Bolt Action by Warlord Games

[Tabletop Warrior]

Bolt Action is a new WWII game from Warlord Games.  I don’t have my copy of the rules yet.  Hopefully they will be arriving soon.  But I have scoured the web and developed a pretty good understanding of the rules.  I have played a number of play test games, and I have been very happy with the results.  The activation system keeps both players interested in the game at all times.  The systems play quickly, and are very easy to learn, particularly if you are already familiar with any edition of 40k.

You can set up your own historical scenarios with forces as you select, or you can play point based games. 

Overall, I am happy with this rule set so far.  For 28mm WWII, I also own and have enjoyed:  Disposable Heroes, Operations Squad, and DH Point Blank.  So far my gaming group has been most receptive to Bolt Action.

Excellent review with lots of detail on game mechanics:
http://boardgamegeek.com/thread/834956/bolt-action-book-review

Author Rick Priestley discusses game size:
http://www.warlordgames.com/24500/rick-priestley-the-size-of-games-in-bolt-action/

Author Rick Priestly discusses morale:
http://www.warlordgames.com/24757/rick-priestley-the-role-of-morale-in-bolt-action/

Bolt Action Yahoo Group with downloadable Quick Reference Charts:
http://games.groups.yahoo.com/group/boltaction/?yguid=315392461

Boltaction.net is a new blog dedicated to, wait for it… Bolt Action:
http://www.boltaction.net/
Several after action reports can be found here, as well as other interesting posts.

Some basic army lists can be found here:
http://forum.wwpd.net/viewforum.php?f=21&sid=0a97ee856f46d7a480ea229796efee17

[Daeothar]

Funny; I just ordered my hardcopy tonight, going by the review in Soldiers, Strategy and Wargames. Can't wait to try it out.

Of course I ordered it directly from Warlord so I will get the limited Red Devil paratrooper  

[Helen]

Thank you for the links.

Cheers,

Helen

[aircav]

Picked my copy up at Partizan on Sunday, on first read through it looks like a fantastic game, but thats what you expect from the authors.

[shadowking1957]

I got mine from Newark always like new rules and im a huge FOW gamer , I see now lots using it in 15mm more investigation needed...?

thanks you for the  sites and info

[David]

I picked these up at Newcastle show.
look great, but will have to play some games first.
only problem is the lists, only for late war.
so i will have to make list for my french, italians, russian, greeks, and german para's.

[Agis]

As far as I know comprehensive supplements for Germany, US, British and Soviet forces are written. A Japanese supplement is also mentioned somewhere (IIRC in one of Ricks writings).

[NurgleHH]

As far as I know the books are dated for November(german), January(US), March(GB) and May (Soviet). No date for Japan. My source was www.amazon.de, but this are not 100%. Hopefully there will be some earlier dates for pre-orders...

[aircav]

I'm sure that I've seen that the miniatures for the German & Us Supplement have been decided. Can't remember the US one but I'm sure its Skorzeny for the German one, or I may just have dreamt it 

[NurgleHH]

Here ist the official thread from osprey: http://www.ospreypublishing.com/blog/wargaming_coming_2013/

[Nightmask]

Played a few games already and have some mixed feelings about the game.
First of it does have a 40k-ish game mechanism and feeling to it. Which isnt a bad thing per se.
The units presented in the main rulebook seem a bit unhistorical. (paratrooper squads without a mmg?) But this might be amended in the supps.
I am not sure on the mortar rules. It takes a 6 to hit a unit on your first try.

The game does play well and only one read through the book should get you through a game without looking back to the rules, its that simple.
Book is a gem. Cover to cover all Peter Dennis artwork!

Nightmask

[Agis]

I also played some games (I really dig rules, and especially WW II rules).
Short version: I like the rules. 
Bolt Action seem to prefer simple rules that are written in broad strokes. The funny thing is IMO that BA and my system Victory Decision is always doing it simpler on opposing ends. 

Some Examples:
Bolt Action    
Activation, extremely simple and luck depended
movement, standard complex
Very simplistic move rates for vehicles
No pre-measuring
simple vehicles types (an armoured car is an armoured car - period)

Victory Decision
Alternate Activation modified by Ld
extremely simple, move leader arrange the rest around in Ld distance
more detailed move rates for vehicles
Always pre-measuring
different move and armour rates for vehicles of the the same type.

Both games seem to have the same fun level. BA is favouring bigger armies as Rick has explained, but this is no surprise since it comes from a mini company. 

[forrester]

I've only seen articles here and there, but there does seem to be a tendency towards creating GW style "lists" and putting together game-winning but unhistorical and unlikely forces .
I assume you can ignore all that and just create "real platoons".

[joroas]

But that is not all that we have lined up for Wargaming products in 2013, because we also have a bunch of the supplements for the fantastic Bolt Action coming out next year.

BOLT 2 Bolt Action: Armies of the United States (Jan 2013)

BOLT 3 Bolt Action: Armies of Great Britain (Mar 2013)

BOLT 4 Bolt Action: Armies of the Soviet Union (May 2013)

BOLT 5 Bolt Action: Armies of Imperial Japan (Jul 2013)

BOLT 6 Bolt Action: Armies of France and the Allies (Sep 2013)

BOLT 7 Bolt Action: Armies of Italy and the Axis (Nov 2013)

[twrchtrwyth]

BOLT 6 Bolt Action: Armies of France and the Allies (Sep 2013)

Would this include Chinese do you think?