How to Play

Combat Commander: Europe

2-2 players 60-180 min 8.0 Board Game Geek Rating

This tactical WWII infantry combat game pits Axis against Allied forces using card-driven mechanics. Players use "Fate" cards from their hands to activate units for movement, combat, and special actions. Victory comes from destroying enemy forces, controlling objective markers, and positioning units strategically across the European battlefield maps.

Published 2006

Get Ready

Setup the game with these step-by-step instructions before diving into your turn.

Draw smoke chits randomly

When playing Smoke Grenades action, draw the Smoke chit randomly, look at it, THEN place it on the board

Understand unit types

Identify which units have BOXED Fire Power (can be used for Assault Fire) versus regular fire power

Identify ordnance weapons

Note that Satchel Charges and Mortars are ordnance (require roll to hit), while Molotov Cocktails are NOT ordnance

On Your Turn

What you can do during your turn.

Activate units for actions

Choose a stack or group of units to activate for either Move or Fire

Play Assault Fire action

After playing this action, fire any units with BOXED Fire Power that were activated to Move as ONE fire attack

Restrict ordnance during Assault Fire

If moving units include any Ordnance, only ONE ordnance unit may fire (and no other units), and they must roll to hit first

Use Satchel Charges carefully

Roll to hit when using; if you roll a 1, the attack misses but the Satchel Charge is not consumed; once any Fire Attack roll is made, place the SC on the casualty track

Calculate Mortar attacks

Check range, roll to hit (multiply 2 dice), then apply Fire Attack value if hit is achieved

Adjust for height advantage

Subtract 1 FP if target hex is at higher elevation than firing piece; add 1 FP if target hex is at lower elevation

Account for smoke in LOS

Add smoke value to the required roll to hit (e.g., Smoke -3 in LOS increases to-hit requirement by 3)

Combine Fire Groups

Add firepower values together with leader bonuses for combined attacks (e.g., 6 MC + 1 SMG + 1 WT + 1 LMG + 2 Leader = 11 FP)

Use Molotov Cocktails in groups

Since they are not ordnance, they may form part of a Fire Group and be used for Assault Fire actions

Apply Molotov special rules

Remember they reduce opponent's Cover to 0 and are removed to the casualty track after firing