The Soft Underbelly 1943-1945

Description

At the end of 1942, with the operation TORCH large American forces poured into the Western Mediterranean. In a short time, thanks to their efforts, Italy was ousted from the conflict and the Allies returned to European continent, definitely arresting the expansion of the Axis.

This game allows to recreate events which took place between 1943 and 1945, when this area became the epicenter of some of the most bloody battles of the WW2.

The game uses wooden cubes, square counters and circular
markers together. It is for two players and lasts about an hour on average. The map is zoned.

The game lasts 8 rounds divided into impulses; with each impulse the players take turns moving and fighting with their specialized forces, blocks and counters.

Whoever controls the majority of areas marked with a star (Rome, Tunis, Naples, Munich and so on) wins the game.

The blocks can be converted with specialized units, like tanks and aircraft; each with its own conversion cost.
The combat mechanic is very simple: at the end of the movement I place one of the three attack arrows and start rolling the dice, one for each attacking cube; if a 6 is rolled then he inflicts a loss on the enemy. If tanks also participate in the attack, the result for hitting drops to 5; if there are also planes involved it drops to 4.

Players can play some events: Arrival of reinforcements, Additional impulse (which allows you to extend the turn), Arrest battle (allows you to immediately end a battle), partisans, etc. But the event markers are generic, it is the player who must decide where to place them on a special track to trigger that type of event. And he can do it at any time...