- BGG rank
- BGG #6,487
- BGG rating
- 6.8
World War I: 1914-1918
- 2 players
- 180 min
- Complexity 2.4/5
- 1975
- BGG rank
- BGG #20,240
- BGG rating
- 6.4
1918: Operation Michel, Germany's Last Chance in the West
1972
Rules assistance for 1918: Operation Michel, Germany's Last Chance in the West
Plain-language explanations of turns, card effects and disputed situations, with official source references and saved question history.
- 2 players
- 180 min
- 12+
- Complexity 2.3/5
Rules assistant for 1918: Operation Michel, Germany's Last Chance in the West
For 2 players
What would you like to know?
Answers come from the official rulebook, with the page to check.
1918: Operation Michel, Germany's Last Chance in the West is a board game released in 1972 for 2 players, 180 minutes per game, and ages 12 and up. It was designed by Jim Dunnigan and its main mechanics are Hexagon Grid.
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About the game
"1918 recreates on a divisional scale the first German offensive on the Western Front in that year. This was the first German offensive in France since 1916 (Verdun), and is generally considered the last, and best, chance of a German victory in World War I." "The game covers the critical first ten days of the offensive. In addition, to the historical version of the battle, there are various "what if?" options based on certain variables that could have happened almost as easily as the real situation." 23" by 29" hex map on buff paper with blue, black, and gray coloring. 119 German counters are gray-green, 119 Allied counters are brown. Counters are most 'generic' infantry divisions with a few weaker-faster cavalry. 'Artillery' units are used for: 1) General supply or 2) Attack supply (consumed)or 3) Offensive artillery (consumed) or 4) Defensive artillery (consumed if used at full strength). German Stosstruppen can infiltrate the otherwise rigid ZOC. 255 total counters
Categories
Mechanics
Designers
Publishers
- SPI (Simulations Publications, Inc.)
Questions and answers
1918: Operation Michel, Germany's Last Chance in the West supports 2 players according to the catalogue. This is the publisher’s listed player count, so the game is designed for exactly that number of participants. Variants for other group sizes, if any, are described in the rulebook of your edition, so check it before setting up a different configuration.
The listed playing time for 1918: Operation Michel, Germany's Last Chance in the West is 180 minutes. This is the publisher’s estimate for a full game. The actual duration depends on the group, the player count and familiarity with the rules: first sessions usually run longer, while experienced groups often finish faster. Setup and teaching time are not included in this estimate.
The catalogue lists 1918: Operation Michel, Germany's Last Chance in the West for ages 12 and up. This is the publisher’s recommendation and reflects reading demands, rule complexity and small components rather than theme alone. Younger players can often join with help from an adult, so check the age guidance on your edition and consider your group’s experience with board games.
1918: Operation Michel, Germany's Last Chance in the West has a complexity rating of 2.3 out of 5 from BoardGameGeek players, which makes it a medium-light game. The rating reflects how much rules knowledge, planning and decision-making a typical game demands. Expect a longer first teach for heavier games, and use a preparation guide before game night.
1918: Operation Michel, Germany's Last Chance in the West belongs to these categories: Wargame and World War I. Its main mechanics are Hexagon Grid. Categories describe the theme and setting of a game, while mechanics describe what players actually do on their turns. Each mechanic links to a catalogue hub with similar games, which helps when you want something comparable.
The credited designers of 1918: Operation Michel, Germany's Last Chance in the West are: Jim Dunnigan. These credits come from the published game data and name the people responsible for the game’s design, not its illustrators or publishers. Designer pages on MeepleRules collect other titles by the same designers, which helps when you enjoy a game and want to find similar ones.
The catalogue lists 1918: Operation Michel, Germany's Last Chance in the West as a base game. It can be played on its own with the components in the box and does not require any other title. Expansions, if any exist, add new content or rules on top of it and are listed separately in the catalogue with a link back to this base game.