K.I.S.S. Rommel

Each side chooses one Force Card and is dealt four more at random (four total for a quicker game; beginners may choose two). Each card is a Division with a fixed organisation of HQ, recon, tank, infantry, artillery and 88mm battalions. Blank cards represent losses such as supply convoys sunk from Malta or troops diverted to Greece.

Each side may chooses one card and then randomly deal four more. This is their strength for the oncoming battle.

The organisation table gives e.g. German Panzer: 1 HQ, 2 recon, 3 tank, 4 motorised infantry, 1 artillery, 1 88mm; British Infantry: 1 HQ, 1 recon, 9 motorised infantry, 2 artillery. Independent armoured brigades have no HQ and attach to another HQ. The Custom HQ Cards and Blitzkrieg edition add further divisions.

These have no HQ but can be attached out to another HQ for the battle.

Most units equate to battalions, giving about a dozen bases per Division. Bases are 30mm square for 6mm figures; in 2mm several models share a base. Divisions and unit types must be distinguishable.

Most units equate to battalions giving about a dozen bases per Division.

Optional: Italian HQ distance is 9" instead of 12" and Italian foot infantry need a 6 to hit tanks. In the Blitzkrieg edition French tanks move at infantry speed and must stay with the infantry.

Count the Italian HQ distance as 9" rather than 12". Italian Foot Infantry is short of AT weapons, so require a 6 to hit Tanks.

Movement cannot bring a unit nearer than 2" to any enemy unit, so there is no close assault; all combat is by fire.

This is always in straight lines and cannot move nearer to an enemy unit than 2".

Speeds: foot infantry 3", HQ, motorised infantry, artillery, 88mm and most tanks 6", recon and British cruisers 9". Movement is always in straight lines, pre-measuring is allowed, and units may exit off their own edge, becoming Scattered.

This is always in straight lines and cannot move nearer to an enemy unit than 2".

Up to 8 terrain pieces; set terrain before randomly deciding which way is North. A hilltop holds one unit and only artillery fires over hills. Bad ground may be infantry-only. In the Blitzkrieg edition infantry and HQs save on 5 in soft and 4 in hard terrain.

possibly some bad ground classed as "infantry only may enter" or an impassable escarpment.

Starting at Tobruk, a Victory pushes the enemy back one area and a Major Victory two; losing the last-stand area (Tunisia or Cairo) is total defeat. Divisions with half their bases Destroyed are left out of the next game's force pack. After a Major Victory the next battle allows half the minefields and dug-in positions.

A Victory pushes the enemy back one area; a Major Victory pushes two spaces. Losing their "last stand" area means total defeat!

Each side gains 1 VP per enemy unit Destroyed and 5 per Supply base destroyed. Under 5 VP difference is a draw, 5-9 a Victory, 10+ a Major Victory. Destroying all three enemy Supply bases allows an immediate Major Victory.

Each side gains one Victory Point (VP) per enemy unit Destroyed (each Supply base destroyed counts as five VP's).

The table is divided into foot-square zones (sea to the north, sand sea south) with supply and defence zones for each side. Select forces, deploy British then Axis minefields, then deploy Italians, British and lastly Germans, at least 6" from the centre line. A supply base sits in each Supply zone.

Deploy Italian forces, then British and lastly the Germans

The HQ distance of 12" (9" for Italians in the optional rules) is the only command range: units sent away from it risk being Destroyed rather than Scattered. HQs also represent the Division's light AA.

You may send units anywhere around the battlefield but risk them becoming Destroyed rather than Scattered.

Each unit type has a spotting distance (recon 9", others 6"). If any unit of a Division spots an enemy, the whole Division can see it; Divisions do not spot for each other. Hilltops add 3" to spotting and reduce enemy spotting onto them by 3"; Dug-in units spot 3" further.

If one unit of a Division can Spot an enemy unit, the entire Division is assumed to see it. Divisions do not spot for other Divisions.

A unit that fails its save is Scattered if within 12" (Italians 9") of its own Divisional HQ, otherwise Destroyed and out of the battle. In the HQ phase each HQ may return one Scattered unit of its Division to play, which then moves. A Scattered HQ can swap with one of its Division's units, and is only Destroyed when no elements of its Division remain. Only Destroyed units score VPs.

However, it is classed as "Destroyed" and removed from that battle if it was not within 12" of its own Divisional HQ.

Saving throws: HQ, infantry, artillery, 88mm and supply bases save only on 6; recon and Italian tanks 5+; German and British infantry tanks 4+; Tigers 3+. Dug-in infantry, artillery, 88mm and HQs improve to 4+. In the Blitzkrieg edition saves run from 5+ (Panzer II) to 3+ (Panzer IV, Matilda, Char B).

Any unit that is hit must make its saving throw or be removed as "Scattered", and can possibly return later in the day

Tanks and Reconnaissance units automatically fail their save against the 88mm; the optional Tiger tank also denies saves to tank/recon targets. Italian foot infantry, short of AT weapons, need a 6 to hit tanks.

Tanks and Reconnaissance units automatically fail their save against the 88mm.

Fire one unit at a time; all units need 5+ on a d6 to hit. Ranges are 6" for most units, 12" for 88mm and 18" for artillery. Units must target the nearest enemy, except artillery (any target) and 88mm (may pick the nearest tank or recon). Units do not block sight; only artillery fires over hills.

Fire one unit at a time with all units needing a 5+ to hit.

A turn consists of each side being Mover and Defender. Mover phases: 1 HQs replace one Scattered unit of their Division; 2 minefield clearance (optional); 3 Mover moves; 4 Defender fires Dug-in units (optional); 5 Mover fires. The side that moves therefore usually gets the first shot.

A turn consists of each side being the Mover and Defender. The Axis player is always the first Mover.

There are 9 to 12 turns in a day. Before each of turns 10, 11 and 12 roll a die; 5+ ends the game.

There are 9 to 12 turns in a day. Throw before each turn from 10 to 12 with a 5+ indicating the game has ended.

Roll per attack: 5-6 the target must save or be Scattered/Destroyed; 2-4 no effect; 1 if within 12" of an enemy HQ (its AA) the aircraft are dispersed and that side has one fewer attack per turn for the rest of the battle.

1 = if the attack was within 12" of an enemy HQ, the aircraft are dispersed. That air force is allowed one less air attack per turn for the rest of the battle.

Hits on 5+, saves by unit type, minefields, air attacks and game end are each one d6 roll. There are no modifiers or combat tables.

Fire one unit at a time with all units needing a 5+ to hit.

Dug-in infantry, artillery, 88mm and HQs save on 4+, spot 3" further and may fire in the Defender's Dug-in phase. Tanks and recon gain nothing. Captured positions give no spotting bonus.

Up to 16 units may begin as Dug-in (in substantial trenches, protected by barbed wire, suitable model bases being required).

A unit crossing an enemy minefield rolls: 5-6 through and stops, 2-4 stopped in front, 1 Scattered (or Destroyed if far from HQ). One infantry unit per Division per turn adjacent to the field may clear a one-base gap on 5-6, through which six units per turn can pass.

To clear a one base wide Gap (allowing up to six units to pass through each turn), get an infantry unit adjacent to the minefield and throw with a 5 or 6 to create a Gap.