Fortress Games

10/24/2024

Hurricane Milton update, Fortress Games: ALL of our inventory that was held up in Tampa’s FedEx facility because of road closures and fuel outages arrived two days ago at our warehouse – ALL backorders of “Save Afghanistan, Comrade!” (boxed, mounted game board) and our “Save South Vietnam! 2024 Supplement” for the original folio games were shipped out today. We are grateful for everyone’s patience!

09/10/2024

We get a lot of requests to subscribe to game updates, especially new game & Kickstarter launches. With 4 games published and 4 more currently in the works, we (finally) added that capability to our website. Go to www.fortressgamesUSA.com and see the below form on our home page.

And remember: we are a NO SPAM publisher - you'll never get an email from us unless it's an important game update, we promise!

09/07/2024

NEWS from Fortress Games: now offering our promised “2024 Supplement” to “Save South Vietnam!”. If you have the FOLIO VERSION, this supplement gives you ALL the new optional rules, 3 new short scenarios*, and 45 new counters – all for $9 (plus shipping & handling)! www.fortressgamesUSA.com

* “Send in the Marines!”, “Cambodia and Laos incursions”, and “Paris ‘Peace’ Accords”

BRAND NEW! Supplement for FOLIO version (click here): US customers: One low shipping charge, no matter how may games you order. Come visit Fortress Games on BoardGameGeek!

03/22/2024

News from Fortress Games: our popular title “Save South Vietnam!” has been released in a new, BOXED version! In addition to the new 12” x 9” x 1.25” bookshelf box, we’ve added several new optional rules that deal especially with additional ARVN capabilities, including the very proficient ARVN Rangers who fought effectively throughout the war. Bring in ARVN Marines and Airborne troops early, then later in the war you can mechanize your regular ARVN foot regiments. The NVA pack more punch, too: communist armored regiments will spearhead many NVA efforts once all those US B52s are gone, and NVA forces will generally be more mobile. All-in-all, 24 new game counters add historical sophistication and realism. Rules and player aids were tightened up in the slightly longer new game manual, which includes 3 short scenarios* and lots of examples of play. (NOTE: for those with the current folio version, later this year we’ll be publishing a “Save South Vietnam! 2024 Supplement” that will include the new counters and optional rules.)
https://fortress-games.net/

* “Send in the Marines!” covering 1965-67; “Cambodia and Laos Incursions” covering 1969-71; “Paris ‘Peace’ Accords” covering 1973 to victory or defeat.

09/23/2023

Post 12 (1976), "Save South Vietnam" play-through - FINAL POST - VICTORY!

Early 1976: Victory!

As I predicted, General Giap’s “Spring Offensive” was a disaster for the reds. His efforts to spread me thin merely spread him thin, and I clobbered anything that moved out of the border sanctuaries. In 1976 I’m taking the offensive: note my 5 ARVN regiments going into Kontum, led by the Marines, to clear out 2 NVA regiments of the 304th and 320th Divisions. That’s just a precursor to an offensive by those same regiments plus the other 5 ARVN regiments around Quang Ngai and Danang to retake Hue later this year. Indeed, my 26 ARVN regiments now outnumber the 16 regiments the NVA still has infiltrated in-country, and the upcoming battles around Qui Nhon, Quang Ngai and Kontum will reduce those 16 regiments to only 12.

The game is lost only if Saigon falls to the reds, and it’s quite obvious that not only will that NOT happen, but I’m most likely going to reclaim all of South Vietnam, including Quang Tri, by the end of turn 50. Victory!!

So what did Charlie do wrong, or what did I do right? Teacher’s grades: US/ARVN: B; VC: A; NVA: D-minus.

First of all, the VC played brilliantly, almost without error. Heavy initial concentration on Saigon forced a strong US presence there, guaranteeing that strategic area was a breeding ground for VC battalions for years. Additionally, they wisely tied the Marines down with significant efforts in the north, insuring there were always weak areas somewhere representing opportunities for communist domination. Even their decision to go early with a massive offensive during Tet 1967 ended brilliantly – although their losses were severe, the ARVN were too weak at that point to take advantage and very soon after the VC were dominant again.

