BOLT ACTION™ - FIELD MANUAL - WAGE WORLD WAR II ON YOUR TABLETOP!

WAGE WORLD WAR II ON YOUR TABLETOP!

®
®

FIELD MANUAL
Component Code: 4070000062
© 2024 Warlord Games Ltd. All Rights Reserved. Warlord Games, the Warlord Games logo,
Warlord Resin, Warlord Resin Plus, Bolt Action and the Bolt Action logo are either ® or ™,
and/or © Warlord Games Limited, variably registered around the world.

WAGE WORLD WAR II ON YOUR TABLETOP!

WARLORDGAMES.COM
Printed in the UK – 1st printing
German Grenadiers prepare to meet the advancing Allies in Normandy
Engage and destroy! – US Marines close in on an encroaching Japanese battalion

British Infantry
(Late War) Italian Army
Blackshirts

Tiger Hunt! American Shermans surround and bring down the German ‘big cat’ Blitzkrieg! A German column advances, ready to take the fight to the enemy
 Contents
INTRODUCTION . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 Basic Concepts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19 Painting the Model. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39
THE BOLT ACTION HOBBY. . . . . . . . . . . 4 Rolling Dice. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19 Undercoats. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39
Collect. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 Measurement . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19 Base Coats . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39
Build. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 Units. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19 Wash. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39
Paint. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 Line of Sight . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19 Highlights . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39
Play Games. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6 MISSIONS. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20 Make it Pop! . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39
THE SECOND WORLD WAR . . . . . . . . . . 8 US Rangers Sprue Guide. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20 Basing. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39
Germany Strikes!. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8 German Grenadiers Sprue Guide . . . . . . . 21 How to Paint German Grenadiers. . . . . . . 40
Duel in the Sun. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9 Mission 1 – First Contact. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22 How to Paint US Rangers. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 42
Ostfront . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10 Orders: Run, Fire Advance. . . . . . . . . . . . 23 NEXT STEPS. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 45
Empire in Flames. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11 Mission 2 – Defensive Positions. . . . . . . . . 25 Bolt Action: Third Edition. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 45
Battleground Europe. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12 Cover Saves. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27 Bolt Action.com . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 45
BUILDING MINIATURES. . . . . . . . . . . . . 14 Mission 3 – The Whites of their Eyes . . . . 28 Growing Your Collection – US. . . . . . . . . . 46
Tools You Need. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14 Close Combat / Submachine Guns. . . . . 29 Growing Your Collection – Germany. . . . 48
Identifying Parts. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14 Mission 4 – We’re Pinned Down, Sir!. . . . 30 OTHER NATIONS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 50
Using Clippers. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14 Morale Value / Pinned / Order Tests. . . . 30 Great Britain & British Commonwealth. . . . 50
Check Fit . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14 Down, Rally . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31 Japan . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 52
Gluing Parts Together. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14 Mission 5 – Armour Incoming! . . . . . . . . . 32 Soviet Union. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 54
Cleaning Mould Lines. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14 Ambush / Bazooka Team . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33 Italy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 56
Armoured Vehicles . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34 Other Allies. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 58
PLAYING GAMES. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16
Pick-Up Games. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16 Medium Machine Gun. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34 Other Axis. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 60
Narrative Play . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16 Damaging the Half-Track. . . . . . . . . . . . . 34
GAMING TABLES . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 64
Competitive Play . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17 Mission 6 – All Out War! . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36
Gaming Mats. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 64
How to Play. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17 PAINTING GUIDES . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38 Textured Gaming Tables. . . . . . . . . . . . . 64
Turns . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17 Before You Begin. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38 Scatter Terrain. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 65
Turn Sequence. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17 Paint. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38
THE WARLORD WEBSTORE . . . . . . . . . 66
Order Dice. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18 Brushes. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38
Losing Dice . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18 Water . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38 EVENTS. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 66
Pins and Pin Markers. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18 Palette. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38 STORE FINDER. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 67

CREDITS
Written By: Photography:
Peter Gosling, Dan Hewitson, Marcus Vine Melissa Daurie, Dan Hewitson, Phil Stovin,
Product Manager: Peter Gosling Ian Strickland, Adam Want, Darek Wyrozebski

Artwork: Peter Dennis, Steve Noon Design & Production Team:

Dylan Owen, Phil Stovin, Ian Strickland, Adam Want
Miniatures Sculpting & Painting:
Andrés Amián Fernández, Wojtek Flis, Special Thanks:
Jamie Getliffe, Kirsten Williams, Darek Wyrozebski Alessio Cavatore, Paul Sawyer, John Stallard

Component Code: 4070000062

© 2024 Warlord Games Ltd. All Rights Reserved. Warlord Games, the Warlord Games logo,
Warlord Resin, Warlord Resin Plus, Bolt Action and the Bolt Action logo are either ® or ™,
and/or © Warlord Games Limited, variably registered around the world.

WARLORDGAMES.COM
Printed in the UK – 1st printing

Contents – 1
Introduction
Welcome to the world of Bolt Action – the world’s greatest World War II wargame! Whether you are a wargaming
veteran, returning to the hobby or just starting out in your journey of tabletop battles, this guide will give you an
introduction to playing atmospheric, fast, fun, and furious games set during World War II.

Bolt Action is a hobby where players collect and paint paint their miniatures. It’s up to you – you choose how you
miniatures to represent armies from World War II, and play want to enjoy Bolt Action.
tabletop wargames against their opponents. With a huge
variety of historical units to choose from, and endless army- This Field Manual gives you information on all aspects
building options, you can build your army exactly how you of the Bolt Action hobby. You’ll build a collection of
want it. miniatures, ready to start a bigger army, learn how to paint
them and get to grips with the basic fundamentals of the
There are lots of different ways to enjoy Bolt Action. Some game. Once you’ve mastered all of this, we’ll also show you
people prefer to re-enact historical battles such as Pegasus where to go next.
Bridge or the Normandy Beach landings on D-Day, while
others prefer to use World War II as the setting and mix
early and late war troops to play battles that never took
place. There are players who like to have huge collections
and choose forces depending on the game scenario, and
others who choose not to play but to collect, customise and

2 – Bolt Action Field Manual

British Airborne hold Pegasus Bridge against a German counterattack

German Panzer
Lehr squad

US troops charge across Utah Beach in the face of withering fire from German defenders

Introduction – 3
The Bolt Action Hobby
German
Wargaming is not just about putting models on a table soldier Japanese
soldier
and rolling dice. There’s a whole lot more to immerse
yourself in. Starting from your very first decision of which
army to collect, before putting together an army list, US
building your models and painting them, there’s a whole soldier
lot more to Bolt Action!

British Italian
Collect soldier soldier

World War II was massive in scope, involving a plethora

Soviet
of belligerent nations, each with their own uniforms, soldier
equipment, weapons and vehicles, all ever-evolving
across six years during which technology developed at an
alarming pace. The Bolt Action miniatures range is similarly
expansive, offering stupendous depth and variety, and
allowing you to muster a vast array of troops able to tackle you to tailor your army on a game-by-game basis, or over
any tabletop task. the course of a campaign, rendering you capable of taking
on any and all challengers, no matter the scenario.
The way you build armies in Bolt Action is intuitive,
grouping similar types of units into types of Platoon, Thanks to the wealth of troop types, weapons and vehicles
such as Heavy Weapons, Artillery, Engineer and the all- that populated World War II, your ever-growing collection
important Rifle Platoon. As you grow your collection, will never be short of new miniatures to paint, or new
you’ll arm yourself with ever more options, in turn enabling tactics to try out on a tabletop battlefield.

American forces land on Omaha Beach – the liberation of Europe has begun!

4 – Bolt Action Field Manual

Build
From the basic infantryman to the mighty German
Jagdpanther, Bolt Action kits offer a lot of flexibility
when you’re putting them together, and the end result
is that your collection becomes truly one of a kind.

The core of any force is the infantry – Bolt Action

plastic infantry kits are multi-part, and full of options,
giving you a tremendous amount of flexibility when it
comes to assembling your squads. You can choose poses
and arm your new soldiers as you see fit with a number
of weapons options provided on each plastic sprue. A
multitude of extra accessories can give your new troops
even more character. You can even combine multiple kits
to create yet more variety.

It’s not limited to infantry either, with vehicle kits often

coming with plenty of optional extras, such as stowage,
tools and more. Additional accessory packs are also
available separately – the potential variety is limitless!

Paint
There’s nothing quite like the spectacle of two (or more)
fully painted armies duking it out on a tabletop. Armed
with a few acrylic paints of different colours, a paintbrush
or two, a palette, and water to wash your brushes with,
you’ll have enough to get you started.

You can put as much or as little effort into painting

miniatures as you like. Perhaps you just want to do
enough to start playing games as quickly as possible,
or prefer to hone your craft and produce competition-
winning miniatures. There is no right or wrong way to
paint your models.
Assembling a US Ranger model

Painting a US Ranger model

The bolt action hobby – 5

Play Games
A typical game of Bolt Action is played on a 6' x 4' playing Indeed, building up a collection of your own terrain can
area, but this is by no means a hard and fast rule. Games be as much a part of the hobby as collecting an army itself.
can be as large or as small as you like, and can be played
just as easily on a kitchen table using a couple of books to What you will need to play are standard six-sided dice, a
pose as hills, as they can on a fully kitted out, terrain-filled tape measure for moving your miniatures and enough
gaming table. Bolt Action order dice of a single colour as you have units
in your army (more on those later).
Many solutions exist, including bespoke gaming mats,
lovingly crafted, textured gaming tables made for the
explicit purpose of wargaming, or the use of a local
gaming club or friendly local gaming store.

