
- BGG rank
- BGG #5,854
- BGG rating
- 7.4
Lock 'n Load: Forgotten Heroes – Vietnam
- 2 players
- 60 min
- Complexity 3.1/5
- 2003

2018
Rules assistance for Lock 'n Load Tactical: Core Rules v5.1
Plain-language explanations of turns, card effects and disputed situations, with official source references and saved question history.

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Answers come from the official rulebook, with the page to check.
Lock 'n Load Tactical: Core Rules v5.1 is a board game expansion released in 2018 for 2 players, 60–240 minutes per game, and ages 12 and up. It was designed by Ralph Ferrari, Jeff Lewis, Stéphane Tanguay, and David Heath and its main mechanics are Dice Rolling and Hexagon Grid.
Lock 'n Load Tactical: Core Rules v5.1 Lock ‘n Load Tactical system has for over 20 years and has entertained gamers with its ease of gameplay while giving players attention to battlefield conditions and squad tactics from the 1930s to the present. The LnLT system has set a new standard in Squad-level gaming with scenario-based gameplay. Its innovative gameplay mechanics, unparalleled artwork, historical scope, and accessibility have entertained veteran and new gamers alike. Lock ‘n Load Tactical is a fast and furious squad-level tactical game using a quick impulse system and great immersive graphics gives you a true feeling of being there. In LnLT you get squads, weapon teams, armored vehicles, fixed-wing aircraft, and, in the modern-era games, helicopters, and Jets. As a Tactical Squad system, special skills and leadership are all part of the base game. Single men such as Leaders, Snipers, Medics, Nurses, Advisors, Chaplains, and, of course, Heroes. Your troops' leadership and special unit skills can affect your battles by inspiring your men; leading them to feats of heroic bravery and more. Random events triggered during play causing events like ambushes, squads panic, and special support to name a few. Battles so intense that stories can be written about them. It's all here in Lock 'n Load Tactical. The LnLT system has set a new standard in Squad-level gaming with scenario-based gameplay. Its innovative gameplay mechanics, unparalleled artwork, historical scope, and accessibility have entertained veteran and new gamers alike. Over that time, our rules have grown, too, introducing new unit capabilities and concepts; they have also matured in their presentation. The LnLT version 5.1 (v5.1) rules combine the soundness of its design with its ease of play. This version benefits from all the fine-tuning accumulated over the past 20 years. Our goal is to present the rules in a straightforward manner without disrupting their existing structure and foundation. For clarity, some rules sections have been modified not with content but with a new structure, e.g., additional subsections, more bullet points, or more images and examples—and even in-depth examples. Additional cross-referencing of rules expanded unit-image diagrams, large font size for easy reading and a detailed Index and Glossary have also been updated. Other new additions to the LnLT v5.1 rules are numbered examples within each rules section and throughout the manual, to make referencing certain sections and subsections easier. The LnLT rules manual has received high ratings and praise for getting players into the game and out of the rules. Changes to the rules can be easily spotted as they have been highlighted in blue text. We encourage new players to read the two gameplay narratives (for infantry and vehicles/ordnance) found at the back of the book before reading the rules, to familiarize yourself with how a scenario plays in an intuitive and observational manner. The LnLT v5.1 rules can be used with any previously published module, including the LnLT Solo system. The Core Rules have seven additional sections adding an additional 110 pages. The additional sections are listed below. Additional Manual Sections Found in the Core Rules: Infantry Gameplay Narrative Vehicle & Ordnance Gameplay Narrative Outline of Play Charts and Tables Rule Reference Starter Kit TEC’s, Scenarios, and Game Tables Starter Kit Counters and Maps The LnLT Core Rules can be viewed and downloaded via the Online Library including our Bootcamp Training Videos. Please Note: There is no difference between the Printed, PDF, or Online Library Editions except were noted. The LnLT Core Rules do not include any printed versions of our game map, counter sheet, or player aid cards. Our printed edition of the game map, counter sheet, and player aid cards are available within our LnLT Starter Kit product. The LnLT Starter Kit included with LnLT Core Rules is a Print and Play Edition. UPDATE: All of our LnLT manuals and guides can be Downloaded, Viewed, and even printed right from our LnLP Online Library: We now have an Online Library of all, well almost all of our manuals. We add some every few weeks. You can find all the LnLT manuals at the link below. LnLP Online Library: http://library.lnlpublishing.com/
Lock 'n Load Tactical: Core Rules v5.1 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 Lock 'n Load Tactical: Core Rules v5.1 is 60–240 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 Lock 'n Load Tactical: Core Rules v5.1 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.
Lock 'n Load Tactical: Core Rules v5.1 has a complexity rating of 4.0 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.
Lock 'n Load Tactical: Core Rules v5.1 belongs to these categories: Wargame, World War II, and Modern Warfare. Its main mechanics are Dice Rolling 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 Lock 'n Load Tactical: Core Rules v5.1 are: Ralph Ferrari, Jeff Lewis, Stéphane Tanguay, and David Heath. 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 Lock 'n Load Tactical: Core Rules v5.1 as an expansion. Expansions add new content, rules or scenarios to an existing base game and usually cannot be played on their own. Check the box or publisher description for the exact base game required, and make sure your edition of that game is compatible with this expansion.