- BGG rank
- BGG #17,912
- BGG rating
- 6.4
Bloody Keren
- 2 players
- 90 min
- Complexity 2.4/5
- 1986
- BGG rank
- BGG #19,042
- BGG rating
- 6.6
Drive on Damascus
1981
Rules assistance for Drive on Damascus
Plain-language explanations of turns, card effects and disputed situations, with official source references and saved question history.
- 2 players
- 600–1500 min
- 12+
- Complexity 2.7/5
Rules assistant for Drive on Damascus
For 2 players
What would you like to know?
Answers come from the official rulebook, with the page to check.
Drive on Damascus is a board game released in 1981 for 2 players, 600–1500 minutes per game, and ages 12 and up. It was designed by Vance von Borries and its main mechanics are Dice Rolling, Grid Movement, and Hexagon Grid.
Similar games
- BGG rank
- BGG #14,072
- BGG rating
- 7.7
Forgotten Legions: Designer Signature Edition
- 1–4 players
- 180–420 min
- Complexity 2.9/5
- 2018
- BGG rank
- BGG #15,198
- BGG rating
- 7.9
Decision at Kasserine: Rommel's Last Chance – Designer Signature Edition
- 1–2 players
- 180–480 min
- Complexity 2.5/5
- 2020
- BGG rank
- BGG #17,669
- BGG rating
- 6.9
East Front Battles I: Blitzkrieg in the South
- 1–2 players
- 300 min
- Complexity 3.1/5
- 1993
- BGG rank
- BGG #12,624
- BGG rating
- 7.0
Invasion Sicily
- 2 players
- 360 min
- Complexity 2.6/5
- 1998
- BGG rank
- BGG #12,113
- BGG rating
- 7.1
Decision At Kasserine: Rommel's Last Chance
- 1–2 players
- 300 min
- Complexity 2.9/5
- 1983
- BGG rank
- BGG #13,562
- BGG rating
- 7.4
Rommel's War
- 2 players
- 180 min
- Complexity 3.7/5
- 1985
- BGG rank
- BGG #16,216
- BGG rating
- 6.9
Slouch Hats and Eggshells: The Allied Invasion of Syria & Lebanon – 1941
- 1–2 players
- 240–360 min
- Complexity 3.1/5
- 2011
- BGG rank
- BGG #1,581
- BGG rating
- 7.7
No Retreat! The Russian Front
- 2 players
- 360 min
- Complexity 3.2/5
- 2011
- BGG rank
- BGG #7,195
- BGG rating
- 6.8
Cobra: Game of the Normandy Breakout
- 2 players
- 120–480 min
- Complexity 2.8/5
- 1977
- BGG rank
- BGG #10,166
- BGG rating
- 8.5
The Third Winter: The Battle for the Ukraine September 1943-April 1944
- 2–6 players
- 3000–10000 min
- Complexity 3.9/5
- 2021
- BGG rank
- BGG #12,617
- BGG rating
- 7.1
Overlord
- 2 players
- 180 min
- Complexity 2.4/5
- 1973
About the game
"Drive on Damascus" recreates the one major campaign between the Allies and Vichy France during World War II. It is an operational wargame recreating on the battalion level the Allied invasion of Syria and Lebanon in June 1941. This game has been built around two basic situations: the historical invasion and a hypothetical one, covering the chance of German intervention. In both cases it remains a two player wargame with each player alternately moving his pieces and resolving combat in succession. Whilst the game reproduces the situation that faced the historical commanders, the outcome will depend upon the decisions taken by players; it is perfectly possible to change the course of history. Drive on Damascus uses a peculiar hexagon grid game map in which only the central dot of each hex is depicted. British forces try to preempt an attack from the Vichy French staged in Syria in 1941. This wargame can be run as part of a campaign with O'Connor's Offensive, Hellfire Pass and Bloody Keren (which is where the campaign rules are to be found). Published 1981, in The Wargamer Magazine issue #15 Re-implements: Syria, 1941 Game Scale: Game Turn: 1 day Hex: 3.2 miles / 5.15 kilometers Units: Company to Battalion Game Inventory: One 23 x 32" full color mapsheet One single-side printed countersheet (260 1/2" counters) One 12-page Drive on Damascus rulebook (in magazine) Player will have to provide one 6-sided dice Solitaire Playability: Medium Complexity Level: Medium Players: 2 or more Playing Time: 4-15 hours
Categories
Designers
Publishers
- 3W (World Wide Wargames)
Questions and answers
Drive on Damascus 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 Drive on Damascus is 600–1500 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 Drive on Damascus 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.
Drive on Damascus has a complexity rating of 2.7 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.
Drive on Damascus belongs to these categories: Wargame and World War II. 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 Drive on Damascus are: Vance von Borries. 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 Drive on Damascus 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.