World At War 85 Core Rules v2.2: What Changed From Earlier Versions

Quick Answer

World At War 85 Core Rules v2.2 is the current ruleset, and the Rev87 spiral-bound manual is simply that PDF at revision 87, printed for table use. It is not a new edition with rewritten mechanics. If you already own an earlier printing, you can keep playing; if you want the latest corrections and a lay-flat reference, the Rev87 manual is the practical buy.

What the Rev87 Manual Actually Is

The core rules for World At War 85 live as a PDF that gets updated over time. The Rev87 spiral-bound manual is that same PDF, at revision 87, printed and bound so it stays open on the table. It is not a separate product line or a different game. This matters because you may see 'Rev87' and assume it signals a major overhaul. It does not. It signals the current state of the living document, captured in physical form.

If you already own an older printing of the v2.2 rules, you are not missing a new edition. You are missing the accumulated refinements that come with any living ruleset. For players who prefer paper at the table, the spiral binding is the real upgrade: it lies flat, so you can keep both hands on counters and dice instead of fighting the spine.

Myth: v2.2 Is a Completely Different Game

Verdict: False. Core Rules v2.2 is the platoon-level system behind every World At War 85 game. The foundation is unchanged: formation deck activation, five things a unit can do in an impulse, and the full weight of modern combat underneath it. That includes armour saves and reactive armour, artillery-delivered mines, and night targeting checks. These are not new inventions in v2.2; they are the established mechanics of the system.

What changes between revisions is clarity, edge-case handling, and the occasional refinement that comes from years of play. If you are learning the game, v2.2 is still the baseline. If you are returning after a long break, expect the same core loop with tighter wording in places where the old text left room for debate.

Myth: You Need the Rev87 Manual to Play Legally

Verdict: Misleading. The Rev87 manual is a convenience, not a requirement. Because the rules exist as an updated PDF, any earlier printed copy still contains the same v2.2 system. The difference is that the Rev87 printing incorporates the latest revisions. If your group is casual about minor wording differences, an older copy works. If you play competitively or simply want the most current text at the table, the Rev87 spiral-bound manual removes the guesswork.

One honest tradeoff: the spiral-bound manual is a physical object that can wear out. The PDF can be updated indefinitely. Some players buy the printed manual for table use and keep the PDF on a tablet for search. That combination covers both the tactile and the archival needs.

How This Compares to Other Lock n Load Core Systems

If you also play Nations At War, do not assume its Core Rules Manual v3.0 follows the same revision logic. That book is described as the complete Nations At War system in one volume, covering infantry platoons, armoured vehicles, artillery, air support, command and control, opportunity fire, assault combat, morale, terrain and scenario flow at company scale. It is a different scale and a different design. The World At War 85 Rev87 manual is a snapshot of a living PDF; the Nations At War v3.0 manual is presented as the whole system in one book. Both are core rules, but they serve different games and different player expectations.

For a smaller, self-contained entry into the World At War 85 universe, Raid and Riposte - Second Edition puts you in May 1985, with Soviet paratroopers holding the West German city of Tannenbruck against Bundeswehr and US Army assaults. It uses companies and platoons, so the core rules remain relevant, but the scenario is fixed. If you are curious about the system before committing to the full rules, a scenario pack like this is a lower-cost way to see the mechanics in action.

Verdicts on Common Claims

• Claim: v2.2 is a new edition that invalidates older rules.: Core Rules v2.2 is the platoon-level system behind every World At War 85 game. The Rev87 manual is the same PDF at revision 87, not a new edition. Older printings still contain the v2.2 system. Verdict: False. Keep your old copy if it is v2.2; upgrade only for the latest revisions and spiral binding.
• Claim: You must buy the Rev87 manual to have the current rules.: The rules live as a PDF that keeps getting updated. The Rev87 manual is that PDF printed and spiral bound. If you already have the PDF, you have the current rules; the manual is a convenience for table use. Verdict: Misleading. Buy the manual for the physical format, not because your PDF is obsolete.
• Claim: World At War 85 and Nations At War share the same core rules.: World At War 85 is platoon-level with formation deck activation and five impulse actions. Nations At War is company-scale combined arms with its own Core Rules Manual v3.0. They are separate systems with separate books. Verdict: False. Check which game you are playing before buying a core manual.

Key Products for This Ruleset

• World At War 85 Core Rules v2.2 Rev87 Spiral Bound Manual: The Printed Edition: The rules live as a PDF that keeps getting updated. This is that PDF at revision 87, printed and spiral bound. Core Rules v2.2 is the platoon-level system behind every World At War 85 game. Formation deck activation, five things a unit can do in an impulse, and the full weight of modern combat underneath it, from armour saves and reactive armour to artillery-delivered mines, night targeting checks. If you want the current revision in a lay-flat format for table use, this is the direct purchase. It saves you from printing and binding the PDF yourself, and the spiral binding keeps the book open during play.
• Nations At War Core Rules Manual v3.0: Nations At War Core Rules Manual v3.0 is the complete Nations At War system in one volume, covering infantry platoons, armoured vehicles, artillery, air support, command and control, opportunity fire, assault combat, morale, terrain and scenario flow at company scale. Do not confuse this with World At War 85. If you play both systems, you need both books. This one is for company-scale combined arms combat, not platoon-level World At War 85.
• Raid and Riposte - Second Edition: Raid and Riposte - Second Edition: May 1985. The Soviet 1st Paratroop Regiment under Colonel Michael Balakirev holds Tannenbruck against repeated Bundeswehr and US Army assaults, from the thirteenth to the twentieth. Take either side. Companies, platoons. A self-contained scenario that uses the World At War 85 rules. If you want to test the v2.2 mechanics before buying the full core manual, this is a practical starting point.