Categories: Civil War, Modern Warfare, Political, Vietnam War, Wargame

Mechanics: Area Majority/Influence, Dice Rolling, Simulation, Solo/Solitaire Game, Variable Phase Order, Variable Player Powers

Players: 1–4

Ages: -

Playtime: 180 Min

Vietnam, 1964. The most intense and complex U.S. engagement of the Cold War was not just a battle between American GIs and the Viet Cong. The conflict fractured Vietnam along numerous lines: tribesmen against nationalists, Buddhists against Catholics, mandarins against villagers, and, of course, Northerners against Southerners—even within the communist ranks. As revolutionary change swept through the ancient land, the U.S. deployed both its military might and advanced operational research. However, the deeper the U.S. counterinsurgency pushed into Vietnam, the more it became apparent that cultural resilience and sheer willpower would ultimately triumph over technological superiority, marking the decline of industrial might in modern warfare.

Volume IV in GMT’s COIN Series plunges into the intricate and consequential struggle for South Vietnam. "Fire in the Lake" offers a distinctive, multi-faction perspective on the Vietnam War, taking 1 to 4 players through U.S. helicopter sweeps of the jungle, Communist infiltration of the South, inter-allied conferences, Saigon’s political intrigue, interdiction of the Ho Chi Minh Trail, air defense strategies in the North, graduated military escalation, and the media war. Esteemed designer and modern warfare expert Mark Herman collaborates with COIN Series creator Volko Ruhnke in this must-play production.

"Fire in the Lake" features the same card-driven counterinsurgency system as GMT’s "Andean Abyss," "Cuba Libre," and "A Distant Plain," but introduces unique elements that elevate the series, such as:

Pivotal events that override initiative (Tet Offensive, Vietnamization, Easter Offensive, and Linebacker II)
Inter-coup campaign effects that vary depending on the RVN leader
Counterinsurgent guerrilla forces (U.S.-led Montagnards and ARVN Rangers)
Insurgent troops (NVA) enabling direct force-on-force engagements
Tunneling strategies for VC and NVA bases
Construction and degradation of the Ho Chi Minh Trail
A larger event deck for increased variety in gameplay
Short and medium-length scenarios with random or period-specific event options

Each faction in "Fire in the Lake" presents its own strategic challenges:

Viet Cong: Ignite the revolutionary spirit among the people. How long can you build your strength in the shadows before emerging to set the spark? Your northern allies may distract the enemy, but be cautious not to let them dominate your movement.
Republic of Vietnam (ARVN): With significant support from the U.S., you can build a formidable army and control the country, but at the risk of compromising your traditional governance. Will you focus on military strength or reinforce your political hold?
North Vietnam: Resources flow to you from allies, but you must manage their movement southward through a complex logistical trail. When is the right moment to deploy your forces from their relative safety in Laos and Cambodia to assert control over the South?
United States: You have unmatched firepower and mobility, but too many casualties will erode public support at home. Your air power and incursions into Laos or Cambodia could either be decisive or counterproductive. Victory is possible in collaboration with the ARVN—provided your so-called allies don’t sabotage the strategy!

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Fire In The Lake 3rd Printing