Western Front
Western Front Rulebook
Table of Contents
Table of Contents
Setup
To start each player picks a side and takes the corresponding 7 battle cards. If using tactics take 3-5 cards, see the tactic section for further information. Shuffle the 12 event cards into a draw pile and reveal the top one. Place the 1914 year card in the play area and set aside the remaining year cards. Players will fight 7 battles each year attempting to win the current year card.
Sequence of Play
Both players must place one battle card face down. Both players may also place one tactic card face down next to the battle card. Once both players have finished playing cards, tactic cards are revealed first and any required actions taken. Battle cards are revealed next and players then work out their final score.
Scoring
Starting with your battle card, first apply any modifiers from the event card if applicable. Next if you have played a tactic card, apply any bonuses to reach your final score.
Winning Battles
The highest score wins and claims all cards used that round, making a separate pile for each battle won. In the event of a draw, nobody wins the battle and all cards are set aside until the following year.
Winning Years
Whoever wins the most battles wins the current year card. If the year is a draw, no one wins the year card and it is discarded. At the start of the next year each player retrieves their 7 battle and tactic cards and the next event card is drawn.
Winning the War
The first player to win any 3 years wins the war!
Tactic Cards
These can be added straight away or after a few games. They are chosen at the start of the game. It is recommended to start with 3 tactic cards each and then build up to a maximum of 5 cards each. Tactic cards can be selected in two ways. Players can either agree to pick their own tactics or agree to have the same ones at the beginning of the game. Please note you can't change tactics after each year you must stick with the ones you selected at the start of the game.
Event Cards
These can be added straight away or after a few games. They can be used in two ways decide which way at the start of the game. You can select a new event card at the start of each year or you can select a new event card, if you win a battle during the year. Pick a new card from the top of the deck to replace the current event. This means several events could be chosen during one year. Historical facts are also mentioned on some of the cards.
Year Cards
These represent the 5 years of the conflict during World War 1 from 1914 to 1918, they also include battles that took place and the final Armistice which is still honoured today.
Strategy
You are trying to work out the sequence your opponent will lay their cards down in. Do you start low, middle or high? Can you get your opponent to use their highest scoring card on your lowest scoring card? Try and get inside their mind, think what they did last year, try not to be predictable, a tactic used in one year might not work the following year. Does your opponent use a favourite combination of cards? The more games you play with an opponent the more you will understand how they think.