Overview

Hue is a tactical-level wargame simulating the Battle of Hue during the 1968 Tet Offensive of the Vietnam War. Originally published by Simulations Design Corporation in 1973 as “Battle for Hue” (a pull-out game in Conflict #6), it was reissued by Mayfair Games in 1982 as a boxed set with a new map and revised rules. One player commands the North Vietnamese/Viet Cong forces that captured the city, while the other player controls American and South Vietnamese forces attempting to retake it through fierce urban combat.

Components

• 1 Game map (city of Hue with urban terrain)
• Unit counters (NVA/VC and US/ARVN forces)
• Combat Results Table (CRT)
• Terrain effects chart
• Turn track
• Die/dice
• Rules booklet

Setup

1. Lay out the map of Hue.
2. The NVA/VC player places forces in defensive positions throughout the city as specified by the scenario.
3. The US/ARVN player places forces at designated entry points and any initial positions.
4. Set the turn track to turn 1.

Turn Structure

Each game turn consists of:

1. NVA/VC Phase — Move and attack with communist forces.
2. US/ARVN Phase — Move and attack with allied forces.
3. Supply/Reinforcement Phase — Check supply and bring in reinforcements.
4. Administration Phase — Advance turn marker, check victory conditions.

Actions

Movement

• Units move using movement points through urban terrain.
• Buildings, streets, walls, and rubble affect movement costs.
• Urban combat creates close-quarters engagements.

Combat

• Combat is resolved using odds ratios on the Combat Results Table.
• Urban terrain provides significant defensive bonuses.
• Street fighting, building-to-building combat, and strongpoint assaults are modeled.

Fire Support

• The US/ARVN player may have access to artillery and air support.
• Fire support is limited by rules of engagement and the risk of civilian casualties.

Scoring / Victory Conditions

• The US/ARVN player wins by recapturing key areas of Hue within the allotted number of turns.
• The NVA/VC player wins by holding significant portions of the city.
• Victory points may be awarded for controlling key buildings, the Imperial Citadel, and other strategic locations.

Special Rules & Edge Cases

• Urban warfare: The game specifically models the challenges of fighting in a dense urban environment, including limited lines of sight and close-range combat.
• Imperial Citadel: The historic Citadel of Hue is a key objective with special defensive properties.
• Rules of engagement: Fire support restrictions reflect the historical concern about damaging the ancient city.
• Historical accuracy: Designed only five years after the actual battle, praised for accurately simulating the fierce street fighting.
• Civilian presence: The urban setting introduces considerations not present in open-terrain wargames.

Player Reference

Player	Forces	Objective
NVA/VC	North Vietnamese Army & Viet Cong	Hold the city
US/ARVN	US Marines & South Vietnamese Army	Recapture the city

Terrain	Effect
Buildings	Strong defense bonus
Streets	Movement corridors
Citadel	Key objective, enhanced defense
Rubble	Movement hindrance, partial cover