GHQ is played on an 8x8 checker board. Pieces represent forces Vonnegut was familiar with from his service during World War II – foot and mechanized infantry, artillery, paratroopers, and more. You win the game by capturing your opponent’s Headquarters unit.
Each player starts with five pieces on the board, with many more that can be brought on as reinforcements. On your turn you get three actions, which can be spent to move pieces or bring on reinforcements. Since you can freely choose which type of units you bring onto the board, and where they enter, you can tailor your strategy based on the situation, and react to your opponent’s moves.
Pieces do not capture by moving into the same space as an enemy. In fact, you can only move to empty spaces. Instead, infantry capture through maneuver, by applying more force to an enemy, which artillery capture units that remain in squares they are bombarding.
Getting your units to work together reflects real-world combined arms tactics, and will give victory to the player who can put together clever tactical maneuvers.
GHQ comes with 36 wooden pieces, styled after Vonnegut’s drawings, board, rules, and a 24 page historical commentary booklet that explores the game in the context of Kurt Vonnegut’s life and works.