[Editors note: The following is a dual review, featuring opinions from our in-house war gamer @spielemitkinder, and the thematic space-loving @Futurewolfie. Make sure to read both opinions to get a better overall picture of the game!]
Wolverines! It is America’s most
desperate hour. Beleaguered on three
fronts, these United States struggle against an unthinkable invasion of the land of mom, apple pie, rock ‘n roll, and freedom. Forget the TSA, high taxes, and
Obamacare. Lady Liberty’s very way of
life threatens to vanish in the pages of history. Will hordes of barbaric invaders sweep unopposed from sea to shining sea? Or will
guerrilla citizen-soldiers rise up through hill and dale to help their reeling
army stem the tide until America’s
massive lasers can blow the enemy back to the motherland, proving we really are the Home of the Brave?
How it Plays
I’ll begin by saying that this is one behemoth of a title,
with a lot going on. Keep in mind when reading that there are some
rules and thematic chrome which I will not cover as I discuss primarily the
core game system. In its essence,
Fortress America
is a dudes-on-a-map war game with area movement/control, dice-based combat,
variable powers, and card play.
Nostalgic fears of global thermonuclear war for those born pre-1980 is an added bonus.
There are many elements, mechanics, and small twists that
make this title a very unique entry in the genre – or did when the first version released in the mid-1980's. Some have influenced later designs while
others remain distinctive. Rather than
number them off or repeatedly say, “another unique thing is,” I’ll instead ring
a little bell. So whenever you hear the
sound (*ding*), you’ll know that I've just mentioned another distinguishing
characteristic.
 |
| Behold the beauty! The game is set-up! |
Fortress America
pits Uncle Sam against a tri-front invasion so that the game is played with a
non-negotiable 3-on-1 allied system (*ding*).
If the invaders in a 3+ player game are victorious, then there is a variant
to allow for a specific single winner, but the trespassing factions may not fight
each other during play (*ding*). Each
may maneuver in a manner singularly advantageous to themselves or refuse aid when
requested. But they will generally need
to work together in some fashion to keep America from gaining the upper hand in any one region,
lest it proves detrimental to the other two groups elsewhere.
Turn structure is divided by phases, one of the more
familiar mechanics customary to war gaming.
With minor variation, the three invaders first each take their turns
individually resolving all phases before the U.S. likewise moves. In strict order, players will deploy new
reinforcements, declare battles, maneuver units in preparation for battle,
conduct combat at declared sites, and then invade territory won and/or reinforce friendly areas. Before combat, the U.S. player additionally fires each
of his lasers at an enemy unit. America builds one new emplacement at a different city each round during the reinforcements phase, each one targeting separate territories.
The invaders also have a separate phase to check supply lines at the end
of a turn. If a unit cannot trace a line
of friendly territories back to its own invasion zone, it is destroyed.
All four sides have the same basic units – infantry, mobile
units, hovertanks, helicopters, and bombers.
The U.S.
also has special partisan troops. All of
these have varying movement ranges, special capabilities (*ding*), and roll
different sided dice in combat (*ding*).
Infantry can’t move during the maneuver phase, but a mobile unit can
carry one while it does
(*ding*). Helicopters can scout ahead
before combat and occupy territory behind enemy lines (*ding*). Partisans fight better when on their own
(*ding*). Attackers gain a combined arms
advantage when assaulting cities or mountains with at least one foot,
mechanized, and air unit together (*ding*) (*ding*) (*ding*).
 |
| The Southern bloc begin a combined arms assualt on Dallas. Jerry World would make a luxurious C&C center! |
The U.S.
player begins the game with all sixty of his regular army units deployed
throughout the country, two per city as he sees fit. Each city territory also receives a city
marker, which are removed as they fall to the invaders. The aggressor factions begin with a set
number of units deployed to their invasion zones in whatever manner the player
wishes to divide them. After that,
reinforcements are not purchased (*ding*).
The invaders get eight new units each turn, with the player choosing
which types and in which invasion zone to deploy them (*ding*). The American player draws two partisan cards
each round (and can receive more in play).
These cards specify the number and types of units he will receive, where
to deploy them, and sometimes provide for a special – and powerful – ability.
