Tank chess

About a month or so ago, we got this game, that's sort of a mix between chess and an abstract tank wargame. Ours is in Serbian, and there are many other languages available. The authors and publishers are a local company Forsage games, known (to us at least) by many older aerial games using their own triangle system. 

There are different formats available (standard, deluxe, light, pocket..), and a few expansions for each. The pocket sized sounds awesome for travel, but with a footprint as small as it has you would be having trouble handling the game pieces for regular play. The standard variant (the one we got) has a decent size, so a coffee table is a good fit.

                               

The contents fit nicely inside, with no wasted space (we're looking at you Fantasy flight). Any expansions you get will have to stay in their own box. Again, not a deal breaker, as the boxes are not big, and if you stay with just the base game it won't take much of the shelf space.

The game comes with 2 double sided boards, and 1 tiny one inside the box insert. The double sided boards are of 2 different sizes meant for longer and shorter play time. Apart from shorter playtime, the smaller one will be less forgiving to mistakes during play. One side on each has black terrain markings and fixed starting positions for game pieces, while the other is blank with no markings or starting positions.The board in the box insert is the smallest, again with terrain and starting positions already marked.

                             

The smaller board

                              

The big board

                

Depending on the board size, you can have a game of up to an hour long (according to the box cover). The smallest one gives about 10-15 mins, and we feel it is perfect for learning the rules, as you are using only a few models, though after a few games on it you will advance on the bigger ones. The marked sides indicate which game pieces are to be used, but the rules allow you to pick the models you want to use when you get comfortable enough with the system. That heavy mortar is a game changer on a smaller board, and a prime target for the opponent.

The game also comes with 2 sheets of punch out black card pieces of different shapes used as terrain on the blank maps. You can set them up as you like, and even design your own scenarios, or follow the scenario guidelines and set up accordingly. The black shapes represent buildings the game pieces need to drive around or hide behind, and there are even more options available in the Fun expansion (water, mud, low walls, bushes and trees) giving you even more replayability. There is even an expansion with actual 3d models of the buildings, trees and some minor obstacles.

You get 2 different pads for noting down your moves and positions. You get a rulebook and a broshure for a ton of scenarios, and 2 cards with stats for all the models in the base game.

The game pieces are in black and white, with the medium tanks having turrets of the opposite color. The models represent light, medium, heavy tanks, tank destroyers and a heavy mortar, plus antennas for command tanks and flags for one of the game modes. The Fun expansion has many other vehicles types for extra variety, and there are a few minor expansions available with things like a mega tank, bazooka jeep, or even a Kaiju. The models are generic and abstract, so you won't recognize any historic model unless you get the STL files for more realistic models. Personally we like the abstractness of the models. They are all distinct from one another, making it easy to remember which is which. Plus the stat card has the profiles of all models in case you forget.

                                

                               

                                

The stats for each vehicle are intuitive. Speed, armor on the front, side and rear, gun strength, plus the range and fire arcs. Everything a wargamer would expect.

                                

The rules are simple, yet engaging and the gameplay is completely diceless. All you need is to hit the target with more strength than the target has armor on that side. No rolls to hit, no cover bonuses for peeking behind a corner, no range modifiers etc.. The front armor is used when hit straight from the front, no angles. The same goes for shots to the rear. Every other angle is to the side. If you're looking for something more, check the publishers Panzer strike line of games. That one is themed around WWII, so having period specific models (also available) is recommended. It's less abstract, and comes with amazing terrain, so it's a good way to introduce someone to wargaming.

Back to tank chess, movement is based on speed, and a model can move to the square in the front, or turn 45 degrees on either side, each move or turn costing 1 point of speed. Models can move backwards but only for 1 space in total and ending their move. Models can move less than allowed.

Shooting is done to the front, or 45 degrees to each side. Here lies the only gripe i have with the game, which is the fact that tanks can hit targets with a 90 degree angle to the front yet have blind spots inside that angle depending on the square the target is in. I have confirmed this with the authors, and while it does sound strange, you get used to it quickly.

You can't shoot through other models, and destroyed vehicles remain on the map creating a new obstacle. In order to shoot there must be at least 1 empty square between the shooter and the target. This is quite important for the whole mechanic of the game, so keep it in mind while driving around the map. It changes the dynamic of planing each move but is easy to forget.

The objective of the game is to either destroy the opposing command tank or have yours escape through the opposing board edge. By default the command tank is one of the light tanks. The rules allow the player to pick the models he wants to use, there are no different point costs. The only restriction is that both sides must have the same number of models, and there must always be 1 command tank, even if its not a light tank. There are several game modes, including capture the flag and multiplayer. Many scenarios are provided, and you can also make up you own.

Some of the scenarios provided, there are many more

                             

                             

There are no special rules or national characteristics. By default both sides get the same models, but if you want you can emulate for example Germans with more heavy tanks, Allies with mostly medium tanks. Maybe even give the more experienced player a slight handicap by giving him less models than the opponent.

Just like in chess, once you get the hang of it, you will start thinking 5 turns ahead. We liked the fear of losing that one piece you felt so crucial to your whole strategy only for your opponent to surprise you with a move you didn't see coming. I'm glad that its not just classic chess with pieces replaced with tanks. Its a light abstract wargame, that's super easy to teach, quick to play yet has a fair amount of strategy. The base game has a good amount of models to allow a lot of replayability. Once we expand our game I'll make a separate review of it.

Since we got it, we played over a dozen games. We find that the smaller board gives about 20-30 minutes of gameplay, with the big one giving around 40 minutes to an hour. The tiny map is great for teaching the game and will give around 10-15 minutes with explanations. We feel the small board (16x16) is optimal for playing, as the games don't last for too long, so you can run several games in a row. 

This little game really took us by surprise, as we usually go for a lot more complex wargames. It doesn't have any luck involved, there are no event cards, special rules and visually it's more akin to chess than a wargame. BUT those aspects come with a price, and the rules for such games tend to be long, or too complex (I still get shivers down my spine when I remember Panzer by GMT games), and visually nothing compares to Heroes of normandie by Devil pig games. And yet, Gmt Panzer for example was so complicated that we usually avoided using all those extra elements, instead going for a pure tank brawl. And Heroes of normandie that i mentioned, even if it has a special place in my heart for the graphics alone, ended up being sold because its activations made no sense to me at the time (for the record, selling it was one of my biggest regrets over the years).

 

Tank chess can be explained in 5-10 minutes, has enough depth and strategy to keep you engaged, and is infinitely replayable. The rules have enough visual examples to cover any dilemma, yet are only a few pages long. We both love it and enjoy playing it every time. We recommend it to anyone just starting with wargames, or to more experienced gamers who want to give the more complex games a break. We give it a score of 10/10.