Tide of Iron Next Wave (Core Set)

Tide of Iron is a game of World War II tactical conflict for two to four players. The components in this base game allow players to simulate the dramatic struggle that took place between American and German forces in Northern Europe during the years 1944 and 1945.

Tide of Iron is a scenario-based game, with the available forces, objectives, map, and victory conditions being set by each given scenario. It features loads of plastic figures, including soldiers, equipment, heavy weapons, and combat vehicles, cards, dice, cardboard markers, and modular game boards that will represent the customizable terrain of this scenario-based wargame.

The twelve double-sided map tiles, plus the dozens of included terrain hexes, allow for limitless potential combinations, and each scenario can be enhanced by special rules, objective markers, troop allotments, and other variations. The only limiting factor is your imagination!



Brief Overview of changes in TOI: NEXT WAVE

- changed the plastic and the punch board counter mix
- update the components to provide a better value but still support all the scenarios ever printed
- changed the mix of each individual piece within the miniatures sets, including the addition of new "Tank Destroyer" heavy unit types

Original TOI German Base Set:
54 German Regular Infantry
12 German Elite Infantry
6 German Officers
6 German Mortar Crews
6 German Machine Gun Crews
6 Panzer IV Tanks
6 Tiger I Tanks
6 SdKfz 251 Half-Tracks
6 Opel Blitz Transport Trucks
12 Light Grey German Bases
12 Dark Green American Bases

TOI: Next Wave German Core Set:
48 German Regular Infantry
18 German Elite Infantry
6 German Officers
4 German Mortar Crews
6 German Machine Gun Crews
8 Panzer IV Tanks
4 Tiger I Tanks
4 StuG III Assault Guns
6 SdKfz 251 Half-Tracks
4 Opel Blitz Transport Trucks
10 Light Grey German Bases
10 Dark Grey German Bases
12 Light Grey German Bases
12 Dark Green American Bases

German miniature set differences explained:

The major change was in reducing the number of German regular infantry figures by six and adding those six to the number of elite infantry figures was an easy first step. The Wehrmacht, even under the worst pressure, still managed to field many more elite formations and experienced fighters. The decision to reduce the number of mortar crews was based on the fact that they have not been used in large numbers in the current scenario mix. That left room for more vehicles. I also reduced the number of Opel Blitz trucks by two. The primary reason is that during 1944 and 1945, the Germans rarely had enough trucks to transport their men unless the unit involved was an elite formation, such as panzer divisions. They also suffered from chronic fuel shortages so what little fuel was available was reserved for the panzers. Finally, I looked at the mix of panzers in the box and decided to reduce the number of Tiger I tanks by two. That let me add two Panzer IV tanks to the mix. The Panzer IV was Germany’s most common tank and was more frequently encountered by Allied troops. The Tiger was rarer and the existing TOI scenarios rarely call for more than one or two Tigers because they are very hard to kill and can destroy almost any vehicle they face with one or two shots. The StuG III assault guns were an easy choice since they were the backbone of most of the tank destroyer units that were attached to German infantry divisions. The StuG III was typically deployed in batteries of two, so I chose to add four to the Core Set since two batteries were a common deployment.

Original TOI American Base Set:
54 American Regular Infantry
12 American Elite Infantry
6 American Officers
6 American Mortar Crews
6 American Machine Gun Crews
12 M4A1 Sherman Tanks
6 M3A1 Half-Tracks
6 GMC CCKW 353 Transport Trucks
12 Light Green American Bases
12 Dark Green American Bases

TOI: Next Wave American Core Set:
58 American Regular Infantry
14 American Elite Infantry
6 American Officers
4 American Mortar Crews
4 American Machine Gun Crews
10 M4A1 Sherman Tanks
4 M-10 Tank Destroyers
4 M3A1 Half-Tracks
4 GMC CCKW 353 Transport Trucks
10 Light Green American Bases
10 Dark Green American Bases

American miniature set differences explained: the reductions were primarily due to the quantities needed for the scenarios. Yes, the Americans had tons of equipment to spare but individual units often lacked vehicles due to losses, maintenance, or they were just needed elsewhere. Adding four more regular infantry figures and two elite infantry figures allows for the manpower advantage the Americans usually had in most battlefield situations. Reducing the total number of Sherman tanks made room for the M-10 tank destroyers that I wanted to add. Since American tank platoons consisted of five tanks, with ten Shermans you have two full-strength platoons or a reduced company. The four M-10 tank destroyers allow you to field the standard American deployment of two batteries of two TDs each, operating with tank or infantry platoons.

The reduction in the number of bases was a logical next step, since it both matches the new force mix in the TOI:NW Core Set while still supporting existing scenarios.