First of all, don't get put off by the size of this booklet. It's a well produced, ringbound 139 pages, 3 playsheets, counter sheet and transparent talc template for fire effect. I would say this rule set gives you enough information to play Eastern Front campaigns to the year 2000. Barrie Lovell & Co. must have burnt the midnight oil producing this epic. The idea is to allow wargamers to "explore the tactics and weapons used on the Eastern Front". An image comes back to me of a newsreel at our local cinema, all fading art deco "The Majestic" was - it's of troops shot in freezing weather on the Eastern Front, so cold that they froze before the hit the ground and looked like a collection of Henry Moore statues. It was hot and sunny too of course, helped by the "Scorched Earth" policy of the Russians.
Every conceivable eventuality seems to have been thought of by the designers to replicate the general national characteristics of the combatants. There is a brief outline of the war, the armies, their equipment and organisation. Books are recommended for you to fill out your ideas of this huge conflict. There's a section on terrain and climate which table scenery buffs will relish. Weather plays a crucial part too. Page 20-24 is full of all kinds of scenarios for you to use and page 25-27 gives you a points system so that, if you with to, you can produce two balanced sides. I can hardly do justice to the extent of this work. Anything the wargamer likes to think of seems to have been covered and if it isn't, book references are given for wider information to be obtained. All of this is done in a really modest way. There are no "know-all" attitudes here.
Another set of rules provisionally entitled "Scorched Earth" is forthcoming soon, Rules for Tactical Combat on the Eastern Front W.W.II. I have to admit I have not play-tested these rules but Barrie Lovell has with the Shrewsbury Wargaming Society. Floreat Salopia! Give these rules a try. You may find yourself hooked.
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