Overview

Heroes of Normandie is a tactical WWII board game using the Heroes System. Two players (US vs. German forces) command platoons of infantry, vehicles, and heroes on modular terrain boards. Players build armies using a recruitment point system, then alternate activating units via an order token mechanism. Combat uses dice with modifiers based on unit stats, terrain, and special abilities. The game emphasizes cinematic, fast-paced action inspired by war movies.

Components

• 6 terrain boards (modular, rearrangeable)
• 3 buildings and 4+1 defensive positions
• 6 bonus tactics tokens, 9 objective markers
• Per faction (US and German): 1 officer recruitment tile, 2 recruitment tiles, ~21 infantry unit counters, 2+ vehicle counters, 23 recruitment options (gear, supports, orders, character traits), 3 hero recruitment options, 3 hero counters, common infantry and vehicle counters, 14 wood tokens, 2 dice, 76 action cards
• 1 turn counter, 1 initiative marker, 1 end marker, 3 event markers
• 92 tokens (equipment, suppressed, destruction, etc.)

Setup

1. Choose a scenario or generate one using Player Generated Clashes (scenario booklet).
2. Select units per scenario’s army composition or spend army points to recruit.
3. Create your action card deck (at least 40 cards from your 76; faction-specific).
4. Determine initiative (per scenario). Player with initiative deploys all troops first.
5. Deploy infantry with white-name side face up in scenario-defined zones.
6. Each player draws 4 cards from their deck.

Army Creation

1. Buy Recruitment Tiles: Purchase recruitment tiles with army points. At least 1 required.
2. Buy Recruitment Options: Fill tile slots with infantry, vehicles, equipment, character traits, or orders. Options must fit the tile slot and match colored bands.
3. Heroes: Purchased separately; some require specific recruitment tile insignias.

Turn Structure

Each round has 3 phases:

1. Orders Phase

Players alternate placing Order tokens (numbered 1 to N, where N = total stars on your recruitment tiles, units, and options; max 10) on owned units. Initiative player places first. One Order token per unit. Also place your Bluff token to mislead opponents.

2. Activation Phase

Initiative player reveals Order #1 and activates that unit. Then opponent reveals their Order #1. Continue alternating in ascending order. Each activated unit takes ONE action: Move/Assault or Fire. When one player runs out of orders, the other activates remaining units in order.

3. Supply Phase

Remove suppressed tokens. All non-activated units may move (but not fire or assault). Draw cards back up to 4. Retrieve Order tokens.

Actions

Movement (Infantry)

• Move up to the unit’s Movement value in spaces (diagonal moves allowed).
• Cannot pass through vehicles or enemy infantry; can pass through friendly infantry but cannot end on the same space.
• Zone of Control (ZoC): Each infantry unit exerts ZoC over 8 adjacent spaces. Units cannot move from one enemy ZoC space to another of the same enemy unit’s ZoC. Building ZoC does not extend outside.

Movement (Vehicles)

• Count spaces from the front of the vehicle. Backward movement counts from the rear.
• Vehicles can rotate 45 degrees (costs 1 movement point per 45 degrees).
• Vehicles can pass through infantry (friendly or enemy). If ending on infantry, displace it to an adjacent free space (owner’s choice). If no space available and infantry has 0 movement, it is eliminated.
• Vehicles do not exert ZoC and are unaffected by infantry ZoC.

Assault (Melee)

• Only units with the Assault special ability can melee.
• Must be adjacent to the defender. Announced before moving.
• Attacker: Rolls 2 dice, keeps the higher, adds combat bonus vs. target type + other bonuses.
• Defender: Rolls 1 die (or 2 if they have Assault ability, keep higher), adds combat bonus + terrain defense bonus + other bonuses.
• Higher result wins. Tie = no damage, units stay. Attacker wins = defender takes a hit (flip counter or eliminate). Defender wins = attacker takes a hit and retreats to pre-assault space.
• Infantry must retreat to one of 3 spaces away from attacker. If no retreat possible, eliminated.
• Vehicles never retreat from assault; destroyed vehicles become terrain overlay wrecks.

Fire (Ranged Combat)

• Roll 1 die (or 2 if applicable), add combat bonus vs. target type.
• Most weapons have unlimited range; beyond 7 spaces, -2 penalty.
• Count spaces diagonally, always shortest path. Count target space, not firing space.
• Result ≥ target’s Defense value: Hit. Infantry flips to damaged side or is eliminated. Light vehicles become wrecks. Heavy vehicles check damage location.
• Terrain provides defense bonuses (buildings, hedgerows, etc.).
• Line of Sight: Must have clear LOS to target. Terrain, wrecks, and buildings may block.

Suppression

Suppressed units (marked with token) cannot fire or move. Tokens removed during Supply Phase.

Scoring / Victory Conditions

Games last up to 8 rounds or as defined by the scenario. Victory is determined by:

• Meeting scenario-specific objectives (controlling objective markers).
• Earning victory points through Breaking Points: when enough units from a recruitment tile/option are destroyed (number of red squares), the tile flips and the opponent earns its printed victory points.
• If a player has no Order tokens left to place, the game ends at the end of the current round.
• The player meeting the scenario’s VP threshold or objectives wins.

Special Rules & Edge Cases

• Unit counters have two sides: Front (full strength) and back (damaged/reduced). Some units are eliminated when hit on their damaged side.
• Heavy vehicle damage: When hit, determine damage location (turret, hull, tracks, etc.) which may disable weapons, immobilize, or destroy.
• Light vehicle wrecks: Become terrain overlays (obstacles). Can be removed under certain rules.
• Buildings: Provide defense bonuses. ZoC of units inside buildings does not extend outside. Special rules for entering/exiting.
• Action cards: Played during appropriate phases for tactical advantages (Opportunity Fire, Ambush, Artillery, Aviation, etc.). Command cards (Artillery/Aviation) require specific recruitment options.
• Special Order tokens: Act before Order #1 (“Order 0”). Obtained via High Command card or Battle Plan option. Max 2 per player.
• Multiplayer rules included for more than 2 players.
• Allocate losses to recruitment options before recruitment tiles.

Player Reference

Unit Type	Defense Color	Notes
Infantry	Yellow	Affected by ZoC
Light Vehicle	Purple	Becomes wreck when destroyed
Heavy Vehicle	Gray	Damage location determines effect

Phase	What Happens
Orders	Alternate placing numbered Order tokens on units
Activation	Reveal orders in ascending number; Move/Assault or Fire
Supply	Remove suppression, non-activated units may move, draw cards to 4

Combat: Attacker rolls dice + combat bonus vs. target type. Result ≥ Defense = Hit.

Breaking Point: When destroyed units equal red squares on a recruitment tile, opponent earns VP.