Third Winter VG+/NM

Item Description
Gamers, The Operational Combat Series Third Winter (VG+/NM) (unpunched)

Manufacturer: Gamers, The
Product Line: Operational Combat Series
Type: Boxed Game
Code: TGM4-19
Copyright Date: 2021
Author: Dean Essig, Antony Birkett, Chip Saltsman



Product Description:

The Third Winter (TTW) covers the critical campaigns in the Ukraine during the period September 1943 - April 1944. This massive series of battles involved 75% of the Soviet and 85% of the German armored and mechanized forces, nearly 60 mobile divisions. The campaign proved to be the bloodiest in the war to date and The Third Winter covers the major engagements: the battle for Kiev, the winter counterstroke of Manstein's 'fire brigades', the tank battles at Kirovograd, the Korsun-Cherkassy pocket, the 1st Panzer Army’s “moving pocket” battle (Hube's Pocket), the fortress battles around Tarnopol in the spring of 1944, the baptism of fire for II SS Panzer Corps and the slugfest in Romania. The spring mud season brought the campaign to an end, by which time both armies were exhausted. The Red Army would quickly recover, the Wehrmacht could not.

The game area covers parts of Southern Russia, much of the Ukraine, southeastern Poland, and eastern Romania. The game begins with the Germans in full retreat to the Dnepr in late September 1943. By the campaign’s end in late April 1944, four Axis armies will have faced four Soviet fronts in a titanic struggle. Several scenarios supplement the main campaign, as the German army fights its “Third Winter” in Russia.

The Soviet command and supply structure is modeled through Front HQ markers. Fronts are either in “Offensive” or “Regrouping” status, allowing for shifting axes of attack and the on/off nature of Soviet operational warfare during this time. Each Front has an assigned Air Force. Tank and Mechanized Corps rebuilding takes place off-map, allowing for rapid strategic force shifts. The Axis player has operational flexibility, but must battle multiple challenging situations.

The Third Winter is a large OCS game, with over 1,700 combat units and a 44 x 66-inch map layout at a scale of 5-mile hex/3.5-day turn. The full Campaign game is 63 turns long, and there are three campaign scenarios so players can start at different points in the action. Also included are several one-map scenarios, including an 8-turn Korsun Pocket game played on a special map (otherwise parts of all four maps would be needed).

Special rules in this OCS series game are carefully researched to model key aspects of this enormous campaign:

  • Soviet Front HQ Markers reflecting their role in command and marshaling supply.
  • Soviet RVGK areas for coordinating strategic redeployment and rebuilding shattered mobile Corps.
  • Axis Army, Army Group and Kessel HQs, along with Kampfgruppe markers which portray Axis operational flexibility.
  • Soviet challenges in successfully crossing the Volga class Dnepr River.
  • German Tank-buster aircraft as piloted by Hans-Ulrich Rudel and the famous JG52 with Ace Erich Hartmann.
  • Forces include German Wehrmacht, Luftwaffe and SS formations, as well as Soviet Guards and regular units, plus Hungarian, Rumanian, Slovak, and Czech units.
  • Random events similar to what are found in Beyond the Rhine. The 43 possible events add historical flavor with minimal rules overhead, covering things like Partisan Raids, Stalin’s Impatience, _____’s Fortress Directive #53, Extra Lend-Lease Support, Battlefield Heroes, and Leader Dismissal.
  • Detailed examples of play are included for new mechanics such as Soviet Ferries, German Kessel HQs facilitating “moving pockets”, Soviet Fronts and the RVGK.

