From: Roberto Chiavini Subject: One review Operation Veritable (Paul Rohrbaugh) This is a little, unpretentious game on the battle for the Reichwald in the last period of WWII. It has several aces in his sleeve: first of all, it's downloadable for free. Second, has nice graphics. Third, it's a simple system that most wargamers may grab in five minutes. Last, and most important, it's fast and furious, but it's not without strategic values. The game use an A4 map and only 52 units for play. There are only 7 turns, during which the Allied player must push his strength out of the East side of the map, eliminating the more German units he can, without losing too much of his army. German units are normally rated for attack, defense and movement, while Allied units have a single combat factor and a movement one. Terrain is normally very harsh for movement (making any advance out of the road hexes almost impossible) and several types of terrain have also a combat effect (favorable to the defender). Each turn (from turn 2 onward) starts with an Air superiority determination, that normally gives the Allied player 1-3 RAF units to use as combat shift, but for two turn may also give the German player Luftwaffe last hurrah, with a shift for his units. Each turn both players may decide if the intend to move and have combat or viceversa. This choice leads to very different and strategically relevant strategy. Also, stacking (limited to 2 regiments or all the units making part of the same division, plus one battalion or battery) it's important, especially for the German player, who has only an handful of units to defend against an overwhelming Allied advance. The game use a ratio CRT, with an interesting system of assigning step losses/retreats: both players may decide to taking step losses or retreat units, with a peculiarity: to retreat a unit must roll less than his strength, or otherwise is eliminated. An interesting twist, to a not too unusual system. There are also rules for reinforcements (both players have two divisions to use as a strategic reserve, but if they use them they concede VPs to the opponent), supply and a few optional rules. All in all, the game is an interesting diversion for an hour or less of sheer fun, really a joy to have it offered for free by an emerging designer in the DTP market. I rate this game 7 in a 1-10 scale.