BOLTACTION.COM
This is the online home of Bolt Action. Here you’ll
find advice and guidance on collecting, painting and
playing games, and a repository of all the latest
Bolt Action articles. It’s the first port of call to find
out all the latest news, upcoming miniature and
book releases, and much more besides.

6 – Bolt Action Field Manual

 A gorgeous, thematic table like this
one elevates your games to the next
level, and is surprisingly easy to achieve
with readily available products such as
MDF buildings and resin stone walls – all
available from Warlord Games.

The bolt action hobby – 7

THE SECOND WORLD WAR
The history of World War II is vast, and certainly too much to present in the space we have available here. Suffice it to
say that ‘World War’ is a truly apt title, encompassing nearly every environment and climate on Earth over six years
of fighting. From the blasted dry heat of the North African desert, the dense tropics of Burmese jungles, across bitter
European winters on the Ostfront, the amphibious assaults on D-Day and the brutal city fights of Stalingrad and
Budapest, Bolt Action allows you to recreate all of these battles and more.
Blitzkrieg
Germany Strikes! German infantry
On 1st September, 1939, Germany shattered the peace of
Europe by invading Poland. The following year they swept
across the Low Countries and into France itself with their
famous Blitzkrieg tactics, and in less than two years became
the undisputed masters of mainland Europe.

Early-war armies look and feel significantly different

to other Bolt Action armies. Whilst the core tenets of
gameplay remain the same, the equipment used and the You could also field the French in their defence of their
tactical doctrines employed differ significantly. A Blitzkrieg homeland, the British Expeditionary force or the plucky
German army looks very different to a late war German armies of Belgium or Poland and try to stem the seemingly
army, for instance. unstoppable Blitzkrieg!

8 – Bolt Action Field Manual

 British

Duel in the Sun

8th Army
infantry
The battles in and around the Mediterranean theatre may
seem inconsequential when measured up against the more
well-known theatres of the war, but they were vital. The
initial clashes between British and Italian armies in Crete,
the desperate battles against German paratroopers on that
island, and the epic duels between legendary commanders
in the deserts of North Africa all had far-reaching After driving the Axis from North Africa, Allied forces
consequences for the war at large for both the Allies and invaded Italy via Sicily, but it proved tougher than expected.
the Axis. Despite the Italian Armistice of 1943, dogged German
defenders fought right up until war’s end. Amphibious
Desert-clad British Commonwealth and Afrika Korps landings, airborne raids and entrenched defensive actions
armies are especially popular amongst wargamers, with provide plenty of inspiration for collectors of the British
plenty of scope for tank battles, reconnaissance forces and Commonwealth, the US Army, the Italian Army (both Axis
special forces such as the British SAS. and post-armistice Allied) and the German Army.

Afrika Korps
infantry

The second world war– 9

Ostfront
The Soviet Union proved a step too far for Hitler’s
ambitions, and with troops spread thin, supply lines
straining and meeting an unexpectedly stoic resistance,
the advance faltered. The Battle of Stalingrad cemented
the fate of the Axis forces on the Ostfront, with the Soviets
subsequently pressing west, eventually into Berlin itself.

The Ostfront provides plenty of variety for games of

Bolt Action. As well as German forces, you might consider
fielding Hungarian, Italian, Finnish or Romanian troops
against the might and massed manpower of the Soviet
Union. Bitter city-fighting goes hand in hand with battles
over rural plains and dilapidated farmland. The harsh
weather conditions also allows the choice of theming your Germans advance through the bitter winter weather
troops for winter or (slightly) warmer climes.

Soviet
infantry

10 – Bolt Action Field Manual

Empire in flames
You may be forgiven, when thinking of the Pacific theatre,
for only picturing the amphibious operations conducted
by US forces as they swept the Japanese from a seemingly
endless series of tiny islands in some of the most ferocious
battles of the entire war. However, Japanese armies also
faced British and Commonwealth opposition in their
invasions of Burma and New Guinea.

In addition to featuring the forces of Imperial Japan, the

US Army and the United States Marines Corps, the conflict
in the Pacific allows Bolt Action players to do battle with
forces a little more niche, such as British Chindits, Gurkhas
and the Australian Army. With these forces you can recreate
all the famous battles of the Far East, such as Guadalcanal, US steel trundles through the jungle
Okinawa, Singapore, the Philippines and Iwo Jima.

Japanese
infantry

The second world war– 11

Battleground Europe
Germany’s complete and utter control of Western Europe
was shattered in June 1944, when Allied forces conducted
the most audacious invasion in military history. D-Day saw
the largest seaborne invasion ever enacted, supported by an
extensive airborne operation which resulted in the German
defenders being swept back from the Atlantic Wall and the
liberation of France. Such scenes have been immortalised
in the popular consciousness thanks to the likes of Saving
Private Ryan (some of the heads on the US Rangers sprue
in this set are modelled upon that film’s characters) and the
TV series, Band of Brothers.

D-Day laid the foundation for Germany’s eventual Americans neutralise Hitler’s defences in Normandy
surrender, but the war was not yet done. Bitter fighting
through the winter of 1944 in the Ardennes, the abortive
landings at Arnhem and the push into German
Berlin itself provide plenty of Volkssturm
wargaming and hobby inspiration.
For instance, there are the winter-
clad troops for the Battle of the
Bulge, infantry-focused US or British
airborne forces, and various flavours of
increasingly desperate German troops
as the Allies approach Berlin.

12 – Bolt Action Field Manual

The US Army, with air support, batters German defences in France

Endgame – A Soviet field gun targets German defenders on the streets of Berlin

World War II history – 13

Building Miniatures
CHECK FIT
Before you start
TOOLS YOU NEED Optional: gluing your
• Clippers • Craft Knife miniatures together,
• Plastic Glue • Mould Line Scraper it is a good idea to
check that they fit
as expected. This
IDENTIFYING PARTS affords you an
Using the sprue guide, you can identify which parts and opportunity to check
equipment you will need to clip out to assemble your how your models
models. This guide will tell you what parts to assemble for will look when complete, and allows you to experiment
each miniature as it progresses. Sprue guides for the US with different poses and equipment options.
Rangers sprue and German Grenadiers sprue can be found
on pages 20–21. GLUING PARTS TOGETHER
Apply a small amount
When you grow your collection, planning out what of plastic glue to each
equipment you want to give your miniatures is best done side of the parts you
before assembly. The unit entries found in the Armies are gluing together.
of... series of supplements provide information for which Hold the parts
models can be equipped with which equipment. together until a bond
has been formed. Be
USING CLIPPERS aware that plastic
The most useful glue takes time to set.
clippers for model
builders are those CLEANING MOULD LINES
which have a flat Mould lines, almost
back. These allow inevitable in plastic
you to clip close miniatures, are
to the part and easily cleaned up.
remove most of the Using a craft knife
connecting plastic or a mould line tool,
without too much gently scrape along
additional work. Clip as close to the miniatures as possible, the mould line until
taking care not to clip any parts of the model. it is gone.

Plastic Craft Knife

Glue
Clippers

Mould Line
Scraper

14 – Bolt Action Field Manual

 German
Grenadiers
Mission accomplished! The German guns are burning!

Soviet Assault
Engineers

Rangers lead the way – with the enemy in their sights, battle is imminent

building miniatures – 15
playing games
The most important thing to remember about Bolt Action is that there is no wrong way to play, so long as you’re
having fun! As you enter the wider Bolt Action community, you’ll find there are some common ways in which people
like to play, which have a few differences – all are great, and you’ll likely find yourself drawn to one or more types
quite quickly, but it’s always fun to try something new!

PICK-UP GAMES
‘Pick-up’ games are
probably the most
common, and certainly
the simplest way to play
Bolt Action - you just
turn up at your local
gaming club or store
with your army and ask
‘does anybody want
a game?’. You’ll find
a wide range of new
opponents this way, and
no two games will ever
be the same!

NARRATIVE PLAY
Your local gaming store is a great place to meet like-minded players and enjoy regular games
‘Narrative’ games are
those in which players
look to recreate or
refight a specific battle or campaign from World War II, together into entire campaigns, or played as ‘mega-games’
often using specially designed tables and armies to match at large events and conventions, with many players on
history as closely as possible. These games are often linked each side.

Fire and ice – a deadly confrontation during the Battle of the Bulge

16 – Bolt Action Field Manual

COMPETITIVE PLAY
Competitive play is aimed
at players who want to
test their mettle in head-
to-head tournaments.
Competitive armies often
look very different from
their historical counterparts,
and are fine-tuned for
performance on the tabletop.
Tournaments are designed to
provide fun and challenging
gameplay, and there’s a
thriving competitive scene all The Bolt Action Grand Tournament is the pinnacle of competitive play
over the world.

