High Flying Dice Latest News in the world of Boardgaming

Greetings!

We another new game and card set released this month, as well as several new titles that are under development.

Also, Grant Kleinhenz of the Players Aid Forum has started a new line of game reviews entitled Beautiful Boards of Wargaming! He choose our game Kekionga! A Dark and Bloody Battleground as the debut title in this series. You can read all about here: https://theplayersaid.com/2022/09/16/the-beautiful-boards-of-wargaming-kekionga-a-dark-and-bloody-battleground-1790-from-high-flying-dice-games/

I am VERY proud to work with Nils Johannson and delighted that this game and Nils’ artwork is getting more attention. Nils is increasingly busy with work from other publishers and I could not be more pleased. It does mean it takes longer now for him to finish up his next High Flying Dice Games projects, but I think all will agree with me that he’s well worth the wait!

You can access the web pages for Kekionga! and all of the other games in the Battles of the Old Northwest Series here: https://www.hfdgames.com/1800.html

You can also get a custom card set, that Nils did the artwork for and can be used with all of the games in the series. The card set is $10.00 or can be had for free with any purchase of 4 games: https://www.hfdgames.com/cardsup.html

Read on and let the dice fly high!

New Games!

Tercio de la Muerte: The Battle of the Ebro River, July-August 1938.

1938 went from bad to worse for the Republican cause in Spain. Successes the previous year at Guadalajara, Teruel and Belchite were undone by Nationalist victories that overran Vizcaya as well as continued and massive military support from Nazi Germany and fascist Italy. Madrid was finally cut off and fell in the early summer and many outside of Spain felt the cause was lost. However, there was some hope in the Republican enclave centered on Barcelona. A new and friendly government came to power in France that reopened shipments of badly needed arms and supplies, and new shipments of arms from the Soviet Union successfully made it past the Nationalist blockade, reinvigorating the Republican forces still in the field. A larger war in Europe was increasingly apparent, and it was hoped that if the Republican forces could hold out long enough, they could be part of this larger conflict against fascism. As such, the Republican military decided upon a bold offensive across the Ebro River to retake ground in Valencia, as well as demonstrate that all was not lost.

Each copy of Tercio de la Muerte is composed of the following:

• Two 11 by 17 inch map sections with Turn and Game Record tracks.
• 154 un-mounted, double-sided units.
• 8 pages of rules.

Players will also need a standard deck of playing cards and a six-sided die (D6) to play the game.

Tercio de la Muerte is designed by Paul Rohrbaugh and features graphics by Ilya Kudriashov. Tercio de la Muerte sells for $20.95 plus shipping. Mounted counters can be had for an additional $8.00.

A custom card set for the game is also available. The card set replaces the standard deck of playing cards called for in the rules, features graphics by Ilya Kudriashov, and has rules reminders on pertinent cards. The Tercio de la Muerte card set is $10.00 or can be had for free with any order of 4 games. To access the game’s web page and order form visit our web site here: https://www.hfdgames.com/ebro.html

Operation Iron Brain: The Siege of Beirut, June-August, 1982.

For over a year the Palestinian Liberation Organization (PLO) had bombarded Israel’s northern province of Galilee with artillery and rocket fire. On June 6, 1982 the Israeli military invaded southern Lebanon in an operation dubbed “Peace for Galilee”. The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) quickly defeated the PLO’s armed forces and drove north. Although the declared aim of the Israeli offensive was to clear a 40 kilometer “buffer zone” along the Lebanese/Israeli border, Israeli Defense Minister, Ariel Sharon, was determined to eradicate the PLO once and for all, and hopefully kill its leader, Yassir Arafat. With new orders the IDF crossed the Litani River and drove on Beirut where the remnants of the PLO’s forces were retreating, and where most of their refugee camps were located. What ensued was an escalating conflict that threatened to engulf the entire mid-east once more in conflict and bring Lebanon to the brink of abyss of genocidal civil war.

Each copy of Operation Iron Brain is composed of the following:

• Two 11 by 17 inch hex map sheets
• One sheet of 140 double-sided, unmounted counters
• One Players’ Aid Sheet
• 8 pages of rules

Armor and Infantry (Militia, Regular, Heavy Weapons) units are all Battalions. Airborne and militia units are companies. A hex on the map is about a half mile across. Each turn represents two weeks of time. The game is designed by Paul Rohrbaugh and features graphics by David Gomez Prieto. Operation Iron Brain sells for $20.95 plus shipping. Mounted counters can be had for an additional $8.00.

A custom card set for the game is also available. The card set replaces the standard deck of playing cards called for in the rules, features graphics by David Gomez Prieto, and has rules reminders on pertinent cards. The Operation Iron Brain card set is $10.00 or can be had for free with any order of 4 games. To access the game’s web page and order form visit our web site here: https://www.hfdgames.com/brain.html

Operation Praying Mantis, April 18, 1988.

