WWII rules
Bolt Action vs Chain of Command
Both are WWII games at roughly platoon level, and you can use the same 28mm models for either. They differ in feel and in who plays them.
| Bolt Action 3rd edition | Chain of Command 2 | |
|---|---|---|
| Publisher | Warlord Games with Osprey (Sept 2024) | Too Fat Lardies (successor to the 2013 original) |
| Activation | Order Dice drawn from a bag | Its own system, built around leadership and tactical decisions |
| Force building | Points-based force selection | Core platoon plus supports chosen from support lists |
| Army lists in the core book | Five starter lists: Britain, US, USSR, Germany, Japan; more in "Armies of" books | Britain, Germany, the Soviet Union and the US, 1944-45 |
| Models | Large plastic and metal range from Warlord | Any manufacturer, any common scale |
| Scenarios | Scenario generator in the rulebook | Scenario generation in the rules |
Pick Bolt Action if...
- your local store or club runs it,
- you want a quick, easy-to-learn game, or
- you like points-based list building.
Pick Chain of Command if...
- you want a game focused on a commander's decisions and the friction of war,
- you already own figures from other ranges or scales, or
- you prefer scenarios and campaigns to pick-up games.
Or play both
The models work for both, so there's no wrong first purchase if you buy a sensible platoon for your chosen nation.
Sources
- Warlord Community: Bolt Action Third Edition, September 2024 — Bolt Action 3rd edition details
- Osprey Publishing: Bolt Action Third Edition launch day — launch date
- Tactics WA: Chain of Command 2 core rulebook — Chain of Command 2 scope
- Too Fat Lardies: Chain of Command rule book — Chain of Command publisher page, scenario generation
Sources checked October 25, 2026. Figures are quoted as the source gives them; where sources differ we say so.