Eastern Front the new Flames of War compendium and why you want to send yourself there
Battlefront is releasing a new compendium entitled Eastern Front for MidWar Flames of War players. Within this massive 361 page book are the previously released v4 books Enemy at the Gates, Red Banner, Iron Cross, Ghost Panzers, Death from Above, White Death, Hungarian Steel, and Brave Romania.
But wait, there’s more, like the North Africa book that was released this year, they’ve included new units and formations which no doubt you’ll want to consider when composing new armies to field.
It’s also filled with the usual unit histories, great artwork, and polish that makes Battlefront sourcebooks a joy to read.
What has come before?
In this article I’ll not re-review the prior material, instead, here are links to some of the past No Dice No Glory posts covering these prior books as they were released. I’ve left off the list building and after action reports in favor of the core material. Remember as you’re reviewing these past stories, they don’t take into consideration the new material. You might build your force a little differently when it comes to the new units.
- Enemy at the Gates
- Red Banner
- Iron Cross
- Ghost Panzers
- Death from Above
- White Death
- Hungarian Steel
- Brave Romania
What’s new?
New/clarified force diagrams
The blend of what formations you can field, who can be your allies, and under what circumstances have evolved over the course of the v4 journey for Flames of War.
With Eastern Front, the German force diagram now says that Germans may field a compulsory unit from the Finnish, Hungarians, Italians, or Romanian formation as support. Additionally, you may field one formation from those same nationalities as an allied formation. This allows for a force that could have as many as 3 nationalities in it, your core German force, a compulsory unit from one of the allies, and then an allied formation from yet another country. Field Germans, Finns, and Italians? Sure!
The German wildcard box comes into focus as this book includes wildcard units for the Germans. More about that in the “New Units” section.
The Hungarians are able to field two compulsory units from either the Germans or Italian formations as support as well as fielding a German or Italian formation as an allied formation. The Hungarians do not have a wild card box in their force diagram with this edition but a new Zrinyi Assault Gun Battery is added.
The Finns appear to be unchanged in both formations and force composition rules. The wildcard box that was in the original White Death book is removed.
Romanians may only field one compulsory unit from German formations as support. They may field a German formation as an allied unit. The Romanians have a wildcard box in their force diagram and a new wildcard unit in this book. More about those in a moment.
The Soviet support options and allies are largely unchanged. It is no surprise they do not pick up any allied formation options. The Soviets have several new formations added, these are the KV-3 Mixed Tank Battalion, Hero T-43 Tank Battalion, and IS-85 Guards Tank Regiment. These Soviets also get a new wildcard unit.
Between the Germans and the Soviets, they both pick up some substantial meaningful changes with this book. The new units and new formations/support options will shake things up. Allies who have access to German units in support will enjoy the new options as well.
New units
For the Germans, they pick up the Dicker Max as a new Marder on steroids. Big Guns? Long Range? While they weren’t made in great numbers they did see actual combat. The base cost for one is 7 points.
Sturer Emil tank destroyers are another add as a support option. The 20 antitank rating with a 2+ firepower will go through pretty much anything it hits, but like a Marder, many things can counter it. Like the Dicker Max these saw actual combat in very limited numbers. A single Sturer Emil is 9 points, there is a further option to field 2 with a Dicker Max as historically happen, it’s a nice touch. The book has a nice historical write-up.
The 8.8cm Bunkerflak is back! These units historically saw service in Poland, France, and Russia. Locally for those that liked to play Early War Germans, these units were a staple. Given its 3+ cross, it’ll be able to get around the battlefield effectively, on the downside when it moves it isn’t able to fire. Thankfully with a veteran skill, blitz moves aren’t out of reach. At 6 points for a single unit, that is pretty good value for an AT-14 gun that can get around at will.
New wild card units for the Germans are the Tiger (P) Heavy Tank and the Panzer I Infantry Tank also known as the Panzer IF.
The Tiger P is certainly a “what-if” as they didn’t see service. Stat wise they are in line with Tiger units as well as having the same price at 29 points for a single tank. Like the Tiger, you do have the option of adding escort Panzer III tanks to the unit which do not count against your morale for the purposes of bad spirits or last stand.
The Panzer I Infantry tank is an interaction addition, with its highly armored body, and ability to assault on a 3, and counterattack on a 3, it makes for a great tank to run across the table and take on infantry. The downside is with only machine guns, they can’t take on enemy tanks and they aren’t super fast with an 8″ tactical. They are approx 4.5 points each which is generally more than a single infantry stands in pretty much any army, but it’s a tank and that has its own value.
