Rules Light Stalingrad From 1-48Combat

It’s been a long time since anyone around here took a look at a World War 2 tabletop game. Boardgames, videogames and RPGs are our standard fare and anything along the lines of a wargame doesn’t usually get so much as a mention.

The kind of WW2 tabletop game that might change minds would have to be quick to learn, easy to play and offer plenty of variety within a short rule set. As it happens that’s what 1-48Combat has to offer.

This Stalingrad-focused skirmish game arrives in blister packs and plays with rules that fit on a page. Each soldier unwraps with an accompanying character card, which describes the skills that set the unit apart during squad level gameplay. These specialist skills are then used to add variety to the otherwise straightforward combat system.

The website does a good job of showing what’s on offer and provides copies of both the rules and the cards for download. There’s also a light selection of basic history, quotes and period detail dotted around the site. This authentic touch works well – and you can always head over to Wikipedia if you’re looking for more detail or media.

Sure, there’s some painting to be done but there’s no better place to start on painting figures than with well-designed figures, urban terrain and straightforward uniforms. You’ll need quite a few packs to build-up a collection comparable to the one shown above, but the end results are obviously impressive.

Two starter packs are all that’s needed to get going. Might be best to opt for one German, one Soviet unless you want to play mutiny scenarios all the time. The 1-48Combat site is HERE.