tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-44374161964677520742024-03-19T07:16:17.718+00:00A Wargamers Needful ThingsA Wargamers Needful Things is a one stop blog for Wargamers, Military Minifig collectors, Toy Soldier collectors and military history obsessives. We will do our upmost to cover in depth as much as possible. We shall be reviewing books, miniatures\toy soldiers, MiniFigs and of course games, plus interviews, model making and AARs!
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"Mike Wallhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00412103694827166164noreply@blogger.comBlogger907125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4437416196467752074.post-18719839988985169192024-03-11T16:34:00.001+00:002024-03-11T21:21:55.937+00:00STALINGRAD ROADS<h1 style="text-align: center;"><b><i>STALINGRAD ROADS</i></b> </h1><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>FROM</b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>NUTS PUBLISHING</b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOoPRjI1s2xs7cemRGi1vf4WcX3Y73XQS1Qz_jWPAZYnfKrRZefvUvoyHvBdGLygJXGIEQaeHQKRjyWakxZVLYGx5mlBEdcXY8K3c8Up_D4LjQLBSXuEMf2UDvPerf14zmvH453-9epfDaqfXPBEC2oj2f4prfkSlYvKE3vuz26g14kJrMW_42XDCLu0o/s2875/Front%20cover.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2875" data-original-width="2027" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOoPRjI1s2xs7cemRGi1vf4WcX3Y73XQS1Qz_jWPAZYnfKrRZefvUvoyHvBdGLygJXGIEQaeHQKRjyWakxZVLYGx5mlBEdcXY8K3c8Up_D4LjQLBSXuEMf2UDvPerf14zmvH453-9epfDaqfXPBEC2oj2f4prfkSlYvKE3vuz26g14kJrMW_42XDCLu0o/w452-h640/Front%20cover.jpg" width="452" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><b><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-style: italic; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4P3HC9OgKFVUd5OFjL7U9_Fw3MWk65GEIZR4GpO7U_RkQITwNykmed7_sftLkG30qto9OoKGPEgkdaeDfWXQjmZgU0KQ8_v7Ad6bT-eUKJ8EuvtfppTJKFvfLmWH52k67pRqobS5mLyOkL9LCtYVPwCSVkeLqDU_Qi5aAE3eJhd6IJFO6e1ttoO4NK-4/s3101/Contents%202.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2214" data-original-width="3101" height="456" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4P3HC9OgKFVUd5OFjL7U9_Fw3MWk65GEIZR4GpO7U_RkQITwNykmed7_sftLkG30qto9OoKGPEgkdaeDfWXQjmZgU0KQ8_v7Ad6bT-eUKJ8EuvtfppTJKFvfLmWH52k67pRqobS5mLyOkL9LCtYVPwCSVkeLqDU_Qi5aAE3eJhd6IJFO6e1ttoO4NK-4/w640-h456/Contents%202.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b>What's in the box</b></div><br /></b></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><i><b>Stalingrad Roads</b></i> has been a game that I have been waiting for with great anticipation and enthusiasm and, I confess, some trepidation about its eventual realisation, as it continually seemed to be coming...but not yet. So, at last, with a resounding cheer, it's a reality and I must give a big thanks to Nuts Publishing for not just sending me a copy to review, but a bonus of the neoprene map...only the second one that I've ever owned. </span><span style="font-size: large;"><span><i style="font-weight: bold;">Stalingrad Roads </i>is </span><span>the third in a series that began with <i><b>Liberty Roads</b></i> and was followed by <i style="font-weight: bold;">Victory Roads</i>. These first two were published by Hexasim, another games company I greatly admire, though with them my focus has been on their excellent Napoleonic series. </span></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><span>My knowledge of the first two Roads games is purely of their physical appearance which, in both cases, was lavish with vibrant colours</span><span> on the map and counters. Nuts Publishing has gone for a much more austere map and counters that in their simplicity of layout and contrast of ochre and grey have a distinctly retro feel to them.</span></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">This is a major aspect that may divide players. I’m certainly in the camp that favours the austerity of the pale wintery palate of the map that suits the span of November to March deep in Russian territory. With the counters I have mixed feelings, not so much for colour, but size. In fact, I found the multiplicity of badges on the units in the first two games distinctly distracting and one For those with the modern gaming taste for the larger and more lavish the better, they may be too small and too simple. </span><span style="font-size: large;">Nonetheless, they are totally practical and clearly readable with the standard three number sequence: attack strength, defence strength and movement.</span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-size: xx-large; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgvLPYxJe3AX0dOWV-F_eZNK6mZTqZAyh7r0mkyVLr5eyckhdpVB8EzExfG4J6bRFi8tzMohZe9SO-GPQ3bXXf_ubl5f9REDrFI9Hasgb14Uu_sNfdfCIxWJv1UX02zb1ESEU7sqZnLaFVzbBs9fEm0a5yDuPLR8IJUKn9n4JUZsPj0LkSIYqnjDyBG6cA" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="467" data-original-width="679" height="440" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgvLPYxJe3AX0dOWV-F_eZNK6mZTqZAyh7r0mkyVLr5eyckhdpVB8EzExfG4J6bRFi8tzMohZe9SO-GPQ3bXXf_ubl5f9REDrFI9Hasgb14Uu_sNfdfCIxWJv1UX02zb1ESEU7sqZnLaFVzbBs9fEm0a5yDuPLR8IJUKn9n4JUZsPj0LkSIYqnjDyBG6cA=w640-h440" width="640" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: large;">In all other respects, the contents should be uncontentious. The game contains a substantial number of double-sided Play Aids, all on thin, glossy card. An item I wish all games provided is an identical terrain, combat and weather chart, one for each player. Thumbs up to Nuts Publishing for that. So much easier than passing one backwards and forwards across the table and much more appealing than one player having a photocopy. </span><span style="font-size: x-large;"> </span></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">Both players have double-sided charts that explain the many individual Support markers each side may potentially have in the course of the game. Three more contain set-up charts for the different scenarios and a final four combine a variety of functions. One side of each presents a variety of other play aids, from holding boxes to player specific charts, while the others provide more set up displays and one contains a mini-map for the introductory learning scenario, Wintergewitter.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmMnuhXKKf1DthFzW-s3YSvHj_AahFPH0w0L8G0gXB0edz6tYMxertnpjn4gxllFezzA8zT3Mofab6aWrnwiWaR2M5zexVaS-ueHPSTDiorQEm4TREP1hP5w3fEUbJeCgc6g4Sf6HjNRSUmjvLqJsFono07-jvwWwLRdF0WcSiXQOUS9HHqLPIK4EbXCk/s3099/Section%20of%20map%201.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2265" data-original-width="3099" height="468" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmMnuhXKKf1DthFzW-s3YSvHj_AahFPH0w0L8G0gXB0edz6tYMxertnpjn4gxllFezzA8zT3Mofab6aWrnwiWaR2M5zexVaS-ueHPSTDiorQEm4TREP1hP5w3fEUbJeCgc6g4Sf6HjNRSUmjvLqJsFono07-jvwWwLRdF0WcSiXQOUS9HHqLPIK4EbXCk/w640-h468/Section%20of%20map%201.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Wintergewitter mini-map</b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguTLYxGlgTRops7VEoL_bRDVnzVuQPrfijYTEA0rhOs_IjXyk8ku5NLkNVqsAIjEg8qTQvh_Y23E_sDrEN1Hao1yoP6dgvIps3yr-Q_7DjkRcJ7j_nO9KFPDH1Ax8L9zJCBTHEG6c51CFDeQgha0kded1UiX1vISBmNBDJ9j3de3sv5Q3SQL7w4eW0B2E/s3264/Section%20of%20map%203.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2448" data-original-width="3264" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguTLYxGlgTRops7VEoL_bRDVnzVuQPrfijYTEA0rhOs_IjXyk8ku5NLkNVqsAIjEg8qTQvh_Y23E_sDrEN1Hao1yoP6dgvIps3yr-Q_7DjkRcJ7j_nO9KFPDH1Ax8L9zJCBTHEG6c51CFDeQgha0kded1UiX1vISBmNBDJ9j3de3sv5Q3SQL7w4eW0B2E/w640-h480/Section%20of%20map%203.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><b>...and how it appears if played on the full map</b><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">The rulebook (partially seen above) is a similarly attractive, glossy product of 22 pages of rules, 4 pages of scenarios and a 1 page index. It’s very compact and functional and, though the print size is fairly small, I’ve found it easy to read. Illustrations are limited, but focus extensively throughout the excellent, detailed examples of the central elements of Combat, Retreat and Exploitation.</span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">The rules themselves are an interesting blend of the familiar and the unusual. The core of the system is a fairly basic one common to even early hex and counter games of the igo-ugo format with the Soviets having the first half of the turn and the Axis having the second half, founded on supply check, movement, combat and reinforcements and replacements. </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhb7z5WJbsZSRglBzKWfPOOKzAuV8uQUT22_SbgdFpa555n5hmBpep6DgKnMeXzyRC4uHBOJpcwuCHG555oihratajlCdwUyJAuQSrLQG6HvnR3N-mozlvs7rGTFCly_y4hi6Zpq8rphWnWCGzEOUlxR_5VEYwaSPMAtfMQBIDSOgBwQ-facmS3BFSq5OQ/s2048/Game%20Sequence.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1773" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhb7z5WJbsZSRglBzKWfPOOKzAuV8uQUT22_SbgdFpa555n5hmBpep6DgKnMeXzyRC4uHBOJpcwuCHG555oihratajlCdwUyJAuQSrLQG6HvnR3N-mozlvs7rGTFCly_y4hi6Zpq8rphWnWCGzEOUlxR_5VEYwaSPMAtfMQBIDSOgBwQ-facmS3BFSq5OQ/w554-h640/Game%20Sequence.jpg" width="554" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">However, a level of added complexity derives from both players having a Support Phase as well as specific individual Phases. These latter Phases apply mainly to the Soviet player and for that reason I would recommend that a more experienced player take the Soviet side at least for the first few games.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOhQXHh9lQURW6aNfyAlFp69nrstWoE3M39h-UQyKtBYmtfI3a8TMUZbaV-xT_KdqXWUNRBmJnOp3uoSF11Oefj8TFIha8KrBysGng2Ur_mjTbDJMSIazBczkQzzj5CECwhHzsWYQxJdxkdt5dB-ORsLPH50KnVJnBKU7nqeofAVRX77kU59aMuXCTsY0/s3118/Combat%20Chart.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3118" data-original-width="2307" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOhQXHh9lQURW6aNfyAlFp69nrstWoE3M39h-UQyKtBYmtfI3a8TMUZbaV-xT_KdqXWUNRBmJnOp3uoSF11Oefj8TFIha8KrBysGng2Ur_mjTbDJMSIazBczkQzzj5CECwhHzsWYQxJdxkdt5dB-ORsLPH50KnVJnBKU7nqeofAVRX77kU59aMuXCTsY0/w474-h640/Combat%20Chart.jpg" width="474" /></a></div><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Combat and Weather Charts on back of the rule book</b></span><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">A number of points looked daunting, but in reality weren’t. The first such was the weather table and its rules. My one complaint here is that the explanation of the lettered code used in the table is given in the reproduction of the chart in the rule book and on the back cover of the rule book, but not on the Play Aids - an odd choice! When I saw that Snow and Mud are the only two weather conditions, I feared I might be in for a mass of complexity. However, as Snow predominates, it has been largely been dealt with by factoring it into movement rates and other data on the terrain chart; as a result it turned out easy to handle. Apart from obvious ground features, especially rivers, being dealt with through the weather table, so too is cloud cover which affects air support markers. Both sets of conditions have handy tracks and markers on the map as reminders - a welcome help.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVo606Aw8NHzSAjeiiwW-UfSnsKJW_49liJ0diPP6eU5Nl9XzVgbDBzR09qbLNQ4kVmXfxPUQ0dGe1I_z2VBHR1xhIJR8uaSSGXVZrA7lFeRzkzNcVJS0dWRcLkusHbhKuttHsBd7V5Jw9tKmSUncdgwMWVksXPD950DL8qtLIrNuuR6RaG0uj8KZrRiQ/s2594/Example.