I have just downloaded BCIV this weekend and must say "good show". I was a fan of the BC1st edition and it replaced Arty Conliffe's Spearhead as our Brigade/Div scale Miniatures game. It is very quick play for a low terrain/ high model count scenario. Works best in the desert and russian plains in my opinion. Derived from the fantasy warmaster series it generalizes the stats for each stand (platoon) to realy 5 numbers. The units are rated by a general Anti Inf/ Anti armor AP/AT score. Hits are then allocated to the stand, after any saves are made. Command is handled by a "push your luck" system that handles the nationality differences to our satisfaction. Also a plus is the authors after finding some flaws in the 3rd edition-- apologized (gasp!) and made the fourth edition available quickly and without a GW Upcharge to all previous owners. A+ product and thank you MArk Fry and Pendraken.

I am fan of the Rapid Fire! system since the 1st edition. This review is a bit on the biased side, but recent graphic upgrades make this a valuable product. It lays out piece by piece both a 400 and a 200 point with upgrades historical wargame force. All of the pieces are visually laid out onto the page and an actual NW Europe British/ Canadian, American and German unit history is given. Most of the "battlegroups" are composed of easily found 1/72 - 15mm units so the assembly of a quick game is much easier. Their are even listings of the Regt and BN commanders. 3 suggested scenario "ideas" are presented, but the text make these games seem more like a tournament between 2 balanced forces to see which force is the best.

The format is a little hard to read without extensive reformatting and there were supposed to be some scenarios (ie Gettysburg) included in the base rules that are missing.