How to play
A game of Bolt Action is played across a number of turns. ORDER TABLE
These follow a really simple sequence, which is shown below.
Order Summary of Action
After a set number of turns, the game ends - hopefully with
your army victorious. Fire Fire at full effect without moving
Advance Move and then fire
Move at double speed without firing; also used
Run
Turns for assaulting
Ambush No move or fire, but wait for the opportunity to fire
Bolt Action is played in turns. A game typically lasts six to
seven turns. Unlike other games you may have played, Bolt Rally No move or fire, but lose all pin markers
Action uses a unique system of order dice to randomise the Down
No move or fire, but gain an extra +2 cover
sequence of player actions within the turn. We’ll discuss save modifier
these fully in a moment, but be prepared to act at any time
in the turn. Turn End Phase
Once all the order dice have been removed from the bag
TURN SEQUENCE and used to activate units, the turn ends - at this stage,
you can perform certain actions which
Orders Phase carry over into the next turn.
In this phase, you draw an order die
from the dice bag, and the player
A Bolt Action dice bag and
controlling that dice resolves a unit’s dice. Some players like
activation with it, as summarised by to have themed
the Order Table opposite. Once that dice bags.
order dice has been completed, you
draw again until all dice have been
removed from the bag.

This system ensures that so long as each

player has at least one dice in the bag,
you never know who’s going to go next.

playing games – 17
 A German convoy trundles along the featureless Russian steppe

Order Dice
Order Dice for German units
Order dice are at the very core of Bolt Action – they’re what
makes the game tick. Each face of these six-sided dice is
printed with a different order, corresponding to the actions
your units can perform. Each of your units will have an
order die assigned to it - as will your opponent’s units.

For learning with this Introductory Set, the player

controlling the American units uses olive drab coloured
order dice, and the player controlling the German units Order Dice for American units
uses grey coloured order dice.

LOSING DICE
At the start of each turn, each player puts one of their dice
in the bag per unit they have in the game. As they lose units,
the number of dice that go back in the bag at the start of
each turn will diminish. End up with too many, and you might find your unit
refusing to obey orders, or even running away.

Pins and Pin Markers You’ll find a set of cardboard pin markers
included on the punchboard in this
The other core mechanic of Bolt Action that it’s important set, but there are many kinds in use
to be aware of is pinning. We’ll go into this in more detail throughout the community, from
once the shooting starts, but in brief, pinning represents plastic ‘dial’ type markers to simple
the demoralising effect of being shot at. As a unit takes dice - the crucial thing is, they
more fire, it can accumulate more and more pin markers. clearly show how many pins a unit has.

18 – Bolt Action Field Manual

Basic Concepts
Bolt Action utilises some key concepts across many aspects
of the game – at certain times as you read and play, you’ll
need to make use of these. You can always refer back to this
section if you’re not sure what to do.

ROLLING DICE
We use six-sided dice in Bolt Action
to determine the outcome of many
situations - they represent the
fortunes of war. The usual way to see
these dice represented is ‘D6’ - if three Open fire! Soviet artillery spots the enemy
dice are needed, you’ll see ‘3D6’, and so on.

When you need to roll a die, you’ll also have a ‘target’ score LINE OF SIGHT
- normally you need to roll equal to or above that target For a unit to shoot or charge an enemy unit, it has to be
number in order to succeed at whatever you’re attempting. able to see its target. In Bolt Action, we call this ‘line of
For example, a roll requiring a 4+ would succeed on a 4, 5 sight’, and it’s a very simple but important part of the game.
or 6.
In most cases, it’s fairly obvious if one unit can see another,
MEASUREMENT but sometimes it may not be so clear. In these instances, it’s
All measurements in Bolt Action use inches, represented best to crouch down to get a ‘model’s eye view’, and literally
by the " symbol. Use a measuring tape to work out the see what your unit can see. When it comes to line of sight,
distances between units and to see how far your models can we consider that you need to be able to see most of a model,
move and shoot. not just a toe or finger peeking out from behind a wall.

UNITS
A ‘unit’ in Bolt Action is a model or group of models that
has an order die assigned to it. When we talk about a unit,
we mean all of the models in that group! All the models in
a unit must remain within at least 2" of another model from
the unit, and no two units, friend or foe, may be closer than
1" to each other.

7
3
You can’t shoot what you can’t see – move your units into the right position before firing

playing games – 19
missions
Over the next few pages you’ll find a series of introductory missions. These use the models and tokens included in
this set, and are designed to be played in order – each introduces a new facet of the game and expands on previous
information. Once you’ve played through them, you’ll be ready to take your next steps into the world of Bolt Action.

Because these missions are designed to show you how and poses can produce fantastic results with minimal effort.
specific aspects of the game work, there are a number of If you follow the guides, you’ll find yourself with a pair of
changes from the ‘full’ game in the first few scenarios. The great looking forces in no time at all, and from there you
most noticeable of these is that in the opening missions we’ll can let your creativity take the reins. Below, and on the
be using units made up of only a few models. This is so you opposite page, you’ll find the full inventory of parts on each
can get started and have a basic feel for the game without of the sprues provided in this set.
needing to build the entire contents of the box first.
In your box, you’ll find a paper battle mat - this will be the
Each mission includes a guide on how to build the models battleground for your first few missions. Lay it out on a table,
required for that mission. While there is no ‘wrong’ way desk or even on the floor - any flat surface will do. The mat is
to assemble your miniatures, certain combinations of parts double-sided, giving you a choice of terrain to fight on.

US Rangers Sprue Guide

1: Colt 1911 pistol in
M1916 holster 33
19 19 25
2: Private Jackson’s head 11 40
3: Private First Class 19
32 39 47 49
18
Reiben’s head
31 48
4: Private Mellish’s head
5: Private First Class 38 46 51 55
10 18 20
Caparzo’s head
30
6: Technical Sergeant 37
Horvath’s head 9 17
24 45
7: Captain Miller’s head 8
16
8: Head in M1 steel helmet/
M44 goggles
9: Hand grenades 29
7 36
10: Thompson SMG 15 54
magazine pouches 8
23
11: Ammunition bandoliers 53
5 43
12: M1938 wirecutters 14 44
35
13: Right hand with M3 50
4 22 28
trench knife
13
14: M3 trench knife in scabbard 3 27 42 52
15: M1910 pick-mattock 12
2 12 34
16 & 17: Arms carrying 21 26 41
Thompson SMG 1
18: TL-122 flashlight
19: M1910 axe 29: Lunging body 39: Arms firing M1 Garand rifle 50: M1928 haversack with M1910
20: Left arm holding Bazooka rocket 30: Running body 40: Map case entrenching tool
21: Right arm carrying satchel charge 31: Crouching body 41: Left arm with M1936 musette bag 51: M1928 haversack
22: Right arm carrying M1A1 42 & 43: Arms holding M1 Garand rifle 52: M1910 canteen
32 & 33: Springfield 1903A4 sniper rifle
Bangalore torpedoes 44: Right arm throwing grenade 53: M1910 canteen and 225Q
34: Left arm with shouldered M1 carbine
23: Left arm with Bazooka rocket bag 45 & 46: Arms carrying M1 Garand rifle combat knife
35: Striding body
24 & 25: Arms with M1 Bazooka 47: Left arm carrying helmet 54: M1910 canteen with M1936
26: Right arm holding Thompson SMG 36: Braced body 48: M1937 BAR ammunition pouches musette bag
27 & 28: Arms with Browning 37: Advancing body 49: M1937 BAR ammunition pouches 55: Heads in M1 steel helmet
Automatic Rifle 38: Arms carrying M1 carbine with first aid pouch

20 – Bolt Action Field Manual

 US Rangers engage Germans in a fierce firefight

German Grenadiers Sprue Guide

1: Head in covered stahlhelm 60
2: Bare head 15
2 20
3: Head in field cap 30 37
16 38
4: Head in officer’s peaked cap 59
21
5: Head in stahlhelm 3
6: Spare covered stahlhelm 18 17 22
31 44
7: Gewehr 43 ammunition pouches 3 39
19 23 58
8: MG 42 accessory pouch & 45
pistol holster
4
9: Rifle grenade attachment 6
33 40
10: Bayonet 32
5 8 7 24 46 57
11: Iron Cross medal
12: Soviet PPSh submachine gun 9
13: Kar 98K rifle 34 56
47
14: MP 40 submachine gun 25 41
50
15: Carrying arm 10
12
16 & 17: Weapon arms advancing 11
26 55
18: Grenade throwing arm 35 42 48
1
19: MG 42 ammunition belt 51 55
27
20: Arms firing Kar 98k rifle 13
21: Officer map case 49
55
22: Gewehr 43 semi-automatic rifle
23: Panzerfaust anti-tank weapon 14 36
28 29 43 52 54
24: Arms firing Panzerfaust 53
25: Arm with MG 42 ammunition case
26: MP 40 submachine gun 34: Arms with Gewehr 43 42: Advancing body 55: Gas Mask case
27: MP 40/MG 42/Assault rifle right arm 35: Body in M99 uniform 43: Body in Zeltbahn tent quarter 56: Gas Mask case and bayonet
28: MP 40 left arm 36: Advancing body poncho advancing 57: StG 44 assault rifle
29: Assault rifle/MG 42 left arm 44: Left arm for StG 44 assault rifle 58: MP 40 submachine gun
37: Left arm holding map
30: Body in Zeltbahn tent 45: StG 44 assault rifle ammunition pouches
38: Right arm with field glasses
quarter poncho ammunition pouches 59: MG 42 light machine gun
31: Kneeling body 39: Arms holding Kar 98K rifle 46: Right arm with StG 44 60: MG 42 bipod
32: Leg for kneeling body 40: Arms with StG 44 assault rifle assault rifle
33: MG 42 spare barrel case 41: MG 42 carrying arm 47–54: Personal equipment

Missions – 21
mission 1 – First Contact
This mission introduces you to the core of Bolt Action – UNIT PROFILE
movement and shooting. Each unit has the following profile:

UNITS Composition 3 men

Both players command a unit of three models with rifles. Weapons Rifles – range: 24"; 1 shot

American 50 18 43
55
55 55
53 52

Models 42 50 50 50

For this mission,

you’ll need to 45
assemble three 52

American 31 46 43 42

soldiers, each 2
armed with a 46 39
37

rifle. We suggest
50
you use the 29
components
outlined here. 31
45
29

55

39

37
50 18

1 1

German 19 1
18
5

Models 18 15

You’ll also need 42

15
19
three German
soldiers, again 22
21
each armed with 55
21
22 20

rifles – follow the

steps shown here 5

to get them ready 55

for action. 43
35
39

53 39
43

42
1
49
50
35
53
49

50
20

55 55

22 – Bolt Action Field Manual

SET UP 3"
Each player sets up their units as shown on the map (right),
and places one of their order dice into the dice bag. German Set
Up Area
OBJECTIVES
Be the first to destroy an enemy unit.

