Red Menace 2nd Edition
A Game Designed by R. Brent Ward
Red Menace is a solitaire wargame pitting the strategic nuclear and defensive forces of the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom against those of the Soviet Union and its client state, Cuba, in 1959.
The game focuses primarily on the role of strategic bombers, but other types of supporting aircraft such as Interceptors, Airborne Early Warning, and Aerial Refueling Tankers are also represented. The player takes control of the United States, Canada and United Kingdom. Decisions for the Soviet units are made by the game system using random events and dice.
During the Cold War, it was believed that thousands of Soviet bombers could be unleashed at a moment's notice. This turned out not to be true (the Soviets had several hundred bombers at best, and many had significant range limitations).
The game is not meant to be an accurate simulation of the actual capabilities of the strategic forces involved, but rather reflects what the governments and citizens of the U.S., Canada and the U.K. believed could happen.
The 2nd edition includes all new artwork for the map, counters, reference sheets, cards, box cover and new rules, units, and scenarios. The use of cards for Random Events and Soviet Cities (for Soviet AI Target Assignment) instead of chit-pull is also new for this edition.
Details:
Number of Players: One
Playing Time: 60-90 minutes
Age: 12+
Complexity: 5 (out of 10)
Solitaire Suitability: High
Unit Scale: Groups, with some Squadrons; Soviet Air Divisions.
Time Scale: 1 to 1.5 hours per game turn
Map Scale: 500 miles per hex
Designer: R. Brent Ward
Developer: Barry Kendall
Red Menace is available in two versions:
Print-On-Demand and Print and Play.
Components for Print-On-Demand Version from The Game Crafter:
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One 18-page Rulebook (8" x 10")
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One 7-page Scenario Book (8" x 10")
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One 11" x 17" Quad-fold Double-sided Map (Color and Black & White)
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150 3/4" Laser-cut Counters (10 sheets of 15 counters)
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Two 11" x 17" Quad-fold Reference Sheets (UV-coated)
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21 Random Event Cards (2.5" x 2.5")
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12 Soviet City Cards (3.5" x 2.5")
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One Box with Cover Art
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Two Red Cubes
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Two Blue Cubes
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Three six-sided Dice with Pips
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Five six-sided Dice with Numerals
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One Dry-Erase Marker with Eraser Cap
Components for Print and Play version on Wargame Vault:
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Vassal Module
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One 19-page Rulebook
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One 7-page Scenario Book
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One 11" x 17" Color Map (Full and Two Halves)
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One 11" x 17" B&W Map (Full and Two Halves)
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150 3/4" Counters
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Two 11" x 17" Reference Sheets (Full and Two Halves)
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21 Random Event Cards (2.5” x 2.5”)
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12 Soviet City Cards (2.5” x 3.5”)
With rules and scenario book from either edition, you may also play Tabletop Simulator module at:
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2144859787
For players of the 1st Edition, visit this BoardGameGeek thread to see the differences in this new edition: 2nd Edition Comparison with 1st Edition.
Click here for instructions to remove laser-cut soot from counters.