Combat is actually resolved quickly, because it only lasts
for one round (*ding*) (*ding*)! That’s
right. If the defender can withstand one
barrage, they survive to fight another day – or turn. Furthermore, they get to roll first AND remove
any successful casualties before the attacker can thus return fire (*ding*). While this may sound like it would discourage
offensives, the defender will never have more than five units defending, as
that is the maximum allowed to occupy any one territory (*ding*). So there are never ridiculously formidable
bastions of non-ending ranks of infantry.
Meanwhile, the attacker can bring the house – or whatever is in range to
maneuver adjacent to the target before the combat phase. Of
course, the caveat is that he may only move in a max of five units himself after
a successful attack.
 |
| Better units get better dice (more sided). The d10 is for lasers. |
While the invaders maintain numerical superiority in the
first half of the game, they will need to be resourceful as the war
develops. While the Americans receive,
on average, smaller numbers of reinforcements, they at least can recycle their
units. The Barbarian hordes, on the
other hand, are finite (*ding*). When
losing a piece in combat or due to lack of supply, it is removed from the game.
Play continues through these general phases of
reinforcement, maneuver, battle, and more maneuver until one of three victory
conditions is met. If all of the
invaders’ units are destroyed, then America is understandably victorious. While that condition sounds like total
annihilation typical of the genre, it’s also not very likely because the game
will last no longer than ten rounds (*ding*).
Instead, a typical game either runs the full ten turns with the U.S.
holding on to at least thirteen cities; or the aggressors win after occupying eighteen or
more urban centers after the end of any U.S. turn.
 |
| Where all soldiers go to die...well, just Commie scumbags, of course... |
@spielemitkinder's take:
Land of the Free? Or An Nyoung, Comrade?
I cut my teeth in hobby gaming with Milton Bradley’s original title
in the iconic Game Masters series. First
released in 1986 during the Cold War and a couple of years after the movie Red Dawn (the first one),
Fortress America inspired all manner of unfounded fears and unmitigated
patriotism in its fictional conflict.
Well, at least it did for a handful of junior high boys. Back then, we were all sure Soviet Russia,
Communist China, and that crazy, bearded guy in Cuba were all plotting an
American takeover at the first convenient opportunity. Of course, they could never really all work
together – and a land war in North America would go over about as well as one
in Asia. But it made for a really cool,
fun war game.
Interestingly, the political overtones of Fantasy Flight’s
revised design have changed amidst a very different global climate. Gone is the Communist threat, replaced with
general Terrorism. Enter unstable, unpredictable,
and not-as-scary North Korea in place of the more reliable, very menacing,
Soviet monstrosity. Without two “super powers”
squaring off toe-to-toe in the modern era, support for American involvement
around the world has waned considerably, while nation building and puppet
propping is decidedly more subtle and covert than it used to be. Some one could probably write a paper comparing
the design in both worlds – but I’ll take a look at the game itself.
 |
| A chopper convoy heading to the aid of the West. |
Beginning with logistics, let me start off by saying this is
an interesting game for two OR four
players, but not really with three. Yes,
you can still play it with one player handling two of the invaders, but it’s
more disjointed and awkward, and not as fun for the third invader. It works well with one individual handling
all of the invaders, though that person has a lot more to do. With four, it shines perfectly. I’ll reiterate, if it needs to be, that this
is not an exercise for new or casual gamers.
Furthermore, even experienced war gamers will need to rethink some of
what they've come to take for granted in the genre. Fortress America’s unique mechanics require
a change in strategic gears.
Probably the biggest point of contention is players fighting
over who gets to be America. The U.S. side is just more fun to play, even
if you personally are not an American.
One, it is challenging to learn to play effectively, at first. Two: Lasers!
Last, the Yanks provide a great deal more variety and replayability with
their random reinforcement cards and laser construction. Aside from that, once you know what you’re
doing, they are generally easier to play.