FIRST TURN
One player draws a single order die from the dice bag,
without looking. The player whose die is drawn may now
issue an order to one of their units.
American
ORDERS Set Up Area
For this scenario, three orders may be given as follows:
3"
Sometimes you want your troops to move direction you want it to travel, then move it up to 12" so that
forward as quickly as possible, to secure a the base edge is not placed past this maximum distance. You
RUN
strategic position or to get the heck out of don’t have to move the entire 12" if you don’t want to!
Dodge. To do so, you can issue a Run order.
When a unit is ordered to Run, it may move up to 12" in any Repeat this process for each of the models in your unit,
direction. Measure from the front of your model’s base in the ensuring that, when they have completed their move, no
model in your unit is further than 1" away from another
model in the same unit, and that no models in the unit are
within 1" of any enemy model.

Stay in Formation!
Models within a unit must remain ‘within formation’
– no single model can be further than 1" from at least
one other model in the unit. Soldiers fight in units
so it’s important that they stay close together on the
Remember – always measure from battlefield to support each other.
the front of the base when moving

Quietly, men… they haven’t seen us yet!

mission 1 – first contact – 23

 Most of your men are armed with rifles. The
most accurate soldier is one who isn’t moving,
FIRE
taking the time to aim at their target. This is
Rolling Dice
achieved by issuing a Fire order. There’s no need to roll dice one at a time. Instead,
work out how many of your models are in
range and roll that many dice at once. In
When a unit is ordered to Fire, it may not move, but may
addition to speeding up and streamlining
shoot with all the weapons it is equipped with. For this first
play, there’s a certain satisfaction in
mission, all men are equipped with rifles, with a maximum rolling a whole fistful of dice…
range of 24".

First, choose a target. To check you are within range to

shoot, first measure between the closest base edge of the of another whilst traversing the battlefield, the unit’s aim is
model firing and the base edge of the nearest model in the rattled. This is reflected with a -1 penalty to the ‘to hit’ roll,
target unit. If this distance is 24" or less then you’re in range meaning each model in the unit will hit on a dice roll of 5+.
to shoot. For any hits scored, roll to wound on a 4+ as normal.

Repeat this process for each model in the firing unit. For Once the first player has issued their unit an order and
each model found to be in range, roll a dice - for each roll completed an assigned action, draw the second order
of 4+ they’ve hit their target. die from the dice bag, and repeat the above procedure for
the opposing side - this is the end of your first turn of
We’ll then need to see if those hits become wounds. For Bolt Action.
each hit scored roll a further die. On another 4+ a model
in the target unit is killed and removed from the table. DESTROYING A UNIT
The target unit’s controlling player chooses which of their If all the models in a unit are killed, that unit is destroyed.
models is removed. Remove an order die from play and place it to one side - it
no longer returns to the dice bag.
On occasion, you’ll want the best of both
worlds, moving your troops into position END OF TURN
ADVANCE whilst laying down enough fire to keep Place both order dice in the dice bag - you’re ready to start
your opponents’ heads down. An Advance a new turn.
order allows your troops to move and fire, but at slightly
reduced accuracy. GAME DURATION
The game ends immediately as soon as one unit has
When a unit is ordered to Advance, it may move in the been destroyed.
same way as described for a Run order, but may only do
so up to a maximum distance of 6". The unit may then fire VICTORY
its weapons as described for a Fire order. However, being The player who destroys their opponent’s unit first wins
preoccupied with the process of putting one foot in front the game.

German Panzergrenadiers advance, equipped with the latest weaponry and supported by a mighty Jagdpanzer IV

24 – Bolt Action Field Manual

 mission 2 – Defensive Positions
A ruined farmhouse on the battlefield has a commanding view of
the surrounding area – whoever controls it dominates the entire
terrain. This mission demonstrates one of the most important
parts of Bolt Action – cover saves.

The ruined farmhouse included in this introductory set

can be assembled in a number of ways. We suggest that
you build yours to match the example shown here.
Remember to dry fit each part. For more on assembling
plastic models, see page 14.

Ruined
Farmhouse

A bombed-out village conceals a deadly trap…

mission 2 – defensive positions – 25

UNITS The German player is outnumbered in this engagement
The American player commands two units, each of three and commands one unit of five men equipped with rifles.
men armed with rifles. You’ve built one of these units Use the three models you’ve already built for Mission 1
already for Mission 1 (see page 22). Details on constructing (page 22). Tips on constructing the other two German
the other three models are given below. models are shown below.

American 5
13

Models 50 50 50
21
For this mission,
you’ll need to
add a second 50
36
34
unit of three 43 42

men with rifles.

Assemble them 2 38
36 35 34

as shown here.
Note that for 35

the first model 50 38

shown, you’ll
need to remove 30

the hand for part 42

21, and replace 6 21

it with the hand
with the knife 30
43

(part 13).
13
50

6 5 2

German 3

Models
3
18
44 18
13 8

Build two
8
additional
13
soldiers with 35

rifles as shown 20

here to reinforce 1
your troops.
43

35
20
47

43

UNIT PROFILES
American Units
44
47

Composition 3 men
Weapons Rifles – range: 24"; 1 shot

German Unit
Composition 5 men
Weapons Rifles – range: 24"; 1 shot

26 – Bolt Action Field Manual

SET UP
Each player sets up their units as shown on the map shown
on the right. The American player places two order dice 6"
into the dice bag, while the German player places one.
German Unit 6"
OBJECTIVES Inside Ruin
The American player must drive the Germans out of the 2"
ruined farmhouse, while the German player must stop the
American attack.
American
FIRST TURN Unit 2
Play through this scenario using exactly the same turn American
sequence and order options as the previous mission. Unit 1
However, there’s one very important new feature that’s
2"
being introduced here – cover saves.

COVER SAVES
Whilst at least half of the models in the German unit are
within the area of the ruined house, all models in that unit
gain a 4+ cover save. Roll a D6 for any such model hit and
damaged by a shooting attack from the Americans. On a
4+, no damage is suffered from that shot.

Note that if you receive two hits and ‘kills’, you would need
to roll two cover saves, and so on.

The Germans have fewer men (and order dice) than the
Americans, so keeping them in cover is a good idea.
Remember – you can see into and
out of the ruins, but not all the way
RUINED HOUSE through them.
In addition to the rules for cover mentioned above, the
ruined house blocks line-of-sight - models can see inside it
and out of it, but they cannot see all the way through it.
GAME DURATION
The game lasts until one side has achieved their victory
conditions, as described below.

VICTORY
The American player wins if they destroy the German
player’s unit. The German player wins if they destroy both
of the American player’s units.

They’re in the ruins – open fire!

mission 2 – defensive positions – 27

Mission 3 – the Whites of Their Eyes
This mission teaches you the art of close-quarters fighting. Charge home and take the enemy down the old-fashioned
way, with cold steel!

UNITS for the previous missions to represent these. One man on

The American and German players each have a single unit each side is armed with a submachine gun. You’ll need
comprising five men. Four men in each unit are armed with to construct the models armed with these weapons, and
rifles, and you can use some of the riflemen you’ve built examples on how to do so are shown below.

50

American with submachine gun

You only need to build one additional 3

model for this scenario – and he’s armed

with a powerful submachine gun, using the
components shown below.
3

16
30
17
30
17
50

16

30
38 German with submachine gun
37
Only a single extra man is required, armed with a
submachine gun like his American counterpart and
4 built as shown here.
8 4

51 37
38

30

54
14
51
14
8
54

UNIT PROFILE OBJECTIVES

Each unit on each side has the profile shown below. This mission is brutally simple - engage in close combat
and destroy the enemy before they destroy you!
Composition 5 men

Weapons
Rifles – range: 24"; 1 shot FIRST TURN
Submachine gun – range: 12”; 2 shots, Assault One player draws an order die at random from
the dice bag. The player controlling the unit RUN
SET UP that is activated must immediately execute a
Each player sets up their units as shown on the map on the Run order - charging their models straight into contact
opposite page, and places one order dice in the dice bag. with the enemy unit.

28 – Bolt Action Field Manual

 US Rangers

Note that, ordinarily, your models may not be within 1" of an

enemy model (see Units, page 19), but close-quarters combat
is an exception. You need to be close to fight hand-to-hand! German Unit

CLOSE COMBAT
When two units fight in open ground, they strike each
other simultaneously. Roll a D6 for every model in your
unit, while your opponent does the same. Each roll of a 4+ 12"
kills an enemy model – it’s as brutal as that!

The winner of the combat is the unit which kills more

enemy models. The losing unit is immediately destroyed
entirely, and all its models are removed from play.
American Unit
If the number of kills is the same for both units, remove
the destroyed models, and immediately
repeat the process.

