Falling Crescent

From the publisher:

Falling Crescent is an operational-level game of the British offensive of September-October 1918 against the Turks in Palestine. One player controls the Turkish, German, and Bedouin forces, and the other, British, French, and Arab guerilla forces. A three-player version, commanding the Arabs separately is also included.

After lasting for centuries, the Ottoman Turks’ hold on Palestine is at risk. British forces and Arabs in revolt threaten to bring down the Ottomans and their Crescent flag. The game is one of skill, in which it is entirely possible to change the course of history. This game proves to be an interesting challenge as modifications to the design, such as strategic and operational cards, bring a new feel to the classic model also built-in!

In designing Falling Crescent, designer Roger Nord brought out the flavor of encirclement and surrender, of charging cavalry and elusive Arab guerillas. The Palestine campaign is one of history’s last great cavalry actions. In this fluid scene, local plans can often go astray unforeseen developments may hinder or even alter command plans. The players’ cards, new to this edition, add their part to the fortunes of war with reactive tactics and shifting events.

The game’s pace is swift, and we believe players will enjoy it as a World War I game devoid of attrition and stalemate. Especially in the use of cavalry and air, they will see a hint of things to come in 1939-1940, when a later war will no longer be fought with horses and canvas biplanes, but with treaded armor and screaming dive bombers.

Product Information:

• Complexity: Medium
• Playing time: 2-6 Hour Scenarios
• Solitaire Suitability: Medium
• Players: 2-3
• Map Scale: 1 Hex = 2.3 Miles
• Time Scale: 1 Turn = 2 Days
• Unit Scale: Brigades/Divisions
• Game Designer: Roger Nord
• Game Artist: Bruce Yearian

Game Components:

• • 2 22″ x 34″ Game Maps
  • 2 Countersheets (5/8″)
  • 4 Player Aid Cards (2 Sets)
  • 2 Scenario Set Up Cards
  • 1 British Card Deck
  • 1 Turkish Card Deck
  • 2 6-Sided Dice
  • 1 Rulebook

Experience the dramatic final campaign of World War I in the Middle East with Falling Crescent by Compass Games. Designed by Roger Nord, this operational-level wargame covers General Allenby’s decisive British offensive against Ottoman forces in Palestine during September and October 1918.

Designed for 2 to 3 players with a playing time of 2 to 6 hours, Falling Crescent captures the fluid, wide-open warfare of history’s last great cavalry campaign. Featuring a dual card deck (British and Turkish), sweeping encirclement maneuvers, and Arab guerrilla operations, it offers an exciting WWI experience entirely devoid of Western Front trench stalemate.

Operational Scope & The Palestine Campaign

While the Western Front in late 1918 was characterized by brutal attrition, the Middle Eastern theater presented a completely different challenge: rapid mobility, vast distances, and vulnerable lines of supply.

Falling Crescent puts players in command during the culmination of the Sinai and Palestine Campaign. As the British forces push north to break the Ottoman Empire, the Turkish-German defensive line faces pressure not just from regular infantry and armored cars, but from sweeping cavalry wings and elusive Arab guerrilla forces operating deep in their rear.

Core Mechanics & Design Features

Roger Nord updates a classic operational design with modern card-driven dynamics:

• Strategic & Operational Card Decks: Includes dedicated British and Turkish card decks. Event and command cards inject reactive tactics, shifting fortunes of war, and unexpected logistical delays without slowing down the core operational engine.
• Cavalry & Mobile Warfare: Recreates the sweeping flanking maneuvers of cavalry divisions and early armored units. Fast-moving forces can push through broken lines to threaten retreat paths and force entire corps into encirclement and surrender.
• Integrated Arab Revolt (3-Player Mode): In addition to the head-to-head Allied vs. Central Powers match, a built-in 3-player version allows one player to independently command the Arab guerrilla forces, pursuing distinct operational objectives.
• Air Power & Early Modern Mobility: Showcases early air support and reconnaissance, offering a fascinating preview of mechanized warfare doctrines that would define 1939–1940.

Map & Component Scale

Falling Crescent features two 22" x 34" game maps covering Palestine from the Mediterranean coast to east of the Jordan River. At 2.3 miles per hex and 2 days per turn, players can maneuver brigades and divisions across realistic operational distances. The game includes 2 full sheets of 5/8" counters, dedicated player aids, and scenario setup cards for quick table deployment.

BOARDGAMEGENERAL ADVICE

Expert Recommendation

Falling Crescent is an outstanding pick for wargamers looking for a World War I game that plays fast, favors aggressive maneuvering, and escapes the grinding trench warfare typical of the era. The combination of classic hex-and-counter movement with interactive card plays keeps both sides actively engaged on every turn.

The inclusion of the dedicated 3-player option for Arab forces adds fantastic replay value for gaming groups, while the high mobility makes for dramatic, swingy campaigns where ambitious encirclements can pay off massively.

Verdict: A dynamic, swift-paced WWI operational campaign game that highlights fluid cavalry maneuvers, encirclements, and desert warfare at its finest.