    Scenarios:

  • The Dnepr Battles (Campaign Game Start, 4 maps, 63 turns), 26 Sept 1943 to 26 April 1944
  • Die Götterdämmerung, (January Campaign Start, 4 maps, 27 turns), 26 Jan 44 to 26 April 44
  • Red Thunder (April Campaign Start, 2 maps, 6 turns), 8 Apr 44 to 26 April 44
  • Manstein’s Fire Brigades (1 map, 9 turns), 26 Dec 43 to 22 Jan 44
  • II SS Panzer Corps Strikes Back (1 map, 6 turns), 8 Apr 44 to 26 April 44
  • Rumanian Finish (1 map, 6 turns), 8 Apr 44 to 26 April 44
  • Hube’s Pocket (1 map, 8 turns), 22 Mar 44 to 15 Apr 44
  • Scorpions in a Bottle (Korsun Pocket Half-Map Introductory game, 8 turns), 26 Jan 44 to 19 Feb 44

    Components:

  • OCS Rulebook (version 4.3)
  • Game-Specific Rulebook with extensive Historical Commentary, Designer's Notes, Developer's Notes, Historical Commentary, Full Color Examples of Play and Players Notes
  • Scenario Booklet
  • Axis Player Booklet, including an Order of Arrival
  • Soviet Player Booklet, including an Order of Arrival
  • Two OCS v4.3 Charts and Tables
  • Four Full Color Game Maps (22x34)
  • One Full Color Scenario Map (11x17)
  • 2,800 counters (seven Game Specific countersheets & three marker countersheets)
  • Two Full Color Terrain Effects Charts – One for each Player Side
  • One Full Color Turn Record Track and Reinforcements Display
  • Four Multi Unit Formations Displays – Two Axis and Two Soviet, portraying all the MUFs in the game for easy organization and identification.
  • One Full Color Soviet RVGK Logistics Display
  • Two Full Color General Record Tracks – One Axis and One Soviet
  • Two Full Color Breakdown Regiment Display Cards – One Axis and One Soviet
  • Box and Dice

    Please review the condition and any condition notes for the exact condition of this item. All pictures are stock photos. The condition of the item you will receive is VG+/NM - unpunched. Our grading system is listed below for your perusal.

  • Grading System

    Our Grading System  

    To ensure a smooth transaction, please review our grading system below as well as the Shipping Information tab before bidding. Be sure to review the exact condition (and any condition notes / incompleteness notes located next to the title and description) before purchase. All pictures are stock photos unless otherwise specified.

    SW  Shrink Wrapped. Still in the original factory shrink wrap, with any condition visible through shrink noted. For example, ?SW (NM)? means shrink wrapped in near-mint condition.

    MINT  Perfect. Brand new.

    NM  Near Mint. Like new with only the slightest wear, many times indistinguishable from a Mint item. Close to perfect, very collectible. Board & war games in this condition will show very little to no wear, and are considered to be "punched" unless the condition notes "unpunched."

    EX  Excellent. Lightly used, but almost like new. May show very small spine creases or slight corner wear. Absolutely no tears and no marks, a collectible condition.

    VG  Very Good. Used. May have medium-sized creases, corner dings, minor tears or scuff marks, small stains, etc. Complete and very useable.

    FAIR  Very well used, but complete and useable. May have flaws such as tears, pen marks or highlighting, large creases, stains, marks, etc.

    POOR  Extremely well used and has major flaws, which may be too numerous to mention. Item is complete unless noted.


    More Condition Details 

    • Miniatures come unpainted and unassembled, unless specifically noted. Assembly is required for most miniatures and model kits.
    • Boxed Items are listed as "code/code" where the first code represents the box, and the second code describes the contents. When only one condition is listed, then the box and contents are in the same condition. If a book is listed in the same fashion, the first code represents the cover, and the second code the interior. For example a boxed game listed as VG / NM indicates that the outer box is in Very Good Condition, while the contents are in Near Mint Condition.
    • A "+" (plus) sign indicates that an item is close to the next highest condition. Example, EX+ is an item between Excellent and Near Mint condition. A "-" (minus) sign indicates the opposite.
    • Major defects and/or missing components are noted separately.
    • Boardgame Counters are punched, unless noted. Due to the nature of loose counters, if a game is unplayable we will send you the parts or it may be returned for a refund of the purchase price.
    • Dice In most cases, boxed games and box sets do not come with dice.
    • Cardboard Backing of miniature packs is not graded. If excessively worn, they will be marked as "card worn."
    • Flat Trays for SPI games and similar are not graded. If excessively worn, they will be marked as "tray worn."

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    Sales Tax


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