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Battle for Basra
1991
Rules assistance for Battle for Basra
Plain-language explanations of turns, card effects and disputed situations, with official source references and saved question history.
- 2 players
- 30 min
- 10+
- Complexity 1.6/5
For 2 players
Rules assistant for Battle for Basra
What would you like to know?
Answers come from the official rulebook, with the page to check.
Battle for Basra is a board game released in 1991 for 2 players, 30 minutes per game, and ages 10 and up. It was designed by Frank Chadwick and Lester Smith and its main mechanics are Dice Rolling, Grid Movement, and Hexagon Grid.
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About the game
"Battle for Basra" is a free introductory board-wargame, using GDW's First Battle game system, which was given away in the early 90s at conventions and in game shops. The game simulates a hypothetical attack in and around Basra, Iraq during the First Gulf War. One player commands the U.S. 24th Mechanized Division, the other player, the Iraqi Republican Guard. As an introductory game, with a small map and fewer than 50 counters, the objective is simple... the U.S. player must exit seven out of his initial ten units from the east edge of the map within six turns or the Iraqi player wins. An historical commentary is also provided.
Categories
Designers
Publishers
- Game Designers' Workshop (GDW Games)
Questions and answers
Battle for Basra 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 Battle for Basra is 30 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 Battle for Basra for ages 10 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.
Battle for Basra has a complexity rating of 1.6 out of 5 from BoardGameGeek players, which makes it a 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.
Battle for Basra belongs to these categories: Wargame and Modern Warfare. Its main mechanics are Dice Rolling, Grid Movement, and 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 Battle for Basra are: Frank Chadwick and Lester Smith. 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 Battle for Basra 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.