Solitaire Stalingrad - The Leather Factory (2nd Edition)

SOLITAIRE STALINGRAD: THE LEATHER FACTORY, 2nd revised ed. is a solitaire tactical-level strategy game depicting the battle of Kuporosnoye, September 13-15, 1942 between the German 29th Division and the Russian 35th Guards Division at the beginning of the epic battle for the city. This area was at the southern edge of greater Stalingrad, with a large leather factory along its north side. In the game, the player (Germans) tries to capture objective hexes and headquarter locations from the Russians (played by the game system).

Solitaire Stalingrad: The Leather Factory uses a solitaire system that reflects the historical situation but includes enough variability and uncertainty to enhance the fog of war feeling to foster replayability. The standard game is suitable for novice wargamers. There are advanced optional rules presented that contain rules that may be “plugged in” as desired to the standard game, to provide a more detailed and challenging game for veteran players. It was designed specifically for solitaire play, and emphasizes high playability along with historicity. This edition uses the same game system as before, but adds some new game variation optional rules; it is the PDF version of the game published in book format and avilable via Amazon. If you own the previous edition of the game, you don't need to upgrade, unless you want the new optional rules and updated designer's notes provided in the book edition.

Scale: One hex on the map represents about three hundred yards across. Each game turn represents 12 hours. Each unit counter represents (roughly) company sized formations or detachments (from the German 29th and Russian 35th Guards Divisions, respectively). Game length: Six turns.

There are many complex simulations that allow players to recreate realistic tactical situations covering Stalingrad. Less available are simple, solitaire games on the topic. Hence, this title, which approaches the battle from a “design for effect” vantage point. The game is concerned with providing the player with a situation that you, commanding elements of the German 29th Division, must solve the best you can, in circumstances that are inexact and ever changing.

The design stresses “uncertainty” via variable daily orders for the Germans, hidden Russian units, random reinforcements & variable placement, and imprecise victory conditions (which are not precisely known at the start of the play). These benefit of the solitaire gamer and replayability. The game’s mechanics and highly playable system will provide repeated enjoyment for east front—and solitaire gaming—fans.

This new, revised 2nd edition provides additional optional rules, and is the PDF version of the book now available via Amazon. Designed by Gary Graber. Published by Minden Games.