Pocket Tactics

A tactical board game for 2 players using items found around the house.

What You Need

• 7 units per player (3 soldiers, 2 tanks, 2 artillery)
• One six-sided die
• A chess board or 8x8 grid drawn on paper
• Optional: Can be played on a smaller 6x6 grid for faster games

Setup

1. Each player takes 7 units (3 soldiers, 2 tanks, 2 artillery)
2. Place your units on your back row in any order you choose
3. Decide who goes first by rolling the die - highest roll starts

Core Rules

• On your turn, activate each of your units once in any order
• After a unit takes its action, flip it over to show it’s done for this turn
• At the start of your turn, flip all your units face-up again
• When a unit is hit by an attack, remove it from the board

Units and Their Actions

Each unit must choose ONE action on their turn:

Soldiers

EITHER:
- MOVE: Up to 3 spaces in any direction (including diagonally)
OR
- ATTACK: Target an adjacent enemy unit (hits on roll of 3+)

Special Ability: Shield Formation
- When two soldiers are adjacent to each other, they both get +2 to their defense rolls
- Example: An attack that normally hits on 3+ would need a 5+ to hit a soldier in Shield Formation

Tanks

EITHER:
- MOVE: Up to 2 spaces orthogonally (no diagonal movement)
OR
- COMBAT ACTION: Move 1 space orthogonally AND attack a unit 1 space away (hits on 4+)

Artillery

Each turn, an Artillery unit can:
- Move 1 space orthogonally AND
- Attack a unit exactly 2 spaces away (hits on 4+)
- Can optionally make a second attack against the same target

Combat Steps

1. Check if target is within attack range
2. Roll one six-sided die
3. Add any defense bonuses (Shield Formation)
4. If roll equals or exceeds the required number, remove the target unit

Winning the Game

The game ends when:
- A player eliminates all enemy units OR
- Time runs out (in timed games). Player with most units remaining wins

Optional Rules

• Time Limit: Set a 15-minute timer for faster games
• Smaller Board: Play on a 6x6 grid
• Hidden Setup: Place units face-down during setup, only revealing them when they move or attack
• Tournament Scoring: Win by elimination = 3 points, Win by unit advantage = 2 points, Draw = 1 point