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GD '40
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- 360–1200 min
- Complexity 3.5/5
- 1993
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- BGG #8,955
- BGG rating
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GD '42: Grossdeutschland
2009
Rules assistance for GD '42: Grossdeutschland
Plain-language explanations of turns, card effects and disputed situations, with official source references and saved question history.
- 1–2 players
- 300–600 min
- 12+
- Complexity 3.9/5
For 1 player
Rules assistant for GD '42: Grossdeutschland
What would you like to know?
Answers come from the official rulebook, with the page to check.
GD '42: Grossdeutschland is a board game released in 2009 for 1–2 players, 300–600 minutes per game, and ages 12 and up. It was designed by Dean Essig, Lee Forester, and Wig Graves and its main mechanics are Dice Rolling, Hexagon Grid, and Simulation.
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About the game
GD ’42: The Battle in the Luchessa Valley, 29 November - 4 December, 1942, covers the desperate battle for survival of the GD Division as it faced down the entire Soviet 3rd Mech Corps (with over 200 tanks) over several days. 25 November, 1942: As part of Operation Mars, the Soviet 238th Rifle Division, supported by tanks of the 49th Tank Brigade, attacked into the Luchessa Valley, trying to create a breach for the waiting 3rd Mech Corps to exploit. For reasons still unknown, right before the attack the German 9th Army ordered three battalions the GD Division to move to the Luchessa Valley as OKH reserve, thus backing up the weak 216th Grenadier Regiment. Because of the presence of the GD, the Soviets were unable to force a breakthrough and decided to commit the 3rd Mech Corps into the meat grinder to force the issue... Designer Wig Graves conducted extensive research, combing both German and Soviet sources to create the order of battle. The Soviets begin with seemingly overwhelming force, while the Germans trade space for time and attempt to rush reinforcements to the front to plug inevitable gaps. While the Germans are primarily on the defense, careful counter-attacks against the relatively immobile Soviet formations can prove to be key to victory. And if the Soviets do not preserve their forces carefully, they will end with the historical result: stable German lines and an entire mechanized corps wrecked. GD ’42 uses the new Tactical Combat Series rules. The features of TCS 4.0 rules are: Vehicle impulses increase operational tempo for tanks Combined Area and Point Fire table Introduction of morale for vehicles Enhanced combined arms effects Artillery subsystem improved Game Scale: Game turns: 20 minute daylight turns/1 hour night turns Hex: 125 yards / 20 meter contours Units: Individual guns/tanks to Platoon size GD'42 Contains: 3 22”x34” maps 3 countersheets (840 ½” counters) 1 TCS 4.0 Series Rulebook 2 TCS 4.0 charts 1 GD ’42 Rulebook 2 Morale Charts 2 Dice
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- Multi-Man Publishing
Questions and answers
GD '42: Grossdeutschland supports 1–2 players according to the catalogue. This range comes from the publisher’s listed player count, so the game can be set up for any group size within it. Some setups, rules and scoring details may still vary by player count, so check your edition’s rulebook for the exact configuration.
The listed playing time for GD '42: Grossdeutschland is 300–600 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 GD '42: Grossdeutschland 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.
GD '42: Grossdeutschland has a complexity rating of 3.9 out of 5 from BoardGameGeek players, which makes it a heavy 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.
GD '42: Grossdeutschland belongs to these categories: Wargame and World War II. Its main mechanics are Dice Rolling, Hexagon Grid, and Simulation. 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 GD '42: Grossdeutschland are: Dean Essig, Lee Forester, and Wig Graves. 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 GD '42: Grossdeutschland 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.