Königsberg – The Bear’s Revenge (KBR) is a tactical-level game that allows players to experience some of the challenges faced by local commanders during the Soviet Third Byelorussian Front’s bid to secure the German city of Königsberg. Königsberg was, according to British Prime Minister, Winston Churchill, “a modernized heavily defended fortress”. Three concentric rings of fortifications surrounded the city: the outer ring of defences reinforced by 12 forts outside the town, the middle ring in the outskirts, and the inner city, which consisted of a single fortress of anti-tank defences, barricades and landmines, along with several other forts.
KBR offers two ways of experiencing the battle. Players can sample a portion of the fighting by playing one of six stand-alone scenarios. Scenarios KBR1-KBR6 also serve to familiarize players with the battlefield and the opposing forces. Players who enjoy a strategic aspect are encouraged to experience the entire battle by playing the Tactical Mission (TM). The TM is comprised of seven interconnected scenarios that begin on the Afternoon (PM) of 6 April and that continues over the course of six additional time periods, or scenarios: Morning (AM) and Afternoon (PM) of 7 April, Morning (AM) and Afternoon (PM) of 8 April, and the AM and PM of 9 April 1945. The TM lends itself well to team play.
Königsberg - the Bear's Revenge contains:
- one 48" x 34" map (split into two halves) with one inch hexes
- one countersheet with 280 x 1/2" counters
- one countersheet with 88 x 5/8" counters
- Historical write up
- Chapter KBR rules
- six ASL scenarios (using various parts of the map)
- one Tactical Mission (aka Campaign Game)
