| Designer(s) | Christian T. Petersen Corey Konieczka John Goodenough |
|---|---|
| Publisher(s) | Fantasy Flight Games |
| Players | 2–4 |
| Age range | 12 and up |
| Setup time | 15-30 minutes |
| Playing time | 1-4+ hours (Scenario Dependent) |
| Random chance | Medium (dice rolling, luck) |
Tide of Iron is a wargame designed and published by Fantasy Flight Games, also notable for publishing other large games containing a large number of counters and/or other components such as World of Warcraft: The Board Game and Arkham Horror.
Contents |
Tide of Iron focuses on German and American forces in Western Europe during 1944 and 1945. Players take the role of division commanders, and play through a pre-designed or original scenario. The game takes place on imprinted cardboard map tiles, using cardboard markers of various types and plastic models for representing the various military units used in gameplay.
Game scenarios are given a title, descriptive write-up, player objectives, and force setup information. Scenario details provide further information about the scenario, including information on the number of rounds to be played for that scenario. Victory is determined by meeting, or preventing, the objectives from being accomplished. Strategy cards are used by players to influence the ebb and flow of battle.
The game comes with over 200 plastic figures, which are snapped into bases to form units for play. The plastic figures are well detailed and include clearly distinguishable tanks like the American Sherman, the German Panzer IV and Tiger. Other components include markers for terrain, the terrain boards themselves, and unit tokens. An extensive rulebook [1] lends credence to reviewers' Medium complexity rating.[2]
The game has met with positive reviews, with reviewers often remarking on the customizable[3], open-ended nature of the game[2] through its scenario system. Reviewers did note that the generic nature of the units[3] and the uneven nature of some scenarios[2] were minor detractions from the game. It was also one of seven games listed by Fortune Small Business as being worthy of putting the Xbox down to play.[4]
From a wargamer's perspective, this game has rules covering opportunity fire, overrun and suppressive fire by mortars to appeal to those wanting some realism.
The game was a nominee for the 2007 Editor's Choice Award[5] on Tabletop Gaming News.
Tide of Iron: Days of the Fox was the first expansion for the game.[6] The North African Campaign is introduced in this expansion, along with the British Army. Included are 9 new desert map pieces, new pieces for all 3 countries, additional game mechanics, and a booklet of scenarios.
Fantasy Flight Games released Tide of Iron: Designer Series Volume 1 in December 2008.[7] This expansion (book) is a collection of scenarios for the game created by numerous game designers.
The Normandy: Operation Overlord Expansion is also available. It adds beach and hedgerow tile sets to the game as well as new units and specializations. It also includes a book of scenarios as well as a campaign of scenarios that are meant to be played in order, with bonuses that carry for specific American units that survive each scenario. Other new mechanics are also introduced to enhance the way the new scenarios are played.
The Fury of the Bear expansion has been announced for Winter(2010)/Spring(2011), themed for the conflict on the Eastern Front focusing on the Soviet Union and Germany.[8] It includes 9 new maps featuring winter tile sets, 100+ Red Army units, and new units for the other countries.