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Retro: Tactical WWII Wargame Variant Rules
2001
Rules assistance for Retro: Tactical WWII Wargame Variant Rules
Plain-language explanations of turns, card effects and disputed situations, with official source references and saved question history.
- 2 players
- 30 min
- 12+
- Complexity 2.5/5
For 2 players
Rules assistant for Retro: Tactical WWII Wargame Variant Rules
What would you like to know?
Answers come from the official rulebook, with the page to check.
Retro: Tactical WWII Wargame Variant Rules is a board game released in 2001 for 2 players, 30 minutes per game, and ages 12 and up. It was designed by Gary Graber and its main mechanics are Dice Rolling and Hexagon Grid.
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About the game
(from the introduction:) Retro is a tactical World War II infantry combat variant rules set. Gamers may utilize these rules and the components of The Avalon Hill Game Co's Squad Leader, Advanced Squad Leader, or other popular tactical wargames to recreate World War II battles in a simplified, playable format. Though Retro enables you to make use of Squad Leader and ASL components and modules, it is not endorsed nor authorized by The Avalon Hill Game Co or other publishers. Retro should be viewed as an unoffical variant to these fine games, and presumes that players own official modules and rules. Originally appeared in issues #1-#4 of Panzerschreck magazine, published here as a 48-page booklet with two pull-out charts. Signficantly strips down the sequence of play, armor rules, and morale rules of ASL. A significant innovation is the concept of "hesitation" (which replaces most of ASL's defensive fire rules), where units moving in the open and in range of the enemy must test to determine if they freeze in place and don't carry out their move. Designed with solitaire players in mind, or anyone wanting to play these classic tactical wargames with less rules overhead.
Mechanics
Designers
Publishers
- Minden Games
Questions and answers
Retro: Tactical WWII Wargame Variant Rules 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 Retro: Tactical WWII Wargame Variant Rules is 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 Retro: Tactical WWII Wargame Variant Rules 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.
Retro: Tactical WWII Wargame Variant Rules has a complexity rating of 2.5 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.
Retro: Tactical WWII Wargame Variant Rules belongs to these categories: Wargame, World War II, and Expansion for Base-game. 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 Retro: Tactical WWII Wargame Variant Rules are: Gary Graber. 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 Retro: Tactical WWII Wargame Variant Rules 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.