Unfortunately for the VC (but fortunately for ME!), their NVA partner failed at every turn, fatally. When the VC were wreaking havoc around Saigon in 1965-66, the NVA offered not an iota of support there. US forces were barely holding on, and my reinforcements seemed to all have to get fed to that meatgrinder, yet no NVA regiments appeared around Saigon until 1967! By then the VC were “in the open” with their Tet Offensive and I could handle them and a couple NVA regiments, but 2 or 3 NVA regiments around Saigon in ’65 and ’66 would have been a very different story indeed. Then, when I crossed into Cambodia in 1970, the NVA were caught flat-footed again and the VC’s sanctuaries located and destroyed. In 1971, when the ARVN pushed into Laos, the NVA were nowhere to be seen, enabling a critical ARVN success clearing VC sanctuaries supporting Quang Ngai leading to its early pacification. Finally, both NVA offensives of 1972 and 1975 were weak and misdirected, allowing me to build an insurmountable force of ARVN regiments during the “Paris Peace Accords” period. All-in-all, a pretty poor showing for the NVA who were a terrible partner for the otherwise very competent VC.

As for me (US/ARVN), I held my own. To my credit I typically exploited the enemy’s mistakes, which were plentiful. However I lost Hue early and was very lucky not to lose Quang Tri equally early (it fell in 1974) and would have paid dearly for those losses had the NVA taken advantage. On the other hand, I deserve credit for a pretty good showing in my Cambodia and Laos incursions – all-in-all a solid “B” performance.

I hope you enjoyed this play-through! Come see us at www.fortressgamesUSA.com

09/22/2023

Post 11 (1975), "Save South Vietnam" play-through

Early 1975: General Giap launches his big “Spring Offensive”!

Very interesting strategy by my communist enemy. He’s trying to stretch me thin, with division-plus concentrations all along the Cambodian and Laotian borders. He thinks he’ll spread me out weak – I think I can divide and conquer him.

I believe Giap made a fatal mistake by not concentrating heavily in the fallen provinces of Hue and Quang Tri, which would then have put serious pressure on Saigon, where communist Political Cadres have already made it impossible to do any ARVN recruiting there. The very fact that my first reaction to his offensive was to send 3 ARVN regiments to the Fish-hook to neutralize a regiment of the NVA 325B division tells you I’m not intimidated by this offensive. I may be mistaken but we’ll see – this game WILL be decided in 1975, and you don’t see me running for the hills.

Next update at year-end. Will it be the game’s last? Make sure to check in!

09/18/2023

Post 10 (1974), "Save South Vietnam" play-through

Early 1974: Danang pacified! As I build up my forces during the fairly unpeaceful “Paris Peace Accords”, I’ve been able to gain strength in the north while facing growing but not insurmountable communist political pressure throughout the country, especially around Saigon and newly in the Mekong Delta (VC play in this game has been stellar). My ARVN forces are cut off from Quang Tri because the North Vietnamese/VC control Hue, so barring a miracle during the Political Cadres lost in Combat phase, Quang Tri will fall immediately this year. That means up to 4 NVA regiments and 3 Political Cadres will descend on Saigon this year from Hue and Quang Tri. Meantime, NVA regiments scattered throughout the remote borderlands from An Loc to the A Shau Valley will keep me from shifting forces too much to deal with Saigon or to maybe get daring and try to take back Hue. Too bad.

Fighting will be tough and bloody around Saigon and elsewhere this year, and my recruitment of ARVN regiments will be hurt by the increased communist subversion in the Mekong and around Saigon, but I have strengths too, including a not-small army of effective South Vietnamese regiments.

Let’s see how this year shapes up - more in 1975.

09/14/2023

Post 9 (1973), "Save South Vietnam" play-through

Early 1973: The “Paris (non)Peace Accords” have been signed, and the lone US helicopter remaining will hopefully hit that VC in Quang Tri before he, the last US unit, leaves country. Meantime, despite my loss of Hue, I would say 1972 was an unmitigated disaster for North Vietnam whose under-manned “Easter Offensive” I roughly handled (and none-too-great for the otherwise brilliant to this point VC, either)!

