Overview

Assault on Hoth is a two-player tactical wargame based on the Battle of Hoth from The Empire Strikes Back. One player controls the Rebel Alliance forces defending Echo Base while the other commands the Imperial forces attacking. The Imperial player wins by destroying the Rebel power generator or preventing Rebel transports from evacuating. The Rebel player wins by evacuating enough transports and personnel.

Components

• Game board depicting the Hoth battlefield
• 55 stand-up playing pieces (Rebels and Imperials)
• 2 decks of move cards (Rebel and Imperial)
• 8 picture dice
• Rulebook

Setup

1. Place the game board between both players.
2. Each player takes their faction’s playing pieces and move card deck.
3. Place units on their starting positions as indicated on the board/rules.
4. The Imperial player sets up AT-AT walkers, AT-ST walkers, snowtroopers, and probe droids.
5. The Rebel player sets up infantry, snowspeeders, the shield generator, ion cannon, and transports.

Turn Structure

The game alternates between Rebel and Imperial turns. Each turn:

1. Draw move cards from your deck.
2. Play cards to activate and move units.
3. Resolve combat between adjacent opposing units using the picture dice.
4. Check victory conditions.

Actions

• Move units: Play move cards to move units across the battlefield.
• Attack: Units in range may attack opposing units. Roll picture dice to resolve.
• Evacuate transports: The Rebel player attempts to move transports off the evacuation edge of the board.
• Fire ion cannon: The Rebel ion cannon can fire at Imperial units to disable them temporarily.
• Deploy reinforcements: Some cards allow deploying additional units.

Scoring / Victory Conditions

Imperial Victory: Destroy the Rebel power generator, or prevent Rebel evacuation by the end of the game.

Rebel Victory: Successfully evacuate a required number of transports and key personnel from Echo Base.

Special Rules & Edge Cases

• AT-AT walkers are extremely powerful but slow-moving; snowspeeders can attempt tow cable attacks to trip them.
• The shield generator protects Rebel forces from orbital bombardment while operational.
• The ion cannon provides cover fire for evacuating transports.
• Probe droids serve as Imperial scouts.
• Weather and terrain affect movement rates.

Player Reference

Unit	Faction	Special
AT-AT	Imperial	Heavy armor, slow
AT-ST	Imperial	Medium armor, faster
Snowtrooper	Imperial	Infantry
Snowspeeder	Rebel	Can use tow cables
Infantry	Rebel	Standard defense
Ion Cannon	Rebel	Disables Imperial units
Transport	Rebel	Must evacuate to win