{"product_id":"bear-trap-the-soviet-afghan-war-1979-1989-preorder","title":"Bear Trap: The Soviet-Afghan War, 1979-1989 (PREORDER)","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 14pt;\"\u003e\u003cem\u003eBear Trap\u003c\/em\u003e is a quick-playing, low-complexity 2-player block wargame covering the Soviet-Afghan War (1979-1989). \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 14pt;\"\u003e\u003cem\u003eIn the Soviet–Afghan war, Insurgent groups—including the mujahideen—fought a guerrilla war against the Soviet 40th Army and the Democratic Republic of Afghanistan (DRA) government. The game begins shortly after “Operation Storm-333” was executed at the end of 1979—in this coup, Hafizullah Amin (General Secretary of the People's Democratic Party of Afghanistan) was killed, and Babrak Karmal, a Soviet loyalist, replaced him. By putting the Brezhnev Doctrine into practice, the Soviets sought to prop up the sympathetic local government and “solve the Russian Ice-lock Problem” while the Insurgents sought to expel the secularist government and foreign invaders.\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 14pt;\"\u003e\u003cem\u003eAlthough the two sides in this conflict were fundamentally different in a variety of ways, they also faced some parallel challenges. For instance, they struggled to maintain loyalty. For the Soviets and the DRA, the DRA armed forces merely offered an opportunity for a paycheck, and there were cases where conscripts in the Soviet Army defected to the Mujahideen (e.g. Kazbek Hudalov). For the Insurgents, propaganda, threats, and promises to family drew would-be combatants away, as did injuries suffered from landmines and attacks on villages. Both sides also struggled to puncture the fog of war, not being able to secure reliable intel about force deployment and strength. And both faced various challenges around supply, communication, and coordination. Both sides needed to react to shifting strategies and developments over this decade long Cold War proxy war, where the landscape upon which it was fought presented many unique challenges.\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"text-align: center; text-size-adjust: auto;\"\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"font-size: 16px; text-align: left;\"\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"font-size: 20px; text-align: left;\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 14pt;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan style=\"--darkreader-inline-color: var(--darkreader-text-548dd4, #5f9ed7);\"\u003e\u003cem\u003eSekigahara\u003c\/em\u003e: The Ancestral Roots of \u003cem\u003eBear Trap\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"font-size: 16px; text-align: left;\"\u003e \u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"font-size: 16px; text-align: left;\"\u003e\n\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 14pt;\"\u003e\u003cem\u003eBear Trap\u003c\/em\u003e is a spiritual successor to \u003cem\u003eSekigahara\u003c\/em\u003e—building on the same core system. In both games, each player has their own deck of cards; players spend cards from their hand to activate areas or in combat to commit units to battle. This means fans of \u003cem\u003eSekigahara\u003c\/em\u003e will find learning \u003cem\u003eBear Trap\u003c\/em\u003e easy, but the feel and experience of the games are highly divergent. In addition to the difference in topics covered, other differences include:\u003c\/span\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"font-size: 16px; text-align: left;\"\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 14pt;\"\u003eIn \u003cem\u003eBear Trap\u003c\/em\u003e, forces are represented by blocks, stickered side hidden from the opponent, and the orientation of a block determines its disposition (i.e. the orientation of a block dictates whether it’s mobilized, fortified, disordered, poised to offer fire support to a battle initiated by friendly units, or ready to ambush enemy units). The orientation of a block also determines which battles it can join, whether card play is required to commit it to battle, and whether it can be moved or activated.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 14pt;\"\u003e\u003cem\u003eBear Trap\u003c\/em\u003e features an area-based map, rather than the point-to-point style found in \u003cem\u003eSekigahara\u003c\/em\u003e.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 14pt;\"\u003eThe sequential combat system popularized in \u003cem\u003eSekigahara\u003c\/em\u003e is utilized in \u003cem\u003eBear Trap\u003c\/em\u003e, adapted to suit the setting. This includes the use of ‘loyalty challenges,’ making \u003cem\u003eBear Trap\u003c\/em\u003e simulate the proneness of (for instance) Afghan forces to defect.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 14pt;\"\u003e\u003cem\u003eBear Trap\u003c\/em\u003e is, like \u003cem\u003eSekigahara\u003c\/em\u003e, first and foremost a 2-player game—but \u003cem\u003eBear Trap\u003c\/em\u003e includes a unique solo mode, built around a card assisted flowchart bot.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 14pt;\"\u003e\u003cem\u003eBear Trap\u003c\/em\u003e has fewer blocks than \u003cem\u003eSekigahara\u003c\/em\u003e, and each player has fewer card types (‘suits’) in their decks.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 14pt;\"\u003e\u003cem\u003eBear Trap\u003c\/em\u003e introduces ‘strategy’ cards—powerful event cards. Although it would be misleading to label \u003cem\u003eBear Trap\u003c\/em\u003e a deck-building game, players will add 2 cards from a pool specific to their side each time they reshuffle their deck.