Following the destruction of Iran Air Flight 655 by the US, fully loaded with pilgrims on their way to Mecca for the Haj, the Iranian military vowed revenge against the “Great Satan”. With Grand Ayatollah Khomeni gravely ill, there was no one in charge within the Iranian government or military who could or would thwart this dangerous escalation of force. On April 14 the FFG (guided missile frigate) USS Samuel Roberts struck a mine at the edge of the international maritime channel near the Gulf of Bahrain while escorting a fleet of oil tankers. While no one aboard the stricken vessel was killed or seriously injured, the mine blew a gaping twenty-foot wide hole in the ship. Only the quick and skilled action by its crew kept USS Samuel Roberts from sinking. It was quickly determined by investigators that the Iranians had deployed the mines, and National Security Advisor, General Colin Powell advised President Reagan that a massive demonstration of force was required to demonstrate once and for all that Iranian armed interference with the flow of ship traffic in the Persian Gulf would not be tolerated.

Operation Praying Mantis was the largest US fleet action since the Second World War. While the US had a preponderance of force, any error or serious loss could possibly embolden the Iranians, especially the hard liners who resisted any end to the war with Iraq or compromise with the US-led coalition that opposed them. Operation Praying Mantis is a solitaire play game with the active player taking on the role of the commander of the US naval force charged with implementing the operation. The game’s rules govern the Iranian response. Can you do as well or better?

Each copy of Operation Praying Mantis is composed of the following:

• One 11 by 17 inch map with game tables and tracks
• One sheet of 112 un-mounted, double-sided units
• 1 player aid sheet
• 6 pages of rules

The player will also need a partial deck of playing cards, a six-sided die and an opaque container (mug, envelope or anything similar) to play the game. Operation Praying Mantis is designed by Paul Rohrbaugh and features graphics by Bruce Yearian. The game sells for $17.95 plus shipping. Mounted counters can be had for an additional $8.00.

A custom card set for the game is also available. The card set replaces the standard deck of playing cards called for in the rules, features graphics by Bruce Yearian, and has rules reminders on pertinent cards. The Operation Praying Mantis card set is $10.00 or can be had for free with any order of 4 games. To access the game’s web page and order form visit our web site here: https://www.hfdgames.com/mantis.html

Battle’s Shadow: The Battle for Fort Donelson, February 15, 1862.

Battle’s Shadow is an historical simulation of the battle fought on February 15, 1862 at Fort Donelson. The fort was a Confederate stronghold on the Cumberland River, and key to the rebels retaining control of Kentucky and Tennessee. General Ulysses S. Grant’s Army of the Tennessee and Admiral Andrew H. Foote’s ironclad gunboats had laid siege to the Confederate fort, trapping the Confederate Army of Central Kentucky. On the morning of February 15^th the rebels launched a desperate attack in attempt to breakout. Can you do as well or better?

Each copy of Battle’s Shadow is composed of the following:

• Two 11 by 17 inch hex map sheets.
• 162 single-sided, un-mounted counters.
• One Players’ Aid Sheet.
• This set of rules.

Players will also need an opaque container (mug, envelope or anything similar), a six-sided die (D6) and ten-sided (D10) dice to play the game (although two D6, one for each player, will help speed combat resolution). Battle’s Shadow is designed by Paul Rohrbaugh and features graphics by Tim Allen. Battle’s Shadow sells for $20.95 plus shipping. Mounted counters can be had for an additional $8.00. To access the game’s web page and order form visit our web site here: https://www.hfdgames.com/donelson.html

Two New Game Series in the works!

Veteran game designer, Roberto Chiavini, has several of his games published with High Flying Dice Games. He has recently sent us to revise and publish his entire line of games set in the English Civil War. Titles in this series include the battles of Edgehill, Naseby, Marston Moor, First Newbury, Aberdeen, Tippermuir, Kilsyth, Lansdown, Roundway Down, Cheriton, Dunbar, Hopton, Langport, Adwalton Moor, Alford, Auldearn, Stratton, and Cropedy Bridge. These games are very easy to learn/teach, highly interactive, fun to play. true to the history and will feature graphics by Dariusz Buracweski.

Roberto has also given permission for his game series set in the Thirty Years War, that use a similar design to his English Civil War titles, to be published by High Flying Dice Games. The Thirty Years War Series comprises games on the battles of Fleurus, Hochst, Lutter, White Mountain, Wimpfen, and Wittstock, and will feature graphics by Bruce Yearian. These two series’ games are among my favorite games by Roberto, and I am VERY excited that he’s elected to make them part of the High Flying Dice Games catalog. Stay tuned and let the dice fly high!

