Traverse: Tactical reaction-based authentic WW2 wargaming
Most wargames rely on fixed turns and predictable phases. TRAVERSE breaks that mould. At its core is a simple idea: Combat is defined by how troops react, not by how many dice you roll.
Your units don’t wait their turn, they react and move in the ebb and flow of battle. They respond, counter‑move, and seize opportunities the moment they appear. The battlefield becomes a living system where timing, positioning, and nerve matter most.
Product safety: Specialist hobby model for ages 16+. Not a toy. Contains small parts. Keep away from young children and animals, and never place components in the mouth.
Explore Traverse
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France 1940
The first edition of TRAVERSE covers the opening campaigns of the Second World War.
The period brings together contrasting military doctrines, uneven technology and rapidly changing methods of warfare. Heavily armoured French tanks face German forces built around mobility and coordination, while British, Belgian, Dutch and Polish armies each bring their own equipment and tactical limitations.
Vehicles represented include:
Char B1 Bis
Somua S35
British Cruiser tanks
Matilda I
Vickers Mk VI
Panzer I, II, III and IV variants
These differences create battles in which each force must be played according to its own strengths rather than following a single, universal strategy.
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Forces and Scale
TRAVERSE is designed for 15mm and 20mm WWII miniature collections.
Players can command:
Infantry platoons or companies
Tank troops, squadrons or companies
Supporting vehicles
Artillery and anti-tank weapons
Machine-gun, mortar and specialist teams
Games can range from smaller platoon engagements to larger company-level actions.
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Historical Research
Weapon, armour and vehicle ratings are informed by historical research into their real-world capabilities.
The German 37mm gun, for example, is poorly suited to engaging heavier armour, while the British 2-pounder is one of the strongest anti-tank weapons available during the period.
Weapon ranges are also represented at the scale of the tabletop. Most tank guns can reach across a standard gaming table, making line of sight, positioning and the quality of the shot more important than moving into an artificial firing range.
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How the Game Plays
Each player alternates drawing activation tokens from a shared sequence. The token determines which units can move, fire or respond.
Because units activate at different frequencies, the battlefield develops unevenly. A tank may reposition before nearby infantry have moved, an opportunity to fire may appear unexpectedly, or an advance may stall under suppressing fire.
Unit cards contain the statistics needed during play, while the core rules avoid extensive lists of individual exceptions and special abilities.
Games Features
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Alternating Activation
Players draw tokens to determine which units can act, keeping both sides involved throughout the game. The order of play is never entirely predictable, reflecting the confusion and limited control of the battlefield.
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Unit Speeds
Faster vehicles receive more activation tokens, allowing them to manoeuvre and respond more frequently. Infantry move more slowly and depend on cover, supporting fire and careful positioning.
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Historically Researched Gunnery
Gun power and armour protection are based on historical performance, allowing the strengths and limitations of different vehicles to changw how they’re used.
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Scenario-Led Battles
Each scenario presents a specific tactical problem, with its own forces, objectives and battlefield conditions. Victory depends on how effectively you use the units available to you.
What’s Included
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Core Rulebook
A 44-page guide to the complete TRAVERSE game, including activation, movement, tank gunnery, armour, infantry combat and scenario play. Clear unit rules and reference information keep play moving without extensive charts or special rules.
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Scenarios and Army Rules
Includes four historically based scenarios set during 1939–1940, alongside four additional scenarios for general play. Army rules cover British, French, German, Belgian, Dutch and Polish forces, giving each nation its own early-war vehicles and battlefield character.
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In the Box
Includes 20 activation tokens, nine dice, a range template, two token bags and a dice bag. Unit cards for commonly used vehicles of 1940 keep key information close at hand, with a plastic storage box included to keep the cards organised.
Miniatures, terrain and a gaming surface are not included.
FAQ
If you have any questions about Traverse, please contact us.
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TRAVERSE is designed for 15mm and 20mm WWII miniatures. The rules can be used with your existing miniature collections or with miniatures purchased separately from Reaction Games. You can shop our miniatures in store.