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2594" data-original-width="1954" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVo606Aw8NHzSAjeiiwW-UfSnsKJW_49liJ0diPP6eU5Nl9XzVgbDBzR09qbLNQ4kVmXfxPUQ0dGe1I_z2VBHR1xhIJR8uaSSGXVZrA7lFeRzkzNcVJS0dWRcLkusHbhKuttHsBd7V5Jw9tKmSUncdgwMWVksXPD950DL8qtLIrNuuR6RaG0uj8KZrRiQ/w482-h640/Example.jpg" width="482" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">Explanation of Weather Effects on Cloud Cover and Rivers</span></b></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">Perhaps surprisingly, weather does not affect supply, though supply itself is handled in a novel and interesting fashion. Apart from a direct trace of 4 hexes to map edge supply hexes, roads and rails are the key. This is a familiar rule; what is unusual is that you check HQs first for being in supply and then those that aren’t are removed from the map. They will return to the map in the Reinforcement and Replacement Phase which is the last Phase of each player's turn. Unfortunately, as the rules don't clearly specify, it must be assumed that they return by the same process as unit reinforcements arrive. In the final step of the Supply Phase all combat units are checked for whether they are within command range of an HQ on the map. If not, then they are marked as out of supply. </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvXJlg9Tchyphenhyphenfex9-IWnakZcw5jgEd4f09SCYR6SL7aDBQMPWA18w3sqevUEY35G1f7ZyIQa781qHtEHAIDQ6Sm1mP4JWR1qmyRsARgzqC0OMzwgxBN8lPAN7kPN0aEaveI9NCyAh4fq_HAr7PgbJPzkLG82I0Zu-jseEN-qrPcBKWYFekl2hdvJL5aE_Q/s2232/Combat%20close%20up.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1545" data-original-width="2232" height="444" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvXJlg9Tchyphenhyphenfex9-IWnakZcw5jgEd4f09SCYR6SL7aDBQMPWA18w3sqevUEY35G1f7ZyIQa781qHtEHAIDQ6Sm1mP4JWR1qmyRsARgzqC0OMzwgxBN8lPAN7kPN0aEaveI9NCyAh4fq_HAr7PgbJPzkLG82I0Zu-jseEN-qrPcBKWYFekl2hdvJL5aE_Q/w640-h444/Combat%20close%20up.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Close up on the Combat Table</b></span><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">The other intriguing feature is the Combat Results table. Though it is the standard CRT with an odds ratio and 2D6 roll, unlike the very conventional single columns for each ratio with either an Attacker result or Defender result or a split result for each, there are three columns. The first column gives step losses, strangely in the rules labelled under the heading Application of Attrition Results, but then referred to from then on by the more familiar phrase "step loss." The second and third column respectively provide what are called Attacker Tactical Results and Defender Tactical Results. At first sight, several of these look familiar - AR, DR, DR1, DR2, DR3 and Eng - but the last one Eng definitely does not mean the well known Engaged Result which normally is much the same as "no effect." Here the Attacker has to roll 2D6 again and apply only the Attrition Result i.e. more step losses.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFNW2Wf7_ox145KCOjotCyMK0DJJIjmF1m9WMDVWiCRRv5_ngSBa88pxecjrOn_9aA5syBCk4ZBw_RQDzswtEcylgOHQK-dd-RqlA5xHL-NrYEEdadOZsztqJKElxCwUiW1vEeEM9mpBFZ0RgsEI0zMcDjdi8iDV5cJ4PCOKBwdL44X4R3EEiBJNV9Hjg/s612/Combat%20in%20deep.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="612" data-original-width="433" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFNW2Wf7_ox145KCOjotCyMK0DJJIjmF1m9WMDVWiCRRv5_ngSBa88pxecjrOn_9aA5syBCk4ZBw_RQDzswtEcylgOHQK-dd-RqlA5xHL-NrYEEdadOZsztqJKElxCwUiW1vEeEM9mpBFZ0RgsEI0zMcDjdi8iDV5cJ4PCOKBwdL44X4R3EEiBJNV9Hjg/w283-h400/Combat%20in%20deep.jpg" width="283" /></a></div><b><br /><span style="font-size: large;">And now for something completely different</span></b></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">On top of these are several new results: E, F, S and R. Unlike "E" usually meaning Eliminated, here it means Exploitation and its effect is influenced by a surprising number of additional rules for a single CRT result. It is a Tactical result only found in the Attacker columns and allows a limited number of units to make exploitation and attack moves in the Exploitation Phase that immediately follows the Combat Phase. </span><span style="font-size: large;">The number of Attacking units allowed to take part is changed by such things as whether an armoured attack had been declared and terrain. Added to that, the type of units chosen may mean that some can only move, while others can both move and attack. Again an interesting and new approach replaces what is usually handled by the standard, conventional Exploitation Phase of many games.</span><span style="font-size: large;"><span> </span><span>On the other hand, the F, R and S are all Tactical Results that can only occur for the Defender and mainly add extra choices between retreats and additional or reduced step losses.</span></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">The final and crucial development in the novel twists to well known war game tropes is the Support Phase </span><span style="font-size: x-large;">- </span><span style="font-size: large;">what I might call the Good, the Bad and the Ugly (well, ok the last adjective doesn't apply) of the rules.</span><span style="font-size: x-large;"> </span><span style="font-size: large;">The fact that it is given its own separate Phase and both players get a double-sided aid to explain the use of each support marker signals its importance. First of all, there are far more potential Support Markers in this game than I have come across before in most games. Then the Soviet Player has four separate Available Marker holding boxes, while the rules for Support markers take up almost a full page of rules and unfortunately several other Phases separately contain details that affect the use of Support Markers. At this point when learning to play the game, I began to feel that a little less might have been a lot better. When mastering the information about the markers and the rules that govern them became far heavier to memorise than the whole Combat process itself, I felt a little overtaxed. However, though they do add quite a bit to the learning process and to the complexity of game play, </span><span style="font-size: large;">they also add a lot of chrome and historical feel to the game which I enjoy and appreciate.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJT2TrEQBSa4hDI7hBXh70P0FoNdS1X4upxE2BtrYpivbDlRovAovOZmBMPlcguKEQ-KJuR_WDvDQdjM_8ag5L3yoUHu7ZRZd2JiHYXzDA3SiEUQTeP_3aG_KuANlUEVY9WvvK1YLpha0GkOTuAn2zsqfWHCQ3J2PUDhNHsh7P0HDP4eahTLLJvSh2lec/s2820/Support%20Markers.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2820" data-original-width="2225" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJT2TrEQBSa4hDI7hBXh70P0FoNdS1X4upxE2BtrYpivbDlRovAovOZmBMPlcguKEQ-KJuR_WDvDQdjM_8ag5L3yoUHu7ZRZd2JiHYXzDA3SiEUQTeP_3aG_KuANlUEVY9WvvK1YLpha0GkOTuAn2zsqfWHCQ3J2PUDhNHsh7P0HDP4eahTLLJvSh2lec/w504-h640/Support%20Markers.jpg" width="504" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Just a few of the many and varied Support Markers</b></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">So far, I've concentrated on what I would call the expected generic areas of rules as well as some of the intriguing individualities of the "Roads" system. The last part of the rules that I want to consider are those designed specifically to simulate historical elements of this campaign, Operation Uranus. Considering that this was a major and crucial Soviet offensive, it's not too surprising to find in the Sequence of Play a Soviet Offensives Phase. The Soviet Player starts the game with one Soviet Major Offensive marker and will gain two Minor Offensive markers as reinforcements. The conditions for launching a Major Offensive are closely bound up with the Support Markers just discussed, though the player is at liberty to choose the moment of launch whenever those conditions are met. </span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">Also highly important is the Stavka Phase. This covers rules for releasing Reserve units generally during the course of the game and none of these reserves could be more important or valuable than for release at the beginning of the Major Offensive! The Stavka Phase is also vital for withdrawing units and rebuilding them. So far, these are all areas of the rules that help to give the Soviet Player both their characteristic feel and specific punch for this campaign. The final element of specifically Soviet rules should be equally familiar to students of this period of the war and that is Soviet Lost Momentum. The negative effect of these rules is closely bound to the number of times Soviet HQs move - a good incentive for ensuring that your HQs stay in supply and so don't have to execute lots of movement to return!</span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">The final special Soviet Phase is the grand sounding Operation Mars Progress Phase. This is designed to cover how a parallel Soviet Offensive launched by Stalin in another sector might have impacts on Operation Uranus. It couldn't be easier to apply, as it is abstracted into a simple 2D6 each turn, from Nov IV to Dec III. Depending on the dice roll, the marker on the Operation Mars track will either stay still or move on the track. Possible outcomes may be a Soviet Collapse or a Soviet Breakthrough. If neither has happened by the Dec IV turn, this Phase no longer occurs. </span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">All in all, these rules work together very well with a minimum of effort and plenty of flavour, as do the brief rules on German Superiority and Major Soviet Successes. The very last section to consider is the Fortress Stalingrad Supply Phase. This can be declared by the German Player, if both hexes of Stalingrad are German occupied and these units are out of supply. It brings with it a substantial level of extra rules and is cancelled if the German units in at least one Stalingrad hex regain normal supply and, of course, may recur if both hexes again are out of supply. It is obviously highly historical and again strongly adds to the game's "feel." Whether it is worth the extra complexity and rule commitment will, I think, be dependent on the individual players and I would suggest that players discuss its implementation. I'd expect more experienced gamers to go for it, but less experienced might like to leave it out until they felt comfortable with the overall system.</span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">Finally, there are the Scenarios which offer a very good range in both length and complexity. Without doubt the Wintergewitter Scenario is truly "introductory", as the rule book says, aimed at getting to know the basic, underlying "Roads" system. </span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">The three shorter scenarios range from 3 to 7 turns and use a reduced section of the full map.</span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Operation Uranus</b> - a 3 turn blast that sees the campaign kicking off, using part of the full map. Be careful to note the reminder that you use the set up for the full campaign, except for those units whose hex placement is in red. The rule book advises playing this, above all, to familiarise yourself with the rules that pertain especially to this game's situation and I would go along with this suggestion. Its brevity allows you to learn and make mistakes and try it out again.</span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Operation Star and Gallop</b> - seven turns. This has the advantage again of fewer turns and units at their last gasp. It also follows on from the fall of Stalingrad and so helps again to experience situation rules specific to this game without having to master the added depth of the Fortress Stalingrad rules.