Switching to the Hungarians, the Zrinyi Assault Guns, while not new to Flames of War, are added as a mid-war unit. In Late War their stats are a bit behind some of the various other nationalities, however, in mid-war, these are compelling units. With an 11 anti-tank, 32″ range, and a 7 frontal with a Fearless motivation rating it brings a great deal of capability to a Hungarian force. But the price you ask? At approx 11 points a piece I’ll be looking to see how I can add them to my tabletop army.
The Romanians pick up the TACAM 60 as their wild card unit, a capable 76.2 mm anti-tank gun on captured Russian T-60 tank bodies. These did see operational use especially later in the war. The reason why they are a wildcard is for the 42-43 time period that makes up MidWar they just weren’t quite ready to take the field against the Soviets. For a Romanian player, it brings Marder-like capabilities and when facing Soviet armor, that’s essential and at 4 points each that’s a bargain.
The Russians see the addition of the KV-3, T-43, and IS-85 as new core combat units. The Soviet wildcard unit is the massive KV-5 tank.
The first of the “heavy metal” tank additions for the Soviets is the KV-3, based on the KV tank body, it brings a bigger gun, and a bit more armor but otherwise stats that you would expect for Soviet armor in this time period. The hit on 2 isn’t great especially if your opponent has higher AT assets on the battlefield. Consider tho, if you are over 16″ away from a German 88, you’ll tie on a 3. (10 + 1 for range + whatever you roll for your armor save) At 13 points each it’s an investment that’ll strike fear into your opponent.
Next is the T-43, a “had things been different” contender to replace the T-34. For Flames of War players, it’s hit on a 3, bit better frontal armor than a T-34, with a 12″ tactical and 3+, that’ll certainly tempt you to field a few of these in your Soviet army. They are approx 10 points a tank but certainly will stand up very well against most Mid War tanks. Recall a short barrel 5cm Panzer III only has an Antitank of 8.
Perhaps you’re looking for something with a bigger gun, better armor, great cross-check and a reasonable tactical move that’s hit on 3s and can assault on 3s? That’d describe the IS-85 very well, another historical tank made by the Soviets. For Mid War it’s a BIG fella, and priced at 19 points each they are cheaper than a German Tiger tank. For Soviet heavy armor, this is a compelling unit, especially when you consider it isn’t overworked!
You wanted something bigger you say? Ok!
The KV-5 might be just your speed. This is the Soviet wildcard unit that checks a lot of boxes, big armor, that 14 frontal doesn’t have to worry about Marders and you’ll have a great chance to ignore German 88 hits. The side of 10 likewise will ignore many antitank guns. It’s not overworked. The 5+ cross-check hurts, but at least a cross here order will bring it down to a 4. The counterattack on a 3+ is great, and the 4+ assault rating can get some work done either defending or attacking. The 5 machine gun shots is also a nice touch for facing infantry. At 16 points each, you’ll have some interesting choices between the IS-85, T-43 and the KV-5. All 3 units put the heavy in heavy metal and look really fun to play.
Why buy this book?
At first blush, a book that is a compendium of past material might not seem all that interesting. East Front is more than a rehash of past material. At 361 pages, it is a hefty tome, with the addition of new units, new formations, and wild card units that will shake things up in the Mid War world of Flames. Be it for competitive play or casual games with your friends, there is a lot of pleasure to be had plunking down a KV-5 or two and being asked what is their armor stats. Thankfully the effective counters are in this book which help to maintain balance in your games.
In past versions of Flames of War, I remember tournaments would often indicate “No MidWar monsters” in their advertisements. The Mid-War monsters introduced too much of an imbalance to be allowed for competitive play. In local circles, after the North Africa book which brought in the first wildcard units we’ve not seen limitations return. With version 4 of Flames of War wildcard units don’t seem to have the concern that the past MidWar monsters did. As the Eastern Front book releases, I remain optimistic that wildcard units will be welcome on the tabletop both for casual and competitive play.
Stay tuned to NoDiceNoGlory for more coverage of the new East Front book. We’ll have country by country analysis taking into account the new units and how to effectively mix them into your force.
Great write up as always!
One thing you did leave out, however, is that the Hungarians are also getting a Turan company as a new option, in addition to the Zriyni.
Thanks, Tom for the overview and the nice breakdown on the stuff.
I appreciate the work you put into the article. Good information ?
Another great article from the NDNG team. I believe the Hungarians and Romanians are getting a good bump. The Soviets….well we’ll see how it plays out. Much enjoyed the read!
Is there a way to field Italians in MW on the Eastern Front? Use the Avanti book?
Yep that’s how to do it in V4 , in V3 they had lists for them on the Eastern Front in the book and pdfs .