
- BGG rating
- 8.0
Master Europa 106: First Front
- 2 players
- 3600 min

1991
Rules assistance for First to Fight
Plain-language explanations of turns, card effects and disputed situations, with official source references and saved question history.

For 2 players
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Answers come from the official rulebook, with the page to check.
First to Fight is a board game released in 1991 for 2 players, 120–240 minutes per game, and ages 12 and up. It was designed by John Astell and its main mechanics are Hexagon Grid.
On September 1, 1939 Germany unleased a new weapon that permanently changed the face of warfare. On that shattered dawn a blitzkrieg swept over Poland and in thirty short days the balance of power was reshuffled and Europe was at war. First To Fight is a historical recreation of this first campaign of World War II. A two player game with one side representing the German high command and the other, the Polish high command. Germany must attempt to crush Poland using a lightning campaign of combined arms, panzers and air power, for speed is the essence of victory. Germany must finish the battle and shift its army back to the western front to forestall an Anglo-French offensive. First To Fight is an Europa game. The two maps depict Poland and its neighbors at a scale of 16 miles per hex. The extensive terrain types show the diversity of Eastern Europe: from mountains to marsh, open plains to dense forest. The counters represent the German, Polish, and Soviet forces that fought in the campaign. Ground units are scaled at divisions, brigades, régiments, and battalions; air units in groups of 40 to 60 aircraft. The rules incorporate the latest state-of-the-art in play for the Europa System. Boot Camp - An introductory rules set for beginners. In this game are the new Boot Camp rules, an introduction to the Europa System. This eight page rules set, when used with "First To Fight", gets you into the action right away. Grand Europa - The entire 1939 German Army. When the series is complete set of rules that will allow you to play the entire war in Europe will be published. We call this final set of linking rules Grand Europa. As a bonus we have included the German army for 1939 which is part of this grand scheme. GAME COMPONENTS : 1,056 Die Cut Counters Two Maps Rules Book Chart Set Boot Camp Rules PLAYING TIME: 2-4 Hours NUMBER OF PLAYERS: 2 Players TIME SCALE: Three Day Turns. MAP SCALE: 16 miles per hex UNIT SCALE: Divisions, régiments, battalions Game Credits: Design: John M. Astell Development & Design: Rick Gayler Art Direction: Barbie Pratt, Winston Hamilton (from the back of the box) First edition Components (1991): Countersheets 18A, 19A, 57 & ACS (1056 Counters) Two Maps (Europa Maps 13A & 37) Rules Book OB Book Chart Set Two Six-Sided Dice Second edition Components (1999): Countersheets CS 18B, 19B, 57A, 57A-1 & ACS-2 (1296 Counters) Two Maps (Europa Maps 13A & 37) rules (dated 1998) - 32 pages orders of battle (dated 1997) - 28 pages 7 charts "First to Fight" & 4 charts "Grand Europa" A refit kit was also published in 1999 to upgrade rules and counters. It includes most second edition components: rules (dated 1998) - 32 pages orders of battle (dated 1997) - 28 pages revision guide (dated 1998) - explains how to update 1991 rules with 1997 counters - 3 pages 7 charts "First to Fight" & 4 charts "Grand Europa" 4 countersheets: CS 18B, CS 19B, CS 57A and CS57A-1 (dated 1997) (from a user having all editions)
First to Fight 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 First to Fight is 120–240 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 First to Fight 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.
First to Fight has a complexity rating of 3.6 out of 5 from BoardGameGeek players, which makes it a medium-weight 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.
First to Fight belongs to these categories: Wargame and World War II. 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 First to Fight are: John Astell. 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 First to Fight 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.