SUBMACHINE GUNS
Some weapons, such as submachine guns,
have the Assault rule, which means they
don’t suffer the -1 penalty for moving
and firing. In addition, they make models
better in close quarters. When fighting
the combat as described above, roll the
dice for models armed with submachine
guns at the same time as the others, but
keep them separate. If these dice fail to
roll a 4+ ‘kill’, you may immediately roll
them again. Note that the second result
stands, even if it’s another miss.

GAME DURATION
The game continues until one unit
defeats the other in close combat.

VICTORY
The player who destroys their opponent’s
unit in close combat wins. It is entirely
possible that both squads wipe each If the enemy unit is within 12”, it’s within range of a charge
other out - in this case, it’s a draw.

mission 3 – the whites of their eyes – 29

Mission 4 – We’re pinned down, sir!
This mission teaches you about one of the most crucial and important mechanics of Bolt Action: pinning.

UNITS 20
Both players each have two units of three men armed
with rifles. Use the riflemen models already built
for the previous missions. The German player has to 31

construct one extra rifleman for his side.

32

German 55
1

with rifle
20

Build one 1

soldier armed 31
55

with a rifle
to add to
52 52
your force. 32

UNIT PROFILE OBJECTIVES

The objective of this mission is two-fold - both players must
Composition 3 men
rally their pinned unit and then destroy the enemy units.
Weapons Rifles – range: 24"; 1 shot
FIRST TURN
SET UP One player draws an order die at random from the dice
Each player sets up their units as shown on the map below, bag and uses it to activate a unit. For the purpose of this
and places two order dice in the dice bag. mission, four orders can be given: Fire, Advance, Run
and Rally.
PIN MARKERS
Pinning represents the demoralising effect of MORALE VALUE
being shot at. As a unit takes more fire, it can Each unit has a morale value, which is a measure of how
accumulate more and more pin markers. To likely the unit is to follow orders under fire. For the purpose
demonstrate the effects of pinning, one unit of this mission, all units have a morale value of 9.
on each side begins the game pinned. After set
up, each player chooses one of their units and places two PINNED
pin markers next to it. Every time a unit is fired at by an enemy unit and suffers
one or more hits as a result, place a single pin marker next
2" to it. Each pin marker on a unit decreases its morale value
6" by 1.
!
Pinned
2" If a player wants to activate a unit that is pinned, the unit
German must take an order test to see if it can summon up the
Units courage to obey. In addition, if any unit is pinned, it suffers
a -1 to hit when shooting.

2" American ORDER TESTS

Units If a unit is required to make an order test, the controlling
player rolls 2D6. In order to succeed, the player must roll
Pinned! equal to or below the unit’s morale value (which is 9 for
6" all units in this mission), taking into account negative
2" modifiers caused by pins.

30 – Bolt Action Field Manual

If the roll succeeds, the unit removes one pin marker and In games of Bolt Action, the purpose of this order is to
may carry out the order issued to it. If the roll does not remove pins that have accumulated on a unit, before they
succeed, the unit does not carry out the order - instead, become overwhelming.
turn its assigned order dice to Down as the troops refuse to
obey instructions and hit the dirt! In order to Rally, a unit must take an order test as described
previously, but always makes this test using its unmodified
DOWN morale value, ignoring all pin markers. If the test is
If a unit has gone Down, it takes no further part successful, the unit takes no further action but immediately
in the turn – the troops are too busy taking DOWN removes all of its pin markers.
cover to do anything else! Units which have a
Down order dice next to them receive a 5+ cover save in Once the first unit has been activated, repeat the process
open ground. until all order dice have been drawn and used, then put
them all back in the bag (excluding any destroyed units)
If a unit would receive a cover save from being in terrain and repeat.
such as the ruined farmhouse, it receives a +2 bonus to its
cover save. So a unit in the ruins that goes Down receives a GAME DURATION
2+ cover save, instead of the usual 4+. The game lasts until both units from one side have
been destroyed.
RALLY
Rally is a unique order in Bolt Action. It represents VICTORY
the soldiers in a unit gathering their courage, RALLY The victor of this mission is the player who destroys
passing around water and ammunition, and both of their opponent’s units – this can be by shooting or
generally readying themselves to get back into the fight. close combat.

“Did you hear something?” – An American column marches into a deadly ambush

mission 4 – we’re pinned down, sir! – 31

Mission 5 – Armour incoming!
This mission introduces you to vehicles in Bolt Action. While it’s primarily a game of infantry combat, vehicles of all kinds
can be fielded in support. When used well, they can be powerful assets, but there are many ways to counter them.

UNITS Sd.Kfz 251 half-track

The American side has a five-man squad vehicle token
armed with rifles, and one two-man
team with one Bazooka and one rifle.
The German side has a five-man squad
armed with rifles, and one Sd.Kfz. 251 half-
track, represented by the cardboard vehicle token.

You have enough models already to represent the

riflemen. The American player needs to build the
Bazooka weapons team as shown below.

American Bazooka Weapons Team 25

4 25
24

20 55
50 31 24 31

12

52

55

15
23
50 20
50
4 52
23 35
52
35
50 52
15
12

German Half-track UNIT PROFILES

The cardboard vehicle token is simple to put American Riflemen
together, as shown below.
Composition 5 men
Weapons Rifles – range: 24"; 1 shot

American Bazooka Team

Composition 2 men
1 x Bazooka – range: 24”; 1 shot
Weapons
1 x Rifle – range: 24”; 1 shot

German Riflemen
Composition 5 men
Weapons Rifles – range: 24"; 1 shot

German Sd.Kfz 251 Half-track

Weapon Medium machine gun – range: 36"; 3 shots

32 – Bolt Action Field Manual

 SET UP
Each player sets up their units as shown right, and places 3"
two order dice in the dice bag. German
Unit
OBJECTIVES
The objective for the American player is to destroy the
German
German player’s armoured transport, while the German Half-track
player must destroy both of the American player’s units.
Bazooka Team
FIRST TURN American
The beginning of this mission is a bit different to previous Inside Ruin
Unit
ones. The German half-track is a powerful asset in such a
small-scale engagement, so we need to level the playing field 2"
a little by providing the Americans with a Bazooka team. 3" 2"
This mission also provides an opportunity to demonstrate
the last order printed on the order dice - Ambush.
The player whose units are in Ambush declares
Before the start of the game, the American player takes when they want their troops to open fire, and FIRE
one of their order dice from the bag, and places it next to the target unit is positioned accordingly. The
the Bazooka team, showing the Ambush order. Then, begin ambushing player flips the unit’s Ambush order
drawing dice at random as normal. to Fire and resolves the shooting as normal.

AMBUSH BAZOOKA TEAM

Ambush is a powerful order in Bolt Action as it The Bazooka team has the following statistics:
allows a unit to act outside of the normal turn AMBUSH
sequence, interrupting another unit’s activation. TYPE RANGE SHOTS PEN SPECIAL
The order represents your troops quite literally setting up Bazooka 24" 1 +5 –
an ambush - biding their time and waiting until an enemy
enters their sights before firing. The Bazooka team is made up of two men, but the loader is
too busy assisting the gunner to fire any weapon of his own –
Units that are in Ambush can interrupt any move made by the team only fires one shot per turn from the Bazooka.
any enemy unit to shoot at it. The ambushers can interrupt
at any point during the move, as long as they can see the If the Bazooka team suffers a casualty, remove the loader first
target at that point – before, during or as soon as movement – the gunner will keep firing alone. This is a simplification
is complete. of the full rules for team weapons for the purpose of this
scenario, but you’ll still want to be careful about exposing
your only anti-tank weapon.

Here comes that half-track! Get the Bazooka ready – we don’t wanna miss this one!

mission 5 – armour incoming! – 33

ARMOURED VEHICLES FULL DAMAGE TABLE
Armoured vehicles use a slightly different set of rules to
infantry, particularly concerning how they are damaged. D6 Roll Effect
We’re presenting a streamlined version of the vehicle rules 1 Crew Stunned
here to give you an idea of how they work. You can find the The crew is stunned or momentarily overcome by
full vehicle rules within the Bolt Action rulebook. smoke or shock.

For this game, when the half-track is activated, Add 1 additional pin marker to the vehicle.
place an Advance order next to it. It will move 6" ADVANCE Place a Down order die on the vehicle, if it does
per turn straight along the road on the battle- not have one yet, or change its current order die
mat, and may then fire its medium machine gun. to Down to show that it is halted and cannot take
a further action that turn.
MEDIUM MACHINE GUN
The half-track mounts a medium machine gun (abbreviated Further Crew Stunned results in the same
to MMG), designed to suppress enemy infantry. For the turn simply add an additional pin marker to
purposes of this scenario, the medium machine gun has a the vehicle.
360 degree arc of fire and has the following statistics:
2 Immobilised
TYPE RANGE SHOTS PEN SPECIAL Part of the vehicle’s tracks are blown apart.
MMG 36" 3 – – Add 1 additional pin marker to the vehicle.
The vehicle cannot move for the rest of the
game. Place the Immobilised marker by the
DAMAGING THE HALF-TRACK
For the purpose of this scenario, only the American vehicle to show this.
Bazooka is strong enough to damage the German half- If the vehicle has already taken an action this
track. The Bazooka is a powerful weapon and if it hits will turn, flip the order die to Down to indicate it has
likely cause significant damage. been brought to a halt.
If a further Immobilised result is suffered, the
When firing the Bazooka at the half-track, roll a single die to
crew abandon the vehicle and it is considered
hit as normal. If a hit is scored, we’ll assume that the powerful
Knocked Out (see below).
weapon automatically defeats the armour of the half-track –
roll a D6 and consult the Full Damage Table on the right.
3 On Fire
The hit ignites either the vehicle’s fuel or
If the vehicle suffers an Immobilised
ammunition. The crew are driven into a blind
result, use the marker provided in the
panic, fearing to be trapped in a burning wreck.
set to show its status.
Add 1 additional pin marker and then make a
GAME DURATION morale test for the vehicle.
The game lasts until the half-track reaches the opposite side
If the test is passed the fire has been put out or
of the field, or is immobilised or knocked out.
fizzles out of its own accord. Place a Down order
die on the vehicle or change its current order die
VICTORY to Down to show that it is halted and cannot take
To win the game, the American side must immobilise or
a further action that turn.
knock out the half-track before it reaches the end of the
road. The German player must prevent them from doing so. If the test is failed, the crew abandon the vehicle
and it is considered Knocked Out (see below).

