Rally your troops and ready your artillery; your favorite WWII tabletop game, Bolt Action, is in getting a Third Edition!
Bolt Action is one of the best-selling World War II wargames out there. Now Warlord Games is set to release a new, revised, and updated Third Edition of the game in Fall 2024! One of the main focuses for this release is updating the rules to help further blend in with tactical wargame actions, so let’s see what they’ve got on the horizon!
Bolt Action World War II Game New Third Edition Announced With FAQ
Here is the latest on the new Bolt Action third edition from Warlord Games.
- Warlord Games will release a new, revised, and updated Third Edition of the popular World War II tabletop game Bolt Action in Fall 2024.
- The new edition features refined and updated rules, as well as starter army lists to get new players straight into the action, with new tactical depth in the detailed force composition mechanics and a wide variety of fresh challenges in the scenario generation system.
- The essential ‘spirit’ of Bolt Action has been kept intact, and the game designer, Alessio Cavatore, has used his expertise to make the game more exciting and engaging.
- The new edition also includes official miniatures as well as physical and digital edition copies to support the game.
Current models and armies can still be used in the new edition, with minimal additions required. - Bolt Action’s new Third Edition rulebook will immediately supersede the Bolt Action: Second Edition rulebook and all existing Armies of… books.
- Five ‘starter’ army lists are available to construct forces for Great Britain, the USA, the USSR, Germany, and Imperial Japan.
- Bolt Action: Third Edition still uses all the Bolt Action staples, including d6, Pin markers, multi-function templates, and the iconic Order Dice activation system.
- No more Second Edition book releases are planned, and the current FAQ on the website is the final one for that edition.
Bolt Action: Third Edition, written by the renowned game designer Alessio Cavatore, includes a wide range of updated and revised rules that aim to provide players with a more enjoyable gaming experience. The essential ‘spirit’ of Bolt Action has been kept intact, which we all know and love.
Alessio Cavatore is a veteran of previous editions and has used his expertise to make the game more exciting and engaging. The game has been running for 16 years, and it does feel like it’s time to rework some rules and keep the game moving forward.
Here is what he had say about this new and upcoming edition:
My chief mission with Bolt Action: Third Edition was to make my favourite game an even better experience for the players. For me, there’s always one goal in mind – continuing my quest for a truly ‘seamless’ set of wargame rules – in other words, the Holy Grail of a rules system where the players are always thinking about their next moves on the table, and not about the rules of the game! I think Bolt Action: Third Edition is definitely a big step in that direction, and I’m sure you’ll agree with me!
I’m sure that everyone can agree that rule and flavor cohesion are incredibly important in your tabletop wargame. In addition to this newest release, they’ve confirmed they will be continuing to support Bolt action with official miniatures as well as physical and digital edition copies!
This third edition features refined and updated rules and starter army lists to get new players straight into the action. Seasoned veterans, meanwhile, will find new tactical depth in the detailed force composition mechanics and a wide variety of fresh challenges in the scenario generation system. Rally your forces, study the terrain, and prepare for battle – the fight continues!
Bolt Action New Third Edition FAQ
Here’s what Warlord has to say in more depth about some of the edition changes:
Can I still use my current models and armies?
Absolutely! We put a lot of work into ensuring that the majority of Second Edition armies fit into the new force selection system with minimal additions. You’ll likely find, however, that you’ll want to invest in some units that you might not have considered in the current edition, as there have been widespread changes to points costs and individual unit rules!”
It’s great to be able to use your current models! Obviously, when new editions come around, you are likely to grab some new minis.
What about my rulebooks?
The Bolt Action: Third Edition rulebook will immediately supersede the Bolt Action: Second Edition rulebook, and all existing Armies of… books. Contained within the main rulebook will be five ‘starter’ army lists allowing you to construct forces for Great Britain, the USA, the USSR, Germany, and Imperial Japan, while other nations will have similar lists available as PDF downloads. These will allow you to start playing right away, and will be familiar to Second Edition players, but each will be replaced by a regular, ongoing series of releases of Third Edition Armies of… books.
Campaign and Theatre books will remain valid, as the background and scenarios are still very much relevant, but the vast majority of the units contained therein will be updated and addressed in the new Armies of… books. We’ve taken the opportunity of Bolt Action: Third Edition to completely overhaul unit profiles, special rules, and points from across the dozens of sources from the first two editions, and collate them, making it easier than ever for players to field their chosen armies.
Anytime there is a new edition, rules and books almost always change. However, having rules collated is much better for new and veteran players.
Do I need any different dice, tokens, or templates?
Nope! Bolt Action: Third Edition still uses all the Bolt Action staples we know and love – d6, Pin markers, our multi-function templates, and of course the iconic Order Dice activation system – it wouldn’t be Bolt Action without it, after all!
Will there be any further books or FAQs released for Second Edition?
At this stage, it’s all hands on deck for Bolt Action: Third Edition, so there are no more Second Edition book releases planned. Similarly, the FAQ currently available on the website is the final one for that edition – however, if you have any rules questions regarding Second Edition, you can always continue to email them to [email protected] and we’ll answer them on an as-needed basis. Please note, our award-winning Customer Service team won’t be able to give you any more information about Third Edition at the moment – it’s strictly Top Secret!
It’s top secret now, but we expect plenty more about the game before it drops.
“Is there anything else I should know right now?”
Just that the best way to get all of your Warlord Games news (including Bolt Action updates which will start in earnest in July) is to sign up to our twice-weekly newsletter, if you haven’t already!
This newest edition is set to release September 29th of 2024, so be sure to look out for a fresh new version of Bolt Action dropping later this year!
Bolt Action: Third Edition promises to be an exciting release for WWII tabletop wargaming enthusiasts. With updated rules and starter army lists, both new and seasoned players will find new challenges and tactical depth in the game.
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What changes do you hope will come with the release of Bolt Action Third Edition?
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About the Author: John Von Canon
John Von Canon
Job Title: Miniatures & Trading Card Games Writer
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About John Von Cannon: Tabletop gaming since 2016; John joined the Spikey Bits team in 2023 and covers new miniature products, trading card games, and RPGs.
He spends his evenings working at his local game store for the full hobby experience. So if you’re looking for niche and convoluted ways to sneak out a win in your next Commander game or a cool new hobby product for miniatures, he’s your guy.
