While the membership NATO has grown since 1985 (15 members to 29 today) the mission and role of the alliance is just as relevant today as it was when first formed in 1949. So far has given us the forces of the major nations of the alliance and now it is time for the smaller nations to enter in the game. While these nation’s may have smaller and less well-equipped armies than the major players, their commitment to NATO should not be overlooked. They do play a major role supporting NATO’s mission.

I know I’m late to the party on this topic, but I finally got in a couple of games with the Fog of War cards.

As a teacher, I use games such as Flames of War in my Military History course. 

Objectives are placed and platoons assigned. These games help the students learn about different equipment types and generic tactics. In addition, the games help get the students engaged in the lessons and make my Military History course fun.

One of my students, Malcolm, is an avid Flames of War player. He picked up a half-painted army from his brother and is working to finish painting it.

Today we take a look at how Battlefront’s Latest addition the mid-war desert books, Armoured Fist, changes the tournament scene. It’s complicated.

One of the most talked about and biggest changes that come with Armoured Fist is actually something that affects the Desert Rats book. The hotly contest Scout Tanks card has been changed, making the cost two points for each platoon using it, and the card must be applied to every platoon it is viable for. This is a huge, much-needed change.

Battlefront set the point cost for the card too low on the first go around, but, I will give them credit for admitting their mistake and fixing it. This change, however, will kill the Stuarts swarm of 50+ tanks.

Guest Post By Jörg

Do you want to know where the Iron Crosses grow? Well, is prepared to show you.  While attending Cold Wars, I came across a game of Iron Cross published by Great Escape Games being run.  I was unable to sign up for the game but stood back as a lurker for a short time to get a feel.

Honestly, among the great deluge of WWII game rules on the market, I never really noticed Iron Cross (they have been out a few years). However, after watching the game unfold, they made it onto my convention “buy list”.

Our gaming group likes to play company level actions on our WWII gaming night and we had not quite found the right rules to scratch that itch (or finish games before our local hobby shop closed at night!).  I was able to find a copy in the vendor hall and take the plunge…..  Now that we have actually played the rules, I have a decent sense of how they are intended to work and how they “feel” on the table.  So here goes!

Assembly of Mk II finished.

Plastic Soldier Company has released their and 20mm scales. They were kind enough to send NDNG a set of 15mm for review.

Out of the box, the 15mm sprues are impressive, yet daunting. Two hull tops are included – one with side skirts, one without. The instructions list the side-skirt hull as the Valentine III and IX model.

These tanks are a welcome addition, with both Flames of War and BattleGroup focussing on Desert War in North Africa right now. Players of any 15mm WWII game with an eye toward North Africa, or even the Eastern Front with Valentines as Lend-Lease can make good use of this set.

By Benny Christiansen

Having played a number of Fog Of War battles, I often get several questions about the cards and how to play a game with them when I participate in events or tournaments. I’ll try to summarize it a bit, and give a “show and tell” of how I play and what I think is essential in the lists.

By Scott Grasse

One of the exciting features of a Firestorm campaign is the use of additional “free” units that are added to players’ forces for each battle. These additional troops represent the combat power associated with the units fighting on the campaign map – the more units attacking on the map, the greater the force attacking on the battle table.

Troop types in Firestorm Tunisia: Armor, Infantry, Delaying Force, Fortification, and Roadblock.

At the high school where I teach, they offer a number of electives.  About seven years ago, they solicited ideas for things they thought students would enjoy working on and learning about, and I offered up a proposal for military history. While it has changed in scope and shape over the years it has remained a popular class. This year we had a wait list to get in.  

students help setup

I’ve incorporated wargaming into the class on occasion and held some small-scale demonstrations for students after school, but I had not held a large scale battle for them yet.  That changed this year. I also had many moments where I realized that the fact I could set this all up using only my minis was proof I don’t need more models to paint. I probably need an intervention. Still, it was nice to be able to do this.

By Scott Grasse

Editor’s Note: No Dice No Glory is pleased to host a global Flames of War V4 campaign designed by Scott Grasse. Follow along, post your results, check for the latest updates on

Pre Campaign Battles to get you started,

The terrain in Tunisia is rugged, unique, and had a major influence on the battles fought there.  Several new terrain features are introduced for Firestorm Tunisia.  Get ready to encounter vast Salt Beds otherwise known as tank death traps; Rocky Ground that makes it impossible to dig in; Heavy Scrub that is perfect for hiding an ambush; and entrenched, dry water-ways called Wadis that form a natural and formidable defense.  Heavy spring rains would then transform these difficult terrains to nearly impassable.