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No, the game includes the rulebook, scenarios, unit cards, tokens, dice, bags and range template. The miniatures and terrain are sold separately and can be purchased from our store, or you can use your existing collections of miniatures.
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The first edition focuses on the campaigns of 1939–1940, including the German invasion of Poland and the fighting in France and the Low Countries.
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The game includes rules for British, French, German, Belgian, Dutch and Polish forces from the early-war period.
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TRAVERSE supports games from platoon to company level. Forces may include infantry, tanks, support vehicles, artillery, anti-tank weapons and specialist teams, depending on the scenario.
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Players alternate drawing tokens to determine which units can act. Faster vehicles have more tokens and may activate more frequently, while slower units, like infantry, move more steadily across the battlefield.
This means neither player completes an entire turn without an interruption, and plans may need to change as units activate in an unexpected order.
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Tank fire uses a shot-solution system that takes targeting, deflection and firing difficulty into account. Further shots against the same target can improve the chance of a hit as the crew corrects its aim. Gun power and armour ratings are based on the performance of early-war weapons and vehicles.
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Infantry fire is used to suppress and pin enemy units, reducing their effectiveness. Cover is particularly important, with troops in protected positions much harder to disrupt than those caught in the open.
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Yes. TRAVERSE includes four historically based scenarios set between 1939 and 1940, along with four additional scenarios for general play.
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The box includes the rules and gaming accessories required to play, but you will also need suitable miniatures, terrain and a gaming surface.
Get Ready to Play TRAVERSE
Command early-war forces, respond to an unpredictable activation sequence and test your tactics across scenarios inspired by the campaigns of 1939–1940.
A new and unique World War 2 tactical combat simulation where your actions and the enemy’s reactions determine the outcome of the battle.
The first edition of our new World War II platoon to company-level wargame historic action simulator.
TRAVERSE is designed around our central gaming ideal that combat action is about the reaction of troops and units, not casualties or hit rolls. You will command a platoon or company-level force of 15mm scale or 20 mm tanks, vehicles, and infantry in a narrative-driven scenario inspired by events in France, 1940.
Action in TRAVERSE is built around a stepped action sequence, with both sides holding ten action tokens. These are randomly drawn alternately by the players and the result indicates which type of Unit can move that step – faster vehicles have more tokens, so get more actions while the poor bloody infantry (PBI) slog along behind!
Usually dispatched within 1 - 2 business days via Royal Mail 24 Tracked or 48 Tracked.
Tanks sold separately.
Product safety: Specialist hobby model for ages 16+. Not a toy. Contains small parts. Keep away from young children and animals, and never place components in the mouth.
Miniatures for TRAVERSE
Build your force with 15mm and 20mm miniatures from the Reaction Games range. Choose from early-war tanks, infantry, support vehicles and battlefield units suitable for the armies and scenarios included in TRAVERSE.
Miniatures are available separately and are not included with the game.
Panhard 178 – France’s Premier Reconnaissance Armoured Car
The Panhard 178 WWII model was the French Army’s main reconnaissance and scout vehicle, offering both speed and firepower. Armed with a 25mm gun and a 7.5mm coaxial machine gun, this well-designed scout car played a crucial role in early-war WWII tabletop wargaming.
This 20mm wargaming miniature is perfect for early-war 1940 battles and compatible with similar WWII tabletop games. Whether used for reconnaissance missions or engaging enemy forces, this historically accurate armoured car model is an essential addition to any collection.
Features & Details:
Authentic 1940 French Armoured Car Model – Designed for WWII tabletop wargaming, perfect for early-war battle scenarios.
20mm (1:76) Scale Wargaming Miniature – Ideal for TRAVERSE and other tabletop WWII games.
Rotating Turret with Pre-Fixed Magnets – Features a separate easy-glide turret, mounted using pre-fixed ‘turret-turn-action’ magnets.
High-Detail 3D Printing – Made from Anycubic water-washable resin (gray) for sharp details and durability.
Prepped for Customization – Primary supports removed before sale, requiring minimal clean-up before painting.
Enhance your WWII tabletop battles with the Panhard 178 15mm wargaming miniature, a must-have for French forces and reconnaissance missions.