- BGG rank
- BGG #8,150
- BGG rating
- 6.3
Firepower
- 1–6 players
- 60 min
- Complexity 3.6/5
- 1984
- BGG rank
- BGG #16,812
- BGG rating
- 6.0
Platoon
1986
Rules assistance for Platoon
Plain-language explanations of turns, card effects and disputed situations, with official source references and saved question history.
- 2 players
- 60–120 min
- 15+
- Complexity 2.1/5
For 2 players
Rules assistant for Platoon
What would you like to know?
Answers come from the official rulebook, with the page to check.
Platoon is a board game released in 1986 for 2 players, 60–120 minutes per game, and ages 15 and up. It was designed by S. Craig Taylor and its main mechanics are Dice Rolling, Grid Movement, and Secret Unit Deployment.
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About the game
Platoon is a simple wargame on small squad combat in Vietnam. The game is similar to AH's Smithsonian series games: a single sheet with basic rules and a small booklet that contains advanced rules, additional scenarios and historical background information. The combat system is also similar to other Smithsonian games. The scenarios and soldiers are based upon events and characters in the movie. The game uses two elements to create fog of war: - the counters have small stands so the identity of each counter is unknown to the enemy. Some of the counters are fakes and "substitutes" (these are used to combine several counters into a single group. All counters are placed in an off board box and the matching substitute counter is placed on the map.) - Random initiative draw. Similar to Firepower, chits for each side are placed in a cup and each turn one is randomly drawn to determine which player may move. Platoon had a AH complexity rating of 3.
Mechanics
Designers
Publishers
- The Avalon Hill Game Co
Questions and answers
Platoon 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 Platoon is 60–120 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 Platoon for ages 15 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.
Platoon has a complexity rating of 2.1 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.
Platoon belongs to these categories: Wargame, Movies / TV / Radio theme, and Vietnam War. Its main mechanics are Dice Rolling, Grid Movement, and Secret Unit Deployment. 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 Platoon are: S. Craig Taylor. 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 Platoon 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.