Though not based on specific historical battles, they do a good job of simulating squad level fighting in the weeks and months following D-Day. Players decide which units to activate per player turn, cognizant of terrain restrictions, possible unit limitations, and (often) unaware of the enemy units before them.Ĭombat Infantry provides players with 6 initial scenarios which recreate American and German firefights in the Normandy campaign. There is real tactical depth within this format. Assault: resolve any and all battles from direct movement into an enemy controlled hex.Īfter each player has conducted 4 turns (8 total) the Game Turn ends the next one begins.Commanded units can either Rally, Fire, conduct Special Action (blow up a bridge, etc.), Fire at enemy units in another hex, Move (limited by a block’s movement points & terrain effects), and HQ Action.HQ Command, 1 per Company per player turn.

Game turns in Combat Infantry are divided into 8 player turns (4 each), comprised of the following: Company C has platoons C1, C2, and C3, each with their own rifle squads and heavy weapons). Additionally, leadership rules require players to maintain platoon integrity (e.g. Movement and battle is generated from command units, either by Company Headquarters (CHQs) or Platoon HQs (PHQs). Unlike other WW2 games, there are no cards or Combat tables to consult. Pictured: Solitaire game of Combat Infantry Additionally, each hex in Combat Infantry depicts 100 meters.

Compare this with games such as Bobby Lee or Napoléon where infantry blocks are at the brigade level, each step representing approximately 3,000 men. Tanks & artillery are individual crews and vehicles. Machine guns, mortar teams, and other heavy weapons are teams of 2-3 men per step. Most blocks represent rifle squads of only 9-12 men, approximately 3 men per step. As noted by Columbia, “This was considered the smallest force capable of attacking or defending major objectives.” As is the case with other block games, opponents experience the risk of not knowing which enemy units they will encounter in battle, or how strong they might be.Ĭombat Infantry includes units for one American and one German Infantry Battalion, as they were on the Western Front in 1944-45. These upright blocks, labels facing the owner, help to capture the essence of WW2 tactical combat. Here’s why:īecause Combat Infantry is played with blocks instead of counters or miniatures, it provides two features which add to the realism of gameplay: Fog of war and Step Losses. What it also manages to do in the process is to give gamers a new squad level WW2 tactical game worth adding to their shelf. What’s best about Combat Infantry is that it accomplishes what it sets out to do: achieve a level of depth-of sophistication-while never sacrificing playability.

2 color geomorphic maps (16.5’’ x 22” each).Innovative and interactive rules for Fire Combat, Assaults, Morale, and Leaders make this game sophisticated, yet very playable.” The game is comprised of the following components, all reflecting the usual quality people have come to expect from Columbia: “You command a German or American infantry battalion, composed of three infantry companies and attached heavy weapons including mortars and tanks. It’s also a new, fast-paced, World War 2 squad level block game from Columbia Games. “Combat Infantry” was a badge awarded to U.S infantrymen who participated in combat under hostile fire. More than shooting – Supply, capture and building systems.Įxperience history – Historically accurate arsenal with realistic weapon behavior.Ī modern engine – Developed for Unreal Engine 4.Pictured: Combat Infantry, WestFront 1944-45 by Columbia Games Huge battles – 100 players per game, 50 per team.Ĭoordinate – Win through teamwork, tactics and communication.Ī new metagame – Capture sectors and resources to beat your enemy into submission.Ĭombined arms – Over 20 different player-controlled vehicles and deployed weapons.Įpic theater of war – Do battle across 1:1 scale, huge maps. It features a stunning and detailed 1:1 scale battlefield recreated from archival reference material and satellite photography. The first theater of war is the sleepy Norman town of St Marie Du Mont on D-Day 1944 in northern France during Operation Overlord. Featuring sweeping maps, the battlefield is divided up into large capture sectors – allowing for emergent and constantly unique gameplay that pits two forces of fifty players in a fight to the death across fields, bridges, forests and towns.

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