5th Edition Retro - Simplified tactical WWII gaming

Retro is written by Gary Graber and produced by his company, Minden Games. The latest Edition (5th edition published 2016) is available on Amazon.

In essence, the system is a variant, working best with the ASL boardgame, but adaptable with some conversion work, to other WWII tactical boardgames. The roots of the game come from a time when Gary and a co-worker wanted to play a Squad Leader type of game at work, but they didn’t really get much face-to-face opportunity, so Gary set about producing something that would allow one player to take a turn of the Squad Leader boardgame on their own and leave the board set up in the staff room. At some point the other player could then take their turn, when next in the staff room and so on.

To do this, he created a new sequence of play, significantly streamlined play and brought in some clever mechanics that aided non-face to face play. The consequential reduction in complexity of the original game, drew a fan base looking for an easier way to play their tactical games.

I bought 2nd Edition in 2001 and did a ton of games with it, including adapting it to fit Critical Hit’s 'Combat' system (later becoming ATS) and Panzer Grenadier from Avalanche Press (a platoon based game), but mainly went on to use it with ASL.

A lot has changed on the tactical game scene since 2001. Not least MMP, the owners of ASL have introduced a series of starter kits that make access into the ASL a lot easier, plus these days there is a greater range of choice of newer systems for the tactical gamer and a goodly proportion has been deliberately designed around lower complexity and accessibility.

Today, this makes Retro sit in a different place to my mind than it did all those years ago, but my affection for the rules and an admiration of their clever application of process and the hours of gaming pleasure they have given me remain, so I have replaced my 4th edition with the 5th edition and thought that this was a good time to write a ‘re-visiting’ article on the rules, of what made them different and of using them today.

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Comparing lower complexity tactical systems

ASLSK #1   (MMP) v   

Retro   (Minden Games) v    

Band of Brothers   (Worthington Games) v    

Conflict of Heroes   (Academy Games) v   

Tigers at Minsk  (home grown rules)

One scenario theme and 5 quite different systems. This post takes a scenario from the first ASL starter kit and uses it as a basis to play that type of action with five different tactical systems.

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Generic WWII tactical scenario for Retro

Scenario Z: Defiant Stand

This is a generic scenario that I put together a few years ago for the Retro variant from Minden Games. The idea is that it can be played with most tactical WWII systems with relatively little tinkering. It should be able to work with most nationalities. I don't normally ask for comments, but I would like to hear from anyone as to what system they used it with and how it worked out, as I have another scenario lined up that involves 'hitting the beaches' and the feedback would be helpful.

Retro 4th edition is a variant set of rules that can be used with different types of
tactical game designs. While the terminology used makes it ASL friendly, with varying
adjustments, I have used it with four other tactical systems.