Cross of Iron

This is the first expansion to the highly acclaimed Squad Leader series by Avalon Hill. The expansion includes new scenarios, an additional modular board, revised armor rules, and many new counters representing men, vehicles, and equipment on the Eastern Front in WWII. This series was eventually rewritten and transformed into the monster system, Advanced Squad Leader.

Like Squad Leader, the Cross of Iron thirty-six page rulebook is presented in programmed instruction format to introduce its eight new scenarios. Two new quick data reference cards, over 1000 counters, and a fifth 8" X 22" mapboard complete the package.

Avalon Hill Complexity rating - 9

Mapboard: 5
Scenarios: 13 to 20

(from the back of the box:)

This is Cross of Iron a gripping game of tactical combat on the Russian Front. Following in the footsteps of its amazingly successful predecessor. Cross of Iron comes replete with an entirely restructured armor and artillery system. which does for armor combat what its predecessor, Squad Leader, did for infantry actions. In fact. the first thing the game instructs you to do is throw away your old artillery and armor counters to make way for their expanded revised counterparts. Each AFV now has three separate MG factors, turret position differentiation, "button up" penalties, and advantages, target size differentiation, varying armor modifiers and much more. Cross of Iron again utilizes programmed instruction to guide you through 8 scenarios of increasing realism and complexity. The 36-page rulebook starts in where the Squad Leader rules left off ... at section 63 and continues on to section 103. An expanded Campaign Game enables players to simulate virtually any action of their choosing with a vastly enlarged counter mix encompassing virtually every AFV which saw action in WWII . from the diminutive BT5 to the mammoth King Tiger.

Cross of Iron is more than just a game. When combined with Squad Leader, it provides a system which can be used to portray any Eastern Front action. Be forewarned! Cross of Iron is not an easy game. Do not attempt it unless you have first mastered Squad Leader.

In each game you get:

520 doubled-printed 1/2" die-cut counters representing the men and weapons that made up the combatants of the Eastern Front.
576 double-printed 1/2" vehicular and artillery counters encompassing the entire OB of the war in Russia.
An additional 8" x 22" geomorphic-mapboard section increasing the possible terrain configurations and adding several new terrain types.
Comprehensive, illustrated 36-page rule booklet.
Scenario Cards for game situations 13-20.
Two expanded Quick Reference Data Cards.