Awakening the Bear! - Russia 1941-42 takes you to the eastern front during Operation Barbarossa, the German invasion of Russia. Many consider this time period to be the birth of modern warfare tactics that continue to be used and perfected by today's modern armies.
You command German or Soviet forces comprised of infantry squads, crewed support weapons, individual tanks, armored cars, artillery, and more.
Much effort went into distinguishing the units in the game by highlighting their historical strengths and weaknesses. For example, each tank's defense rating takes into account relative armor thickness, armor slope deflection percentage, speed, size, targeting mechanics, and crew training. All these factors are represented in an easy to learn target number system. You do not have to worry about the details; they are all built into the system! As the commander, you concentrate on tactics to execute your mission and firefight objectives.
Each firefight can be played dozens of times, exploring different tactics and use of available forces with every play-through. In Awakening the Bear, the Soviets have superior tank armor and firepower, which the Germans counter with integrated combined arms and communication nets.
The Programmatic Instruction Rule Book is only 11 pages long and is taught in sections. You read a few pages, and then play two firefights. The next few pages add more advanced unit control and arms to the game and instruct you on how to play the next few firefights. As you progress through the game, you will face more challenging tactical situations. The rules do not become more difficult, but the decisions you must make do!
