With an increasing focus on Red Actions! this month, it made sense to try out Soviet Dawn.  This is a solitaire game I picked up on EBay for a very reasonable price.  Originally published by Victory Games, this version was included  in GMT’s C3i magazine Issue No. 27.

Was able to play four (!) games this Saturday afternoon.  The back story as to why I was able to/did this would bore even the most avid reader.

This is a nice card-driven solitaire game.  Easy to set up, with simple rules and plenty of replay value.  A good review of the game can be found over at Web Grognards.

Game play is a real juggling act, holding off Germans, Finns, White Russians, Poles and Western Allies while trying to build international political credibility.  During the first game, I lost track of the Eastern Front, and allowed Moscow to be captured in just 12 turns (cards).

The next two games featured the blitzkrieg generated by the “Denikin Unstoppable?  Objective Moscow!” card.  This punisher allows the White Southern Army to advance towards Moscow until defeated.  A couple of bad rolls, and you are out of business, especially if you allow the Czar to be rescued when the “Czar’s Fate Decided in Ekaterinburg!” card is played.  This gives the Soviets a -1 DRM on all offensive roles.  Not good!

The fourth time was the charm.  I was able to shut down the Poles, Southern Whites and Finns, while getting some nice rolls on the Soviet Army Reorganization Table, and Political Level Track.  Was I lucky?….Sure, but it was nice to beat a very enjoyable and accessible game system.

Game play time is about 20-30 minutes, so with the easy set up, a fun game can be played very quickly in a small space.  I also liked the map.  Here’s an indifferent IPhone photo.

Highly recommended!