Unconditional Surrender! Case Blue (2010)

About this game

Unconditional Surrender! Case Blue (USCB) is a small, free Print-n-Play two player game covering the World War II military campaigns fought in southern Russia during 1942-1943. One side controls the Axis forces, while the other side controls the forces of the Soviet Union. GMT Games printed it, with real counters, in their C3I magazine issue #28 in 2014. USCB is a derived from the game Unconditional Surrender! World War 2 in Europe (USE). Using essentially the same mechanics (plus naval units, strategic warfare, diplomacy, etc.), USE covers the entire war in the European Theater. With only 80 counters, a small map, and much shorter rulebook, Unconditional Surrender! Case Blue provides an opportunity to try out the core of USE's systems. Design Highlights Scale: army and air fleet level units; 30 miles per hex; monthly turns Simple Stacking: Up to one air and ground unit per hex. No Factors on Counters: There are no combat or movement factors on the counters. Single Combat System: One combat resolution sequence and Combat Results Table covers air and ground combat, but the results differ for each type. Integrated Movement/Combat System: Units move and fight in a combined activation. Historical or Variable Entry: Units and events can enter play using an historical or variable time line.

Does it fit your group?

• Group size. Strictly 2 players — no more, no fewer.
• Rules load. At 2.8/5 this is a mid-weight game — expect a proper rules explanation before you start.
• Age. The publisher suggests 14 and up. That rates the rules rather than the artwork, so judge the box yourself for younger players.