Bolt Action 3rd Edition is Warlord Games' definitive 28mm World War II tabletop game, and it's one of the easiest historical wargames to get into. The hardest part is simply deciding which army to command.
Pick a nation that excites you
Your army should reflect the part of the war you find most interesting. Germans offer elite troops and powerful armour. US forces bring flexible infantry and strong fire support. Soviets overwhelm with massed numbers, and Imperial Japanese reward aggressive close-assault play. There are also specialist forces like Fallschirmjäger and US Airborne. See what's in stock in our Bolt Action collection.
Start with a platoon or starter set
The quickest way to a playable force is a plastic platoon box or a starter set like Battle of the Bulge. These give you the core infantry your army is built around, often at a better per-model price than buying units individually.
Add support and armour
Once you have infantry, round out your force with weapons teams for fire support and a tank or vehicle for punch. A medium tank like the Panzer IV or a Universal Carrier makes a great first vehicle.
Get the rulebook
The Bolt Action: Third Edition Rulebook contains everything you need to play, including the army-building rules. Check our rulebooks collection. Then assemble, base, and you're ready to roll for orders.