This review first appeared in IPW, the newsletter for all discount games
club members. Contact colin@allusedgames.demon.co.uk for details.

DEFIANCE (Swedish Game Production)

Defiance is a simulation of the battle of Xuan Loc fought in April 1975
during the closing stages of the Vietnam War. This is not the type of
battle one normally associates with Vietnam, with no thick jungle to
provide cover for the elusive NVA. What we have here is a traditional
20th century battle with infantry, armour, artillery and air support.
Historically, the heavily outnumbered ARVN (South Vietnamese) army stood
and fought with a tenacity that both surprised and stunned their
opponents. The strategic situation made this stand futile but, like
trapped rats, the ARVN fought harder than ever before as circumstances
were so desperate. What we have here is a last stand, with the ARVN
going down fighting!

A game turn begins with the NVA barrage phase. On board artillery units
can barrage ARVN units within range. A successful barrage causes
disruption to the target, the effect of which is a halving of combat
factors. Off map artillery are represented by barrage points, used to
barrage ARVN airfields, slowly attritioning away their excellent air
support.

Following this, NVA units adjacent to enemy occupied hexes may advance
into the hex for close assault. Combat strengths are ignored and the
actual number of units on each side is counted. Combat is resolved as a
differential, resulting generally in retreats for the defender or
disruption and retreat for unsuccessful attackers. After close assault,
any ARVN unit surrounded by enemy units or their zone of control may
surrender. A die roll determines whether this is so on a unit by unit
basis. Those that surrender are removed from the game.

NVA movement and combat follow. Units that close assaulted earlier may
neither move nor attack. Movement is fairly standard, combat is based on
differentials wilh shifts for armour, artillery support and leaders.
Terrain efrects modify the die roll. Each side has its own CRT with the
NVA causing retreats whilst the ARVN tend to inflict step losses.

The NVA players closes his game turn with a second artillery barrage
phase. Any disrupted NVA units automatically recover during this phase.

The ARVN player starts his turn with his bombing phase. Air attacks are
particularly effective in the early stages of the game, causing both
disruptions and eliminations. Six air strikes per game can also be made
more effective through the use of cluster bombs. Air strikes may be
aborted by anti-aircraft fire, also some terrain reduces bombing effec
tiveness.

The ARVN player then moves and has his combat phase, followed by a
second movement and a disruption removal phase.

Victory is earned by the NVA capturing towns on the small game map. The
ARVN aim to prevent this and inflict heavy losses.

Defiance is a real slugfest at first, with the NVA having to slug their
way through some hellish terrain, whilst being barraged from the air
However, air effects are later neutralised and a breakthrough into the
clear terrain beyond results in a mobile and well balanced battle.
Highly playable solo and easy enough to be understood by a begin- ner.
Despite its small physical size and third world production quality,
Defiance is an excellent game and is certainly one of my personal
favourites.

Alan Sharif