Overview

Ambush! is an innovative solitaire (single-player) tactical wargame published by Victory Games (Avalon Hill subsidiary) in 1983. Set in World War II, the player controls a squad of soldiers on missions in the European theater. The game was groundbreaking for being exclusively designed for solo play, using a programmed-opponent system of mission cards, condition numbers, and a paragraph book to control enemy forces without requiring a second player.

Components

• Hex map boards (depicting various European terrain)
• Mission cards (read through a view sleeve; entries correspond to map hexes)
• Paragraph book (numbered entries that control enemy actions and events)
• Soldier cards (with stats for each squad member)
• Weapon and equipment cards
• Counters (soldiers, enemies, vehicles, terrain markers)
• Dice
• Rules booklet
• Mission booklets

Setup

1. Select a mission from the 8 available.
2. Set up the appropriate hex map.
3. Select and equip your squad: assign weapons, equipment, and leadership.
4. Each soldier has ratings for command, initiative, perception, weapons skill, driving skill, and movement capability.
5. Prepare the mission card deck and paragraph book for the selected mission.
6. Place your squad on the starting hexes.

Turn Structure

The game alternates between two modes:

Operations Mode (exploration)

1. Move soldiers hex-by-hex across the map.
2. Event check in each hex: reference the mission card through the view sleeve to find a condition number.
3. Resolve events: The condition number leads to a paragraph in the paragraph book that may reveal enemies, provide information, or trigger atmospheric events.

Combat Mode (when enemies appear)

1. Initiative determination: Use initiative ratings and dice to determine action order.
2. Active unit actions: The active unit (soldier or enemy) can move, fire, or perform special actions.
3. Enemy AI: Enemy actions are determined by cross-referencing die rolls with condition numbers to find paragraphs that issue context-sensitive instructions for enemy behavior.
4. Resolution: Apply hits, check for casualties, resolve morale.

Actions

Squad Management

• Each soldier has individual stats: command, initiative, perception, weapons skill, driving skill, and movement.
• Equip soldiers with various WWII weapons and grenades.
• Ammunition and grenades are tracked individually.

Movement

• Soldiers move hex-by-hex during operations mode.
• Terrain affects movement costs.
• Stealth and perception affect whether enemies detect the squad.

Combat

• Fire at enemies using weapons skill, modified by range, terrain, and cover.
• Enemies fire back according to their programmed AI instructions.
• Hit results damage soldiers’ stats and can cause casualties.

Mission Card System

• Each mission card corresponds to map hexes.
• Cards are read through a view sleeve that reveals only the relevant entry.
• Three-digit numbers on cards lead to numbered paragraphs in the paragraph book.
• The paragraph book provides story narration, enemy placement, events, and tactical situations.

Scoring / Victory Conditions

Each mission has specific objectives, such as:

• Reach a specific location on the map
• Destroy an enemy position
• Rescue prisoners
• Survive and extract the squad
• Eliminate enemy officers

Scoring is based on mission completion, soldiers surviving, and enemies eliminated. Campaign play allows the same squad to carry over between missions, with experience and casualties persisting.

Special Rules & Edge Cases

• True solitaire: The game requires no second player; the enemy is entirely controlled by the game system.
• Paragraph book AI: Context-sensitive enemy behavior creates unpredictable and challenging opponents.
• Campaign play: Soldiers gain experience across missions; casualties are permanent.
• 8 missions: Each mission offers a different tactical situation with varying objectives and terrain.
• Fog of war: The mission card system ensures the player never knows what lies ahead until they explore.
• Expansions: Several expansions were published (Move Out!, Purple Heart, Silver Star, Battle Hymn) adding more missions and features.

Player Reference

Soldier Stat	Use
Command	Leadership and morale
Initiative	Action order in combat
Perception	Detecting enemies and events
Weapons skill	Accuracy with firearms
Driving skill	Vehicle operation
Movement	Speed across terrain

Modes: Operations (explore hex-by-hex) ↔ Combat (initiative-based actions)

Enemy AI: Mission cards → Condition numbers → Paragraph book instructions