</span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Backhand Blow</b> - 5 turns. It too has the same advantages as Operation Star & Gallop and having encountered this in several games devoted wholly to this part of the war, I greatly relished having this to play as a scenario. In my view a great bonus.</span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">Finally, it's the main attraction, the full campaign game scenario:</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>On The Brink of Disaster.</b></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_frki5_JyMaiGgbFvAKkChBdBT2Y0y1rBk1i0ePk5pwVvIfQpYKYIwhdNPxtcB7YQJDS1RGVjuCSHt45YgWYz9BBLHLBCnIgWfMOXYsP_ihv3pcv9NslnrhcH60eDQkyq285c7-dKSWkKT1LrWzZSflJKGQwc_G8XjSEG2CtQgU9GMmeloGiPBqU_lv8/s3128/Setup%20Counters.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3128" data-original-width="2225" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_frki5_JyMaiGgbFvAKkChBdBT2Y0y1rBk1i0ePk5pwVvIfQpYKYIwhdNPxtcB7YQJDS1RGVjuCSHt45YgWYz9BBLHLBCnIgWfMOXYsP_ihv3pcv9NslnrhcH60eDQkyq285c7-dKSWkKT1LrWzZSflJKGQwc_G8XjSEG2CtQgU9GMmeloGiPBqU_lv8/w456-h640/Setup%20Counters.jpg" width="456" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Soviet forces poised to launch their envelopment</b></span></div><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">A substantial 17 turns. Fairly modest on map counter presence at start, with plenty of reinforcements to follow for both sides.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIReyGZf0V0iEprp72zbwr9btFxcl__P5Z0VeyCYW7QBx2HJn7uWLICi_vDB-daGgurp-IyMLIEjBffyYtdq7DaIsPYhRFGuWkPf7NBQC4b2qpKy-E407A_uF2Jb5QWxITLdCOWFmouyNvTZQ8FucvKk35OaHze8Ewp-3673k1HXgSB3tOCh5yNokXZQo/s3145/Setup%20Display%202.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2310" data-original-width="3145" height="470" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIReyGZf0V0iEprp72zbwr9btFxcl__P5Z0VeyCYW7QBx2HJn7uWLICi_vDB-daGgurp-IyMLIEjBffyYtdq7DaIsPYhRFGuWkPf7NBQC4b2qpKy-E407A_uF2Jb5QWxITLdCOWFmouyNvTZQ8FucvKk35OaHze8Ewp-3673k1HXgSB3tOCh5yNokXZQo/w640-h470/Setup%20Display%202.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Initial Soviet Set Up Forces</b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">Inevitably the full campaign for me remains the major draw in any game, but it's always pleasing when there are several shorter scenarios, as here, which all provide a solid play session.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div></div>Polydorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08875339847623732683noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4437416196467752074.post-72072607353737162752024-02-26T19:42:00.001+00:002024-03-11T10:56:55.870+00:00SEKIGAHARA 1600<h1 style="text-align: center;"><i> SEKIGAHARA 1600</i></h1><div style="text-align: center;"><b>FROM</b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">SERIOUS HISTORICAL GAMES</span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0xT2-E2A2wrbdNizyGeV2X5vhVOnIBeZrl_FrtscuUbGWv3e7isf1Bl_4VTX3JIDbplmu6ITRfmwa-X_Bwow2qF0gR4bx1Y4wIHKbeqajb6A37gpd3eyTw4-sKkC9ZHLpI-0uyYPDg4fqW5xiFGiyF4rF5OpnwzGWf146jk026AHoWnTo5nRVZYhg__E/s2943/Box%20Front%20b.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2943" data-original-width="2251" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0xT2-E2A2wrbdNizyGeV2X5vhVOnIBeZrl_FrtscuUbGWv3e7isf1Bl_4VTX3JIDbplmu6ITRfmwa-X_Bwow2qF0gR4bx1Y4wIHKbeqajb6A37gpd3eyTw4-sKkC9ZHLpI-0uyYPDg4fqW5xiFGiyF4rF5OpnwzGWf146jk026AHoWnTo5nRVZYhg__E/w490-h640/Box%20Front%20b.jpg" width="490" /></a></div><br /><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">Since reviewing the first game in this series, <b><i><a href="https://www.awargamersneedfulthings.co.uk/2022/09/nagashin0-and-shizugatake.html">Nagashino & Shizugatake</a></i></b>, </span><span style="font-size: large;">from Serious Historical Games back in September 2022, I've been awaiting with great anticipation this second game in the Battles of the Sengoku Jidai series. So, it's many thanks to Philippe Hardy, the designer and founder of Serious Historical games for providing me with this review copy.</span><span style="font-size: x-large;"> </span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">Before reading further, I'd strongly recommend reading the original review </span><span style="font-size: large;"><span>(</span>link provided above) , if you haven't already done so to familiarise yourself with both the system and the historical period. For purely an overview of the game system refer to Appendix A at the end of this review.</span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">All the outstanding qualities of the first game are here on display in this second game, but on an even grander scale. The battle of Sekigahara certainly deserves this expanded treatment. It was the decisive conclusion of the period known as the Warring States or Sengoku Jidai and established Tokugawa Ieyasu as the supreme leader and Shogun, heralding in the Edo period. Unsurprisingly Sekigahara has featured as a game in several Japanese magazines and boxed products. It has also featured as one of three battles in the game, <i><b>Tenkatoitsu</b></i>, and in the highly regarded block game, <b style="font-style: italic;">Sekigahara: the Unification of Japan</b>. The latter is an excellent game and system in its own right, but its title covers a broad sweeping campaign, not focus on the battle that we have here.</span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">Though the battles and scope in the first game of this series differs vastly from this second game, the mechanics of the game are identical.</span></p><p style="text-align: center;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUeWhC8GPcYQhyphenhyphengwG90H1etvru170iAhoyVst0zgFU7zwLdcndLUNYv8n7xwe_nU5yPSuwvLEDdBukb_pBkPOI7Ftw_kjoJIBDl_37rsvA3iVvXVWLsHRN9xymqQV4YeOsbdMyFEB9Wk4HN-HDVkQMM5-OH149-N_L0eezw6WARJFSDOsl00IJQT4WwLU/s3140/Full%20map%20b.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2222" data-original-width="3140" height="452" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUeWhC8GPcYQhyphenhyphengwG90H1etvru170iAhoyVst0zgFU7zwLdcndLUNYv8n7xwe_nU5yPSuwvLEDdBukb_pBkPOI7Ftw_kjoJIBDl_37rsvA3iVvXVWLsHRN9xymqQV4YeOsbdMyFEB9Wk4HN-HDVkQMM5-OH149-N_L0eezw6WARJFSDOsl00IJQT4WwLU/w640-h452/Full%20map%20b.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">With such a major battle, I'm delighted to say that what you see above is the superb two maps, each 33 inches by just over 23 inches making a magnificent 36 x 46 field of play. With no overlap and an absolutely perfect match up between the two; it is a magnificent sight.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">Stunning though it is, it does retain the same problem as the first game in the series, namely that the area identifiers are faintly printed and merge even more into the colour palate of these maps. This and identifying the many different coloured "mons" (the symbols that identify each clan) on the unit counters makes set up a lengthy process. Sorting into a counter tray or zip-lock bags is a must for speeding things up. However, when completed the picture is striking!</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4omkl383Wr9jQN72C1WSgDxULC56iqQMEUO3sQC_WoszC45jNUw_ZVf4rb32GcE__z2q6GUxws9TzEBEHu_wyeWIYK5RxqzVaM1qOavk6ZFnth0gwTyI7wVUrMNQ9MCyaZEyYtEyhuEynafBv2DmzY3q2Ji-UU1NYKOPI6AwPOY95V0KeelOsG4DaIVU/s3264/Sekigahara.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2448" data-original-width="3264" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4omkl383Wr9jQN72C1WSgDxULC56iqQMEUO3sQC_WoszC45jNUw_ZVf4rb32GcE__z2q6GUxws9TzEBEHu_wyeWIYK5RxqzVaM1qOavk6ZFnth0gwTyI7wVUrMNQ9MCyaZEyYtEyhuEynafBv2DmzY3q2Ji-UU1NYKOPI6AwPOY95V0KeelOsG4DaIVU/w640-h480/Sekigahara.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">This top-down view is deceiving as to the number of units involved. When you consider that what you are seeing are predominantly stacks largely containing four units, that's quite a sizeable number of units that you are dealing with. </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">This is a very different battle from the first two and produces a number of pros and cons. From the very beginning, many of the units are in close proximity and the background colour</span><span style="font-size: x-large;"> </span><span style="font-size: large;">of the two sides is very similar, according to the Scenario Booklet white and grey. A more realistic description would be white and off-white, as this close-up makes clear.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSMsSfGUIikHy6LcEmUFoCwWz7zdsrpxMIegIFKtCqCK3VaC765u-Z4Z8NbLHKTaVwgVjpP8EH1bujUlDQyXONHXIKj1_a66f3S7ryXNLtxkPQ-QVtgfEiuVjV3MB61H1i1WmsWuaqFXnEgEeFBQJmQAGg_Y1JtGL7-ELoS5yrhDIBsEDs7VZRq4xl5S0/s3264/Victory%20Areas.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2448" data-original-width="3264" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSMsSfGUIikHy6LcEmUFoCwWz7zdsrpxMIegIFKtCqCK3VaC765u-Z4Z8NbLHKTaVwgVjpP8EH1bujUlDQyXONHXIKj1_a66f3S7ryXNLtxkPQ-QVtgfEiuVjV3MB61H1i1WmsWuaqFXnEgEeFBQJmQAGg_Y1JtGL7-ELoS5yrhDIBsEDs7VZRq4xl5S0/w640-h480/Victory%20Areas.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">The picture shows perhaps the most critical area of the map, where I've placed four red dice to mark the four areas that each give 5VPs for controlling them at the end of the game. The top two areas start the game in the possession of the Ishida forces (positioned vertically) and the bottom two by the Tokugawa forces (positioned tilted to the left). Obviously when playing a real opponent, each side is upside down to the other player's perspective - so, no problem. Try to play solitaire and the best process I've found to deal with it is the diagonal positioning on one sides units. However, the main factor about this game which makes solo play distinctly less user-friendly is reading the counters. </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">First of all, each clan is distinguished by a coloured "mon" or symbol. Here are four massively enlarged units. The mon is the coloured image in the top right of each background banner. These are four leaders who can be identified by the commander's paddle in the bottom left corner.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaFFG1LK7Tx9tDQa9ioIVKqyo2MX2jYrQfzjoEv_Hnpmhj8aY2-E__8XnNEg7YelFjn1MKiApiNlJl-F4rnMic1RYAjK7B8gfea_hJKiHueT62NeRaIGMLX3m04xGtocov3A4Pcpkg8h0UnY-XUKs6opyKS5np39yrlNGV9Aa-efeljNXfhwKIVNO3yfo/s2540/Counters%20a.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2448" data-original-width="2540" height="616" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaFFG1LK7Tx9tDQa9ioIVKqyo2MX2jYrQfzjoEv_Hnpmhj8aY2-E__8XnNEg7YelFjn1MKiApiNlJl-F4rnMic1RYAjK7B8gfea_hJKiHueT62NeRaIGMLX3m04xGtocov3A4Pcpkg8h0UnY-XUKs6opyKS5np39yrlNGV9Aa-efeljNXfhwKIVNO3yfo/w640-h616/Counters%20a.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">Then for all the other combat units, you have to be able to read the abbreviation of each type of unit (Te, Che, Ya, Yu, Sa and Ki) or identify them by their weapons and poses and this is roughly how you will see them on the map.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiY_oiAdDpGhE1yqiY6rslO-NvFPZE6P5q5gUPeuab1h2ZvJZvq-L4GC5KemaJqpvQbnQt1u1-9MFD_yz4IE-Y6KByiu0lsQvq1cAmFhNCvaFSsvLLsokaaCrk7JYOo9jj5oQfODICme8drMZaPy9S_JfWZSYvAE6uA8P5wqhw2v4U91J9xaA9O5CTmL24/s3264/Counters%20d.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2448" data-original-width="3264" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiY_oiAdDpGhE1yqiY6rslO-NvFPZE6P5q5gUPeuab1h2ZvJZvq-L4GC5KemaJqpvQbnQt1u1-9MFD_yz4IE-Y6KByiu0lsQvq1cAmFhNCvaFSsvLLsokaaCrk7JYOo9jj5oQfODICme8drMZaPy9S_JfWZSYvAE6uA8P5wqhw2v4U91J9xaA9O5CTmL24/w640-h480/Counters%20d.