominous “Pulp Fiction” confrontation, but a quick After Action Report of my former New York gaming buddies first exposure to this latest game I’m developing with Designer Mark McLaughlin, Hitler’s Reich: A Card Conquest System Game (henceforth referenced “HITLER’S REICH”).

 Back when I resided in New York, prior to corporate relocations which now have me in Seattle, the four Rockland Guys and I had many happy decades of gaming together and attending numerous conventions (see below “selfie” photo: back left to right George Miksad/P.J. O’Neil… foreground left to right Steve Geisinger/Fred Schachter).  These fellows are veteran games who over the years helped Mark McLaughlin and I play test his other GMT titles.

 A visit to New York City allowed an opportunity for us to get-together.  The ensuing AAR, when referencing the admittedly amateur hand-drawn play-test map attached (wait until the GMT graphics team gets this!); should provide a sense of how the game action flowed.  Future “InsideGMT” articles will flesh out your perceptions of the game… so consider this a “teaser” which you’ll hopefully enjoy in the friendly spirit its offered.

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During my last visit with family to New York City, I took the metro north train to meet “The Rockland Guys” at Steve Geisinger’s home.  Rockland is a county just to the north of New York City.

What a “deja vue” experience that was!  With George helping PJ and I Steve; the first Rockland Guys HITLER’S REICH game was played.  With my being there, the rules were swiftly absorbed by these veteran gamers; although, as we observed previously, it’s one thing knowing the rules and the basic functions of the cards and quite another learning how to best apply that knowledge to achieve victory.

Being novices, PJ (Axis) and Steve (Allies) ignored the naval aspects of the game save for a bit of attention to the Sicilian Zone with FleetPlacement.  It was a “land war” all the way!  With George mentioning how at WBC he observed game after game of Italy being knocked out of the war during 1941 by the Axis ignoring the Balkans; PJ took the hint and conquered Yugoslavia and Greece.

Some initial battles in North Africa occurred without decisive result.  Furthermore, the Axis built up their card hand size through acquisition of a couple of “War Production” and “Swedish Ore” Events.  There’d be capacity to absorb hand size reductions for upcoming “Blitzkreig Attacks”.  The Allies, for their part also sought to increase their hand size through Convoy (Steve having the “Fleet Carriers” helped) and War Production… with only experiencing  single success.

Then, with the Axis card  deck running down, which would eliminate the vast military build-up the game’s special “Operation Barbarossa” entails, PJ launched “Operation Barbarossa” with only one of the four free attacks over the border succeeding… into the Crimea.

However, from Crimea the Axis “Blitzkrieg Attacked” to take Kharkov and then went all the way to capture Moscow.  Then, using the turn’s “Bonus Action”, another attack from Finland seized  Leningrad fell to the Axis invaders.

Mark’s Hand-drawn playtest version of the Hitler’s Reich map

Loss of Production Centers (the stars depicted on HITLER’S REICH’S map) had Steve’s Allied Hand decline to three and it seemed all was lost…. yet the Allies regained Moscow via a counter-attack to move their hand size back from the brink.

That concluded 1941.  There were some mighty entertaining card and dice rolling moments of tied conflicts or conflicts won with but a differential of one.

With 1942’s commencement, the Axis again captured Moscow and this time combined it with an offensive across North Africa to seize Suez.  The capture Suez Event Bonus Action was used to gain “Iraq Revolts” which cost the Allies another precious card as their hand size again declined.

With George’s advice, PJ then turned Axis attention to the economic war by successfully getting all three”Wolfpack” events to drive the Allied Card Hand to zero for an automatic Axis game victory.  Although time was spent teaching the game and responding to questions, it took under two hours to complete this HITLER’S REICH game.

The guys really enjoyed their first playing of HITLER’S REICH and appreciated how it Mark McLaughlin’s design cleverly combines land warfare with an economic dimension.  That design received particularly high praise from PJ who is not a board war game afficianado (miniatures yes… traditional board war games not so much)… he had so much fun that they guys will place a P-500 order of HITLER’S REICH to add to their collection and Thursday Night play list.

More to come as these descriptions of HITLER’S REICH continue within “InsideGMT”.

Author: Fred Schachter