Bolt Action vs Konflikt '47: How Different Are They Really?
Bolt Action vs Konflikt ‘47: How Different Are They Really?
If you already play Bolt Action and have started looking at the walkers, super-soldiers, undead infantry, experimental weapons, and strange creatures of Konflikt ‘47, one question comes up almost immediately: Is Konflikt ‘47 basically Bolt Action with science-fiction models?
The short answer is no — but the two games are closely related. Modern Konflikt ‘47 is built from the same broad design family as Bolt Action Third Edition. If you already understand Order Dice, Pin Markers, platoons, infantry squads, vehicles, and the general flow of a Warlord Games battle, you will recognize plenty. But Konflikt ‘47 is explicitly designed as a standalone game — the biggest differences come from Rift technology, heroes, monsters, mechs, unusual infantry, supernatural units, new weapons, and mechanics designed around the alternate-1947 setting.
Browse our Bolt Action collection and Konflikt ‘47 collection at Tistaminis.
Short Answer: Bolt Action vs Konflikt ‘47
Choose Bolt Action if you want a historical World War II miniature game built around infantry, tanks, artillery, historically inspired forces, and recognizable WWII battles.
Choose Konflikt ‘47 if you like the Bolt Action style of gameplay but want walkers, powered armour, Rift weapons, monsters, heroes, undead troops, experimental technology, and a much less predictable battlefield.
If you already own Bolt Action miniatures, the jump is particularly easy — Konflikt ‘47 explicitly allows compatible late-war Bolt Action units to form part of your forces.
Bolt Action vs Konflikt ‘47: Quick Comparison
| Category | Bolt Action | Konflikt ‘47 |
|---|---|---|
| Setting | Historical World War II | Alternate-history Weird War 1947 |
| Core Inspiration | WWII platoon combat | Built from Bolt Action principles |
| Order Dice | Yes | Yes |
| Pin Markers | Yes | Yes |
| Historical Infantry | Core of the game | Still important |
| Historical Tanks | Major component | Can still be used |
| Walkers / Mechs | No | Major component |
| Supernatural Units | No | Yes |
| Powered Infantry | No | Yes |
| Experimental Weapons | Historically grounded | Tesla, gravity, Rift, and other exotic weapons |
| Heroes | Grounded officers and historical personalities | Much more prominent cinematic Heroes and Villains |
| Army Style | Historical platoons | Historical core + specialized Rift platoons |
| Best For | WWII gamers and history enthusiasts | Players wanting WWII mixed with sci-fi, horror, and pulp |
The Biggest Similarity: Order Dice Still Drive the Game
Both games use the familiar Order Dice concept. Instead of one player moving their entire army and then handing the turn to the opponent, dice representing both armies are drawn from a bag. When your die is drawn, you activate one of your units. This creates uncertain activation order, constant player involvement, tactical decisions about which unit needs to act first, and moments where your plan changes because the opponent activates unexpectedly.
This Is Why Bolt Action Players Have Such an Easy Entry Point
You are not learning an entirely foreign miniature-game structure. You already understand one of the most important concepts controlling the rhythm of the battle — and Pin Markers work the same way too. Suppression does more than simply remove models; it reduces a unit's effectiveness and forces tactical decisions about whether to destroy or suppress.
So Where Does Konflikt ‘47 Start Becoming Different?
As soon as the Rift starts influencing the battlefield. Konflikt ‘47 is set in an alternate history where World War II continues beyond 1945 after the discovery of mysterious Rifts changes technology and warfare. The result is a battlefield containing things that simply cannot exist in historical Bolt Action:
- Armoured walkers and mechs
- Powered armour and jump infantry
- Undead soldiers and mutated creatures
- Super-soldiers and heroic characters
- Tesla, gravity, and advanced energy weapons
- Monsters and supernatural forces
BOLT ACTION Bolt Action Is Fundamentally Historical
Bolt Action's appeal comes from putting recognizable World War II forces onto the table. Your armies are built around nations with historical equipment — Shermans, Panzer IVs, T-34s, Churchills, rifle squads, machine-gun teams, mortars, and artillery. The game can produce cinematic results, but the armies remain anchored in real-world military history.
Start with the Bolt Action 3 “Band of Brothers” Starter Set for the core two-player experience, or the Bolt Action Starter Set for a focused single-faction entry. Browse the full range in our Bolt Action collection.
KONFLIKT '47 Konflikt Takes That Foundation and Breaks History Open
Konflikt ‘47 begins with familiar World War II nations and then asks: what happens if the war continues and completely impossible technology enters the battlefield? Each army develops its own alternate technological direction while retaining its historical national identity.
| Faction | Starter Set | Signature Rift Units |
|---|---|---|
| United States | US Konflikt ‘47 Starter Set | Firefly jump infantry, heavy infantry, Tesla-equipped walkers |
| Germany | Germany Starter Set | Stahltruppen, Panzermechs, Totenkorps undead, experimental weapons |
| Soviet Union | Soviet Starter Set | Heavy infantry, walkers, Rift-enhanced troops |
| Great Britain | Britain Starter Set | Automated infantry, walkers, advanced Commonwealth technology |
| Japan | Japanese Starter Set | Powered infantry, experimental weapons, supernatural and reanimated troops |
The new Konflikt ‘47 Starter Set is the best way in if you are new to the game and want a complete two-player box.
Walkers Change the Visual Feel Immediately
Walkers and mechs are probably the most recognizable difference between the games. Put a Sherman on a Bolt Action battlefield and everything looks historically appropriate. Put a towering walker beside that Sherman and you are unmistakably playing Konflikt ‘47.
