Star Wars: Battle of Hoth

Setting up Star Wars: Battle of Hoth begins with players selecting one of the seventeen included missions from the scenario book. The double-sided game board is placed between opponents with the two-dashed line face up. Following the scenario diagram, players place the required double-sided terrain hexes, such as crevasses, seracs, rocks, and trenches. Next, each player takes their respective faction tray of miniatures—dark grey for the Galactic Empire and light grey for the Rebel Alliance—and places them on the board according to the scenario's starting troop layout. Players then sort the command decks by card backs, remove leader cards if playing without leaders, and distribute the starting hand of command cards as specified by the scenario briefing. Supply dice, victory medals, and reference sheets are set nearby within easy reach.

The primary objective in Battle of Hoth varies by scenario but typically centers around accumulating a set number of victory medals. The Rebel Alliance often seeks to defend base installations or survive enemy assaults, while the Galactic Empire pushes forward to crush rebel resistance, eliminate probe droids, or destroy shield generators. Some scenarios feature temporary or permanent victory medals tied to specific board spaces, and others include sudden-death objectives that instantly decide the winner upon completion.

The game is played over a series of alternating player turns. On your turn, you must perform five steps in order: first, play a command card from your hand and read it aloud to your opponent; second, announce which specific units on the board you are activating based on the card's section or text instructions; third, move your activated units across hexes, adhering to terrain restrictions and unit movement limits; fourth, declare and resolve attacks against valid enemy targets within range and line of sight by rolling attack dice; and fifth, draw a new command card from your deck to end your turn. Combat outcomes are resolved by matching symbols on rolled dice against unit types, factoring in terrain protections and applying mandatory retreat results.

Scoring in Battle of Hoth is tracked using victory medals. Players earn medals by completely destroying enemy units, where every miniature removed from a unit contributes toward the medal total. Certain scenarios also award temporary victory medals for controlling specific board spaces, such as buildings or ridge hexes, which must be maintained to keep the medal. Additional medals can be earned through special scenario rules, such as eliminating specific high-value targets.

The game ends the exact moment one player meets or exceeds the victory condition specified in the scenario briefing. Typically, this is achieved when a player collects the required number of victory medals, such as four medals in standard scenarios. Alternatively, a game can end immediately through a sudden-death objective, such as the Empire successfully destroying both shield generators in specific tactical scenarios.