MBT: Game of tank-to-tank combat 1987

I'm just starting to play MBT, so this review is more for the merchant at this stage, though I'll make a few observations on the game itself. I ordered late Sunday night and chose the free shipping option. The game shipped first thing Monday morning (yes!). I had it in hand by Wednesday afternoon. The merchant added a beautiful D6 to the order, which was a nice touch and was actually useful for some random selections in the game (though the game itself comes with multiple D10). I could not be happier with the service.As for the game, it's almost ridiculous how much content comes in the base box. In contrast to the gigantic boxes these days that come with half-empty games inside requiring one or more expansions for a minimal sense of completion, MBT comes in a relatively trim box absolutely loaded to the brim with content.There's the Basic Game, which is like a starter kit, the modular Advanced Game, which you can pretty much customize to taste, and the optional rules that you might expect to find in expansions. It's not a cheap game by any means, but you get a lot for your money in the very first box, including modular maps, ten WW3 scenarios of varying complexity, and a battle generator for your own custom scenarios. So it's not a taster, more like a hand-delivered full course meal with an all-you-can-eat buffet thrown in for good measure.So Kudos to GMT for structuring a reasonably complex game with different play versions, starting with a basic game. I wish more expandable, in depth game systems would take the same approach. The rules, while copious given the different play options, are well written and clear, in fact the best I've seen to date.I'm not even a tank fan, but when I read how MBT illustrates combined arms theory, modern battlefield tactics, and a plethora of advanced weaponry, I was hooked. I'm working through the basic game now and, yes, the many tables and layers of possible additional details are a little intimidating at first, but it flows so well and quickly. The turn order is actually less complex than most of the Cthulhu games I've played.Modern combat is abrupt and deadly. If you are used to games where you slowly whittle away at each individual enemy unit while they slowly whittle away at one of your units, sometimes turning into an endless slog and counter-slog with multiple opportunities to retreat, get healthy, and rethink how to resume the attack, forget it. In this game, maneuver tactics are king and less than stellar tactics will resolve their errors with brutal efficiency.I'm not going to lie. I was pretty quick to pull some tank tactics instructional material from the military colleges to better understand how actual tank formations work in their attack and defense postures. Despite the "what if" context of WW3 in the 1980s, real world battlefield tactics are well modeled here. I can hardly wait to get into combined operations with air (thrilled to see Black Hawks and F16s in addition to the A10 Warthogs), artillery, and tank-busting leg units. This is one well-rounded game.

Great game simulating of world war 3 in Europe. Incredibly complex, but that is what I liked! A game that truly works out the details of modern mobile warfare.

Great game, challenging the components are also top notch!