Marauding NVA regiments barreled head-first into the teeth of my B52s (now withdrawn), leading to unexpected victories in Quang Tri especially. Plus, my “Political Cadres Lost in Combat” rolls were some of the best I’ve ever seen, including 5 kills in one turn! While the VC politicos recovered and then some, they lost an invaluable year. And with the Paris Peace Accords, NVA activity will slow down for a bit, giving me time to build up my ARVN forces and South Vietnam’s political will before the inevitable Big Push from Hanoi.

I know I’ll lose Quang Tri, possibly even this year. But the defensive war of attrition I fought there was a miracle, and elsewhere I am stronger than I deserve to be (thanks General Giap). 1973 will be the “year on the scale”: will it tip my way or Charlie’s? I’ll be back to report!

09/12/2023

Post 8 (1972), "Save South Vietnam" play-through

Early 1972: North Vietnam’s “Easter Offensive” is upon me. NVA forces hit me from Chau Phu in the south to the DMZ in the north, with most of the effort in the northern 3 provinces. But did I get lucky! The commies rolled a “4” on their NVA recruitment, gaining 14 regiments, only 1 more than their worst roll! Their best roll would have gotten them 20 regiments, so I’m facing essentially 2 less divisions than worst case – a great result.

You can see I’m thrashing their Mekong effort with B52s so I can focus my ground forces in the middle and northern provinces. I’m facing powerful communist political efforts in Qui Nhon, Hue and Quang Tri. I’ve got the ARVN forces to offset Qui Nhon but I think Hue will fall quickly, and Quang Tri probably next year. The key for me, I think, will be Bien Hoa and Danang – those provinces face serious NVA onslaught and if I lose one or both of them my challenges get perhaps insurmountable. I therefore intend to hold them “to the death”, hoping it doesn’t get to that. If Charlie hits me hard and quickly in those 2 areas, I may not make it to my next update (gulp!), but enough of that!

I’m pleased with my pacification efforts and will be recruiting 3 new ARVN regiments at the end of this turn! Unfortunately, the last US ground forces will leave, too – I’ll be depending on B52s and US helicopters for much of this year, so it will be a real test of my “Vietnamization” efforts to date. More soon.

09/11/2023

Post 7 (1971), "Save South Vietnam" play-through

Early 1971: last year (1970) was a bell-ringer in my efforts against communist political support in South Vietnam. My incursions into Cambodia were a dazzling success, ridding the southern half of the country of most of its enemy political cadres. Now, I’m hoping for a similar result in Laos. Although no US forces are being allowed into Laos, I have 5 ARVN regiments crossing opposite Kontum. That incursion has a very good chance of taking out ALL the political cadres around Quang Ngai – which will mean I will pacify that important Province and begin building its police force and, later, recruiting ARVN regiments. But let’s not get ahead of ourselves…

The NVA, as always, is a menace to my pacification efforts everywhere. I’m sending the entire 1st Cavalry Division into the Fish-hook to deal with 3 enemy regiments there before most of the Cav is withdrawn mid-year. Likewise, the “Americal”, the 101st Airborne, and what remains in-country of the 25th Infantry Divisions should make quick work of NVA problems descending on the middle provinces. When this turn ends I should have only the single NVA regiment trying to infiltrate the Mekong Delta and the strong NVA presence around Khe Sanh in the north – not a cake-walk but hopefully manageable with my rapidly withdrawing US forces and my slowly, but certainly, growing ARVN.

A successful 1971 will be defined by containment of the strong VC and NVA efforts in northern South Vietnam and expansion of the promisingly budding South Vietnamese efforts in the southern provinces.