Please remember we also have these promotions in effect throughout the year:

• Any purchase or 4 or more High Flying Dice Games (Professional or DTP) and you get one mini-game for free (your choice of any that sell regularly for $8.95).
• Alternative Bonus! Instead of a free mini-game, any purchase of 4 or more games and you can instead get a single-deck card set (any of those that sell regularly for $9.00).
• Note: Our newest postcard “Pocket Battle” game, A Rock and a Hard Place can be used for the above bonuses!

Upcoming Games!

• Several new games are now Under Development and are undergoing playtesting. Brand new titles that are now being play tested are Cockleshell Heroes: Operation Frankton, December 11, 1942, A Sanguine Fight: The Battle of Riachuelo, June 11, 1865, Villa’s Vengeance: The Columbus New Mexico Raid, March 1916, Muerte Desde Arriba: Air Battles of the Spanish Civil War, Heaven’s Will: The Raid on Ulithi Atoll, November 1944, Diggers’ Resolve: The Battle for Milne Bay, August-September 1942, A Resolute Action: The Battle of Fort Meigs, May 5, 1813, Operation Icarus: The Invasion of Iceland, June 1940, Falling Skies: Operation Rolling Thunder, March-April 1965, Operation Menace: The Attack on Dakar, September 23-25, 1940, A Lamentable and Calamitous Action: The Attack at Mers-el-Kebir, July 3, 1940, A Sharp and Fierce Fight: The Battle of Cook’s Mills, October 19, 1814, A Mad Endeavor: The Attack on Stony Point, July 16, 1779, Tempting Fate: The Battle of the Granicus River, May 334 BCE, Waters Unvexed: Three Battles of the Mississippi River, 1862 (Island Number 10, Plum Point Bend, Memphis), The Yanks are Here! The St. Mihiel Campaign, September 1918, Operation Musketeer: The Attack on Port Said, November 1956, A Gallant and Efficient Fight: The Battle of Hamel, July 4, 1918, Operation Menace: The Attack on Dakar, September 23-25, 1940, One Small Step: The US/USSR Space Race to the Moon, and Depths of Courage vol. 12: The Raid on Valletta, July 25/26, 1941, Dying is Easy: Naval Battles of the Boshin War, May 1869, Heights of Frustration: The Battles for Longstop Hill, December 1942 and April 1943, So Far From God: The US Punitive Expedition in Mexico, 1916-1917, Late to the Fight: The Battle of Palmetto Ranch, May 13, 1865. Blood and Oil: The Persian Gulf Tanker War, 1985.

• Heading into final development and graphics are White Christmas? The Fall of Saigon, April 1975, Shadows of Hell: Operation Karbala 6, January 15-17, 1987, Galahad’s Ordeal: The Battle of Myitkyina, A Sea of Fog and Fire: The Battle of Heligoland Bight, A Brilliant Little Affair: The Battle of Chrysler’s Farm, November 11, 1813, Cross vs. Crescent: The Battle of Las Navas de Tolosa, July 16, 1212, Nothing Then is Done: The Battle of Najera, April 3, 1367, A Steadfast and Violent Affair: The Battle of Lundy’s Lane, July 25, 1814, Red Coats, Grey Jackets: The Battle Chippawa, July 5, 1814, A Wretched and Costly Fight: The Attack on Fort Erie, August 15, 1814,  Wheels of Change: The 1950s US Auto Industry, Souls to Waste: The Battle of An Bao, May 5, 1968, Depths of Courage, Volume 13: The Attack on the Tirpitz, September 1943, A Scourge of Stone and Spirit: The 1415 Siege of Harfluer, Kings of the Castle: The Battle of the Imjin River, April 1951, In Harm’s Way: Battles of the Dutch East Indies Campaign (Sunda Strait, Badung, Balikpapan, Java Sea) Paint it Black: The Attack on Lang Vei, February 6-7, 1968, A Cruel and Bitter Fight: The Battle of the Thames, October 5, 1813 and A Dreadful Fight: The Battle of Horse Shoe Bend: March 27, 1814,

Look for upcoming release announcements as these games are finished up.

Online Retailers!

High Flying Dice Games are available from this fine online retailer:

• Noble Knight Games: http://www.nobleknight.com/ Note: All games carried by Noble Knight Games now have mounted counters!
• Agorajeux: https://www.agorajeux.com/en/

Be sure to visit the High Flying Dice Games website for the latest information, view the full range of games, as well as see what is being worked on. You can also place orders and ask questions about all of the games in our catalog and in development. Visit us at: http://www.hfdgames.com. We’d love to hear from you!

Thank you very much for your interest and support. Let the Dice Fly High!

Paul Rohrbaugh

Founder, High Flying Dice Games

9753 Deltona Drive

New Middletown, OH 44442