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">As soon as combat begins, and that is right from the start of the game, units rapidly acquire disruption markers (the first two counters illustrated below.)</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRPIjTfEW0lQILvChDdGae1MOthclBXCVqZvjRRrwBtWxxl1bJA1ilmEfxQ3RN-PitXulWGYScSj9JO8rE8ptuAJkI0dPAEN8jjFLRtghtDnqfQalMPHgywzIvqikm7qDsfqwOTwfrfy_bg0uZ2NyHWllynxR3X4iUhwU7AGntGt48hvGKlzn2rgQpZR0/s3048/Counters%20e.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1157" data-original-width="3048" height="242" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRPIjTfEW0lQILvChDdGae1MOthclBXCVqZvjRRrwBtWxxl1bJA1ilmEfxQ3RN-PitXulWGYScSj9JO8rE8ptuAJkI0dPAEN8jjFLRtghtDnqfQalMPHgywzIvqikm7qDsfqwOTwfrfy_bg0uZ2NyHWllynxR3X4iUhwU7AGntGt48hvGKlzn2rgQpZR0/w640-h242/Counters%20e.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">One or more of these markers will regularly need to be lifted so that you can check which mon it possesses and what type of unit it is. The low unit density and considerable amount of manoeuvring in the previous games made this a minor issue. With this battle being of much higher unit density and close quarters conflict from the start, the process can become tiring when you're trying to handle both sides; so I don't envisage playing it too often solo.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">That said, there are a number of factors that make it much less onerous for two players. The first is that activation by division [ie. clan] alternates between players and most clans contain a low number of units and the attrition of combat losses adds to their reduction in numbers. So, you're dealing with each player having to check these elements for a small number of counters at a time. </span><span style="font-size: large;"><span>L</span><span>ow unit stacking rules is a benefit too, unlike many area-movement games that often allow ten units per area.</span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">Next, the close proximity of units from the beginning of the game also works in your favour, as it makes pulling units out of combat to recover more difficult, adding to the likelihood of more rapid losses and </span><span style="font-size: large;">finally, each combat is resolved with a single Lead Attacking unit against a single Lead Defending unit. </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNde7Ee0O6s34YhIMYVT5lIK8x4BGJPOS5YROORlqRhiLiL5QYQRqM1vnoCPdnHxhxarIaMJMU5kc1GTyqJIGcAYEhDHgh2ow3jYOwnJU6UmIeoaROiKOjAZpwVdR5xyfgMnYnjHawYRuiH9msRJt17Io48fURM9vyVu2xWxRgiB8_XU_8Si9HTJQLx0Q/s3264/Partial%20c.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2448" data-original-width="3264" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNde7Ee0O6s34YhIMYVT5lIK8x4BGJPOS5YROORlqRhiLiL5QYQRqM1vnoCPdnHxhxarIaMJMU5kc1GTyqJIGcAYEhDHgh2ow3jYOwnJU6UmIeoaROiKOjAZpwVdR5xyfgMnYnjHawYRuiH9msRJt17Io48fURM9vyVu2xWxRgiB8_XU_8Si9HTJQLx0Q/w640-h480/Partial%20c.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><b>A close-up of the excellent map graphics</b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">Other than that effect from the far larger number of units overall engaged in this battle, all the other features of this system [outlined in the Appendix]continue to provide a smooth playing experience. For me the elements that stand out are the constant involvement of both players, the interaction of the different types of unit, the very easy to remember terrain features and lack of extensive modifiers which greatly aids the combat system, the differing army stances from very aggressive to very diffensive that provide a small range of additional chits that can be used in combat and all of these can be embraced in a single, easy to read Play Aid.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzvtqtrsKfhiHxhT4As5-zDGNultsWg54C_wVxw8ZDMMpRRozwUdjVMJqoa7Iz_6vG_mUk36VYIURXCgAPAp-dGsLk8VTOBfLB8B0-ea5UGnT5jJ6AAI2CE3SCZZ77teHp3LMrRjId-HS2hBmd68BlrWEa1efBJ8ch_44fVMBTFPMXzXNoiTRlblNC31w/s2918/Player%20Aid.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2057" data-original-width="2918" height="452" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzvtqtrsKfhiHxhT4As5-zDGNultsWg54C_wVxw8ZDMMpRRozwUdjVMJqoa7Iz_6vG_mUk36VYIURXCgAPAp-dGsLk8VTOBfLB8B0-ea5UGnT5jJ6AAI2CE3SCZZ77teHp3LMrRjId-HS2hBmd68BlrWEa1efBJ8ch_44fVMBTFPMXzXNoiTRlblNC31w/w640-h452/Player%20Aid.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">So what creates the individuality of this battle. First is the interaction caused by the disposition of the forces. The Eastern Army, that of Tokugawa Ieyasu, holds the centre ground with a string of units stretching eastwards. Because of his significantly better command range and central position, a large proportion of his subordinate clan leaders will be under direct control, making activation assured. In contrast his opponent, Ishida Mitsunari, though commanding as substantial an army, begins personally located to the northwest. Consequently, this position and his shorter command span means that, in the initial turns of the battle part of his main force will need to pass activation rolls in order to activate. However, some of these are poised to strike the enemy's left flank. What's more, Ishida Mitsunari has a further potential enemy force to the rear of his enemy.</span><span style="font-size: x-large;"> </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">However, this situation is even more imponderable than even the set-up I have described makes it seem. Making the battle increasingly more volatile and unpredictable is that both armies contain forces that may switch to fighting for the other side. At the beginning of each turn, a roll must be made which is modified by each side's losses. For quite a while, the only outcome is that these potentially treacherous forces are mainly likely to remain inactive and play no part in the battle that turn, but as the battle losses pile up the chances of defection mount. Each side must also beware attacking such units prematurely, as this will guarantee their immediate alignment with the enemy!</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">So, the initial grouping of the forces provides a toe-to-toe struggle to secure the four key VP areas and destroy enough strength points to help bring some of the enemy forces over into your camp.</span><span style="font-size: x-large;"> </span><span style="font-size: large;">All in all this game has so far provided a very different, but equally enticing experience as the first battles in this series did. I certainly feel that the series readily captures a very satisfying feel for the period. </span><span style="font-size: x-large;"> </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></div></div></div></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div></div><p></p><div style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: Arial, HelveticaNeue, "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><span style="border: medium none; font-size: large; list-style: outside none none; margin: 0px; outline: none medium; padding: 0px;"><b>APPENDIX A</b></span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: Arial, HelveticaNeue, "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><span style="border: medium none; font-size: large; list-style: outside none none; margin: 0px; outline: none medium; padding: 0px;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: Arial, HelveticaNeue, "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><span style="border: medium none; font-size: large; list-style: outside none none; margin: 0px; outline: none medium; padding: 0px;"><b>[A] Initiative Phase</b></span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: Arial, HelveticaNeue, "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><span style="border: medium none; font-size: large; list-style: outside none none; margin: 0px; outline: none medium; padding: 0px;">Each Army has an overall Formation that can range from Extremely Defensive through Flexible to Extremely Aggressive and can be changed by a simple die roll against the Army Commander's Quality Level [QL]. Each Formation gives a player five tactical markers from which a random selection is made at the beginning of each turn, again using the Army Commander's QL. The more Aggressive the more positive the markers, the more Defensive the more negative the markers. This is such a neat idea. It means that the Aggressive stances add benefits totally or mainly to attacking, while the Defensive stances correspondingly furnish benefits totally or mainly to defending. Logical, but a neat way of imposing its own constraints. </span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: Arial, HelveticaNeue, "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><span style="border: medium none; font-size: large; list-style: outside none none; margin: 0px; outline: none medium; padding: 0px;">Check whether divisional leaders are within range of the Army Commander and place isolated marker if not.</span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: Arial, HelveticaNeue, "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><span style="border: medium none; font-size: large; list-style: outside none none; margin: 0px; outline: none medium; padding: 0px;">Determine which player has the Initiative and activates first</span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: Arial, HelveticaNeue, "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><span style="border: medium none; font-size: large; list-style: outside none none; margin: 0px; outline: none medium; padding: 0px;">Check for possible arrival of reinforcements.</span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: Arial, HelveticaNeue, "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><span style="border: medium none; font-size: large; list-style: outside none none; margin: 0px; outline: none medium; padding: 0px;">[B] <b>Alternating Divisional Activation Phase</b></span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: Arial, HelveticaNeue, "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><span style="border: medium none; font-size: large; list-style: outside none none; margin: 0px; outline: none medium; padding: 0px;">A chosen division is automatically activated if its leader is in command or has to role against the leader's QL if isolated [i.e. out of command].</span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: Arial, HelveticaNeue, "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><span style="border: medium none; font-size: large; list-style: outside none none; margin: 0px; outline: none medium; padding: 0px;">Active units in command range of the division leader may be moved and charges are declared.</span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: Arial, HelveticaNeue, "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><span style="border: medium none; font-size: large; list-style: outside none none; margin: 0px; outline: none medium; padding: 0px;">The inactive player may fire against any adjacent activated units.</span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: Arial, HelveticaNeue, "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><span style="border: medium none; font-size: large; list-style: outside none none; margin: 0px; outline: none medium; padding: 0px;">Melee follows and is optional, unless a charge has been declared which makes a melee mandatory.</span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: Arial, HelveticaNeue, "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><span style="border: medium none; font-size: large; list-style: outside none none; margin: 0px; outline: none medium; padding: 0px;">The inactive player may make a counter-charge where possible.