Despite six years of conflict and the mobilisation of three echelons, the Hawks of both sides keep asking for a stronger war effort in the Central Europe theatre.
The Central Committee for Resources Assignment is therefore evaluating the possibility to mobilise a fourth echelon for 1985: Under an Iron Sky. The equipment of this new echelon will be upgraded as follows:
- Updated map, using the latest 1985 style
- Updated counters, using the latest 1985 style
- Updated rules, using the new layout and integrating the 1985: Mutual Assured Destruction changes
- Geolocated Air Bases Chart, similar to the one already realised for 1985: Deadly Northern Lights
- Warsaw Pact Field Manual WP-01-001, on the application of the Socialist War Doctrine
- NATO Field Manual FM-014-001, on the application of the AirLand Battle
- Full colour rules, scenarios, and field manuals
- Additional small fixes and updates
To confirm this renewed effort will meet an overwhelming and enthusiastic response, we invite the Soldiers and Workers of the Union of the Soviet Socialist Republics to answer the following survey. Further decisions will be based on the results.
The Party leads; the people follow!
Correct, Comrade!
Forward to Victory
The 4th echelon is foretold by the dialectic!
Maybe an update package, not a full game. My 2 cents (of €)
It will be easier at this time to do an upgrade kit
For the persons who already purchased the original version, would there be an upgrade kit ?
An “upgrade kit only” should include the maps, the countersheets, the rules booklet, the scenarios booklet, the two field manuals, the two geolocated bases maps, and a box to hold everything. What is left out are some charts, the tables booklets, and the two dice…
Optimize, comrade! The proletariat can ill afford half measures.
Take my Rubles, Please!
ready to serve!
Please consider another echelon for Sacred Oil
I wanted to answer No only because I liked the reason but Yes is where my heart is at. Lol.
Dang right, count me in !
Though it would degrade the effectiveness of current echelons, a limited run would increase the overall size of the forces available. If the collective is in favor, Comrade, I will enlist. If upgrade kit (perhaps ziplock) is added, I will also upgrade.
I do not fear the West, but my Russian wife would kill me if I purchased this item for a third time! For the love of Lenin, please make them right the first time. Why are we manufacturing Ladas for the military? Our best engineers work for the military! Can you say, Oreshnik?
My heart and those of my fellow kolkhozniks swell with joy at this chance to gift the Party with the many fruits of our meager labors!
I’d definetely jump in with MAD.
I missed previous editions so I would want the entire new edition as a full game to purchase!
Definitely want a copy
Upgrade kit would be welcome but I’m not in for a whoe revised addition – I need my black market dollars for the bread queue
Whew, sounds awesome, but not sure I could justify spending so much again on a game I already have. But I’d love some kind of update kit that could come in a ziplock so shipping would be more palatable.
Definitely interested in a complete version.
As a current owner of first and third echelon copies, my interest in a new and improved version is somewhat limited. However should the party and others have an interest, I could be all-in for a 1985 Korean War based version.
Yes please. And afterwards another echelon of DNL
I would gladly get one! And fight the good fight!
I missed all previous echelons ☹️
I had extensive repairs to my T-55 and missed the first three echelons. The mechanics finally got it running and I am off to join the 4th echelon! Long live the Revolution!
At this time I will reveal my profound ignorance of some of the proposed changes. Would it be possible to show some side-by side examples of the differences between current UAIS counters and updated counters? Likewise pix of current map and proposed updated map? I assume those would be the big ticket items in the new version. As I am one of the few, so far, respondents sitting on the fence, examples would help in committing me to jumping one way or the other.
As with others, part of my brain already is an enthusiastic “Yes!”, however the other brain lobe is hauling back on the reins and demanding more information.
I also would like to see the side-by-side comparison of the changes to the counters, maps, etc. so I can decide whether I would need the game. I have trouble with the idea of buying the game another time therefore I am in the update corner in this fight.
When the series is completed, will there be a giant update/reprint of all, collecting them into one huge unified box? (CCCP – Complete Combat Collection Package)
It’s an old dream of mine…the 1985: Mutual Assured Destruction edition!
I concur, and I believe many of our comrades would be willing to make the ultimate sacrifice (i.e., buy it) should the Supreme Soviet decide to take this giant step.
It’s madness. The most difficult and expensive wargames by the Poltiburo! They only exist in digital images in AMERIKA!! That Rosso Brigade collective in Normandy has tilted the Earth by hoarding their treasure!!! And then have the audacity to SMILE in photos at NATO functions!!!! Surely the GRU will inspect this KGB conspiracy!
I’m glad to read these great news for the stronger war effort in the Central Europe theatre!
A reprint with rounded counters, please!
Thanks, Fabrizio.
