Olympica

Olympica is a two-player combat-oriented game set on Mars in 2206. Martian colonists are threatened by a thought-control machine hidden within Nix Olympica called the "Web Mind Generator" that forces anyone under its influence to serve the "Web". One player takes the role of UN forces that will try to destroy the Web generator situated in the Martian crater Olympica, while the other player controls the machine's defenses. The U.N. forces have light and heavy infantry, laser tanks, a laser drill and rocket-powered lifters. The defender uses light but fast infantry, redoubts and a tunnel system.^[1]

The ziplock bag holds:

• a 8" x 14" paper hex grid map
• a cardstock sheet of 75 playing pieces
• a 24-page rulebook

The defender sets out counters for defense, including the exact placement of the Web generator. A number of "dummy" counters are included to keep the exact location of units unknown until they are encountered.

The UN player makes an initial "drop" of units. Advantage of movement is given to the defensive player, who pays no cost to move through difficult terrain. Combat can either be ranged or close assault, which may raise clouds of dust, temporarily incapacitating affected units. Although the U.N. forces have more firepower, close assaults favor the defender, and the defender has an opportunity to bring on reinforcements at fixed intervals, while the U.N. forces cannot replace losses.^[2]

The game offers several scenarios in which the initial setup of each side varies.^[2]

In 1977, Metagaming Concepts pioneered a new type of small, fast and cheap solitaire or two-player wargame packaged in a ziplock bag, and produced nearly two dozen game in the series over the next five years. The seventh to be published was Olympica, a game designed by Lynn Willis, with artwork by Jennell Jaquays.^[a]