# Next War: India-Pakistan

## General Info
- **Year Published**: 2015
- **BGG Rating**: 8.0
- **BGG Rank**: #6527
- **Players**: 2 (Best with: 2)
- **Duration**: 240-480 min
- **Weight**: 4.07 / 5
- **Designers**: Gene Billingsley, Mitchell Land
- **Artists**: Mark Simonitch, Rodger B. MacGowan
- **Publishers**: GMT Games
- **Categories**: Modern Warfare, Wargame
- **Mechanics**: Dice Rolling, Grid Movement, Hexagon Grid, Simulation, Zone of Control

## Verdict
If you're a wargame veteran looking for a robust strategic challenge, Next War: India-Pakistan is a treat! It throws you into the middle of a tense and super detailed hypothetical conflict, with the complexity and depth that only GMT's Next War series offers. The experience is one of total immersion, with heavy decisions and consequences that can change the course of the war. Prepare for hours of planning and tactical execution in an explosive geopolitical scenario.Deep modern warfare simulationMany strategic optionsImmersive tactical detailsVaried and engaging scenariosHigh replayabilityNot for beginnersSteep learning curveLong play timeHIGHLY RECOMMENDED

## Description
Get ready for a tense journey into the near future with Next War: India-Pakistan, the latest volume in GMT Games' acclaimed Next War series. This two-player wargame immerses you in a hypothetical conflict between India and Pakistan, focusing on the ever-disputed Jammu and Kashmir region. It's not a game for wargame novices, but if you're an experienced player, you'll feel right at home with a system that balances depth and engaging gameplay. The Standard Game rules are quite accessible for veterans, allowing for quicker matches. But if you're looking for the full experience and want to feel the true weight of modern warfare, the Advanced Game is where the magic happens. In it, you have full control over airpower and can explore the nuances of each side's forces. Advanced campaign scenarios, with optional rules, transform the game into a true 'mini-monster' experience.

The detailed map represents the Punjab and Jammu & Kashmir region at a scale of roughly 7.5 miles per hex, covering everything from the Thar Desert to the Himalayas. Ground units represent brigades, divisions, and support units from India, Pakistan, China, and the USA, with attack, defense, movement, and efficiency attributes. Air units simulate fighter, bomber, and attack squadrons, with all-weather capabilities, range, average pilot skill, and performance in air-to-air combat, close air support, and strike missions. Each game turn includes phases for weather determination (which impacts air and ground operations), initiative, air/naval operations, special operations (in the advanced game), strikes (with missiles, artillery, and even tactical nuclear weapons), movement and combat, arrival of reinforcements, and victory determination. The combat system considers not only unit strength but also efficiency (training, doctrine, morale) and terrain, resulting in a brutal combat results table that reflects the attrition of modern warfare. And yes, you can use tactical nuclear weapons, but beware: doing so might alienate your international allies! Scenarios range from limited objectives to full campaigns, with varying levels of Chinese and US intervention, and the International Posture Matrix allows for exploring various intervention options. The question is: can you control Kashmir without the world going nuclear?

## FAQ
### Who is Next War: India-Pakistan for?
This game is ideal for experienced wargamers looking for a deep and complex simulation of modern military conflicts. If you enjoy detailed strategy and aren't intimidated by denser rules, this is for you.

### What is the average playtime?
Playtimes can vary greatly. Standard scenarios might be quicker, but a full campaign in the Advanced Game can take 4 to 8 hours, or even more, depending on your familiarity with the system.

### How many players can participate?
Next War: India-Pakistan is an exclusive two-player game, where each player takes command of one of the warring factions (India or Pakistan).

### Is it necessary to have played other Next War games to understand this one?
No, it's not necessary to have played Next War: Korea or other titles in the series. Although they share the same system, each game is standalone and focused on a different theater of operations.

### What is the complexity level of the rules?
The complexity is high (BGG weight of 4.07/5). The Standard Game rules are considered 'easy to learn' for experienced wargamers, but the Advanced Game and optional rules add many layers of depth and detail.

### Does the game address the use of nuclear weapons?
Yes, the game includes rules for the use of tactical nuclear weapons. However, this decision has severe consequences, such as the possible withdrawal of international allies, adding an extra layer of strategic tension.

### What are the main components of the game?
The game comes with a detailed map of the Jammu & Kashmir/Punjab region, hundreds of counters representing ground and air units, dice, combat tables, and rulebooks for both Standard and Advanced Games.

## Price Comparison
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