</span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: Arial, HelveticaNeue, "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><span style="border: medium none; font-size: large; list-style: outside none none; margin: 0px; outline: none medium; padding: 0px;">[C] <b>Reorganisation Phase</b></span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: Arial, HelveticaNeue, "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><span style="border: medium none; font-size: large; list-style: outside none none; margin: 0px; outline: none medium; padding: 0px;">Remove or attempt to remove disorganised markers.</span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: Arial, HelveticaNeue, "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><span style="border: medium none; font-size: large; list-style: outside none none; margin: 0px; outline: none medium; padding: 0px;">Remove tactical and activation markers.</span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: Arial, HelveticaNeue, "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><span style="border: medium none; font-size: large; list-style: outside none none; margin: 0px; outline: none medium; padding: 0px;">Check for victory at the end of the last game turn.</span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: Arial, HelveticaNeue, "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhG5-8TON-12tv1ZPWQ5P-jetoYufJo5ScYz6yO7mdFUySQMCp-HXQbtScXLlKz86hE0beC1MltfgzdI15zQ5mwo-Zqyb5iZC41wkGAFifQa5dOkyUwTPDPzEIbD1bwiclSmuNEQ-ItC7pAA7tCtLmEzOp57tL5mCVHFK-HvpytvJl1lHun6Yr_TjD0/s3264/IMG_1032.jpg" style="border: medium none; color: #09bbb2; list-style: outside none none; margin: 0px 1em; outline: none medium; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2448" data-original-width="3264" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhG5-8TON-12tv1ZPWQ5P-jetoYufJo5ScYz6yO7mdFUySQMCp-HXQbtScXLlKz86hE0beC1MltfgzdI15zQ5mwo-Zqyb5iZC41wkGAFifQa5dOkyUwTPDPzEIbD1bwiclSmuNEQ-ItC7pAA7tCtLmEzOp57tL5mCVHFK-HvpytvJl1lHun6Yr_TjD0/w640-h480/IMG_1032.jpg" style="border: medium none; height: auto; list-style: outside none none; margin: 0px; max-width: 500px; outline: none medium; padding: 0px;" width="640" /></a></div><br /><span style="border: medium none; font-size: large; list-style: outside none none; margin: 0px; outline: none medium; padding: 0px;"><b>A range of the games markers</b></span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: Arial, HelveticaNeue, "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><span style="border: medium none; font-size: large; list-style: outside none none; margin: 0px; outline: none medium; padding: 0px;">There are quite a few innovative rules in this game, but all are remarkably easy to learn and remember without frequent reference to the rule book. This is a major reason why I like this system so much, as too is the fact that they interact on a simple level to cover a whole series of features seen in similar games.</span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: Arial, HelveticaNeue, "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><span style="border: medium none; font-size: large; list-style: outside none none; margin: 0px; outline: none medium; padding: 0px;">Take the zone identification number. It will begin with the number 0/1/2 which takes you from the lowest height level on the map to the highest. The next two numbers like all area movement games is purely for identification purposes; then the final number is a Roman numeral either I/II/III.</span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: Arial, HelveticaNeue, "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><span style="border: medium none; font-size: large; list-style: outside none none; margin: 0px; outline: none medium; padding: 0px;">This latter number covers a lot of ground: first of all telling you how difficult the terrain is. No surprises that the higher the number the more difficult. Next the number is the base cost of movement for entry and finally it determines whether a unit in it projects a ZOC. A unit projects a ZOC only if it is located in a higher number . So, a unit in III projects a ZOC into II or I, a unit in II projects a ZOC into I and, of course a unit in I never projects a ZOC. It also affects charges as you can only charge into a zone I. Finally the colour of the box the zone identification number is in tells you whether the zone blocks line of sight.</span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: Arial, HelveticaNeue, "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBWvkdkc26HJNoglq83DUVQ5sX1qdnVBzgicpifUXBXokskdRsZBs6xb5d33eDyvBmeHvob8yn5NL0CbJlSAKc4rGo0zDU2ER4--_1xcPN056uHsc-vGrY52_rdcxEudSjqPNfucgTQr-jcU_ydRhJtPIkL2aoULhpuJTG44M-JfhlE5ewl9CtcdGT/s3264/Close%20up%20of%20Shizugatake%20Castle.jpg" style="border: medium none; color: #09bbb2; list-style: outside none none; margin: 0px 1em; outline: none medium; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2448" data-original-width="3264" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBWvkdkc26HJNoglq83DUVQ5sX1qdnVBzgicpifUXBXokskdRsZBs6xb5d33eDyvBmeHvob8yn5NL0CbJlSAKc4rGo0zDU2ER4--_1xcPN056uHsc-vGrY52_rdcxEudSjqPNfucgTQr-jcU_ydRhJtPIkL2aoULhpuJTG44M-JfhlE5ewl9CtcdGT/w640-h480/Close%20up%20of%20Shizugatake%20Castle.jpg" style="border: medium none; height: auto; list-style: outside none none; margin: 0px; max-width: 500px; outline: none medium; padding: 0px;" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="border: medium none; font-size: large; list-style: outside none none; margin: 0px; outline: none medium; padding: 0px;">This close up of the zone containing Shizugatake Castle highlights the attention to artistic detail, so harmonious with the Japanese background, as well as illustrating the practical zone designation. It also reveals other</span><span style="border: medium none; font-size: large; list-style: outside none none; margin: 0px; outline: none medium; padding: 0px;"> typical factors that come into play such as the border between zones that affects movement cost and charges too.</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVNMjSeYW_-Id_R9JbQ7UgG6luAHN9DiKPw2caT1oNxpEexGpjwxspF-cTEYaNh0AYjV8JVxArqOaTkpsQ-EtrtMeAamfWgsxnr4el3gjjmUxF2XFbwPzfJS37tmV4Rn1sTBwxUKdEhDyE5W1EeEZNo7_ExXUgIg8KJeu-m0nU2I3N_M_iUSu3gqwp/s3264/IMG_1033.jpg" style="border: medium none; color: #09bbb2; list-style: outside none none; margin: 0px 1em; outline: none medium; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2448" data-original-width="3264" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVNMjSeYW_-Id_R9JbQ7UgG6luAHN9DiKPw2caT1oNxpEexGpjwxspF-cTEYaNh0AYjV8JVxArqOaTkpsQ-EtrtMeAamfWgsxnr4el3gjjmUxF2XFbwPzfJS37tmV4Rn1sTBwxUKdEhDyE5W1EeEZNo7_ExXUgIg8KJeu-m0nU2I3N_M_iUSu3gqwp/w640-h480/IMG_1033.jpg" style="border: medium none; height: auto; list-style: outside none none; margin: 0px; max-width: 500px; outline: none medium; padding: 0px;" width="640" /></a></div><br /><span style="border: medium none; font-size: large; list-style: outside none none; margin: 0px; outline: none medium; padding: 0px;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="border: medium none; font-size: large; list-style: outside none none; margin: 0px; outline: none medium; padding: 0px;">Take care when looking at terrain, as exemplified by this tract of forest just below the castle. Most terrain II is forest in these battles, but differing prefixed numbers show that the height of the terrain varies and the borders to a single zone of forest often vary too. One side may be shown by a dotted line as a trail or path crosses it, while another may have a single or double line to show increasing difficulty and so increased cost and finally one side of the zone may have a broad line showing that it is impassable. All visually very nice and all very easy to remember</span><span style="border: medium none; font-size: x-large; list-style: outside none none; margin: 0px; outline: none medium; padding: 0px;">!</span></div></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: Arial, HelveticaNeue, "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><span style="border: medium none; font-size: large; list-style: outside none none; margin: 0px; outline: none medium; padding: 0px;">Combat too has several innovative and artful touches. Only a single unit may attack from a zone or be attacked in a zone whether by fire or melee and each player chooses their unit. Normally in melee there is only one round of attack, though there are conditions when a unit may fight a second round. Results only affect the chosen attacker and defender, though one of the modifiers in a melee does reflect a limited combination of different types of units present in either the attacker or the defender's zone.</span><span style="border: medium none; font-size: x-large; list-style: outside none none; margin: 0px; outline: none medium; padding: 0px;"> </span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: Arial, HelveticaNeue, "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><span style="border: medium none; font-size: large; list-style: outside none none; margin: 0px; outline: none medium; padding: 0px;">The process of a combat couldn't be easier: take the differential between the strength of the two units involved and then add any applicable positive and negative modifiers. The resulting number is finally added to a 2D6 die roll and applied to the appropriate Fire or Melee Table. A key point to remember is that all modifiers are simply added together, they are not applied separately to the strengths of the units. Two states of disorganisation, step losses or quality checks are the possible results. The only surprise for me was the lack of any rout result. As well as my satisfaction with the overall simplicity of approach, I was very pleased with how rapidly most modifiers became second nature after only a few combats had been worked out. One tip I'd suggest is that you make a simple numerical scale on which to move a marker up and down as you apply modifiers. </span></div>Polydorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08875339847623732683noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4437416196467752074.post-33090853955706127342024-02-25T21:34:00.000+00:002024-02-25T21:34:22.612+00:008th Air Force 2nd Edition by Fortress Games<p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">8th Air Force 2nd Edition</span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">by</span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Fortress Games</span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKFqN3JR7Rxhi6Fy0ZmMsJzU2TsPQVg-RoLyQLWzrPUqt7Xk8otNJBVHZqbjLcK4UxJ5xtZgVkNTLGTFEKtpbUNfttt5qTnpDQzdIbsXFeey93gGtVHey7297LeHCtzj909izjsUeXbfAbYlOC41ged72unS9vSpdoK7uKk26VjvC3JG-C_DjzW86nECgJ/s2998/8-front-3d-web-1.