4–6 Knocked Out

The vehicle is destroyed and becomes a wreck.
US Bazooka Remove the vehicle’s order dice from play,
anti-tank team and the token from the board – it has been
comprehensively taken out!

34 – Bolt Action Field Manual

German vehicles perform a recce on the eve of battle

German Grenadiers

Check those corners! US Airborne take no chances while advancing through a French town

mission 6 – all-out war! – 35

 Mission 6 – All Out War!
You’ve learned the basics of fighting a Bolt Action battle – now it’s time to put them all into action.

UNITS The German player has two six-man infantry squads, each
The American side has two five-man infantry squads, each armed with one submachine gun and five rifles, as well as
armed with one submachine gun and four rifles, plus a the Sd.Kfz 251 half-track which acts exactly as it did in
two-man Bazooka team. Mission 5.

American 8
55
53 52

Models
3
17
50 50 50
29
Assemble your 50

remaining 16

troops as shown 52
10
here, equipping
one with a
55
submachine gun 39 38
37 36
and two with 50
rifles. Now you’re 37
ready for some
38
serious action! 19

29

39
50 17
36

19 16
53
10
8 2

1 1 2

German 6 2

38

Models
50
14
15

Complete 15
6

your force by 14
30

assembling four 52
24
men armed 22

with rifles,
and one with a
1 36
submachine gun. 58
32
31
30

It’s now time to

enter the crucible 36
39
of battle. 48

39 38
1
56
54

31 50
52
45
48 45
24
22 58
32 54 56

36 – Bolt Action Field Manual

 1

10
36
13
13
24 49
36
55 42
1
50 34
50 10
47
49

24
3

55

42 34

47

Panzerfausts German
6"
You’ll notice that two of the German models Set Up Area
introduced for this mission are armed with powerful
Panzerfaust anti-tank rockets in addition to their
rifles. For the purpose of building your first models, German
this is simply to provide some visual variety, but as Half-track
you progress on your Bolt Action journey, you’ll Ruined
find that they’ll come in very handy indeed
Farmhouse
when the Allies bring
up heavy armour of
their own.
American
6"
Set Up Area

SET UP
Each player sets up their units as shown on the map, above,
and places three order dice in the dice bag.
UNIT PROFILES
American Infantry Squads OBJECTIVES
The objective for this mission is brutally simple – deploy all
Composition 5 men your resources and knowledge, and wipe your opponent’s
4 x Rifles – range: 24”; 1 shot forces out!
Weapons
1 x Submachine gun – range: 12”; 2 shots, Assault

American Bazooka Team

FIRST TURN
Draw an order die at random out the dice bag. The player
Composition 2 men whom it belongs to activates a unit first.
1 x Bazooka – range: 24”; 1 shot
Weapons
1 x Rifle – range: 24"; 1 shot THE HALF-TRACK
The vehicle follows the same rules found on page 34.
German Infantry Squads
Composition 6 men
GAME DURATION
5 x Rifles – range: 24”; 1 shot The game lasts until one side achieves their victory
Weapons
1 x Submachine gun – range: 12”; 2 shots, Assault conditions as described below.
German Sd.Kfz 251 Half-track
VICTORY
Weapon Medium machine gun – range: 36"; 3 shots The winner is the player who destroys all enemy units.

painting guides – 37
Painting Guides
Painting miniatures is a hobby in its own right. It not only makes your models look even better, it can be very rewarding
as you learn new techniques and improve your skills. Some people paint purely for enjoyment, others to make sure their
battlefields look as amazing as possible. Whichever you prefer, this introduction to painting Bolt Action miniatures will
help you get started. Whilst this set doesn’t include any paint, we’ve added this section to help you on your way.

Before you begin WATER

Essential for cleaning your brushes, having a water pot
PAINT nearby is highly recommended. Paint water gets dirty often
We recommend using water-based acrylic paint for painting so should be changed regularly so as not to contaminate the
your Bolt Action miniatures. These are generally the easiest other colours you are painting on your miniature.
to work with and easy to clean up. There is a huge variety of
manufacturers and colours to choose from. PALETTE
Palettes are perfect for thinning your paints on and mixing
BRUSHES colours. It is rare to find a painting set up without one.
There are a wide selection of brushes available. Depending From old tiles and plates to wet palettes, there is a solution
on what you are painting and what stage you are at will for everyone.
dictate the best brush for the job. Painting base coats?
Choose a medium brush. Painting a tank? Choose a big
brush. Painting smaller details? Choose a small brush. You may already have a
collection of paints, some of
Our website has a fantastic range to choose from – go to which may be close enough
warlordgames.com and have a look for yourself. to the colours listed on
the following pages to be
suitable for use in painting
US Rangers or German
Grenadiers. The techniques
are the same, whatever the manufacturer. Check out
our handy paint conversion chart at: boltaction.com

A great hobby set up – just add miniatures!

38 – Bolt Action Field Manual

Painting the Model
BASIC TECHNIQUES
Undercoats
It is highly recommended that you use an undercoat of
paint as a primer before you start. Typically these are spray
cans although you can paint them with a brush or airbrush.

Undercoats are available in a wide variety of colours and

choosing the right one can help you on your painting
journey. Black and white are the most common – white is
normally recommended for when you are painting brighter
colours and black for when you are painting darker or
neutral colours. If the majority of your army is a specific
colour, you can choose an undercoat that matches as it can
make the whole process quicker.

Basecoats
After undercoating, the first stage is to paint the base
colours on your miniature. These will form the base for all Painting in a well-lit space will make life much easier!
other stages. Apply all of the base colours to the right areas
of your miniature in thin, even coats of paint. If needed,
apply additional coats if the first looks patchy. where light is hitting your miniature and starts to make
your miniatures appear more three-dimensional.
Wash
A wash is a specific type of paint that is a lot thinner than 2nd Highlight
normal paint – it doesn’t typically need thinning – and is Selectively adding even lighter shades to the parts of the
used to create deeper shadows where light wouldn’t reach. model where light would hit it the most enhances the effect
They can be painted into the recesses or applied over the of the first highlight.
entire area depending on the effect you want.
Make it Pop!
ADVANCED TECHNIQUES Adding in details can really make your miniature stand
After undercoating and applying base coats and washes to out. Painting details like buttons and buckles, for example,
your model, it’ll be ready for battle. However, if you want can make a big difference to the miniature. Additional
to make it really stand out on the tabletop, there are some highlights can also be added at this stage.
additional steps you can take…
Basing
1st Highlight The base of the model brings it to life and provides context
Using a lighter shade, or the base coat with white mixed in, for the miniature. What you put on your base depends on
paint the first stage of highlights. This represents the areas the theatre of war in which you want to set your miniatures.
Some examples are shown below.

Thin Your Paints

Thinning your paints reduces the chance of obscuring
detail when you are painting your models. You can do
this with water or a paint medium (approximately two Grass base Desert base
parts paint to one part water/medium is about right).
This also helps the paint to flow more consistently and
achieve an even finish. With certain paints you may
need to apply a second coat. Remember that two thin
coats are better than a single thick one.
Snow base Ruined city base

how to paint german grenadiers – 39

How to Paint German Grenadiers
Warlord Games Studio Painter, and two-time Golden Demon winner, Kirsten Williams demonstrates how to paint your
plastic German Grenadiers quickly, easily and effectively, so that you’ll have your new troops battle-ready in next to no time.

1) Undercoat Matt
PAINTS Undercoat with
Black

For this guide, we have used the following paints. If you have Army Painter
different but similar paints already in your hobby arsenal, you can Matt Black Spray.
use the paint conversion chart available at boltaction.com Aim for an
Basecoats Wash even, thin
coverage. Make
German Fieldgrey (V830) Dark Tone (AP)
sure you follow
Oak Brown (AP) Strong Skin Shade (AP) all the safety
Khaki Grey (V880) Military Shade (AP) instructions on
the packaging.
German Camo Extra Dark Camo
Green (V896) As we’re going
Green Skin (AP) to be using a
Flesh Base (V341) Cork Brown (V843) few different
Gun Metal (AP) Key colours on these models, a neutral black
Brown Violet (V887) primer works best as a base for them all.
(V) Vallejo Model Colour
Chocolate Brown (V872) (AP) The Army Painter

Chocolate Brown
2) Basecoat Flesh base
Basecoat the tunic and trousers with German Fieldgrey, German Fieldgrey
and if the model has a camouflaged smock or helmet
cover, paint that with Chocolate Brown. A #1 or #2 brush Brown Violet
is ideal here.
khaki grey
oak Brown
Paint the gaiters and webbing pouches with Khaki Grey. Flesh base
Pick out the boots, canteen and gun strap with Oak Brown,
Gun Metal German Fieldgrey
the mess tin with German Camo Extra Dark Green and the
khaki grey oak Brown
gas mask tin with Brown Violet.

