# Firefight: Modern U.S. and Soviet Small Unit Tactics

## General Info
- **Year Published**: 1976
- **BGG Rating**: 6.1
- **BGG Rank**: #15855
- **Players**: 2 (Best with: 2)
- **Duration**: 90 min
- **Weight**: 2.79 / 5
- **Designers**: Irad B. Hardy, Jim Dunnigan
- **Artists**: Redmond Aksel Simonsen, Yu-Hao Bai
- **Publishers**: Decision Games (I), Kilovolt Design, Nike and Cooper Española, S.A., SPI (Simulations Publications, Inc.), Tactical Studies Rules (TSR)
- **Categories**: Modern Warfare, Wargame
- **Mechanics**: Dice Rolling, Grid Movement, Hexagon Grid, Line of Sight, Ratio / Combat Results Table, Scenario / Mission / Campaign Game, Simulation

## Verdict
Firefight is a deep dive into 1970s military tactics, perfect for those seeking a serious, historically grounded simulation. Its biggest strength is the integration of terrain into combat tables, keeping the game snappy without sacrificing strategic depth. It is a tense 'cat and mouse' experience that demands careful planning and long-term vision to dominate the battlefield.Highly realistic tactical simulationFluid and intuitive combat systemRich Cold War historical contextThree-tier difficulty progressionDated 1970s visual styleSteep learning curve for newcomersStrictly focused on tactical combatFOR GENRE FANS

## Description
Firefight is an absolute classic for those who love tactical wargames and want to understand how the 'first battle of the next war' might have played out in the late 1970s. Developed with support from the US Army, the game is more than just a hobbyist title: it served as a training tool to demonstrate the lethality and range of modern weaponry of that era. You take command of small units, such as infantry fireteams or individual vehicles, on a battlefield where each hex represents 50 meters and each turn lasts a mere 40 seconds. The experience is intense and deeply rooted in military doctrine, requiring you to think like a real commander while positioning your forces and managing indirect artillery fire.

The game shines through its clever use of Combat Results Tables (CRT). Forget about complex mental math; here, terrain protection—like woods or hull-down positions—is already baked into the tables, making the combat system much more fluid and intuitive than other titles from that period. You will alternate between fire, movement, and indirect fire phases, always trying to outmaneuver your opponent with combined arms tactics. The system is divided into three levels of complexity (Firefight I, II, and III), allowing you to start with the basics and layer on realism as you master the rules. It is a lesson in simulated history that puts you in the center of a potential conventional conflict between the US and the Soviet Union, testing your tactical skills on detailed geomorphic maps. If you are a fan of military simulations that prize accuracy and tactical challenge, this is a must-have for your collection.

## FAQ
### Is the game difficult to learn?
It has a moderate learning curve. The system is split into three levels, so you can start with the basics and evolve from there.

### Can I play it solo?
Yes, it has moderate solitaire playability, making it a great way to study tactics without needing a human opponent.

### How long does a game take?
Expect to spend anywhere from 90 minutes to 6 hours, depending on the scenario and the level of rules complexity you choose.

### Does the game use miniatures?
No, it uses 400 die-cut cardboard counters to represent units, following the classic SPI wargame style.

### How many players can play?
It is strictly a two-player game, focusing on direct confrontation between US and Soviet forces.

## Price Comparison
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