Summer Lightning to Strike from Lock ‘n Load

Apr 21, 2011

The latest Lock ‘n Load release, Summer Lightning, is preparing to ship shortly and here’s a run down of the simulation of an often overlooked chapter of WWII straight from LnL:

1 September, 1939… Panzers roll across Germany’s border with Poland, intent on the subjugation of their neighbour. In front of the German soldiers lay thousands of square miles to conquer, under them the eager panzer tanks, and leading them the officers eager to try out a new type of war…Lightning War… Blitzkrieg.

Designed by veteran designer Brian Train, Summer Lightning is an operational simulation of the invasion of Poland by German, Slovakian and Soviet forces in September-October 1939. The campaign was a brief, bloody, and confusing affair fought between two armies which were considered equals by many in the world.

Despite the interesting campaign, there aren’t many war games on the Polish campaign, probably because the conventional wisdom is that it was a very unbalanced contest. This is informed mostly by hindsight. The German Army knew it had superior numbers and organization, but much of its equipment was no better than that fielded by the Poles, the concept of blitzkrieg had not been proven in actual combat, and they were not at all sure that the campaign would not bog down into static fighting. As it was the Germans lost over 16,000 dead in five weeks of campaigning.

Summer Lightning uses a proven game system that features an interactive sequence of play and near-diceless combat that both shows the historical German superiority in command and control and is flexible enough to allow players to explore many variations and options, so that the game can be as equal (or unequal) a contest as they want. Options include: variable Polish deployments; greater or lesser surprise and speed of mobilization; changed attitudes of the Soviet Union or neighbouring countries; French intervention; Plan Zachod (the Romanian Bridgehead Strategy); and even the possibility that the Blitzkrieg, so appealing in theory, fizzles out on the battlefield. Also, because so many war games are designed for two but played by one, an optional solitaire play method is included.

It’s a complete, boxed game. Rules, players aids, box, everything you need to play. Here’s what you get:

– A 22″ x 17″ game map, dispicting Poland and small sections of the surrounding countries.

– 280 gorgeously rendered, scuff resistant, gloss finished, counters representing German, Polish, Russian, and Slovakan units.

– Complete rules and scenario book including numerous what-if variations to extend the game’s re-playability.

– Player aid cards.

– A very nice box that keeps the outside out.

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Jeff McAleer

Founder/Editor-in-chief of The Gaming Gang website and host of The Gaming Gang Dispatch and other TGG media, Jeff tackles any and all sorts of games but has a special fondness for strategy, conflict sims, and roleplaying games. Plus, he's certainly never at a loss for an opinion...