Game: Ring of Fire
Publisher: Moments in History
Price: USD 35
Scale: division/brigade/regiment; one hex equals 1.2 mi / 2 km
Rating: B+
Ring of Fire is the second effort this year by Moments in History, and it is an about-face from Triumphant Fox. Triumphant Fox (their first game) was a complex game on the Gazala battles, and Ring of Fire is a good, fast-paced game on the battles for Kharkov in August 1943. The units in this game use the same counter art as GMT Games' release Lost Victories: Kharkov, which leads me to believe that GMT Games is helping out this company in their production. The designer is from Germany, and this is a correction to the Rally Point that referred to him as being from Switzerland.
The map and counters are well done, and the rules are complete and concise, with plenty of examples of play, as well as some historical interludes. The company also offers an audio cassette (another correction to Rally Point) at extra cost to help teach the rules; it also contains an interview with the designer and playing tips. Rules questions can be answered via the Internet, Genie, or by telephone. The telephone number is in the U.S.A., so don't worry about support that costs more than the game itself!
Some of the pluses are: no ZOC's; instead you need two units to complete a ZOC area, resulting in fluid battles and making it harder to surround units. Tank battles: individual tank units fight armor combat first, then the survivors can fight regular ground combat with their infantry counterparts. Artillery barrages only affect German fortress hexes by temporarily suspending their defensive modifications. Reserves are used to plug up holes, and not just to exploit them; this can turn an overwhelming battle into a close one.
In all, Ring of Fire is a good second effort; the artwork is nice, and the counters look good. The rules are complex enough to make you feel you are playing a simulation, but lighthearted enough to play in a relatively short time.