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Poland Defiant: The German Invasion, September 1939
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Tolling of the Bell
2022
Rules assistance for Tolling of the Bell
Plain-language explanations of turns, card effects and disputed situations, with official source references and saved question history.
- 2 players
- 480–600 min
- 16+
- Complexity 3.0/5
For 2 players
Rules assistant for Tolling of the Bell
What would you like to know?
Answers come from the official rulebook, with the page to check.
Tolling of the Bell is a board game released in 2022 for 2 players, 480–600 minutes per game, and ages 16 and up. It was designed by Stefan Ekström and its main mechanics are Dice Rolling, Hexagon Grid, and Simulation.
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About the game
Tolling of the Bell is a wargame simulation that depicts the last German offensive during World War II, ‘Operation Spring Awakening’ and its sub-operations ‘Icebreaker’ and ‘Forrest Devil’. It also includes the start of the Soviet Vienna offensive (from the perspective of the 3rd Ukrainian Front). This game starts with a German thrust against the depleted Soviet 3rd Ukrainian Front which was holding the Soviet absolute left flank. The German main goals were the Donau crossings and to the incircle of the 57th Soviet and 1st Bulgarian Armies. A secondary target was to create a starting ground for a new Budapest offensive. An even wider stretch was the oilfields at Ploești, Romania. Tolling of the Bell is a game recreating this campaign in Hungary from 6th - 25th March, 1945. Tolling of the Bell is taught in 30 minutes and easy to digest yet a challenge even for the more experienced players. It is built around the same system of wargaming rules that shaped Plan West™, Königsberg'45™, Army Group Narwa™ and Stargard Solstice™ making it the 5th game in the WWII Battle Series. It utilizes a Command chit-pull system to activate HQ, which in turn allow their controlled combat units to move and attack. Game Scale: Game Turn: 2 days Hex: about 3 to about 4 km Units: Battalion to Division Solitaire Playability: High Complexity Level: Medium Players: 2+ Playing Time: 3-10 hours
Categories
Designers
Publishers
- Three Crowns Games
Questions and answers
Tolling of the Bell 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 Tolling of the Bell is 480–600 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 Tolling of the Bell for ages 16 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.
Tolling of the Bell has a complexity rating of 3.0 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.
Tolling of the Bell belongs to these categories: Wargame and World War II. Its main mechanics are Dice Rolling, Hexagon Grid, and Simulation. 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 Tolling of the Bell are: Stefan Ekström. 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 Tolling of the Bell 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.