Up Front (game): Difference between revisions
imported>ShelfSkewed Removed hatnote per WP:NAMB—the title of this article is not ambiguous |
imported>Zinnober9 mNo edit summary |
||
| Line 5: | Line 5: | ||
| title = Up Front | | title = Up Front | ||
| subtitle = | | subtitle = | ||
| image_link = | | image_link =Cover_of_Up_Front_card_game_1983.png | ||
| image_caption = | | image_caption =Cover art by [[Rodger B. MacGowan]] | ||
| designer = [[Courtney | | designer = [[Courtney Allen]] | ||
| manufacturer = | | manufacturer = | ||
| publisher = [[Avalon Hill]]<br/>[[Wargame Vault]] | | publisher = [[Avalon Hill]]<br/>[[Wargame Vault]] | ||
| illustrator = | | illustrator =[[Rodger B. MacGowan]] | ||
| years = 1983–present | | years = 1983–present | ||
| players = 2 | | players = 2 | ||
| Line 19: | Line 19: | ||
| web = [http://www.wargamevault.com/product/148406/Up-Front-Complete-Game-BUNDLE Wargame Vault] | | web = [http://www.wargamevault.com/product/148406/Up-Front-Complete-Game-BUNDLE Wargame Vault] | ||
| skills = | | skills = | ||
| | | genre = World War II | ||
}} | }} | ||
{{Wargaming}} | {{Wargaming}} | ||
'''''Up Front''''' is a | '''''Up Front''''', subtitled "The Squad Leader Card Game", is a card-based [[wargaming|wargame]] published by [[Avalon Hill]] in 1983 that is based on the company's bestseller board wargame ''[[Squad Leader (game)|Squad Leader]]''. | ||
==Description== | ==Description== | ||
''Up Front'' was intended as a card version of the successful ''[[Squad Leader]]'' franchise, but rather than the traditional [[hex grid]] map and cardboard counters, ''Up Front'' uses cards to define terrain, attack opportunities, and other factors. Locations of opponents are revealed as the game is played.<ref name=pa /> | |||
The game contains two different kinds of cards, Personality and Action. A Personality card depicts a single soldier and several statistics about him including his name, rank, and the weapon he is carrying. These are assigned by the scenario selected (scenarios lettered A-L were included in the base game) and arranged in groups by the players. The Action Deck contains different types of cards including terrain, movement, heroes, and many other game factors. These are shuffled and dealt to the players.<ref name=pa /> | |||
The game contains two different kinds of cards, Personality and Action. A Personality card depicts a single soldier and several statistics about him including his name, rank, and the weapon he is carrying. These are assigned by the scenario selected (scenarios lettered A-L were included in the base game) and arranged in groups by the players. The Action Deck contains different types of cards including terrain, movement, heroes, and many other game factors. These are shuffled and dealt to the players. | |||
The | The game includes German, American, and Russian units along with their equipment. (Expansions added to the nationalities available for play.) Each nationality is given different capabilities including variations that impose different tactics for the players by limiting the options available to them.<ref name=pa /> | ||
== | ==Publication history== | ||
In 1977, Avalon Hill published the tactical small-team board wargame ''Squad Leader'', which became a bestseller for the company. Courtney Allen designed several scenarios for the game. Allen subsequently designed ''Up Front'', which was published by [[Avalon Hill]] in 1983 with box cover artwork by [[Rodger B. MacGowan]]. | |||
=== Expansions === | |||
Avalon Hill released two expansions: | |||
* ''Banzai'' (1984), which included Japanese, British, and America Marine Corps forces along with rules for Jungle Terrain, Random Reinforcements, and Scenarios M-X. | |||
* ''Desert War'' (1985), which included French, and Italian forces as well as rules for Desert Terrain. | |||
==Reception== | ==Reception== | ||
[[ | In Issue 53 of the British wargaming magazine ''[[Perfidious Albion (magazine)|Perfidious Albion]]'', Charles Vasey commented, "The game is quick, pretty, but it will not appeal to quite the same audience as did ''[[Squad Leader (game)|Squad Leader]]''. It is not a game for the player who likes to see what is going on at all times." Vasey concluded, "I enjoyed the game which lacked a lot of the chess elements found in ''Squad Leader'', but this could simply because I am a lazy swine who prefers to hussle rather than to plan."<ref name=pa>{{cite magazine|last1=Vasey|first1=Charles| date= August 1983|title= Up Front|magazine=[[Perfidious Albion (magazine)|Perfidious Albion]]| issue=53|pages=19-20}}</ref> | ||
