
- BGG rank
- BGG #13,502
- BGG rating
- 6.5
Star Frontiers: Knight Hawks
- 2 players
- 60 min
- Complexity 2.7/5
- 1983

1985
Rules assistance for Ruweisat Ridge: The First Battle of El Alamein
Plain-language explanations of turns, card effects and disputed situations, with official source references and saved question history.

For 2 players
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Answers come from the official rulebook, with the page to check.
Ruweisat Ridge: The First Battle of El Alamein is a board game released in 1985 for 2 players, 240 minutes per game, and ages 12 and up. It was designed by Douglas Niles and its main mechanics are Dice Rolling, Grid Movement, and Hexagon Grid.
Ruweisat Ridge: The First Battle of El Alamein, was first published in Strategy & Tactics magazine #105. The game covers the desert battles around El Alamein from July 1 through July 18, 1942. The British Commonwealth 8th Army must hold the line against the battered Panzerarmee Afrika, since Alexandria and the virtually undefended Nile Delta lie less than 100 miles to the east. The map depicts the battlefield of El Alamein, from the Mediterranean Sea in the north, to the virtually impassable Qattara Depression in the south. The game system tries out some unusual mechanics to simulate the fast-paced flow of desert warfare. Combat units are rated for firepower and assault strength, while AFVs have an armor rating, and artillery has an anti-tank rating. HQs are used for activation of units in their formation. Rules of interest are Opportunity Fire, Overruns, Reaction Movement and Withdrawal Fire, Airstrikes and Fortifications. Victory is determined by points gained through objective hexes, enemy units eliminated, and for occupying portions of the 'coast road'... the player with the most points wins. The difference in points between the Commonwealth and Axis player determines the level of victory. Originally published by SPI (Simulations Publications, Inc.) in Strategy & Tactics magazine #105. Game Scale: Turn: 1 day Hex: 1.5 miles Unit: Company to Brigade Game Inventory: One 16" X 21" mapsheet One countersheet (100 1/2" counters) One 12 page rules booklet
Ruweisat Ridge: The First Battle of El Alamein 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 Ruweisat Ridge: The First Battle of El Alamein is 240 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 Ruweisat Ridge: The First Battle of El Alamein 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.
Ruweisat Ridge: The First Battle of El Alamein 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.
Ruweisat Ridge: The First Battle of El Alamein 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 Ruweisat Ridge: The First Battle of El Alamein are: Douglas Niles. 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 Ruweisat Ridge: The First Battle of El Alamein 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.