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2998" data-original-width="2215" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKFqN3JR7Rxhi6Fy0ZmMsJzU2TsPQVg-RoLyQLWzrPUqt7Xk8otNJBVHZqbjLcK4UxJ5xtZgVkNTLGTFEKtpbUNfttt5qTnpDQzdIbsXFeey93gGtVHey7297LeHCtzj909izjsUeXbfAbYlOC41ged72unS9vSpdoK7uKk26VjvC3JG-C_DjzW86nECgJ/w472-h640/8-front-3d-web-1.png" width="472" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"> </div><div style="text-align: left;"> When viewing the newsreels and photos of what was left of Germany after the bombing campaign, it is hard to believe anyone was alive, let alone living in those wastelands. A few of the bombing missions against German cities had a much higher death toll than the atom bombs on Hiroshima or Nagasaki. Let us be honest though, the Germans were desperately working on aircraft and munitions that would do the same to us. London itself was bombed pretty badly during the blitz. The Allied aircrews who flew and fought over Germany had some of the highest rates of casualties on our side during the war. The flak from the German defenses filled the air around the bombers. The German fighter pilots who had to go up against the US bomber formations also had a short life span. Shooting down an Allied four engine bomber was worth four points, while shooting down an Allied fighter was worth only one (this was in their calculations that added up to their various medals). So, this game is about putting you in command of the 8th Air Force. You are tasked with destroying the German ability to manufacture weapons and move them. At times, you will also need to help the Allied ground formations in their battle toward Berlin. Historically, in the beginning of the daylight campaign, the Allied losses were staggering. Early in the campaign the fighter escorts that you have available have very short ranges. This changes as time goes by, with the new fighter aircraft that will help you in your task. Might I suggest a watching/rewatching of the movie Twelve O'clock High before or during your game time.</div></span><p></p><p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: left;"></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZNH3pTOM5k7XMyB8ql7r6Xjml1vKDpRn0bVShi4zj5XoZSatJGKUMozL-I1F4-8a4LpqKM3cC5BToNsiRl0j6qb6Fa8jY654UVDSq7kvsbyVbBj1sqxq4OVOgFABP39NwNuAR1s8kalVfCQamJpOGOC2aEpBipR_Jj2fcBTfM0AsvvRo48ysaGeDGNhBy/s1024/8th-AF-back-of-box-796x1024.png" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1024" data-original-width="796" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZNH3pTOM5k7XMyB8ql7r6Xjml1vKDpRn0bVShi4zj5XoZSatJGKUMozL-I1F4-8a4LpqKM3cC5BToNsiRl0j6qb6Fa8jY654UVDSq7kvsbyVbBj1sqxq4OVOgFABP39NwNuAR1s8kalVfCQamJpOGOC2aEpBipR_Jj2fcBTfM0AsvvRo48ysaGeDGNhBy/w498-h640/8th-AF-back-of-box-796x1024.png" width="498" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Back of the box</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p></p><p style="text-align: left;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"> This is what comes with the game:</span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"> The game comes with the 28″ x 22″ mounted gameboard, 2 player aids (the calendar/bombing campaigns aid shown below), 18-page rules manual loaded front to back with examples, 2 dice, and 290 laser-cut thick, sturdy game counters representing almost 150 USAAF and Luftwaffe Groups/Gruppen, plus plenty of reinforcing squadrons, and dozens of strategic and tactical targets.</span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: left;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTs71tF0UtSw4shtZ7y7U-jkIZM0TcmrAcUdxQqRXkgHJ30sBZDrgjI5d5IyoU3gXsCjhgsJtQkvrIdxCoXVXeB0aOaGhiuneaMsslgdkwsQhlTRiVgn0jnDquwEJr7dY_vYuph-_Kx65mftt_un-AZAHgupPzXrvWzc92BI2Bn_VGBETctZEwr9Z6kDQc/s1024/8th-AF-calendar-exp-791x1024.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1024" data-original-width="791" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTs71tF0UtSw4shtZ7y7U-jkIZM0TcmrAcUdxQqRXkgHJ30sBZDrgjI5d5IyoU3gXsCjhgsJtQkvrIdxCoXVXeB0aOaGhiuneaMsslgdkwsQhlTRiVgn0jnDquwEJr7dY_vYuph-_Kx65mftt_un-AZAHgupPzXrvWzc92BI2Bn_VGBETctZEwr9Z6kDQc/w494-h640/8th-AF-calendar-exp-791x1024.png" width="494" /></a></div><p></p><p style="text-align: left;"><br /></p><div><br /></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"> This is what Fortress Games says about the game:</span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><div>"In 1943, the US Army Air Force (USAAF) began a strategic bombing campaign with a small but growing number of aircraft. By 1945 it had, for all practical purposes, swept the German air force (Luftwaffe) from the skies, and was bombing targets throughout the shrinking Third Reich almost with impunity. But getting to that point was no easy task…</div><div><br /></div><div>You, as commander, 8th Air Force, have a very full plate! Early on, ensure victory in the Battle of the Atlantic by bombing submarine bases in western France, then support the eventual Allied invasion of occupied France by bombing railroads and river crossings throughout France and western Germany. Failure in these critical bombing campaigns is not acceptable. Long-term, you’ll need to pulverize Germany’s aircraft factories and oil facilities to reduce the Luftwaffe’s aircraft production and support and win the war by blasting Germany’s heavy industry. There will be more challenges along the way, from providing heavy support for the D-Day invasion and Normandy breakout, to suppressing the demoralizing V1 and V2 attacks on England, to assisting your Soviet ally by attacking German army staging areas in the east. In the meantime, the Luftwaffe is developing advanced jet and rocket technology that may tip the tide of the air war if you have not crippled their industrial capacity."</div></span></div><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></p><p style="text-align: left;"></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-noakd-M7TBen2KcV4p_TpU-u2xBKY3GeUWsklJMubyyW87pSQ18k1dUyNgaLnfI1bBTJmZN2eFxFPUBZR90-vEuiosG2yDXkxtpg9Cx9ejFB8G485JCMjgO90rzr6GP5FIJ-ebYXfHCvKhlVZLWcyDN4d_km_tSYNxb39N3M-LhmXUQrBFVxjz3PU_hB/s1024/Germany-small-1024x805.png" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="805" data-original-width="1024" height="504" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-noakd-M7TBen2KcV4p_TpU-u2xBKY3GeUWsklJMubyyW87pSQ18k1dUyNgaLnfI1bBTJmZN2eFxFPUBZR90-vEuiosG2yDXkxtpg9Cx9ejFB8G485JCMjgO90rzr6GP5FIJ-ebYXfHCvKhlVZLWcyDN4d_km_tSYNxb39N3M-LhmXUQrBFVxjz3PU_hB/w640-h504/Germany-small-1024x805.png" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Mounted map board</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><p></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"> I was surprised to find that the game has a mounted map. It follows the gaming industry trend, but I was not expecting one from a new, smaller company. The map is somewhat different, as the view is from Great Britain south toward the European Continent. So, finding the different areas to bomb is a little confusing at first. It is an area movement map. As you can see, from above the map takes a minimalist approach instead of being arty (although there is a nice piece of artwork at the bottom). All in all, it is a nicely done map that once you get yourself oriented it is a breeze to play on. The Rulebook is nineteen pages long. It also is a bit different than normal. The front and back pages are not only card stock but also laminated. This gives them another point in the plus column. The Rulebook is in full color and the pages look like magazine pages, but they are definitely thicker than them. There are two single sided player aid cards that are in full color and are made of card stock. Most of the pages are very easy to read and well-spaced. The Calendar portion of one page is a bit busy, but the Rulebook explains exactly what you are looking at. Now we come to the counters. There is a small sheet that explains that these are laser cut and need to be cleaned off with a moist towel or rag. This allows them to be thicker and denser according to the sheet. They do seem to be. I have dealt with these counters before and take the time to clean them. It is definitely worth your while. There are roughly two and a half sheets of large 5/8" sized counters. The counters a very well done. They have a nice top-down view of all the different planes on them. The game management counters information is large enough to read in low light. The whole ensemble has great production values. My hat is off to Fortress Games.</span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: left;"></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiLOoeNasejzOlWwiMyKvhIXu1s333giQ8apP6Wh9Cg533SH1gLKdfTdtF6L6DwvZYhpB55I2xBnEur_GUdrEwgF17uF5yFCPmCNPt2AczuH3z3DujPBEeZg6GV0pDfY8eXS-9zpNmODM8101P4ZIjARXRjZgQlCLPPLveDLkO59VyE17FnW_LXsDfne3x/s1024/To-KS-example-2-791x1024.png" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1024" data-original-width="791" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiLOoeNasejzOlWwiMyKvhIXu1s333giQ8apP6Wh9Cg533SH1gLKdfTdtF6L6DwvZYhpB55I2xBnEur_GUdrEwgF17uF5yFCPmCNPt2AczuH3z3DujPBEeZg6GV0pDfY8eXS-9zpNmODM8101P4ZIjARXRjZgQlCLPPLveDLkO59VyE17FnW_LXsDfne3x/w494-h640/To-KS-example-2-791x1024.png" width="494" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Page from the Rulebook</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><br /> The game has you leading the entire daylight bombing campaign against Europe from Great Britain. So, this is from a strategic viewpoint instead of the single plane or squadron games we have seen recently. You have a chance to get some help from the RAF Lancasters night bombing each turn. </span><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"> This is what Fortress Games has on the first page of the rules:</span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">"This game is designed to be learned this way:</span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"> 1. Skim over the directions;</span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"> 2. Set up the game;</span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"> 3. Play, following "The Turn" section which walks you through the Turn phase by phase.</span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"> 4. Lots of examples throughout will help you"</span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"> I find the above funny and excellent at the same time. A game company who knows how we actually learn a game and sets the rules up accordingly. Of course, this takes away the hour or so of complete stumbling that we do searching through rules. </span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"> So, how does it actually play, and does it live up to its designer's ideas? While it is not as immersive as some games can be it does have many good points. The rules look like they have been streamlined (it is, after all, the second edition). With this game the play is the thing and not a lengthy setup time or delving through rules to find the one you might have missed. The game also comes with some optional rules for people who like to bend history a bit. One allows the Germans to get a group of ME163 fighters. The other one, which is more plausible, is that the Germans get jet aircraft earlier in the war. This might seem like a game breaker, but you have a die roll to see if the USA's own jets make an early appearance. The rules are simple and so is the setup, but the game is far from easy or a 'light' wargame. There is a lot of thinking that has to go on in a player's mind. You have to figure out a way to hurt the German war effort without destroying your 8th Air Force in the process. The player is also given "Bombing Campaigns" which are orders from SHAEF to assist the ground war or take out the V1s for example. You have to decide on how to use your replacements (in this game called 'Refits' and 'manufactures'). Do not forget to assist in the Bombing Campaigns or you could find yourself out of a job. As an example of the game's depth, there are four ways to lose the game and only one way to win. Once you scratch the surface of this game you will find it much larger and deeper than the box it comes in. Everyone knows good things come in small packages and this game is a prime example. The game has been compared to AHs Luftwaffe which should make most grognards ears perk up. Unfortunately, I have to admit in 57 years of wargaming I never played it or owned it. I have heard it whispered about in hushed tones now and again. So, that is something to think about.