Sicilia 1943 - Operation Husky

by

Dissimula Edizioni

 This is some information about a new game from Disimula Edizioni.

Here is what they have to say:

"Even before the surrender of the last Axis troops in Tunisia, the Allied governments had reached the controversial decision to invade Sicily as the next phase, to take the first step on the continent.

The amphibious invasion of Sicily, code-named “Operation Husky,” with a force of 3,000 ships, more than 3,000 aircraft, and 100,000 men landing on the first day was the largest amphibious operation of World War II. After 38 days of hard fighting, the Allied forces, composed of the 7th US Army and the 8th British Army, entered Messina, completing the conquest of the island.

“Sicily 1943 – Operation Husky” reconstructs this important campaign, on a large map (… to maintain the right amount of simplicity and effectiveness. Game turns represent one day.

IN THE BOX

4 standard maps (3 km-hex)

2 small maps (scenarios)

4 counters set, 13 mm side 

Set up charts

Rules aid, tables

Orders display - Air display

Rules booklet

2 dice

English, Italian

THE GAME

The system involves a very intense interaction between players, and is based on the uncertain moment of activation of their Formations, and on the type of operations they will be able to carry out following the directives received at the beginning of the turn.

The rugged terrain of much of Sicily affects operations throughout the game, from the logistical importance of the road network to the possibility of using armored vehicles, lethal in open terrain, but vulnerable on narrow mountain roads.

Air forces (of both sides) and naval forces (Allied only) can be very important... if activated at the right time.

The game includes two challenging campaign games, one historical and one hypothetical, and numerous minor scenarios that concern some individual phases of the campaign, such as landings and counterattacks, the battles of Primosole and Troina, and others."

 You can still get the preorder price here:

Dissimula Edizioni

While you are there, please check out their other games.

Also check out this review from Polydor:

GIVE US VICTORIES - A Wargamers Needful Things

Preview of 'The Soft Underbelly 1943-1945'

by

Dissimula Edizioni

 Our very own Polydor has done a review of one of Sergio's earlier games:

FROM SALERNO TO ROME - A Wargamers Needful Things

 My name is Sergio Schiavi, I live in Turin, Italy;

I started designing games (and making them) recently, my first design was Radetzky's March, released in 2019; it’s about of the 1849 campaign in Piedmont, a very short campaign that ends with the battle of Novara. Now I'm about to print the second edition of the game, much improved.

The following year I published From Salerno To Rome, about the Second World War in Italy, a decidedly complex game but which had considerable success, over 1500 copies sold.

In 2021 I released Give Us Victories, on the Chancellorsville campaign, a game that uses the same RM system a more refined. In the box there are two other games, one strategic and one tactical, and a system for playing the campaign alone.

I usually draw everything in my games: system, maps, counters, box; I fund them if I can with Kickstarter and then I produce them.

Some time ago I came across Yasushi Nakaguro's Bonsai games and was very impressed by them; I designed a small game inspired by his design: little format, very cheap but very deep and fun.

The Soft Underbelly is a very small, inexpensive, two-player game that typically lasts about an hour.

It concerns the Second World War in Tunisia, Italy and southern Europe, the period I know best.

Some of the Map

It uses a very simple system where there are wooden blocks, which represent generic forces, and traditional counters, which instead represent specialized forces: tanks, planes, elite forces, fleets. The blocks, in addition to fighting, are used to buy specialized forces.

It is a game that generates a lot of tension, it does not admit mistakes; to win it you need a good strategy together with a little luck. It is asymmetrical: the Allied has many forces but must be able to make space to be able to deploy them all. The Axis, by contrast, must attempt to defend key areas, but inevitably must divide its scarce and costly forces widely. And eight turns pass quickly. There are events in the game that players can trigger by playing a chit: new reinforcements, premature end of a battle, partisans, and so on.

I also designed this game to bring new players as close as possible to our hobby and at the same time offer a good game, fast but not simple, on a little treated topic.

If it is financed, I intend to make others with the same system, on different themes, which I am already thinking about, including the Korean war 1950-53; the attack on Yugoslavia and Greece during World War II; the Norwegian campaign in 1940.

Among the next traditional projects instead, in September I will present a very large game about Husky and, later on, if I can, the continuation of From Salerno to Rome, which will be called To The Alps, which many are inciting me to draw.

https://www.dsimula.com/

The Soft Underbelly 1943-45:

https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/guv/the-soft-underbelly-1943-1945