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Battle for the Factories
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NORAD
1973
Rules assistance for NORAD
Plain-language explanations of turns, card effects and disputed situations, with official source references and saved question history.
- 1–2 players
- 15–30 min
- 14+
- Complexity 2.0/5
For 1 player
Rules assistant for NORAD
What would you like to know?
Answers come from the official rulebook, with the page to check.
NORAD is a board game released in 1973 for 1–2 players, 15–30 minutes per game, and ages 14 and up. It was designed by Dana Lombardy, Greg Thill, and Harry M. Mishler and its main mechanics are Area Movement, Variable Set-up, and Grid Movement.
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About the game
"NORAD" is the Mishler Company revised edition of a wargame originally published in 1973 by SDC's in Conflict Magazine #4. A solitaire variant is included. "NORAD is a representation of a hypothetical nuclear war between the United States and the Soviet Union in 1962 . . . In 1977 the Mishler Company purchased the rights for NORAD. Only minor changes were made on the game board and the unit counters. However, several changes were made in the rules, and the solitaire game was completely re-done and the 'Assigned Targets' optional rule was added. The historical simulation aspect was improved by giving the American player the capability to hide the exact location of his/her fighters. Also, the Russian bombers may no longer fly endlessly back and forth across the game board. In addition, several rules and the number of units was changed to balance the game."
Categories
Publishers
- SDC (Simulations Design Corporation)
- Mishler Company
Questions and answers
NORAD 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 NORAD is 15–30 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 NORAD 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.
NORAD has a complexity rating of 2.0 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.
NORAD belongs to these categories: Wargame, Modern Warfare, and Aviation / Flight. Its main mechanics are Area Movement, Variable Set-up, and Grid Movement. 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 NORAD are: Dana Lombardy, Greg Thill, and Harry M. Mishler. 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 NORAD 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.