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"font-size: 16px; text-align: left;\"\u003e\n\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 14pt;\"\u003e\u003cem\u003eBear Trap \u003c\/em\u003e is not a \"clone\" of \u003cem\u003eSekigahara\u003c\/em\u003e—they are very different games with differences in topic, feel, and mechanism, despite having an underlying shared game system. \u003cem\u003eBear Trap\u003c\/em\u003e is also a more asymmetric game than \u003cem\u003eSekigahara\u003c\/em\u003e. Although \u003cem\u003eBear Trap\u003c\/em\u003e is a slight step up in complexity (relative to \u003cem\u003eSekigahara\u003c\/em\u003e), the mechanics remain simple, and \u003cem\u003eBear Trap\u003c\/em\u003e can be completed in 2-3 hours.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"text-align: center; text-size-adjust: auto;\"\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"font-size: 20px; text-align: left;\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 14pt;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan style=\"--darkreader-inline-color: var(--darkreader-text-548dd4, #5f9ed7);\"\u003eGameplay\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"font-size: 16px; text-align: left;\"\u003e \u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"font-size: 16px; text-align: left;\"\u003e\n\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 14pt;\"\u003eOne player takes command of the ruling Democratic Republic of Afghanistan and its forces, supported by the Soviet 40th Army—this side is referred to here as the Soviets, or the Soviet player. The other player takes command of the local tribal rebels (the Lashkar) and Mujahideen guerrilla fighters—this side is referred to here as the Insurgents or the Insurgent player. Hidden information on blocks and cards presents players with a host of difficult decisions throughout the game. \u003c\/span\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"font-size: 16px; text-align: left;\"\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"font-size: 16px; text-align: left;\"\u003e\n\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 14pt;\"\u003eEach player has their own deck of cards, pool of blocks, and win conditions. The game ends as soon as one player satisfies their decisive victory condition or after players have reshuffled their decks a combined total of seven times (and the winner would be determined by assessing who has satisfied their minor victory condition). \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"font-size: 16px; text-align: left;\"\u003e \u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"font-size: 16px; text-align: left;\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 14pt;\"\u003eOn their turn, a player will do one of three things: (1) take a resupply turn—replenishing their hand of cards and bringing more blocks into play, (2) play cards from their hand to activate areas and possibly initiate combat, or (3) play a powerful ‘strategy’ card from their hand to resolve its effect. When a player needs to draw cards but has none left in their deck, they will complete the reshuffle process—by which they will choose and add two ‘strategy’ cards to their deck.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"font-size: 16px; text-align: left;\"\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"text-align: center; text-size-adjust: auto;\"\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"font-size: 16px; text-align: left;\"\u003e\n\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 14pt;\"\u003eThe Insurgent player aims to push the USSR—as a political entity and as a populace—beyond the level of Soviet losses and setbacks it is willing to endure. Meanwhile, the Soviet player seeks to establish a new status quo of control and authority over a period sufficient to claim ‘Mission Accomplished’ in Afghanistan (even if pockets of the country remain rebel held). \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"font-size: 16px; text-align: left;\"\u003e\n\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 14pt;\"\u003eInitial setup is variable, keeping the game fresh. Concealed information—through the blocks and cards—lends uncertainty to help simulate the actual conflict.\u003c\/span\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"font-size: 20px; text-align: left;\"\u003e \u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"font-size: 20px; text-align: left;\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 14pt;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan style=\"--darkreader-inline-color: var(--darkreader-text-548dd4, #5f9ed7);\"\u003eComponents\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 14pt;\"\u003e1 mounted gameboard\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 14pt;\"\u003e114 Cards\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 14pt;\"\u003e62 Wooden Blocks (32 Insurgent, 30 Soviet)\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 14pt;\"\u003e1 Sticker sheet\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 14pt;\"\u003e1 Sheet of Counters \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 14pt;\"\u003e1 Rulebook\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 14pt;\"\u003e1 Playbook (incl. tournament rules, optional rules, strategy guides, designer notes)\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 14pt;\"\u003e2 double-sided player aids (identical, 1 for each player)\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 14pt;\"\u003e3 double-sided solo aids (3 flowcharts and 1 board)\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"TCGplayer","offers":[{"title":"Unopened","offer_id":57523342606502,"sku":"GMT2607","price":55.58,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0762\/5798\/4678\/files\/Gamenerdzimages823__36815.1790176395.1280.1280.png?v=1790458540","url":"https:\/\/tcgplayer.com.gy\/products\/bear-trap-the-soviet-afghan-war-1979-1989-preorder","provider":"TCGplayer","version":"1.0","type":"link"}