08/30/2023

Post 6 (1970), "Save South Vietnam" play-through

Early 1970: Load up, boys, we’re goin’ into Cambodia! Washington has given me permission to clean out the communist sanctuaries in Cambodia, so I’m going in strong. The last un-withdrawn brigade of the 9th Infantry Division is crossing at Chau Phu in the Mekong Delta, the entire 4th Infantry Division is crossing at An Loc, but the main effort is from Ban Me Thout, where the 101st Airborne, the “Americal”, and most of the 25th Infantry divisions, along with the 173rd Airborne Brigade and a brigade of the 1st Cav are pushing past 2 regiments of NVA to clean out significant enemy base areas there. Although the enemy has strong base areas opposite Pleiku as well, I don’t have sufficient forces to deal with the bolstered NVA presence there AND clean out the sanctuaries, so that part of South Vietnam will continue to be a haven of VC support.

The Marines and most of the 1st Cav seem to have the northern provinces in hand or close to it, so even though substantial US forces will withdraw this year I can still advance my South Vietnamese ally’s prospects and well-bloody the enemy, though not without some hard fighting. I’ve been watching the news and I’m aware this incursion into Cambodia is not very popular in Congress or on college campuses, but if I’m successful maybe I’ll change some minds and even get permission to do the same thing to VC sanctuaries in Laos. Regardless, it seems like the Ohio National Guard at least has the protest at Kent State peacefully under control.

I’ll let you know how I do!

08/29/2023

Post 5 (1969), "Save South Vietnam" play-through

Early 1969: Good morning Vietnam! It’s 1969, and I will focus my attention on suppressing VC activity and racing strong US forces to the remote borderlands to deal with any attempted NVA infiltration from Laos and Cambodia to the populated lowlands. In fact, you can see I have 2 brigades of the “Big Red One” in position to smash up a regiment of the NVA 2nd Division which is trying to pe*****te to the Mekong Delta – the first time the NVA has attempted such a daring incursion. At the opposite end of the country I have a regiment each of the 3rd and 5th Marine Divisions supporting the entire 1st Cavalry Division in a big battle with 3 NVA regiments near Khe Sanh.

This period of the war is the most dangerous for me, politically. I’ve unquestionably gained the upper hand on the communist enemy, but South Vietnam and the ARVN remain very weak, while President Nixon has told me withdrawal of US forces will begin this year. I currently have only 4 combat effective ARVN regiments, and only Mekong and Saigon have Police forces and friendly-leaning political environments. (In fact, big thanks to the Green Berets, who infiltrated and destroyed a Political Cadre in Saigon that would have made things immeasurably more difficult had they free rein to agitate in the capital’s environs.) Meanwhile, the VC have recovered impressively from their disastrous Tet ’67 offensive to a degree that they are very active militarily around Quang Ngai and Danang (again!) and pretty strong politically in every other highly contested area except Quang Tri.

The American public can expect a year of heavy casualties in this attritional war, but my US forces are at full strength and I expect no serious existential threat from my bloodied enemy. Having said that, South Vietnam and ARVN have to step up, US forces won’t be around forever. President Nixon did, however, HINT at giving me some leeway to take the war to the enemy, is he considering my suggestion that we raid the communist sanctuaries in Cambodia and Laos? I’ll keep you posted!

08/24/2023

Post 4 (1968), "Save South Vietnam" play-through

Early 1968: I pacified Saigon and Police forces are building up there, hence the aggressive action by the 1st Infantry Division and the 11th Armored Cavalry Regiment in the Fish-hook to clear out 2 NVA regiments threatening my progress. You can see, in fact, many of my pushes this campaign season are in the remote border areas as I smash lurking NVA regiments which threaten my efforts against the residuals of last year’s Tet Offensive.

Speaking of last year’s Tet Offensive, the last vestiges of that failed VC effort can be found in Qui Nhon and especially Danang, where 8 VC battalions are still causing me headaches. I’ve got the 25th “Tropic Lightning” Division on it, with help from the 1st Brigade, 5th Infantry Division (Mechanized).

The Marines, in the main, had to shift northward in early ’67 to deal with 8 NVA regiments in the Khe Sanh/Quang Tri corridor, with 2 more infiltrating in late ‘67/early ’68 – that’s TEN NVA regiments! A brigade from each of the 3 Marine divisions are mopping up 2 beat-up NVA regiments and a couple of VC battalions near Quang Tri. The 1st Cav, which fought NVA alongside the Marines near Quang Tri for most of 1967, is now in Khe Sanh fighting those newly arrived NVA forces. 1st Cav will certainly be bled white and exhausted by summer and will likely spend the rest of the year on R&R.

