Good tutorial, but I noticed a rules error in your video, at 4:52, you state that the US player can attack and conquer an attacker's invasion zones. While the US player can attack an enemy's invasion zone. See page 10, section 2. Declare Battles Action: "[The US Player] can also declare battle in an Invader’s invasion zone by placing one of that Invader’s control markers in that zone with the “Combat” side faceup." So while the US player can attack an invasion zone, they cannot conquer it, because in the standard rules you cannot move into an enemy's invasion zone. Therefore the US player cannot conquer an enemy's invasion zone, see page 20 of the FFG rule book: "GENERAL INVASION ACTION RULES The player cannot move: • Into an enemy invasion zone." The US player being able to conquer enemy invasion zones would create a weird rules issue. If the US player could conquer an enemy's invasion zones, it could create a situation in which the US, could in theory, lock an invader out of attacking at all because enemy reinforcements could not be brought onto the board. Why? Because in Fortress America units do not enter a territory until after combat is resolved during the invasion phase, and only if it was a declared territory, and only if they eliminated all enemy units in the declared territory. Note, reinforcement bombers could attack the conquered invasion territory, but could not recapture it because bombers cannot capture territory. Further, all remaining enemy units of the faction whose invasion zones were conquered, would be out of supply and would therefore be removed from play during phase: 7. Supply Check Action. Whew...
I remember getting this game one year as a birthday gift. I think the year was '86 or '87. I just remember that I was disappointed because I thought it was going to be just as fun as Axis & Allies, which I had received the previous year. It wasn't. I'd love to give it a try again after all thes years gone by. Maybe it will be a lot more fun the next time around.
I think the big turnoffs for Fortress America vs. Axis & Allies is you have a set number of units. In Axis & Allies you can purchase units that appeal to you're play style. You have to deal with the forces you're dealt. This can be really frustrating when limited units like bombers get blasted off the map once the U.S. lasers get piled up. You can't replace them, you've got to maximize their benefits as early as possible and assume that they will be gone soon. Game Phases movement being broken up can also be a little weird. Infantry often feel like they're constantly being left in the dust. They're primarily for holding positions once the battle is done not fighting engagements unless you have a good distribution of mobile units. Fortress America is not a bad game at all It's just mechanically very different. Visually, it looks like an Axis & Allies game but in reality plays very differently.
It's been over 30 years since I played FA, but yes, I do recall that I didn't like it when lasers could blast my bombers off the map and I couldn't replace them. I remember dad pointing that out to me in the rules and I was like "HUH?!?!". So, yeah, that was a big turn off. I think I only played 2-3 games of FA back then and then went back to A&A. FA didn't hit the table much after that. Still, would love to give it another go and play a game with my brother, even if just for nostalgia and sparking old memories. But who knows, maybe I'll like it a lot better this time. There is another game released by Historical Board Gaming called, ironically, "Amerika" (with a k). Never played it, but it looks very much like Fortress America and I'm sure that is where they got the concept for their game.
I noticed out of all the gamemaster series reprints i own, only A&A, and COTE have naval warfare. I guess i can just use my imagination in Ikusa if im attacking an island, with a naval battle.
Attacking from a city thats close by enemy armies is risky from my experience, since if it fails, that city is theirs for the taking. Recently, i accidently ripped the 2012 board along where it folds, and the bottoms touch eachother, but the good news is its still functional. just push the torn boards together. its like conquest of the empire, in how its board comes in 3 pieces.
Welp, I learned a second language, know how big a centimeter is and prefer my lemonade sans ice. Looks like this jawn has come to pass with nary a hovertank shot fired.
Anyone know when the sunglasses were added to the Saddam face on the box cover. My copies from 86 don't have him with shades on. Just curious about it.
I have this and have played it. I can not remember but the last time we played we ran into some sort of a flaw that could not be figured out by the rulebook. Wish i remwmbered exactly what it was.
While I like the aesthetics of the '86 map, the '12 map is better balanced - they removed KC and Buffalo and moved them west, giving Las Vegas and I can't remember the other one, but its below Denver. It gives a slightly better defense situation for the Western / Southern fight, at the expense of two units available to the east coast fight.
That metric system propaganda poster, who made that? What WERE they thinking? WERE they really that patriotic! The ones that made the poster, that is? Or was it made by the govenment, of course it was.
One of the best wargames of its era and still going strong.
Love this game but no one wants to play with me. Nobody wants to spend 3 hours being stomped on.
The guy who designed this is still around but he's retired. Goes to the occasional games convention though.
He's earned his retirement. This one and Shogun are classics!
Great review and explanation. 100% love Fortress America!
Good tutorial, but I noticed a rules error in your video, at 4:52, you state that the US player can attack and conquer an attacker's invasion zones.
While the US player can attack an enemy's invasion zone. See page 10, section 2. Declare Battles Action:
"[The US Player] can also declare battle in an Invader’s invasion zone by placing one of that Invader’s control markers in that zone with the “Combat” side faceup."
So while the US player can attack an invasion zone, they cannot conquer it, because in the standard rules you cannot move into an enemy's invasion zone. Therefore the US player cannot conquer an enemy's invasion zone, see page 20 of the FFG rule book:
"GENERAL INVASION ACTION RULES
The player cannot move:
• Into an enemy invasion zone."