<br /><br /></span><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: left;"></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioRRC7U5he4kTvd_mw64Xf8e4wFpqcSUT2R1SjeMYd10T5kHaMmzEymm8AAQsqBQLH7IvOp_TyK3TGHPAw7jki33SCfEN-O24UNAQc6gV84a1nO9mAH79QVXf2gPHy6KuSTcC7LNY9SZ2a-ffqLUK64Ec2246S_zbZrZqeHjXx8SW0VMO1_4iK2KMjLi7_/s1024/8-web-1-941x1024.png" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1024" data-original-width="941" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioRRC7U5he4kTvd_mw64Xf8e4wFpqcSUT2R1SjeMYd10T5kHaMmzEymm8AAQsqBQLH7IvOp_TyK3TGHPAw7jki33SCfEN-O24UNAQc6gV84a1nO9mAH79QVXf2gPHy6KuSTcC7LNY9SZ2a-ffqLUK64Ec2246S_zbZrZqeHjXx8SW0VMO1_4iK2KMjLi7_/w588-h640/8-web-1-941x1024.png" width="588" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Missions detail</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p></p><p style="text-align: left;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"> Thank you, Fortress Games, for allowing me to review this game. While my own tastes go toward less abstracted games, this one plays well and gives you the feel of the bomber campaign. The added optional rules for adding more German and actual Allied jets puts a new spin on the historical campaign. To anyone who is interested in the 8th Air Force's bombing campaign or just wants a good solitaire gaming experience, I can highly recommend this game. They also have a game about the 20th Air Force and Superfortresses over Japan.</span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">Robert</span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">Fortress Games:</span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><a href="https://fortress-games.net/"><span style="font-size: large;">Fortress Games – The Art of Wargames (fortress-games.net)</span></a></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">8th Air Force:</span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><a href="https://fortress-games.net/8th-air-force-second-edition/"><span style="font-size: large;">8th Air Force, Second Edition! – Fortress Games (fortress-games.net)</span></a></p></div>Robert Petersonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17114299951391079193noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4437416196467752074.post-2816286795633312172024-02-06T21:09:00.000+00:002024-02-06T21:09:28.802+00:00The Origins of Surface -To-Air Guided Missile Technology by James Mills<p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"> The Origins of Surface -To-Air Guided Missile Technology</span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">German Flak Rockets and the Onset of the Cold War</span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">by</span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">James Mills</span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: center;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhp82Wj1BAvr8hiG9l9ZLFDfjtItJFGGLU1_VNRPIiwxmJZa5IEDZM0kX9lHK4Uh-HLbuNmB-Ud3Qg4aAYCEdMcvteWBSVPYlrG8G_e34S99I4bmPhCBvejuD6aQ2EC1DcOKZ5rOMORBAMfnuflWW-qmR3XLazIpyhe-UgHs_3fYyoWMl-ABz0KIqmLfcXg/s447/9781636242774.webp" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="447" data-original-width="298" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhp82Wj1BAvr8hiG9l9ZLFDfjtItJFGGLU1_VNRPIiwxmJZa5IEDZM0kX9lHK4Uh-HLbuNmB-Ud3Qg4aAYCEdMcvteWBSVPYlrG8G_e34S99I4bmPhCBvejuD6aQ2EC1DcOKZ5rOMORBAMfnuflWW-qmR3XLazIpyhe-UgHs_3fYyoWMl-ABz0KIqmLfcXg/w426-h640/9781636242774.webp" width="426" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><p></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"> This is the most technical book that I have ever read from Casemate Publishers. It goes through the tentative steps that the UK and the US made toward SAMs (Surface-To-Air Missiles), before and during World War II. The real crux of the book is the Allied and Russian scouring of Germany after the war for technology and designs of the German SAM programs. Much like Operation Paperclip (the US grab for German scientists, whether they were war criminals or not), this is a story of who is able to grab who and what before another country finds it.</span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"> To tell this story, the author takes us back from the end of the war to the German designs and testing that took place before then. As usual, with the German Wunderwaffen programs, it is a tale of too little and too late, which is a tremendous blessing for the Allied and Russian Air Forces. It shows how the Germans were going in so many directions at once. They were working on both guided and unguided munitions. </span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: left;"> <span style="font-size: large;">The main part of the book is taken up by the story of the UK and US attempts toward producing a SAM. Then it goes on to show how each of these nations combed Germany for scientists and technology from the German projects. </span><span style="font-size: large;"><span>The US Nike SAMs came out of the collaboration between the scientists.</span><span> The book then shows how France also got into the race to find information. Then the author goes into his conclusions about this hidden part of history (until now). Next, there are an extensive number of Appendices which also includes a look at the Russian attempts to appropriate the knowledge for themselves. </span></span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"> This is not an easy book to read. That does not mean that it is not engrossing. It is much more for history readers that are also military tech lovers. This is not just a strict book of who did what and when they did it. There is a tremendous amount of 'how' that are in these pages.</span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"> Thank you, Casemate Publishers, for allowing me to review this deep and interesting book. It tells a tale that needed to be added to the military history of World War II and its direct aftermath.</span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">Robert</span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">Book: <a href="https://www.casematepublishers.com/9781636242774/the-origins-of-surface-to-air-guided-missile-technology/" target="_blank">The Origins of Surface -To-Air Guided Missile Technology: German Flak Rockets and the Onset of the Cold War</a></span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">Author: <a href="https://www.casematepublishers.com/9781636242774/the-origins-of-surface-to-air-guided-missile-technology/" target="_blank">James Mills</a></span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">Publisher: <a href="https://www.casematepublishers.com/" target="_blank">Casemate Publishers</a></span></p>Robert Petersonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17114299951391079193noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4437416196467752074.post-92038016847318712902024-01-28T18:19:00.000+00:002024-01-28T18:19:53.356+00:00414 BC Siege of Syracuse by Worthington Publishing<p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: center;"> <span style="font-size: large;">414 BC Siege of Syracuse</span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">by</span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Worthington Publishing</span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgG32SPpV_3psja8Q-WzbRBcs_IQ9tgoconm-lSbtAc77Z0j8HdYpEKO1KONGV8_VIvRFzoLIpicYObQHBMSVL9K666J3WgZuJQxhFyEFd-MRTNzEHE6Liw8E08wFF3ZZCS8hNQFz3F4EjNV1u2TSX_rqOfdszx61F-L8gZzmJG8p_I57oQTyTPvwi5xnF-/s1277/SoS+Box+Cover.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1277" data-original-width="1000" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgG32SPpV_3psja8Q-WzbRBcs_IQ9tgoconm-lSbtAc77Z0j8HdYpEKO1KONGV8_VIvRFzoLIpicYObQHBMSVL9K666J3WgZuJQxhFyEFd-MRTNzEHE6Liw8E08wFF3ZZCS8hNQFz3F4EjNV1u2TSX_rqOfdszx61F-L8gZzmJG8p_I57oQTyTPvwi5xnF-/w502-h640/SoS+Box+Cover.jpg" width="502" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><p></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"> The man named Alcibiades looms over the Siege of Syracuse in 414 BC even though he was not even present. In point of fact, Alcibiades and his actions are the main points in the last war between Athens and Sparta to rule the Greek world. </span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: left;"></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHDlCr9SL_k05ZVznvelatO-6VKYF6LOgy5dpBFoEi408y8p2xIGLsikA6Yptl9giEN5ASFLMbiNmrFDt9ysp1K2scEjfM0M75aKRiMQZXmMsdbP-mO-a57tjNJre0CgEaIU22dkwCO5YjGtFNtskLj1_Rx3BHY_Z2z69mnasy035ktozvjidgf9fbPCXj/s2460/Bust_Alcibiades_Musei_Capitolini_MC1160.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2460" data-original-width="1475" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHDlCr9SL_k05ZVznvelatO-6VKYF6LOgy5dpBFoEi408y8p2xIGLsikA6Yptl9giEN5ASFLMbiNmrFDt9ysp1K2scEjfM0M75aKRiMQZXmMsdbP-mO-a57tjNJre0CgEaIU22dkwCO5YjGtFNtskLj1_Rx3BHY_Z2z69mnasy035ktozvjidgf9fbPCXj/w384-h640/Bust_Alcibiades_Musei_Capitolini_MC1160.jpg" width="384" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Alcibiades: a Roman copy of an earlier Greek work. With the head tilt and the face, it looks like it could be Alexander.</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><br /><br /> <span style="font-size: large;"> The different wars for the control of Greece between Sparta and Athens are coming to a conclusion. One of the two is going to be the hegemon of Greece (although do not tell Thebes that). Alcibiades and his supporters came up with the brilliant idea of conquering Syracuse in Sicily. They claimed that the Syracuse was a major ally and impediment in their war against Sparta. Nicias was a conservative politician who spoke against the attack on Syracuse. Athenian democracy being what it was, Alcibiades and his group were able to get enough votes in the assembly to make the excursion a reality. The invasion force was voted to have three generals in charge, Alcibiades, Nicias (who wanted nothing to do with it), and Lamachus (a general with little political clout). The stage was set for the greatest overseas undertaking by a Greek city. </span><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"> Athens had a number of Hermai, statues of Hermes, all over the city for good luck. On the night before the expedition was supposed to set sail, many of the statues were either destroyed or defaced, depending upon the source. Alcibiades and his friends were accused of the act. He demanded to be put on trial, but this was not done, and he sailed with the expedition. After the expedition left, enemies of Alcibiades had charges brought up against him and because of his, and his friends' absence it was passed. A fast-sailing vessel was sent to catch up to the expedition and bring him back for trial. Alcibiades somehow caught wind of this and fled to Sparta. So, the expedition was now headed by Nicias who wanted nothing better than to go home to Athens. However, the size and expectations of what the expedition could accomplish would have meant his immediate arrest and trial if he ordered it to go home. This sets the stage for the Athenian siege of Syracuse. Alcibiades helps the Spartans and their Syracusan Allies by giving them information and some great ideas. Meanwhile, the Athenian expedition is led by a man who has no heart in it and becomes increasingly unwell during the siege.<br /></span><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-size: large;"> This is what Worthington Publishing has to say about the series and this game itself:</span><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">"Syracuse 414 BC - The Athenian army lays siege to the great city of Syracuse.<div><br /></div><div>Malta 1565 - The Turks versus the Knights of Malta in the last battle of the Crusades at the dawn of gunpowder.