I’m expecting this year, and 1969, to be grinding battles of attrition in the populated areas against the VC, and bloody battles in the jungle hinterlands against the NVA trying to infiltrate from Laos and Cambodia, but they will also be important years of “Vietnamization” as I try to build the ARVN into a force that can defend their country on its own.

Well, back to MACV headquarters, more soon!

08/22/2023

Post 3 (1967), "Save South Vietnam" play-through

Early 1967: the VC see their chance (they think), and launch a massive offensive over the Tet holidays of early 1967. As you can see, the Political Cadres have traded in their propaganda pamphlets for AK-47s and mortars and have launched a countrywide attack. 7 battalions attack Saigon, 7 battalions attack Bien Hoa, 9 battalions strike Danang, etc.

Well, while this offensive will be bloody and costly, at least Charlie is out of hiding and in the open, where my superior firepower should decimate their formations.

Note my approach to Saigon: not only am I pouring into the VC offensive with 2 brigades of the 1st Infantry Division, a brigade of the 9th Infantry Division and ARVN’s 11th and Airborne Regiments, but I also choppered in the 1st Cav to smash the 2 NVA regiments in the Fish-hook that are trying to infiltrate Saigon and reinforce their VC allies. I hope by the end of 1967 to have Saigon pacified and producing Police.

Btw, in addition to the massive VC offensive, I can’t ignore all those NVA regiments outside Quang Tri and Khe Sanh for long.

Still, I think Charlie made a big mistake hitting me now. We’ll see, I’ll be back in 1968!

08/22/2023

Post 2 (1966), "Save South Vietnam" play-through

Early 1966: Holding Charlie off, but it’s tough going!

Around Saigon, the “Big Red One”, 101st Airborne Division, and ARVN forces are battling strong and resilient Vietcong forces which have substantial local political support.

VC political support is even more pronounced around Danang, where I also face strong NVA forces – 2 NVA regiments surround the base there, and 3 more have infiltrated the remote borderlands from Laos. Even more so near the borderlands around Kontum, where the equivalent of almost 2 full NVA divisions camp and plan. So the Quang Ngai/Danang area is consuming all of the 3rd Marine and 1st Cavalry Divisions as well as the just-introduced lead elements of the 1st Marine Division.

I’ve had to commit all three brigades of the 25th (“Tropical Lightning”) Infantry Division to the Qui Nhon area, where VC activity finally got too strong to ignore.

Ominously, note how NVA regiments are infiltrating further and further south – 2 regiments hover maliciously around An Loc, threatening to shift the balance in precariously controlled Bien Hoa.

See you again in 1967...

08/22/2023

For our Kickstarter supporters who ordered the "Full House", "Save South Vietnam!" is one of the additional games you'll receive, "Save Afghanistan, Comrade!" being the other. To introduce you, we'll have a play-through of "Save South Vietnam!", starting today. Take yourself back to early 1965...

1965. Vietcong & NVA opening gambit: “Save South Vietnam”. It is early 1965 and the communist strategy is revealed: a ‘barbell’ approach – the Vietcong are concentrating their considerable initial efforts in the north and south, a light hand mid-country. My Marines have landed at Danang and the 173rd Airborne is deploying further south, but I need a lot more ‘boots on the ground’, and quickly! The fighting will be heaviest around Saigon, but Quang Ngai and Danang will fall if not heavily defended. About the only thing I can rest easy(ish) about: there are currently no NVA regiments south of Pleiku. If I had to contend with any NVA around Saigon, given the VC concentration there, it would be touch and go if I could hold on.

