Desert Generals

ETA Q2 2024

Desert Generals captures the ebb and flow of the North African Campaign from late 1940 to November 1942 with a unique emphasis on leadership and command. Desert Generals is a game designed by Ernie Copley in the classic wargame tradition, offering play balance, challenge, and fun both for veteran gamers and newcomers to the hobby alike.

The game also recreates critical supply constraints. A player refighting the Desert Campaign, like his real-life counterparts, cannot fight continuously – he launches an offensive, pauses to build up supply, then resumes his offensive…unless his opponent has preempted him and launched his own offensive first. As in real life, offensives tend to run out of gas (literally) as they approach the enemy’s home base.

Historical elements include air support, minefields, engineers, artillery, anti-tank guns, Axis fuel shortages, and Allied command and control problems. The Allies must wrestle with problems like Command Confusion, which can cause even the best-laid plans to go astray. Generalship matters: O’Connor, Auchinleck, Montgomery, and Rommel headquarters units all play their roles. Players can fight the entire campaign, or choose their favorite desert battles: Operations Compass, the struggle for Tobruk, Operation Crusader, Gazala, and Second Alamein.

The Campaign Scenario can be played in an afternoon, and each of the smaller scenarios in an hour. The game is fast-paced and suitable for solitaire play. Given the uncertainties of supply and (for the Allies) command control, no two games are alike. North Africa buffs will find Desert Generals a fun, challenging representation of their favorite campaign.

Product Information:

• Complexity: Medium
• Playing time: 1 hour for scenarios, 4 hours for the full campaign
• Solitaire Suitability: MEDIUM
• Players: Two (suitable for solitaire play)
• Map Scale: Appox. 10 miles per hex
• Time Scale: 1 Turn = 1 Month
• Unit Scale: Battalions, Regiments, and Divisions
• Game Design: Ernie Copley
• Game Artist: Shayne Logan
• Project Director: John Kranz

Game Components:

• Two maps (combined 22″ x 57″)
• Two 5/8 inch counter sheets
• Three setup sheets
• Two double-sided play aids
• Detailed sequence of play sheet
• One Rules Booklet
• One Scenario Booklet
• Three 10-sided dice and one 6-sided die
• Box and Lid set