However, there is no guarantee, of course, and so the tension wrought
from the game’s design is wonderful. At
first the invasion sends the Americans reeling under overwhelming numbers. The situation looks quite desperate for the
Land of the Free about five turns in before the U.S. can stem the tide and even
turn things around. Then again dice
heavily influence the development of the narrative, adding even more great
tension!
 |
| Laser installations in the safest place...as far away from the action as possible! |
That’s not to say the invader factions aren't any fun to tackle,
at all. The main problem is that once
all of your forces are committed and you can no longer replace losses, your
strength dwindles as the U.S.
can afford to create delays in a war of attrition. Even as you get new troops through the first
several turns, they must deploy in the coastal invasion zones. After a few rounds, that is usually a few
territories behind the front and so it takes time for them to effectively
reinforce your positions. In the meantime, U.S. reinforcements and partisan troops are popping up all around you at the most inopportune and frustrating times. On the
positive side, the later-game tension that this expansion creates can be as fun
as the early game for the Americans.
Each faction does play a little differently. The map is designed to balance the number of
cities immediately available for capture, as well as those in the “next
wave.” After that, the conquest changes
and offers some options. The Eastern
bloc is soon confronted with a mass of cities, and thus more units, in the Great Lakes region.
They also can move up into New England which, along with the Florida peninsula, gives
them two secluded “safe havens” once secured. The
Western faction deals with a lot more open territory after the first two turns
and will be hard pressed to support a strong move inland. Conversely, they seem to face less opposition
than their two allies. Finally, the
Southern group is even more unique with a mixture of open space and urban
centers. They have an extra city which
they can possibly take in the first wave, but the challenge is to maintain an
offensive, while simultaneously working with and supporting the West and East
on either side – or not. Mixing up play
with the factions each session is recommended.
Otherwise, you’re likely to adopt a standard strategy and the result
will feel routine. The Fantasy Flight
version includes special action cards to provide some variety for the invaders,
but they’re hit and miss in both fun and functionality.
 |
| Invaders' action cards. Note the icons at bottom on conditions you must meet to use these. |
Combat resolution in Fortress America is one of the more incredible
and interesting elements that profoundly impacts planning and strategy. A battle lasts ONE round. The defender
fires and then the attacker fires, and then it’s over! This is a fundamental change from most war
games which stipulate that combat continues until one side is completely eliminated or voluntarily retreats. So you have to rethink how and when to
fight and what to bring. It’s not enough to have superior numbers just hoping to whittle down the defenders. You only get one round in an assault per
turn. And since the defender shoots first
and removes casualties before they
can return fire, the odds can plummet faster than you may realize or have prepared
for.
The territory unit limit is another strategy-restricting mechanic
that requires planning. On one hand, it’s
good to know that your enemy will never have more than five units defending any
one territory. But on the other, it can
impede your own ability to maneuver and assemble a large enough attack force adjacent
to a desired target. It’s a rule
everyone must learn to live by.
In the end, theme and chrome mesh epic narrative and little details
seamlessly together. Looking at the
board from a satellite’s view, the story arc is sweeping as waves of invaders
push America to the brink. Yet focus on individual
territories, and each chapter plays out with aspects that make sense. Different sided dice represent the relative strengths
of the separate unit types. Combined foot,
mechanized, and air assaults increase your odds as would be true of modern
warfare. Partisans fight better when
unencumbered by regulation military.
Even the arbitrary ending illustrates the idea that a successful American
defense would most likely be as simple as outlasting the enemy. Both theme and minutiae are engrossing and
captivating enough to soften the time blow that the genre can often inflict.
 |
| Partisans arise in the Southwest. Head for the hills and hit 'em hard where it counts. |
Fortress America is not for the timid. It is sweeping in scope with lots of chrome,
downtime, minor rules to reference, hordes of dice, and legions of plastic to
push around. Its luck, interaction, fiddliness,
and thematic story arc are the epitome of Ameritrash, replete with all of the
goodness and drawbacks inherent thereof.
For fans of that style, and of dudes-on-a-map in general, this revised
classic offers several unique twists on the genre and a great end goal, which
helps reign in game time. That’s not to
say it’s a quick affair. But for those
with the time and inclination, Fortress America is a blast and gives
players a chance to finally kick Communist butt or take down those Capitalist
pigs – at least that’s the way I’ll always see it...