I’ll be getting initial elements of the “Big Red One” and the rest of the 3rd Maring Division immediately, and those will be rushed to Saigon and Quang Ngai, respectively. I’ll also get a brigade of the 101st Airborne Division, I likewise can’t see that being sent anywhere other than Saigon. Later this year I get the mighty 1st Cavalry Division (airmobile) – they’ll chopper wherever they’re most needed. Same with the 25th Infantry Division, of which I’ll receive a brigade this year – it will pivot wherever it’ll have the most impact. I expect 1965 to be a very defensive and reactive year – but I’ll take it to them commies soon enough!!!

For those familiar with the game, the VC rolled a 12(!!) during the initial Political Cadres deploy phase! I thought “fine, that just makes a target-rich environment for my Special Forces”, but those missions only took out ONE Political Cadre. ’65 and ’66 will be tough rowing, but I’m also worried about an early VC General Offensive (Tet). Should make for a very interesting game (as in the old curse: ‘may you live in interesting times’).

More to come in 1966...

07/25/2023

Heard from our printer today - looks like delivery to us next month (August)! As promised earlier, Fortress Games will ship every game within 24 hours of its arrival on pallets at our location, until all KS pledges have been shipped. In these posts: laser-cut counters, production mounted game boards (28" x 22").

07/25/2023

Heard from our printer today - looks like delivery to us next month (August)! As promised earlier, Fortress Games will ship every game within 24 hours of its arrival on pallets at our location, until all KS pledges have been shipped. In these posts: laser-cut counters, production mounted game boards (28" x 22").

04/27/2023

"8th Air Force/20th Air Force, Second Editions" are one step closer to completion! Here are a few snapshots of the completed boxes for "8th Air Force, Second Edition". Mounted game boards and the rest of the components are progressing as well - those of you who participated in the KS campaign: things are running on time so far!

03/23/2023

Down to last 3 hours in the "8th Air Force/20th Air Force SECOND EDITIONS". Currently 1,200% funded, awesome! Last chance to check it out...

Big updates to the popular twin solitaire games simulating the USAAF strategic bombing campaigns against Germany & Japan!

03/21/2023

Only 48 hours left in the 1,000%+ funded Kickstarter "8th Air Force/20th Air Force - Second Editions!" Boxed, mounted gameboards, exciting new optional rules, all new artwork, and MASSIVE DISCOUNTS, check them out before it's over!

https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1301120681/8th-air-force-20th-air-force-second-edition

Send a message to learn more

02/14/2023

In case you missed it...
Zilla Blitz ranks his Top 10 Games of 2022

Save South Vietnam! (Fortress Games)
Point Blank (Lock 'n Load)
D-Day at Omaha Beach (Decision Games)
Song for War (Invicta Rex)
By Stealth & Sea (DVG)
Silent Victory (GMT)
The Shores of Victory (Fort Circle Games)
Nevsky (GMT)
Resist! (Salt & Pepper Games)
Hill of Doves (Legion Wargames)

I rank, review, and list my favorite tabletop wargames (historical simulations, Historical Games) that I played in 2022. What are my favorite historical conf...

01/22/2023

It's LIVE! "8th Air Force, Second Edition" & "20th Air Force, Second Edition" are now live on Kickstarter! Come check out the new game board and player aid art, the new counters, cleaned up rules, and the exciting new optional rules! (Hints: imagine Lockheed P80 Shooting Star jets battling with Me262s over Germany? How about a redeployed Eighth Air Force bombing Tokyo out of Okinawa? All historical "what-ifs" that could have happened!)
Come take a look!
https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1301120681/8th-air-force-20th-air-force-second-edition

01/19/2023

"8th Air Force, Second Edition" & "20th Air Force, Second Edition" Kickstarter launch!
Check out the Kickstarter pre-launch for the new updated “8th Air Force, Second Edition” & “20th Air Force, Second Edition”! The new editions come in 11 x 9 x 1 bookshelf boxes, and all game counter, player aid, and map board art has been upgraded, as have the game manuals. New exciting optional rules round out the new offerings!
Click the link below to be notified at launch, which is on Sunday 1/22. Whether you enjoy “8th Air Force” or “20th Air Force” or both, or even if you're not familiar with either, you’re SURE TO LOVE the new editions (and the special KS pricing)!

https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1301120681/8th-air-force-20th-air-force-second-edition