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Reds! The Russian Civil War 1918-1921
2001
Rules assistance for Reds! The Russian Civil War 1918-1921
Plain-language explanations of turns, card effects and disputed situations, with official source references and saved question history.
- 1–2 players
- 360 min
- 12+
- Complexity 3.1/5
For 1 player
Rules assistant for Reds! The Russian Civil War 1918-1921
What would you like to know?
Answers come from the official rulebook, with the page to check.
Reds! The Russian Civil War 1918-1921 is a board game released in 2001 for 1–2 players, 360 minutes per game, and ages 12 and up. It was designed by Ted Raicer and its main mechanics are Dice Rolling, Point to Point Movement, and Hexagon Grid.
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About the game
Reds! The Russian Civil War 1918-1921 is a two-player wargame covering these dramatic events from August 1918 to the start of 1921, when the last organized opposition to Red rule outside the far east was destroyed. The single large-hex map stretches from Warsaw in the west to Omsk in the east and from Murmansk in the north to Tashkent in the south. Across this vast expanse, players maneuver a colorful array of combat units representing various White factions, Anarchists, Nationalists, Alied Intervention Forces, the two divisions of the Czech Legion, and six Polish armies. Units range from armies to brigades. The Red Order of Battle is built around 16 Red Armies organized by Leon Trotsky. There are also two powerful Red cavalry armies and the elite Latvian Rifle division. The White Order of Battle includes everything from Cossack cavalry corps to Muslim partisans and a German Free Corps. Each side also has support units: naval and river flotillas, air units, and, of course, the famous armored trains. Key leaders are also included: Frunze, Denikin, Wrangel, and Trotsky and his famous Red Train. To model the chaos of this many-sided multi-front war, the sequence of play is based upon random chit pull which determines the order of activation of each White faction or six Red Army Front commands. The key Logistics phase, in which disrupted units are rallied and unsupplied units attritted, is also randomly determined. The game also includes TWO random event tables: one for each side. From sweeping cavalry advances to slogging matches over major cities (such as Tsaritsyn - the future Stalingrad - know as the Red Verdun), Reds! is a true player's game. It is also a realistic depiction of some of the most titanic and unusual campaigns of modern history. Components: One 22 x 34" Game Map One Sheet of 240 Counters Two Player Aid Cards One Rule Book TIME SCALE 1-2 months per turn MAP SCALE 65 miles per hex UNIT SCALE Brigades, Divisions, Corps, and Armies NUMBER OF PLAYERS Two DESIGNER: Ted Raicer DEVELOPER: Andy Lewis and Volko Ruhnke ART DIRECTOR: Rodger B. MacGowan MAP ART: Mark Simonitch COUNTER ART: Mark Simonitch PRODUCER: Gene Billingsley (from GMT website)
Mechanics
Designers
Publishers
- GaGa Games
- GMT Games
Questions and answers
Reds! The Russian Civil War 1918-1921 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 Reds! The Russian Civil War 1918-1921 is 360 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 Reds! The Russian Civil War 1918-1921 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.
Reds! The Russian Civil War 1918-1921 has a complexity rating of 3.1 out of 5 from BoardGameGeek players, which makes it a medium-weight 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.
Reds! The Russian Civil War 1918-1921 belongs to these categories: Wargame and Civil War. Its main mechanics are Dice Rolling, Point to Point 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 Reds! The Russian Civil War 1918-1921 are: Ted Raicer. 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 Reds! The Russian Civil War 1918-1921 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.