For the gun, paint the wood Oak Brown and the metal in
Gun Metal. Finally, paint the skin with Flesh Base.
Strong
A large brush is useful for areas such as the main uniform, Dark Tone
Skin Shade
while for the finer detail a smaller brush is ideal.

3) Shading Military Shade

Next, shade the miniature with washes, letting them run into
the recesses and dabbing away any excess with a clean brush.
Strong
Use Dark Tone for the uniform, gun, boots, canteen, gun Skin Shade
strap and mess tin, Strong Skin Shade for the flesh and
Military Shade for the gas mask tin. Dark Tone

The #2 brush is a great choice for shading larger areas and

the #1 works well for smaller ones.

40 – Bolt Action Field Manual

 BRUSHES 1 CAMO
Painting miniatures Kolinsky Some of these Grenadiers wear camouflaged helmet
2 0
is a lot easier when
Masterclass covers and smocks, in the iconic German ‘splinter’
you’ve got the right pattern. While camouflage can look like a daunting
tools for the job! challenge, don’t worry!
We recommend our Simply follow the steps described below and you’ll
Wargames Brushes end up with fantastic
series, available in sizes looking miniatures
2 (the largest), 1 and that really stand
0. Having the right out (or blend
brush can massively in, in this
improve your painting case) on the
experience. For very tabletop.
fine detail painting,
we also supply the
Kolinsky Masterclass
brush – perfect for
really tiny bits!

green skin
4) Splinter Camo cork brown
To complete your miniature, you’ll need to apply the splinter camouflage.
To do so simply paint roughly angular shapes across the helmet and smock,
using first Cork Brown, followed by Green Skin.

As you are painting a relatively small area, you are best off using a #1 brush,
or smaller. Make sure to leave some of the existing dark brown showing.
There is no set pattern, which will lead to natural variation between your
Grenadiers – this is not only to be expected but encouraged.

With camo applied, your new troopers are almost ready for battle. All that
remains is to base them.

Basing
The final step is to base your model – and you can do this any way you want,
representing anything from muddy grasslands to war-torn city street streets or
snowy tundra.
If you want to follow Kirsten’s example, cover the base in watered-down
PVA glue and dip into Brown Battleground (AP). Once dry, basecoat it with
Charred Brown (V) before drybrushing with Khaki (V).
To finish, using PVA glue, attach some Summer Static Grass (available from
Warlord Games) to two or three separate areas, and add a couple of Swamp
Tufts (AP).

how to paint german grenadiers– 41

How to Paint US Rangers
Here, Kirsten shows you how to paint the plastic US Rangers with the same ease, allowing you to field them in battle
as swiftly as possible.

1) Undercoat
PAINTS Undercoat with Army Painter Matt
For this guide, we have used the following paints. If you Matt Black Spray. Aim for Black
already have some similar paints in your collection, use an even, thin coverage.
the paint conversion chart available at boltaction.com A black primer works
Basecoats Wash well as an undercoat for
the greens of the US
Canvas (V314) Soft Tone (AP)
uniform and helmet, and
Leather Brown (AP) Military Shade (AP) the beige brown of
Brown Violet (V887) Dark Tone (AP) the trousers.
Oak Brown (AP) Strong Skin Shade (AP)
Agate Skin (AP) Key
Gun Metal (AP) (V) Vallejo Model Colour
(AP) The Army Painter

Brown Violet

Agate SKin
2) Basecoat
Basecoat the jacket, webbing, straps and gaiters with Canvas and
the trousers with Leather Brown. Canvas Gun Metal

The helmet should be painted with Brown Violet. Use Oak Brown
for the boots, gun stock, helmet strap and shovel handle, carefully
picking out the strap and handle with a finely tipped brush.
Oak Brown
Use Agate Skin for the face and hands. Finally, pick out all the Leather
Brown
metal parts with Gun Metal – this includes the shovel, buckles,
canteen top and the metal parts of the rifle.

A #2 brush is great for the larger areas and a #1 brush gives you
more control on the smaller parts. Strong Skin Dark
Shade Tone

3) Shading Military Shade

Next, shade the miniature using washes, letting it run into the
recesses and dabbing away any excess.

Use Soft Tone for the trousers, Military Shade for the jacket, Dark Soft Tone
Tone for the helmet, metals, gun stock and shovel handle, and
Strong Skin Shade for the skin. A #2 brush is perfect for this step.

Leave the gaiters, webbing and straps unwashed.

42 – Bolt Action Field Manual

Basing Ready for War!
The final step is to base With the techniques outlined over the last few pages,
your model. If you your new troops will be ready for war in next to
want to use the no time, and will serve you well in many a tabletop
example shown on campaign to come. Your painting journey needn’t end
the pictured model, here though. Painting miniatures is an artform and
on the opposite taking some extra time and steps to really make your
page, follow the models stand out can be a deeply rewarding experience.
same steps as for the If you want to take your US Rangers and Grenadiers to
German Grenadier the next level, head to boltaction.com, where you can
on page 41. find more detailed painting guides as free downloads.
All paints mentioned in these guides are available at
warlordgames.com

“COME ON, MEN!” American troops storm the beaches of Normandy

how to paint US rangers – 43

 British paratroopers prepare for action in Arnhem

SNLF and a Ka-Mi amphibious

tank follow the Rising Sun

Soviet tanks scatter the German line with a flank attack

44 – Bolt Action Field Manual

Next Steps
Now that you’re familiar with the basics of the battlefield you’re ready to plunge into the wider world of Bolt Action!
A vast array of online resources, books and many, many miniatures to choose from to expand your collection are
available to guide you on this exciting new hobby journey.

Bolt Action: Third Edition

Essential for anyone who wants to play games of Bolt Once you’ve got a
Action. This book contains all the rules needed to organise few games under your
your collection of Bolt Action miniatures into armies and belt, the Armies Of…
refight the great battles of World War II. The included series of Bolt Action
army lists allow you to field a vast array of units from five supplements should be
belligerent nations, with highly versatile force organisation your next port of call,
charts allowing you to construct forces that suit your containing complete
personal play style. unit profiles and special
rules for your chosen
Call upon earth-shaking artillery, iconic armoured vehicle army, allowing you
platoons, fast-moving reconnaissance patrols and the to use your growing
backbone of any army – the infantry. collection in full.

Bolt Action.com
The Bolt Action website is the hub for all things Bolt Action, your miniatures, and all the latest Bolt Action articles. It’s
where you’ll find handy advice on taking further steps into the first place to learn about all Bolt Action news, including
wargaming World War II. There’s a breakdown of all the events, future releases and a whole lot more.
armies you can collect and what each bring to the table,
intuitive and comprehensive guides to help you in painting Find it at: www.boltaction.com

For King and Country! The Desert Rats assault an Afrika Korps position

next steps – 45
Growing your collection – US
Entering the war after the infamous attack on Pearl Harbor, ARMIES OF THE UNITED STATES
American forces were soon fighting on several fronts – This book will guide you in collecting
North Africa, the Pacific and in Europe. With several and gaming any of the distinct forces
military branches to call upon, and the industrial might available to the United States in
of the United States behind them, Bolt Action US players World War II, including US Army,
are not starved for choice when putting together their US Airborne, United States
collection. The US Rangers included in this set are perfect Marine Corps and more.
for games set in mainland Europe, from D-Day and beyond. John Basilone

SHERMAN TANKS
The M4 Sherman was the most widely used tank by M4 Sherman
Allied forces during World War II. Though not quite
as technologically advanced as some of its German
opponents, it was reliable, cheap to produce and
readily available. M4 Shermans and their variants
are a staple of many of a US Army collection.

US flamethrower
team

WEAPONS TEAMS
Infantry weapons teams are a key component of any Bolt Action army, providing
great tactical flexibility. Anti-tank teams and flamethrower teams are among the
most prevalent, presenting your opponent with multiple challenges to overcome.

The US Army advances through France, wary of a German ambush

46 – Bolt Action Field Manual

A US armoured platoon executes defensive manoeuvres as Japanese emerge from the jungle

US Marine
Corps

US forces encounter fierce German resistance in Italy

growing your collection - US – 47

Growing your collection – Germany
German armies have arguably the greatest wealth of options ARMIES OF GERMANY
when it comes to expanding your collections. The plastic Containing unit profiles for every
German Heer included within this set can be reasonably German unit available in the game, and
slotted into any late-war German force, and can represent the special rules required to field them,
a wide variety of troop types. Bolt Action is extremely from the early stages of Blitzkrieg all
versatile when it comes to force selection. Do you want to the way to the defence of Berlin, this
field an army of elite Veterans, add specialist troops like is an invaluable resource for German
Pioniers, Fallschirmjäger or Gebirgsjäger to your force, or Army collectors.
bring a Panzer Division of iconic German fighting vehicles Schmeisser Schmitt
and Panzergrenadiers mounted on a fleet of half-tracks? All
these options, and more, are open to you.

Sd.Kfz 251-1D
HALF-TRACK half-track
German armoured half-tracks are as instantly
recognisable as their Panzer brethren. Such
transports afford your troops some protection as
they advance, as well as the supporting fire of
their own weapons.