Great idea but like others, I already have 1985 UAIS so an upgrade kit (perhaps one where you could choose which bits to upgrade) might be more palatable cost-wise, especially with In A Dark Wood on the way.
What would be of great interest is a new echelon of Sared Oil. What about z game on the Balkans?
But our brows shall frown sternly
If an enemy attempts to break us.
As a bride, we love our Motherland,
We protect her like a gentle mother.
за Родину
Do the changes you make radically alter the gameplay experience? Will this version be completely different from the first edition?
Yes, there are significant differences compared to the first echelon, impacting the counters, the rules, and the overall gameplay. Just to name a few:
1. Air missions combat radius, making the whole air war completely different.
2. Helicopters basing.
3. Small Units combat, changing the employment of special forces and introducing battalion-sized units.
4. Supply rules changes introduced with 1985:DNL and 1985:SO.
5. Strategic Airlift
From the perspective of someone who has supported your publishing house from the beginning by always purchasing the first editions of all your games, I believe it would be nice to have an upgrade kit. It would also be a form of respect for those who believed in you from the start and paid significant amounts without hesitation.
Dario, update kits are an exception and not the rule in our small community, except maybe when fixing serious errors. As far as I know only GMT and Compass, both several magnitudes bigger than Thin Red Line Games, offers update kits, and even those two only in some cases.
This fourth echelon is primarily targeted to Grognards who missed the first three offensives, even though it will contain enough updated and new equipment to have 1985:UAIS veterans consider it.
That said, I reiterate what I’ve posted elsewhere:
1. An update kit would include practically everything, making its cost only marginally lower than the complete kit.
2. We are a very small publisher and we cannot afford to print an update kit that would probably sell only a few copies, as most owners will probably prefer to spend 15 – 20 euros more and have the whole enchilada.
For those of us who have fought and died bravely in the first echelon are in dire need of resupply and necessary upgrades to align with current NATO standards.
Is it possible that those will be made available at discounted rates?
Mike, an “upgrade kit only” should include the maps, the countersheets, the rules booklet, the scenarios booklet, the two field manuals, the two geolocated bases maps, and a box to hold everything. What is left out are some charts, the tables booklets, and the two dice…
Also, as you know TRLGames is a very small publisher, we don’t have the time and the resources to print separate upgrade kits.
I’m a eager recruit
I’ll be glad to give my money for the glory on the Party!
Yes, yes, a thousand times yes!
Oh, and reprint Deadly Northern Lights while you are at it!
Comrade,
I applaud this most recent initiative to drive the Western capitalist lackeys from the homeland and territories of the Soviet Union. Please inform me how I may contribute to this glorious effort!
Humble Servant of the Supreme Soviet,
Comrade Tyson
I am willing to purchase this upgraded edition, as it seems that the changes are fairly comprehensive. I am assuming that Sacred Oil is the new baseline, and that it too is not going to need a heavily revised new edition as well, lol. The changes for the 2nd echelon of DNL were just not quite enough to get me to spring for that, but I have another thought. I suspect that most of the people who bought UAIS 1st ed also bought DNL 1st ed. How about printing some of the lower cost changes to DNL 1st (available as PnP in the download update kit) such as tables and counters (not entire rulebooks) and dropping them in the box with this? Sweeten the pot just a bit, so to speak? Just a thought….
And I too would be interested in a Balkan Front!
I prefer a Update Kit, but will buy this full-version.
I own Third Echelon and will definitely buy Fourth Echelon.
(maybe…now we’re heating up the printers again, a DeadlyNorthern Lights reprint…?)
I am ready to answer the clarion call. Hasta la Victoria Siempre!
The back breaking, bank account draining, divorce inducing, ultra-MAD, all-in-one colossus gets my vote! But I’ll buy the 4th echelon too.
Yes, please include me.
I already have my copy of UAIS, but will be happy to buy a 4th echelon to support Fabrizio and TRL games!
To quote an orderly to his drunk and bleary eyed 2nd Tank Company commander of the 318th MRDD, LT Viktor Suvorov was awakened on 13 April 1969 at ten minutes past 4am …
“Get up Comrade Lieutenant, Great Deeds await you!…ACTION STATIONS!!!”
Inside the Aquarium by Viktor Suvorov. pg 9
If the fourth echelon is published, when will it go on sale?
Wholehearted yes, I have all previous versions of games and this new release would be fantastic.
I was very much hoping for a re-release of this gem!
Count me in to share in the glory of Mother Russia, Comrade.
Comrade, the news of the fourth echelon are arrived this morning in our Kolkhoze !
After the announcement, we have a lecture of Lenine and of Staline, and we have all give a full week of hard work for purchasing ONE to help our gloriously Red Army to crush the capitalist world !
Hurrah Pobieba !