The Wait is Over… Bolt Action 3rd Edition
By Troy Hill
The wait is over!
“This is what you’ve all been waiting for. This September, the fighting intensifies. Warlord Games and Osprey Games are proud to announce a new edition of the world’s greatest World War II wargame… “~ Warlord Games
…premiering late September, 2024.
Warlord has an announcement on their website here.
EDITOR’s NOTE: Since that includes more information than was in the original press release, this story is being updated with additional information.
This seems to be the year for World War 2 action from Warlord Games! The exhaust and smoke from the battlefield of Warlord’s new Achtung Panzer! game is hot an heavy, and now Warlord announces the impending release of Bolt Action 3rd Edition. Wow!
In a press release from Warlord Games, Alessio Cavatore is tagged as the rules guru behind the new version. Since he’s been at the controls of the game since its inception, that’s no surprise.
Here’s what Alessio says, as quoted in the press release:
My chief mission with Bolt Action: Third Edition was to make my favourite game an even better experience for the players. For me, there’s always one goal in mind – continuing my quest for a truly ‘seamless’ set of wargame rules – in other words, the Holy Grail of a rules system where the players are always thinking about their next moves on the table, and not about the rules of the game! I think Bolt Action: Third Edition is definitely a big step in that direction, and I’m sure you’ll agree with me!” – Alessio Cavatore, Bolt Action: Third Edition author
Further, the press release, scant on details, offers a few glimpses into what is in store for the game:
This third edition features refined and updated rules and starter army lists to get new players straight into the action. Seasoned veterans, meanwhile, will find new tactical depth in the detailed force composition mechanics and a wide variety of fresh challenges in the scenario generation system.
This press release, of course, is sure to increase both excitement for a new game edition, as well as the always present grognarding of the unknown. As for me, I’ll wait until I see the new rules before forming opinions.
This announcement, however, is very welcome in my own gaming circle. Warlord broke gaming “tradition” by waiting eight years to pursue a new edition of their flagship game. Our local group, like many others, had explored the “meta” of the game top to bottom, and games of Bolt Action at our monthly game days were scarce this last year.
This new edition is sure to bring more action to the WW2 gaming front.
Eight years, and dozens of campaign books later, I am excited to see what Alessio has in store for us.
Information gleaned from Warlord’s post on their website:
Rulebooks and Models:
Your existing models will still work for Bolt Action 3. Makes sense, right? A guy with a rifle is a guy with a rifle.
The new core BA3 rulebook will replace the BA2 rulebook, and all Armies of… books. Five Army lists will be included in the BA3 rulebook, and additional PDFs will be posted for minor nations.
What about my rulebooks?
The Bolt Action: Third Edition rulebook will immediately supersede the Bolt Action: Second Edition rulebook, and all existing Armies of… books. Contained within the main rulebook will be five ‘starter’ army lists allowing you to construct forces for Great Britain, the USA, the USSR, Germany, and Imperial Japan, while other nations will have similar lists available as PDF downloads. These will allow you to start playing right away, and will be familiar to Second Edition players, but each will be replaced by a regular, ongoing series of releases of Third Edition Armies of… books.
What about unit pointing and stats? And the Campaign Books?
They cover that here:
Campaign and Theatre books will remain valid, as the background and scenarios are still very much relevant, but the vast majority of the units contained therein will be updated and addressed in the new Armies of… books. We’ve taken the opportunity of Bolt Action: Third Edition to completely overhaul unit profiles, special rules, and points from across the dozens of sources from the first two editions, and collate them, making it easier than ever for players to field their chosen armies.
This sounds like the core game is getting a points overhaul. My hope is that it stays robust, allowing differentiation – and avoids rounding errors like the STuG III vs Pz IV under BA2.
Templates, token, dice?
According to Warlord, those all remain in the game. I doubt core mechanics will change much for the order dice and activation of units, or taking pins. We’ll have to see what kind of good “holy grail” fun Alessio brings to the new third edition.
The press release is below.
Begin Transmission:
Bolt Action: Third Edition
World War II Wargaming Rules
This is what you’ve all been waiting for. This September, the fighting intensifies. Warlord Games and Osprey Games are proud to announce a new edition of the world’s greatest World War II wargame…
Landing 26/09/2024
From the award-winning Warlord Games
My chief mission with Bolt Action: Third Edition was to make my favourite game an even better experience for the players. For me, there’s always one goal in mind – continuing my quest for a truly ‘seamless’ set of wargame rules – in other words, the Holy Grail of a rules system where the players are always thinking about their next moves on the table, and not about the rules of the game! I think Bolt Action: Third Edition is definitely a big step in that direction, and I’m sure you’ll agree with me!” –
Alessio Cavatore, Bolt Action: Third Edition author
A revised and updated third edition of the best-selling Bolt Action World War II
wargaming rules.
Bring the great battles of World War II to your tabletop with
Bolt Action. Strike out from the beaches of Normandy towards Germany. Sweep across the deserts of North Africa in lightning raids. Battle the enemy and the sweltering heat in the jungles of Asia and on
the islands of the Pacific. Fight doggedly from street to street in Arnhem, Stalingrad, and Berlin.
Whatever your preferred style of play, or your historical
interests, the diverse army and scenario options will allow you to build a force that fits. Field everything from standard rifle platoons to heavily armoured tank forces, fast-moving reconnaissance patrols, and even artillery units.
This third edition features refined and updated rules and starter army lists to get new players straight into the action. Seasoned veterans, meanwhile, will find new tactical depth in the detailed force composition mechanics and a wide variety of fresh challenges in the scenario generation system.
Rally your forces, study the terrain, and prepare for battle – the fight continues!
The series will proudly continue to be supported by the award-winning range of official miniatures from Warlord Games. Review copies, both physical and digital, are expected to land this July/August.
Want to hear more about what’s in store for Bolt Action<?
Stay tuned for further information.