The US player being able to conquer enemy invasion zones would create a weird rules issue. If the US player could conquer an enemy's invasion zones, it could create a situation in which the US, could in theory, lock an invader out of attacking at all because enemy reinforcements could not be brought onto the board. Why? Because in Fortress America units do not enter a territory until after combat is resolved during the invasion phase, and only if it was a declared territory, and only if they eliminated all enemy units in the declared territory. Note, reinforcement bombers could attack the conquered invasion territory, but could not recapture it because bombers cannot capture territory. Further, all remaining enemy units of the faction whose invasion zones were conquered, would be out of supply and would therefore be removed from play during phase: 7. Supply Check Action. Whew...
I entirely forgot about this game! What a blast from the past!
I remember getting this game one year as a birthday gift. I think the year was '86 or '87. I just remember that I was disappointed because I thought it was going to be just as fun as Axis & Allies, which I had received the previous year. It wasn't. I'd love to give it a try again after all thes years gone by. Maybe it will be a lot more fun the next time around.
I think the big turnoffs for Fortress America vs. Axis & Allies is you have a set number of units. In Axis & Allies you can purchase units that appeal to you're play style. You have to deal with the forces you're dealt. This can be really frustrating when limited units like bombers get blasted off the map once the U.S. lasers get piled up. You can't replace them, you've got to maximize their benefits as early as possible and assume that they will be gone soon.
Game Phases movement being broken up can also be a little weird. Infantry often feel like they're constantly being left in the dust. They're primarily for holding positions once the battle is done not fighting engagements unless you have a good distribution of mobile units. Fortress America is not a bad game at all It's just mechanically very different. Visually, it looks like an Axis & Allies game but in reality plays very differently.
It's been over 30 years since I played FA, but yes, I do recall that I didn't like it when lasers could blast my bombers off the map and I couldn't replace them. I remember dad pointing that out to me in the rules and I was like "HUH?!?!". So, yeah, that was a big turn off. I think I only played 2-3 games of FA back then and then went back to A&A. FA didn't hit the table much after that. Still, would love to give it another go and play a game with my brother, even if just for nostalgia and sparking old memories. But who knows, maybe I'll like it a lot better this time.
There is another game released by Historical Board Gaming called, ironically, "Amerika" (with a k). Never played it, but it looks very much like Fortress America and I'm sure that is where they got the concept for their game.
I noticed out of all the gamemaster series reprints i own, only A&A, and COTE have naval warfare. I guess i can just use my imagination in Ikusa if im attacking an island, with a naval battle.
Yes! Thanks for the holiday present Mr Harsh.
You're welcome! Enjoy!
Attacking from a city thats close by enemy armies is risky from my experience, since if it fails, that city is theirs for the taking. Recently, i accidently ripped the 2012 board along where it folds, and the bottoms touch eachother, but the good news is its still functional. just push the torn boards together. its like conquest of the empire, in how its board comes in 3 pieces.
Welp, I learned a second language, know how big a centimeter is and prefer my lemonade sans ice. Looks like this jawn has come to pass with nary a hovertank shot fired.
Anyone know when the sunglasses were added to the Saddam face on the box cover. My copies from 86 don't have him with shades on. Just curious about it.
Censorship likely.
They added a beard as well. I have the original Sadam cover.
Outstanding!!!!😂
Thanks for doing this it helped me explain the game to my game group
Outstanding video!
I have this and have played it.
I can not remember but the last time we played we ran into some sort of a flaw that could not be figured out by the rulebook.
Wish i remwmbered exactly what it was.
Nice job on this thank you
While I like the aesthetics of the '86 map, the '12 map is better balanced - they removed KC and Buffalo and moved them west, giving Las Vegas and I can't remember the other one, but its below Denver. It gives a slightly better defense situation for the Western / Southern fight, at the expense of two units available to the east coast fight.
Great job!
Can't wait for the Canadian Bacon Expansion. A 5th player, and one of the 4 may be a secret American Ally?
I had a friend in High School who was very "Pro-Canada." He would probably love that expansion!
That's a d20, not a d8 for the Hover Tank/Helicopter.
Not the metric system! I only wanna use freedom units 😟
Rules inacurate glitch here! 8:43 there are 3 units in one city indland, and only 1 Unit in a city on the southern coast! Thats a glitch!
no!!! not the metric system. we have to win!!!
Any chance on Star Wars: Rebellion now that an expansion changes many of the rules?
It's on my list. I've just got to work it into the production schedule.
You should do a video on Diplomacy
It's coming. I have started working on it. Probably will be the next game after Conflict of Heroes Guadalcanal.
Your order of play is wrong. It should be W, S, E, US. See page 007
Would be interesting to introduce an optional rule that invaders turn order is random each round, similar to shogun/samurai swords
Babe atjuuuu? Det var ikke et om that was Danish
That metric system propaganda poster, who made that? What WERE they thinking? WERE they really that patriotic! The ones that made the poster, that is? Or was it made by the govenment, of course it was.
Noooo not the metric system!
"Die" is singular, "Dice" is plural. Please learn the difference.