Historic Gaming #3

Utah and Omaha: The American Beaches are the second and third games in Paul Koenig’s D-Day series of five titles covering the first three nail-biting days (June 6 – 8, 1944) of Allied landings in France to liberate Europe during World War 2. Using fluid and dynamic systems for integrating the fierce combat and rapid movements of the companies and battalions contesting the beaches, cliffs, swamps and bocage bordering the rough North Sea coast, players will find the easy rules to offer rich puzzles and surprising opportunities on the cross-map march to victory.

On the two western beachheads, the Americans faced problems galore and some of the worst terrain encountered by the Allies. It seemed that Murphy’s Law was in full effect: “Everything that can go wrong will go wrong – and at the worst possible moment.” Yet despite widely scattered air drops, confusion and stiff German resistance, an American victory was won and the beaches secured. However, the cost in lives of this close-fought campaign will see it always remembered as “Bloody Omaha.”

Number of Players: $%
Ages: 12 and up
Playing Time: approximately 50 minutes
Complexity: 4 on a 9 scale
Solitaire Suitability: 8  on a 9 scale
Scale: Each unit is 1 company to regiment, each hex is 1 kilometer, and each turn is about 4.5 hours.

•    Two complete games!
•    One 4-page, color  Standard Rules booklet
•    80 color, 2-sided die-cut 1/2” mounted pieces
•    28 round 5/8” counters
•    Two 11” x 17” color game maps with tables
•    Illustrated Examples of Play, Exclusive and Optional Game Rules
•    Part of a 5 game series!

Game System Design: Paul Koenig
Documentation and Game System Development: Alan Emrich
Art & Graphic Design: Alan Emrich
Playtesting: John Alston, Alan Beach, Steven Bucey, Steve Carey, Vince DeNardo, Allen Doum, Paul Franklin, Donald Garlit, Rand McGlaughlin, Robert McGrath, Lance McMillan, Kim Meints, David Mignerey, Richard Allen Seibert II, Todd Surgoine