This theater book aims to model a theoretical conventional conflict between Russia and the NATO alliance in eastern Europe in the early 2020s. This scenario could be an alternative to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, an escalation of said conflict, or a campaign conducted upon its conclusion. A core tenet of this book is the time frame being modelled is only the first 30 days of a potential conflict. The predictability of a NATO-Russia conflict drops quickly as the days move forward. Beyond the first month, much of NATO’s heavy units would become available which would noticeably shift the odds. Russia’s casualty count would rise dramatically over these 30 days, a situation that would make a nuclear exchange more likely. Finally, the first month would be the closest to tactical and operational parity the Russians would likely achieve. Compared to the hordes that Russia could unleash on day one, the EFPs are far smaller, with the possible exception of EFP Poland.
This scenario involves Russia invading one or more Baltic states somewhere from 2020-2025. In response, the Enhanced Forward Presence battlegroups in each of Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, and Poland are the first line of defence along with the armed forces of the host countries. Each of these EFPs are given a distinct army list with their own combat teams, reinforcement lists, and unit statistics. The composition of these lists was determined by the presence and likely rotation of NATO formations through the regions. Every NATO nation involved has been modelled to some degree so long as their contribution is tactically relevant.
In addition to the four EFPs, six of NATO’s largest military powers have been modelled as their own army lists. The nations of Canada, France, Germany, Great Britain, Poland, and The United States have their own unique sets of combat teams, lists, and units. These army lists include many formations and units not available to the EFPs to which these nations contribute. This allows for players to play nation specific combat teams that include every relevant unit, regardless of deployment schedule but still limited to the availability within the specified time frame. Players can easily combine units and lists between the presented armies such as including US heavy formations in a fight involving EFP Poland, a deployment that likely would fall outside the 30 day window this theater book models. However, scenario play is based on the scenario specified, limiting such combinations to match play.
Being the primary opponent, Russia has its own army list with an extensive collection of combat teams and units. These combat teams represent the reality at the outset of the conflict, not the evolution after several years of attritional fighting. However, due to the nepotistic nature of the Russian Army, the reliability of reinforcements is lower, making extensive use of lists to randomise what units are present.
Each of these armies is given a section of this book detailing their major company sized formations from infantry to armour, recce, and airborne. Reinforcement lists for determining additional forces from outside the immediate chain of command are used in scenario play to help tell the narrative of the game. Platoon formations detail the structure of the disparate forces that may become involved. Extensive unit stats for infantry, transports, AFVs, and more allow nearly any battle to be modelled.
This massive conglomeration of information had to be organized in a manner that was understandable by the players as well as capturing the experience of commanding a tactical combat team within the constraints of the scenario. In furtherance of this goal, every detail, decision, and omission was made with the knowledge that players will inhabit the reality of being a company commander of their chosen combat team with all the choices, limitations and frustrations that entails. Due to the many involved nations and their intermixing in the EFPs, NATO country codes have been utilised for ease of play.
—description from the publisher