''Up Front'' was chosen for inclusion in the 2007 book [[Hobby Games: The 100 Best]]. Game designer [[Sandy Petersen]] explained, "If you can find a copy of ''Up Front'', and you like tactical combat at all, check it out. Or even if you just like card games. In either case, you won't be disappointed. This is a game that surpasses its flaws, and turns some of them into strengths."<ref name="HG">{{Cite book | contribution=Up Front | title=[[Hobby Games: The 100 Best]] | last=Petersen | first=Sandy | authorlink=Sandy Petersen | editor-last=Lowder | editor-first=James | editor-link=James Lowder | publisher=[[Green Ronin Publishing]] | year=2007 | pages=341–344 | isbn=978-1-932442-96-0}}</ref> | |||
==Awards== | |||
At the 1989 James F. Dunnigan Awards, ''Up Front'' was a finalist in the category "Playability and Design".<ref name="bgg">{{cite web | url = https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/586/up-front| title = Up Front (1983)| website =boardgamegeek.com | access-date =2025-08-06}}</ref> | |||
==Other reviews and commentary== | |||
*''BattlePlan'' #1 and #8 | |||
*''Vae Victis'' #122 and #126 (in French) | |||
*''Tactics'' #26 | |||
== References == | == References == | ||
| Line 67: | Line 66: | ||
[[Category:Avalon Hill games]] | [[Category:Avalon Hill games]] | ||
[[Category:Board wargames with artwork by Rodger B. MacGowan]] | |||
[[Category:Card games introduced in 1983]] | [[Category:Card games introduced in 1983]] | ||
[[Category:Dedicated deck card games]] | [[Category:Dedicated deck card games]] | ||
[[Category:Man-to-man wargames]] | [[Category:Man-to-man wargames]] | ||
[[Category:World War II games]] | [[Category:World War II games]] | ||
Latest revision as of 03:10, 7 September 2025
Template:Short description Template:Italics title Template:Refimprove Script error: No such module "Infobox".Template:Template otherScript error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". Template:Wargaming Up Front, subtitled "The Squad Leader Card Game", is a card-based wargame published by Avalon Hill in 1983 that is based on the company's bestseller board wargame Squad Leader.
Description
Up Front was intended as a card version of the successful Squad Leader franchise, but rather than the traditional hex grid map and cardboard counters, Up Front uses cards to define terrain, attack opportunities, and other factors. Locations of opponents are revealed as the game is played.[1]
The game contains two different kinds of cards, Personality and Action. A Personality card depicts a single soldier and several statistics about him including his name, rank, and the weapon he is carrying. These are assigned by the scenario selected (scenarios lettered A-L were included in the base game) and arranged in groups by the players. The Action Deck contains different types of cards including terrain, movement, heroes, and many other game factors. These are shuffled and dealt to the players.[1]
The game includes German, American, and Russian units along with their equipment. (Expansions added to the nationalities available for play.) Each nationality is given different capabilities including variations that impose different tactics for the players by limiting the options available to them.[1]
Publication history
In 1977, Avalon Hill published the tactical small-team board wargame Squad Leader, which became a bestseller for the company. Courtney Allen designed several scenarios for the game. Allen subsequently designed Up Front, which was published by Avalon Hill in 1983 with box cover artwork by Rodger B. MacGowan.
Expansions
Avalon Hill released two expansions:
- Banzai (1984), which included Japanese, British, and America Marine Corps forces along with rules for Jungle Terrain, Random Reinforcements, and Scenarios M-X.
- Desert War (1985), which included French, and Italian forces as well as rules for Desert Terrain.
Reception
In Issue 53 of the British wargaming magazine Perfidious Albion, Charles Vasey commented, "The game is quick, pretty, but it will not appeal to quite the same audience as did Squad Leader. It is not a game for the player who likes to see what is going on at all times." Vasey concluded, "I enjoyed the game which lacked a lot of the chess elements found in Squad Leader, but this could simply because I am a lazy swine who prefers to hussle rather than to plan."[1]
Up Front was chosen for inclusion in the 2007 book Hobby Games: The 100 Best. Game designer Sandy Petersen explained, "If you can find a copy of Up Front, and you like tactical combat at all, check it out. Or even if you just like card games. In either case, you won't be disappointed. This is a game that surpasses its flaws, and turns some of them into strengths."[2]
Awards
At the 1989 James F. Dunnigan Awards, Up Front was a finalist in the category "Playability and Design".[3]
Other reviews and commentary
- BattlePlan #1 and #8
- Vae Victis #122 and #126 (in French)
- Tactics #26