Those are the rules for "¡Arriba España!" (Spanish Civil War), a strategic wargame that simulates the first year of the Spanish Civil War (July 1936 - June 1937).
It is based on the great Game of Phil Kendall and Lee Brimmicombe-Wood Angola with many differences and upgrades.
Game Overview
Concept: This is a game for four players divided into two alliances that control different geographic sectors of Spain during the military uprising.
Factions:
Nationalist Alliance:
Blue (Franco's Nacionales) - Andalusia
Yellow (Mola's Nacionales) - Northwest
Republican Alliance:
Red (Popular Front) - Catalonia and Madrid
Green (Basque Country/Asturias) - North
Main Mechanics
Activation System
Operations Cards: Each player creates a secret deck of cards to activate their units
Columns: Groups of units that can attack and conquer territory
Fifth Columns: Forces without columns that can only move (not attack)
Game Phases (12 turns total)
Planning: Creation of operations decks, determination of first player
Operations: Play of cards to activate units
Endgame: Victory points, reinforcements, recruitment, events
Combat
Complex system with:
Preliminary phases: Aviation, artillery, mines, anti-tank weapons
Ground combat: Based on balance of power and die rolls
Modifiers: Terrain, support, special equipment
Reinforcements and Growth
Basic Recruitment: 4 units per turn per faction
Foreign Aid: The losing alliance receives foreign reinforcements
Bid System: Competition for additional support
Event Cards: Modify specific situations
Strategic Elements
Territorial Control
Cities: Sources of reinforcements and victory points
Capitals: Seville (Blue), Barcelona (Red), A Coruña (Yellow), Bilbao (Green)
Special Objectives: Toledo (Alcázar), Oviedo (Fortress)
Victory Conditions
Decisive Victory: Exceed specific victory point thresholds during the game
Final Victory: Whoever has the most victory points at the end of turn 12
Victory Points: Awarded by conquering cities and completing objectives
Historical Features
Transport from Ceuta: Franco's forces must pass naval checks
International Aid: Germany/Italy vs. USSR/International Brigades
Historical Events: Cards reflecting key moments of the conflict
System Complexity
The game combines:
Covert planning (hidden operational decks)
Resource management (units, equipment, reinforcements)
Diplomacy (coordination between allies)
Military tactics (combination of weapons, terrain, logistics)
It is an intermediate-to-advanced wargame that requires long-term strategic planning and tactical coordination, offering a detailed simulation of the critical first year of the Spanish Civil War.
Civil War, Print & Play, Wargame, World War II · Area Majority / Influence, Campaign / Battle Card Driven, Command Cards, Communication Limits, Ratio / Combat Results Table, Team-Based Game
More ▾
View on BGG ↗
