About game:

Fire in the Lake is is an exceptional board game collaboration project between two renowned designers, Mark Herman and Volko Ruhnke. Published by GMT Games, this is Volume IV in the COIN Series of games that use similar rules to cover (usually) modern insurgencies and other inter-factional conflicts. This is a 1- to 4-player board game depicting insurgent and counter-insurgent (COIN) conflict during the main US period in Vietnam, 1964-1972, up to the “Paris Peace” – actually, expansions allow to follow the events after that period (Fall of Saigon) or prior to it (Sovereign of Discord).


Each player takes the role of a Faction seeking to set the fate of Vietnam:

– the United States (US),
– North Vietnamese forces (NVA),
– the Republic of Vietnam forces (ARVN),
– the southern communist Viet Cong (VC)

Using military, political, and economic actions and exploiting various events, players build and maneuver forces to influence or control the population, extract resources, or otherwise achieve their Faction’s aims. As always in COINs, a deck of cards regulates turn order, events, victory checks, and other processes. The rules can run non-player Factions, enabling solitaire, 2-player, or multi-player games.

So would you stand-up to the task and manage to crush your opponents, taking the fate of Vietnam into your hands? Or rather allow others to choose the future of that beautiful country?

Number of players:

The game is at its best as a 4-player title; still, the enormous effort was put to develop the bot system (Tru’ng), which allows for play with only 1 to 3 human-controlled factions.

Playing time:

We have couple of scenarios here; the small one should be playable in 3 hours (done it myself); however full campaign can take easily as much as 8 hours (of course, provided no instant win).

Complexity:

Again, this is not an introductory Wargame; it is not even introductory COunter INsurgency (COIN) position. Still, once you play couple of rounds you will grasp the flow of the game pretty quickly. However, mastering it and making sure that your actions are optimal and lead you to victory takes time and experience.

What I like:
  • Dedication to historical accuracy. The game takes players through the tumultuous era of the Vietnam War, covering the conflict from multiple perspectives: the United States, the South Vietnamese government, the North Vietnamese communists and even the civilian population. Really appreciate this.
  • What truly sets this game apart is of course its emphasis on asymmetry (hallmark of COIN series). Unlike many other wargames, each faction in this game has its own win conditions and objectives – as well as actions and special operations. You would need to play at least four times to learn all of them!
  • The game components, including the detailed map of Vietnam, the various cards representing historical events and operations, as well as the miniature pieces representing troops and resources greatly contribute to the overall historical immersion. Love the feel of cubes in my hand!
  • The game replayability is another strong point. With various factions and strategic approaches to explore, players can enjoy countless hours of gameplay without feeling like they have exhausted the game possibilities. Large deck of cards helps also here.
What might be seen as game disadvantages:
  • Let us be honest – FitL is probably the most complex of all COINs; as such, requires decent amount of time and commitment to learn and play the game; do not get me wrong – this is fantastically invested time; still, some players might be putt of by those requirements.
  • Of course, some more casual players might observe that the game heavily relays on historical context. This is true, but that might be seen also as a positive by history buffs, who prefer more down-to-earth games rather than complete abstractions.
  • COIN games are not about gradual build up of the forces which will be used then for a final battle. It is more about being ready for grabbing the opportunity when it comes (and before opponents can react). Some players I know cannot fathom the Propaganda card concept and how it is designed to work. They treat it as random element which puts them off from the game.
For whom?

First and foremost, this is a title which every COIN series fan will love. Maybe not ideal to start with the series, but definitely you should have it in your collection. Also, for those fascinated by the creations of Mark Herman and Volko Ruhnke, this is definitely a must as well as a pinnacle of those designers creations (at least for me 🙂 )

More about the game:

And now let us have a look at the materials created by me plus some pictures of components:

What is in the box? Or rather, 3 boxes 🙂
Overview of the map
Cards which drive the game – here some capabilities
Close up on the Northern part of the map – the NVA is spreading rapidly!
Great Storage Solutions for COIN Games from Cube4Me

VERDICT:

In conclusion, in my humble opinion, Fire in the Lake is a boardgame masterpiece that stands out as a shining example of historical wargaming. Its commitment to historical accuracy, intricate asymmetry, and deep strategic gameplay make it an enriching and immersive experience for history buffs & strategy enthusiasts (like me!).

Mark Herman and Volko Ruhnke have created a game that not only captures the complexities of the Vietnam War neatly, but also fosters a deep appreciation for the historical events and decisions that shaped this turbulent period. We all learn a lot from this title about one of the bloodies, post-WWII US conflicts. Highly recommended!