Panzer IV
Ausf. H PANZER
The German ‘big cats’, as they
became known, are some of the
most renowned military vehicles
of all time. The precursors to the
famed Tiger and Panther heavy
tanks were the Panzers I, II, III
and IV. They offer a Bolt Action
force mobility, resilience and
impressive firepower.

WEAPONS TEAMS
German weapons teams lend your collection even more
versatility when building your army, flamethrowers, sniper
rifles and the iconic German Panzerschreck amongst them.
Panzerschreck
team
Sniper
team

Flamethrower
team

48 – Bolt Action Field Manual

Another French town falls to the unstoppable German Blitzkrieg

Fallschirmjäger
squad

Winter war – a German patrol catches advancing Americans by surprise

growing your collection – germany – 49

 Other Nations
World War II was a truly global conflict, involving a plethora of nations – each with their own soldiery and equipment.
You can collect almost any belligerent nation of World War II with Bolt Action miniatures.

Great Britain & British Commonwealth

When Germany invaded
Poland on 1st September
1939, Britain would declare
war two days later. The British
Expeditionary Force was ill-
prepared for German Blitzkrieg
tactics, but came back strong,
with the forces of Britain and
the Commonwealth fighting
in North Africa, Burma, Italy
and eventually into Europe as
part of the D-Day landings.
Many avenues are open to
collectors: the aforementioned
early-war BEF, Canadians,
desert-styled 8th Army and
elite Commandos to name but The 8th Army secures a small village – a strategic lifeline in the parched desert
a few.

British forces storm the Normandy beaches during Operation Overlord

50 – Bolt Action Field Manual

Who do you think you are kidding...? The British Army stands ready to defend the coast against a possible German invasion

British infantry

great britain & british Commonwealth – 51

 Japan
Following the assault
on Pearl Harbor, the
Imperial Japanese military
saw action across Asia,
from the capture and
defence of the islands
of the Pacific to the
occupation of territory in
China and Burma.

Japanese technology
didn’t advance at a
commensurate rate
compared to that of the
United States, with their
weapons and armour soon
becoming outclassed. A
Japanese Bolt Action army
thus has a wholly unique
feel, both tactically and
aesthetically, and utilises
every possible avenue to
gain victory, from ambush
tactics to the infamous The Burmese jungle swarms with Japanese soldiers
Banzai charges.

Banzai! Only the bravest troops can withstand a fearsome Japanese charge

52 – Bolt Action Field Manual

Japanese Marines counter-attack a US position on Saipan

Japanese infantry

japan – 53
 Soviet Union
The Soviet Union was a step
too far for Hitler, with its
populace putting up much
more of a fight than he
expected. Whilst you can build
any type of Bolt Action army
with any nation, there are
none that excel in the mantra
of quantity over quality quite
as well as the Soviet Union.
The Soviets can also call upon
some of the more unusual
weapons of WWII, and
boasts the ubiquitous T-34
series of tanks, as well as some
absolutely monstrous vehicle-
mounted weapons capable
of taking down the heaviest Armour on the move! Soviet tanks rumble through a Russian village
German armour.

Soviet infantry

To victory, Comrades! Soviet flesh and steel prove an invincible combination

54 – Bolt Action Field Manual

A German patrol faces fire from all fronts in the ruins of Stalingrad

soviet union – 55
 Italy
In June 1940, Italy made its
first offensive action of WWII,
with forces going on to fight in
France, North Africa, on the
Eastern Front and in defence
of their homeland. The
Italian Army range is robust
and diverse, from the elite
mountain troops known as the
Alpini to the grandly feathered
Bersaglieri, an Italian Army
is enormously satisfying to
collect and paint. With many
Italians opting to fight on the
side of the Allies following
the Italian Armistice, they can
even be fielded on both sides Bersaglieri motorcyclists scout the endless sands
of the war.

Italian
Alpini

A force of Italians, supported by African irregulars, begin the march from camp to face their enemies in the desert

56 – Bolt Action Field Manual

Italian commanders plan how to stall the Allied advance into their homeland

italy – 57
 Other Allies
Many other nations joined the
fight against Germany and the
Axis. The armies of France,
Poland, Greece, Norway,
Holland and Belgium all stood
against the German Blitzkrieg,
and organised partisan
resistance soon sprung up in the
aftermath of German occupation
on all fronts. Such forces provide
a wholly different feel to other
collections and come with their
own special rules, equipment Brave Belgians nervously await the oncoming German onslaught
and, of course, miniatures to
collect and do battle with.

French Resistance
Fighters

A deadly game – French partisans take aim against an unsuspecting German patrol

58 – Bolt Action Field Manual

Polish troops surge forward in defence of their homeland

other allies – 59
 Other Axis
While many nations
flocked to the side
of the Allies, others
joined forces with
Germany as part of
the Axis. Whilst some
technologies were
shared amongst these
nations, the armies of
Hungary, Bulgaria,
Romania and Finland
also bring their own
equipment and
unique special rules to
games of Bolt Action.

Finnish troops prepare to move out on patrol

Hungarian
Honvéd squad

The Hungarian army surges forward, eager to get into the thick of the fighting

60 – Bolt Action Field Manual

A Romanian Panzer IV slugs it out with Soviet armour

other axis – 61
62 – Bolt Action Field Manual
xxxxxxx – 63
gaming tables
One of the most satisfying aspects of the hobby is playing iconic battles on a fully kitted out table, making for an
increasingly immersive experience. There’s no right or wrong way to go about this, but here’s a few options to consider.

GAMING MATS
Neoprene gaming mats are the ultimate in convenience, providing
the colour palette of a battlefield, whilst offering durable
protection for both table and miniatures. They are perfect
for your dining table, and lightweight enough to
take along to your local gaming club or store.
With a wide variety of designs available,
you can tailor games to your
preferred theatre or army.

TEXTURED GAMING TABLES

Fully textured gaming tables
are a sight to behold. Whilst they
require more time to make and space to Snowscape
store than a gaming mat, they really do give the most gaming mat
immersive tabletop gaming experience. Learning all of the skills
and techniques used to build a table like this is incredibly rewarding and is a
hobby in itself.

A gaming table set up in the Warlord Games store in Nottingham. Let’s play some Bolt Action!

64 – Bolt Action Field Manual

SCATTER TERRAIN
Terrain is important in Bolt Action.
You’ll want plenty of it to afford your
troops some cover. One of the easiest
ways to achieve this is with scatter terrain
– this might take the form of dense
forested sections of the battlefield,
hedgerows or ruined buildings.
You can purchase these or make
your own.

Stalingrad
factory front

German
barricade
Barmaley Fountain,
Stalingrad

Buying Terrain from Warlord Games

As well as a wide range of bespoke plastic terrain
kits, Warlord Games also supplies a wealth of terrain
accessories, such as MDF scenery kits, many of which
come pre-painted. Some of these are generic, suitable
for various types of battlefield, whereas others
represent specific historical buildings. Remember,
a well populated battlefield is
an immersive
battlefield.
One advantage of a
neoprene gaming mat is that
it can be rolled up for easy storage Sandbag
without damage to the mat. defences

gaming tables – 65
The warlord Games webstore
The Warlord Games
webstore has the
full range of Bolt
Action miniatures,
books, games and
supplements, as well
as all the paints,
modelling equipment
and gaming accessories
you need to get your
army ready for the field
of battle.

WARLORDGAMES.COM

Last
Rites

Events
Events are great
fun to take part in,
putting you firmly in
the mix and playing
games. You’ll find
Bolt Action events at
stores and gaming
conventions all around
the world. Such
gatherings include
competitive high
level tournaments,
demonstration games,
immersive recreations
of some of the most
important and well- A hive of activity at the annual Warlord Games Open Day
known battles of
World War II, and
much more besides.
German medic and
machine gun team
There are Bolt Action events for every type of wargamer.
Look for how you can get involved by regularly checking
Warlord Games’ online Events Calendar:

WARLORD-COMMUNITY.WARLORDGAMES.COM/EVENTS/

66 – Bolt Action Field Manual

 US M4 Sherman
‘Easy Eight’

Store Finder
Friendly local gaming stores are some of the best places to discover communities of like-minded Bolt Action players, and we
have stockists all over the world. Find out if your local gaming store carries Warlord Games products at:

WARLORD-COMMUNITY.WARLORDGAMES.COM/STOCKISTS/

The Warlord Games HQ store, Nottingham

next steps – 67
 This is just
the beginning…

warlordgames.com
boltaction.com
German Grenadiers prepare to meet the advancing Allies in Normandy
Engage and destroy! – US Marines close in on an encroaching Japanese battalion

British Infantry
(Late War) Italian Army
Blackshirts

Tiger Hunt! American Shermans surround and bring down the German ‘big cat’ Blitzkrieg! A German column advances, ready to take the fight to the enemy
 BOLT ACTION™ - FIELD MANUAL - WAGE WORLD WAR II ON YOUR TABLETOP!
WAGE WORLD WAR II ON YOUR TABLETOP!

®
®

FIELD MANUAL
Component Code: 4070000062
© 2024 Warlord Games Ltd. All Rights Reserved. Warlord Games, the Warlord Games logo,
Warlord Resin, Warlord Resin Plus, Bolt Action and the Bolt Action logo are either ® or ™,
and/or © Warlord Games Limited, variably registered around the world.

WAGE WORLD WAR II ON YOUR TABLETOP!

WARLORDGAMES.COM
Printed in the UK – 1st printing