Pros:
Fun theme
Specific end point
Variable unit abilities and dice
Unique combat model/resolution
Fascinating alliance format
U.S.
side has lots of replay value
Cons:
Invaders not as replayable
Good U.S.
player hard to defeat
Suffers from downtime
Crowding hampers territory delineation
@futurewolfie's take:
Red, White, and Blue or Better Red Than Dead?
@futurewolfie's take:
Red, White, and Blue or Better Red Than Dead?
I had originally intended to review this game on my own; after all, a big flashy Fantasy Flight title with futuristic elements, asymmetrical powers, and boatloads of miniatures? What's not to like! On paper, at least, this should be a game I really rather enjoy.
But when I finally got my hands on a copy and got it to the table, my experiences were not up to my expectations. I needed to hear another perspective, to help figure out if my sights were off; it's not too often that you get that chance, but fortunately our resident war gaming fanatic not only had his own copy of the game, but had played the original version many years ago. This was the extra perspective this review needed, hence the double-review.
There's something about Fortress America that just doesn't set right with me. Oh, don't get me wrong; I love the asymmetry of it all, I love the plastic miniatures. Despite this being quite the behemoth of a game, the rules are not over-taxing.
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| Partisans pop up behind the front to cut off the enemy's supply lines. |
But playing the game just didn't live up to expectations. A big part of this is the lengthy playtime; don't believe the box, which says 2-3 hours. We're talking more like 4-5 here, and pushing even higher.
It is probably the playtime alone that damages the game. If the game could be completed in 2-3 hours, it'd be an action-filled good time. The lengthier playtime serves only to accentuate the flaws - the lack of real replay ability and the long periods of waiting before your turn comes around again.
Lets hover on the replay ability for a moment. What I like about combat-centric games, especially dudes-on-a-map, is the tactical nature of maneuvering your troops, taking risks, and knowing when to consolidate your forces and defend instead of pushing forward. Unfortunately, the asymmetry in Fortress America is created not by giving players unique powers and abilities, but by forcing players into a very particular rut. As an invader, you don't have the time to fall back, or to regroup. Your only choice is to push forward as quickly as possible. Limitations on troop movement force the invaders to bull-rush as fast as they can, taking cities along the way, heading for the most central cities that take the longest to reach. There is no real choice in the matter; the only choice is in how exactly you arrange your troops, which just isn't very much choice at all.
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| Partisan cards for U.S. reinforcements. |
The game is programmed, and it is pretty linear. The invaders will ALWAYS win the first few rounds of battles; they simply attack with overwhelming force. The USA forces are spread thin and can't reinforce troops anywhere; their only recourse is to retreat and consolidate forces until they build up their laser grid and have strong defenses in their remaining cities. Because of the movement limitations, the US barely has even the burden of defense; they don't really need to spend too much effort defending their front lines because even if left completely defended, the invaders can't just rush through. This programming does serve to create a ramping tension, but it's the same tension every time.
This game is a product of a bygone era, before many of the modern gaming advances we have today were invented. It comes from a time when you had children's games, monopoly, and complex war-games, and thats about it. The world wasn't as fast-paced; computers were not so prevalent and video games had not saturated the culture. Kids, teens, and college students had time to burn 5 hours on a wargame like this, and that's okay. It certain does have some unique aspects to it; I'd rather play this game than the old version of Risk, but it hasn't aged well.
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| Taking Florida. Hey...even Commies need vacations. |
If you love these sorts of war-games, Fortress America is perhaps a worthy addition to your collection. It tells its own story and it's an interesting story, it's just not one that I personally would like to experience many times over again. If you grew up on Fortress America, there's definitely something to be said for nostalgia. This edition is certainly finely crafted with great components, a very nice-looking board, and fun custom dice. Other than that, this game feels slightly outdated with its linear progression and lack of anything besides dice-rolling combat to progress through the game.
Pros:
Fantastic load of plastic minis
Great production value
Asymetrical sides are interesting
The story progression in the game is unique and fun...
Cons:
... but only once, maybe twice, and it doesn't really vary
Programmed strategies leave little room for creative approaches
Lasts a really, really long time
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