Sequence of Play
The game is played in a series of consecutive Game Turns. Each Game Turn consists of three Faction Turns: Axis, Western, and Soviet. The faction whose Faction Turn is currently in progress is referred to as the phasing faction.
Each Faction Turn is divided into Phases, which may be sub-divided into Segments. Players perform actions in a sequence of Phases and Segments known as the Sequence of Play. Once a phasing faction finishes a Phase or Segment and moves to the next, it cannot go back.
Important: The Seasonal Victory Phase and each faction’s Seasonal Phase are performed only on Seasonal Turns (i.e. the first turn of each Season). These Phases have a red border around them in the Sequence of Play to match the red border that appears around Seasonal Turns on the Turn Track. On all other Non-seasonal Turns, each faction begins its Faction Turn with the Initial Administrative Phase.
The Sequence of Play is very procedure-oriented. You’ll need to follow it closely to perform actions in their proper order.
Game Turn Sequence of Play
0. Seasonal Victory Phase
0.1 Victory Point Check
A. Axis Faction Turn
1. Seasonal Phase
1.1 Option Card Segment
1.2 Logistics / Partisan Segment
1.3 Replacements Segment
2. Initial Administrative Phase
2.1 Political Events Segment
2.2 Support Segment
2.3 Organization Segment
3. Operational Movement Phase
4. Combat Phase
4.1 Blitz Combat Segment
4.2 Regular Combat Segment
4.3 Marker Segment
5. Reserve Movement Phase
6. Final Administrative Phase
6.1 War & Peace Segment
6.2 Conditional Events Segment
B. Western Faction Turn
The Western faction player performs Phases 1-6 above.
C. Soviet Faction Turn
The Soviet faction player performs Phases 1-6 above.
7. End of Game Turn Phase
7.1 Delay Segment
7.2 Turn Marker Segment
© Combined Game Sequence of Play
In AE, the Game Turn Sequence of Play remains exactly the same: after performing the Seasonal Victory Phase (if necessary), the Axis faction takes its Faction Turn on both maps, followed by the Western faction and the Soviet faction.
Events during a particular segment or phase are performed in TK first and then in DS.
Your faction only gets one combined Faction Turn on both maps, and generally, play can happen at the same time on both maps. But whenever there is confusion about sequencing, remember “Germany First.”