We currently stock several walker models including the M3A2 Pondskater Scout Walker (US), Vogelspinne Light Walker (Germany), Heuschrecke Medium Panzermech (Germany), Percival Medium Assault Walker (Britain), and the Coyote/Guardian Light Walker (Allied). Walkers fill roles similar to light vehicles, medium armour, or heavy assault units — but their rules and battlefield characteristics give them a distinct identity from conventional tanks.
Rift Technology and Exotic Weaponry
Warlord has made Rift Tech and Rift Energy central to the Konflikt ‘47 design. A walker should not simply feel like a Sherman on legs. A Tesla cannon should not simply be another anti-tank gun with a different miniature. Powered infantry should not simply be ordinary infantry with +1 armour. Konflikt ‘47 therefore uses dedicated mechanics — Tesla weapons, gravity-based weapons, compression weapons, and advanced energy weapons — that introduce unusual effects and interactions beyond simply changing range and penetration values.
Army construction becomes less predictable as a result. In Bolt Action, experienced players broadly understand what a rifle squad or medium tank can do. In Konflikt ‘47, you also need to understand what happens when an opponent deploys a completely fictional weapon system with unfamiliar special rules.
Can You Use Bolt Action Models in Konflikt ‘47?
Yes — and this is one of the strongest reasons for existing Bolt Action players to try the game. Current Konflikt ‘47 army lists contain rules for incorporating appropriate Bolt Action units into a Konflikt force. Your existing collection can provide basic infantry, officers, support teams, historical vehicles, and artillery that form the backbone of a Konflikt ‘47 army, with the Rift platoons and special units layered on top.
The Most Cost-Effective Entry for Existing Bolt Action Players
If you already have a late-war Bolt Action force, you can begin with the Konflikt ‘47 Starter Set or a faction starter, use your existing Bolt Action infantry as your historical backbone, and then add walkers and Rift units to build toward a full Konflikt ‘47 army. You are not starting from zero.
Heroes and Villains Are More Prominent in Konflikt ‘47
Bolt Action has officers and can include historical personalities, but individual characters are generally not the dramatic centrepiece of the army. Konflikt ‘47 takes a more cinematic approach — named Heroes and Villains with notable abilities can play a more significant role on the battlefield, reflecting the pulp-inspired nature of the setting. If building an army around a powerful central character appeals to you, Konflikt ‘47 gives you more scope for that than historical Bolt Action does.
Which Game Should You Start With?
| If you want… | Start with… |
|---|---|
| Historical WWII with recognizable forces and equipment | Bolt Action |
| WWII mixed with sci-fi walkers and weird war technology | Konflikt ‘47 |
| To play both — you already have a Bolt Action collection | Konflikt ‘47 starter + your existing models |
| Supernatural units, undead, and monsters on the battlefield | Konflikt ‘47 |
| The most historically grounded game possible | Bolt Action |
| A system you already know with a fresh new army type | Konflikt ‘47 — the learning curve is short |
Our Verdict
Bolt Action and Konflikt ‘47 share a common language, but they are not the same game. If you want to fight the Second World War with historically recognizable armies, Bolt Action is the right choice. If you want to take that familiar tactical framework and push it into walkers, experimental weapons, powered armour, and supernatural horror — while keeping the Order Dice rhythm you already know — Konflikt ‘47 is a natural next step.
For existing Bolt Action players, the jump is unusually low-effort. Your existing models can contribute to a Konflikt force, the core mechanics are familiar, and the new units provide something genuinely different to paint, collect, and deploy.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need to own Bolt Action to play Konflikt '47?
No — Konflikt ‘47 is a standalone game. The Konflikt ‘47 Starter Set and faction starters include everything you need to begin. Bolt Action experience helps because the core mechanics are similar, but it is not required. Many Konflikt ‘47 players have never played Bolt Action.
Can Bolt Action models be used in Konflikt '47?
Yes. Current Konflikt ‘47 army lists include rules for incorporating appropriate late-war Bolt Action units. Your historical infantry, officers, support teams, and vehicles can form part of a Konflikt ‘47 force, with Rift platoons and special units added on top. Check the current Konflikt ‘47 rulebook for the specific force-building rules for your faction.
Which Konflikt '47 faction should I start with?
The best starting point depends on your preferred play style. Germany offers iconic walkers like the Vogelspinne and Heuschrecke Panzermech alongside the Totenkorps undead. The US provides mobile Firefly jump troops and Tesla technology. Britain has automated infantry and the Percival Assault Walker. Japan features supernatural and reanimated troops. The main Starter Set is the best place to begin if you want to try the game before committing to a faction.
Is Konflikt '47 harder to learn than Bolt Action?
For a complete newcomer, Konflikt ‘47 is broadly similar in learning curve to Bolt Action. For an existing Bolt Action player, Konflikt ‘47 is easier to learn than starting from scratch because the Order Dice system, Pin Markers, and general game flow are familiar. The additional learning comes from Rift-specific mechanics, exotic weapons, and special unit rules rather than from a fundamentally different game structure.
Can you play Bolt Action and Konflikt '47 with the same group?
Many gaming groups play both. Because the core mechanics are closely related, players familiar with one game can pick up the other relatively quickly. Some groups also play crossover games using Bolt Action historical units alongside Konflikt ‘47 Rift forces — though this is a house-rule arrangement rather than an officially supported mode.
Where do I start if I want to try both games?
Start with the Bolt Action “Band of Brothers” Starter Set for Bolt Action, then add the Konflikt ‘47 Starter Set when you are ready to expand. Your Bolt Action infantry can contribute to your Konflikt ‘47 force, so the investment overlaps rather than doubling up entirely. Browse both ranges at Tistaminis: Bolt Action and Konflikt ‘47.
Shop Bolt Action and Konflikt ‘47 at Tistaminis
We stock starter sets, infantry, vehicles, walkers, and supplement books for both games. Ships from Canada.