Combat cards and HQ tokens are some of a player’s most precious assets. Combat cards, in terms of game play, represent military actions and WWI happenings or unit abilities. These cards may hinder the opposition army, enhance a player’s units or may instantly change the course of a battle.
The maximum number of combat cards a player may hold is five cards, unless the scenario notes state otherwise. A player may not draw a new combat card if drawing the card would exceed the maximum number of cards that can be held.
Every combat card, contains the following information:
- Title: The name of the combat card.
- Cost: The cost, in HQ tokens, a player must pay from his HQ reserve pool, for the combat card to take effect. HQ tokens quite literally fuel the action and special actions of a combat card. Some combat cards do have a zero HQ token cost.
- Phase of Play: This text explains, when in a game turn, the combat card must be played.
- Target: Text detailing the combat card target, subject, beneficiary, or area of effect, of the combat card action.
- Effect: A description of the combat card effect and the special rules governing it.
Players must observe a number of simple, but critically important rules when bringing a combat card into play.
- A combat card must always be played during its indicated phase of play. Some combat cards may be played out of turn, during the opponent’s game turn, or in reaction to one of his actions or combat card play.
- When playing a combat card, place it in front of you during the appropriate phase of play (possibly in reaction to one of your opponent’s actions), and read it aloud.
- To play a combat card, the player must be able to immediately pay its corresponding HQ token cost, out of the HQ tokens already in his possession prior to the card’s effect coming into play.
- Spend the required number of HQ tokens out of your HQ reserve, temporarily placing those tokens on the combat card; at the end of the game turn, return these tokens into the common HQ token(s) pool, and discard the combat card onto the discard pile next to the combat card deck.
- A player may only play a maximum of one combat card during his turn.
- A player may only play a maximum of one combat card during your opponent’s game turn.
- During the course of any single player’s game turn, there can only be a maximum of two combat cards coming into play, one from each player.
- In case of contradiction, between the effects of two combat cards played in succession, the second card
trumps the effect of the first one. - In case of conflict, between the basic rules in this book and a combat card, the rules of the card take precedence, however, terrain movement and battle restrictions will always apply, unless stated otherwise on the combat card.