- BGG rating
- 7.3
Solo Assistant: Nations at War / World at War 85
- 1 player
- 60–120 min
- 2019
- BGG rank
- BGG #12,381
- BGG rating
- 7.4
Nations at War: Desert Heat
2013
Rules assistance for Nations at War: Desert Heat
Plain-language explanations of turns, card effects and disputed situations, with official source references and saved question history.
- 2 players
- 45 min
- 14+
- Complexity 2.3/5
For 2 players
Rules assistant for Nations at War: Desert Heat
What would you like to know?
Answers come from the official rulebook, with the page to check.
Nations at War: Desert Heat is a board game released in 2013 for 2 players, 45 minutes per game, and ages 14 and up. It was designed by Ralph Ferrari and Sean Druelinger and its main mechanics are Dice Rolling, Grid Movement, and Hexagon Grid.
Expansions
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About the game
Publisher's blurb: "The Axis and Allied Armies struggle for control of North Africa, 1941 – 1943. "In Desert Heat, the Nations at War system brings all the grit and fluid action of the North African Campaign to your gaming table in the platoon-level scale. Tanks, armored vehicles, anti-tank guns, mortars, infantry, air support and artillery are at the tip of your fingers. In 16 scenarios, the Italians, Germans and Vichy French fight against the British, their Commonwealth allies from Australia, New Zealand and South Africa, and the Americans and the Free French. New to the system are obstacles such as Wire and Anti-Tank Ditches. What would desert combat be without that ever-unpredictable variable: Dust. It’s Panzer IIs, IIIs, and IVs against M3 Lees and M5 Stuarts, and M13/40s and L3s against Crusaders, Valentines and M3 Grants. It’s Armored Infantry in desperate close assaults, and ATGs, air support and mines. "It’s a fluid struggle pitting tank on tank, and now you can re-fight these battles using the popular Nations at War system. Based on the popular World at War tactical system, NAW depicts platoon level combat in World War II. In NAW you'll find everything you're looking for in a platoon level game: armor, artillery, infantry serving as more than cannon fodder, command and control, air support, and desperate close assaults that leave the victor in possession of the ground and the defeated in headlong retreat." Components: 308 Color Counters Four 11" x 17" Mounted Maps Rules & Scenario Booklet Player's Aid Cards Dice Other Games in Series: Nations at War: White Star Rising Nations at War: Stalin's Triumph Nations at War: White Star Rising – Airborne Nations at War: White Star Rising – Operation Cobra
Categories
Designers
Publishers
- Lock 'n Load Publishing, LLC.
Questions and answers
Nations at War: Desert Heat 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 Nations at War: Desert Heat is 45 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 Nations at War: Desert Heat for ages 14 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.
Nations at War: Desert Heat has a complexity rating of 2.3 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.
Nations at War: Desert Heat 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 Nations at War: Desert Heat are: Ralph Ferrari and Sean Druelinger. 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 Nations at War: Desert Heat 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.