</div><div><br /></div><div>Quebec 1759 - The siege that won North America for the English.</div><div><br /></div><div>The Great Sieges game series highlights command decisions for players against a solitaire game engine opponent. They have been designed for easy set up and quick game play. Game unit placement is shown on the game board and units are wooden markers representing troop and ship formations. </div><div><br /></div><div>Each game was developed for solitaire play. In 414BC Siege of Syracuse and 1759 Siege of Quebec there is also a two-player version of the game. Both sides require you to make great decisions based on good strategy, keep your wits about you when orders do not turn out well, and press on to victory.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQQBNZOyQK01_sJIzLGKgimwV98z34XaAT2cl13dVYe6pgiGAzYDPimmMsJ9-ycDR-xAh1X7wZ_VLtejOcIEXYCAMs8i2ovw16lyDScZM7uHZAbS6bjJpQ1KB7PzEvK8kBRgArkIzLxMNOoc9RyaHqhblrx_nUqs7DX5ogfGD-eEsxk16-gaY5ROxSslju/s3235/SoSY+Map-01+(1).jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3235" data-original-width="2500" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQQBNZOyQK01_sJIzLGKgimwV98z34XaAT2cl13dVYe6pgiGAzYDPimmMsJ9-ycDR-xAh1X7wZ_VLtejOcIEXYCAMs8i2ovw16lyDScZM7uHZAbS6bjJpQ1KB7PzEvK8kBRgArkIzLxMNOoc9RyaHqhblrx_nUqs7DX5ogfGD-eEsxk16-gaY5ROxSslju/w494-h640/SoSY+Map-01+(1).jpg" width="494" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">The Game Map</span></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div>All three games use a common set of rules for game play, but each game has its own set of unique rules related to specifics of those individual sieges.</div><div><br /></div><div>Play Solitaire as Athenians and 2 player version too!</div><div><br /></div><div>Unique to 414 Siege of Syracuse:</div><div><br /></div><div>New rules for constructing walls and counter walls.</div><div><br /></div><div>Solitaire Cards are divided into 2 decks to represent 2 Epochs of the lengthy siege.</div><div><br /></div><div>Aggressive Commander Orders have been replaced by Leader cards that allow high risk/high rewards decisions by players.</div><div><br /></div><div>As the Athenian side you win the game in two ways: </div><div><br /></div><div>Complete your siege walls around the city AND have a ship in a blockade space.</div><div><br /></div><div>Or reduce the morale of Syracuse to zero.</div><div><br /></div><div>As the Syracusan side, victory is achieved by: </div><div><br /></div><div>Holding out until the siege ends (all cards have been played).</div><div><br /></div><div>Or the Athenian morale is reduced to zero.</div><div><br /></div><div>Highlights of 414 BC Siege of Syracuse:</div><div><br /></div><div>The Athenian player must keep up attacks and deal with Syracusan reinforcements that come into play. They must also construct siege walls to choke off the city and fend off counter attacks by the city army. As Syracuse builds counter walls the Athenian must destroy them if he expects to encircle the city.</div><div><br /></div><div>The Syracusan side is playing for time. It must defend the city against attacks by land and sea. Its forces must sally out of the city to drive the morale of the Athenian side down. Further, as the progress of siege walls is advanced by the Athenian side, Syracuse has the ability to build counter walls to slow down the progress."</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUBmE0Nfyymx1dpwkRdENO8BKauBpZxzW8cojoU8WBRrYxgin0pCn2WxWXvV2l-WlupQNWukfmK4mdNpUu7iSYj1mdhXLHhGOzrGCXsKcNhWowhxcc6pbmmyj1970ru8pTPoDWPXjI7VW0yq9n7IGw20VGoyfMZhm94ReAVo4GHxsKWa8uupGmqdRpiH_8/s1575/SYRACUSE+Map+Detail_Seiges.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="740" data-original-width="1575" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUBmE0Nfyymx1dpwkRdENO8BKauBpZxzW8cojoU8WBRrYxgin0pCn2WxWXvV2l-WlupQNWukfmK4mdNpUu7iSYj1mdhXLHhGOzrGCXsKcNhWowhxcc6pbmmyj1970ru8pTPoDWPXjI7VW0yq9n7IGw20VGoyfMZhm94ReAVo4GHxsKWa8uupGmqdRpiH_8/w640-h300/SYRACUSE+Map+Detail_Seiges.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /> This is what comes with the games in the series:</span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><div>Each game includes:</div><div><br /></div><div>Box</div><div><br /></div><div>Hard Mounted Game Board</div><div><br /></div><div>2 sets of troop markers (one set per army)</div><div><br /></div><div>2 sets of solitaire cards (one set per army) *Only 1 set of solitaire cards in 414BC Syracuse</div><div><br /></div><div>Command Decision Cards</div><div><br /></div><div>2 Field Order Books (one per army)</div><div><br /></div><div>Rule Book</div><div><br /></div><div>Custom plastic storage tray</div><div><br /></div><div>Dice</div><div><br /></div><div>Complexity: 3 of 10</div><div><br /></div><div>Solitaire Suitability: 10 of 10</div><div><br /></div><div>Playing Time: 30 to 60 minutes</div><div><br /></div><div>Players: 1-2</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkSjNVWhAZp8g6aVVPqFXbdq89l5BRiC9I2D9nquJMEJtuwSo5-cou2hC2KQRE6YeBIetxA8CkEH1iTJ8yDkCIOarX1eshUIZKXJamcAu7kTTjbFFlCKsKylS0L_pj-bofoOifqCfDzMA8kfmeUjiQI5AnETJKvJgIpS_PxEnyjQ_y7uFA6niT9bL49AWH/s1575/SOS+Cards+1_Seiges.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="740" data-original-width="1575" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkSjNVWhAZp8g6aVVPqFXbdq89l5BRiC9I2D9nquJMEJtuwSo5-cou2hC2KQRE6YeBIetxA8CkEH1iTJ8yDkCIOarX1eshUIZKXJamcAu7kTTjbFFlCKsKylS0L_pj-bofoOifqCfDzMA8kfmeUjiQI5AnETJKvJgIpS_PxEnyjQ_y7uFA6niT9bL49AWH/w640-h300/SOS+Cards+1_Seiges.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Two cards</span></td></tr></tbody></table><div><br /></div><div> The components are as follows. The map is not a hex or area movement one. There are places where you can put your walls, troops, and ships. Worthington has released a few of these games. They include the other Great Sieges games and Freman's Farm etc. The map is stylized because of just having the placement areas. However, the map is colorful and incredibly easy to read all of the different things on it. It is also mounted, which seems to be a feature of all of Worthington Publishing's games. You get pieces that represent either troops, ships, or walls. These are just rectangles etc. that are color coded for each side. The Rulebook is full color and is only 12 pages long. The solitaire rules take up the first nine pages and then there is about two pages of the two-player rules followed by Historical Notes. The Rulebook is easy to read and very simple to understand. The Field Order Books are made of card stock and fold out to be 11"x17" in size. These are also in full color and are easy to read. They also come with a small version of the map in the center. The different card decks are the real artwork that comes with the game. Most of the cards come with a nice piece of artwork dealing with ancient battles. The information on them for play is very easy to read. As you can see, the components pass muster easily.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div> The sequence of play is very easy for the single player game. It follows the Worthington Publishing KISS thoughts on game rules. It is as follows:</div><div><br /></div><div>Select one order to play.</div><div><br /></div><div>Reveal the solitaire counter order card.</div><div><br /></div><div>Resolve the action portion of the solitaire counter order card first.</div><div><br /></div><div>Apply the results of your order using the solitaire counter order card portion.</div><div><br /></div><div>Repeat the above.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhea0oUMVqOO8PG2vx9yiAT72nfFMb4r2JFDP7-ssgXE3tH0LvtEdjBxKtYKU620vysVsJ7GYatYCcEcF1_CiHWs01cnL6w-4UUWGPFJ60H1PXQGvxSjd40PONwaHP20bpKpFS-YVO0zD6uSReJjCgWwbhIzXhYkWXf4XWYL1tycNHy3a7E2D7DLbceBL0r/s1575/SOS+Cards+2_Seiges.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="740" data-original-width="1575" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhea0oUMVqOO8PG2vx9yiAT72nfFMb4r2JFDP7-ssgXE3tH0LvtEdjBxKtYKU620vysVsJ7GYatYCcEcF1_CiHWs01cnL6w-4UUWGPFJ60H1PXQGvxSjd40PONwaHP20bpKpFS-YVO0zD6uSReJjCgWwbhIzXhYkWXf4XWYL1tycNHy3a7E2D7DLbceBL0r/w640-h300/SOS+Cards+2_Seiges.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Two more cards</span></td></tr></tbody></table><div><br /></div><div> The game might seem a bit strange to some people because it does not have the usual siege tactics we are used to. There are no rams or other siege engines at play. One has to remember that this is 414 BC. The only siege techniques that are known are to surround a city and starve them out. This is why it is crucial to the Athenian player to complete his walls around Syracuse. This is also why it is imperative for the Syracusans to build their counter walls. The Athenian must also have a ship unit blockading Syracuse. There is no real turn length to the game. If the solitaire cards run out so has the Athenian time to win. These are the victory conditions:</div><div><br /></div><div>The Athenian player wins if:</div><div><br /></div><div>You complete all eight segments of your wall and have a ship in a blockade space. </div><div><br /></div><div>You reduce the Syracusan morale to zero.</div><div><br /></div><div>The Athenian player loses if:</div><div><br /></div><div>You run out of cards in the solitaire deck.</div><div><br /></div><div>You also lose if your morale reaches zero.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div> I did not have the ability to play the two-player version, but the solitaire game is a blast. Because of the rules, it plays quickly and easily from one phase to the next. Worthington Publishing has the game length as 30 to 60 minutes and that seems right on the money. The way the game is structured some things have to be simple and a real ancient nut like yours truly, might want more meat on its bones. However, there is enough history and plausibility built into the game to keep even me really happy when playing. Thank you, Worthington Publishing, for allowing me to review this very well thought out game on one of my favorite parts of history. With this game and 1565 Siege of Malta, (my review is linked below), my siege gaming appetite is definitely assuaged for now. </div><div><br /></div></span><p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">Robert</span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">414 BC Siege of Syracuse:</span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><a href="https://www.worthingtonpublishing.com/collection/awm07xa4w9zussehlmbkiez5h1x464"><span style="font-size: large;">414BC Siege of Syracuse — Worthington Publishing</span></a></p><p style="text-align: left;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">1565 Siege of Malta review:</span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><a href="https://www.awargamersneedfulthings.co.uk/2023/12/the-siege-of-malta-1565-by-worthington.html"><span style="font-size: large;">The Siege of Malta 1565 by Worthington Publishing - A Wargamers Needful Things</span></a></p><p style="text-align: left;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">Worthington Publishing:</span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><a href="https://www.worthingtonpublishing.com/"><span style="font-size: large;">Worthington Publishing</span></a></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p></div></div>Robert Petersonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17114299951391079193noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4437416196467752074.post-47267336513747083892024-01-23T15:24:00.000+00:002024-01-23T15:24:51.482+00:00The Cruelest Month: Air War Over Arras, April 1917 by Against The Odds Magazine<p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">The Cruelest Month: Air War Over Arras, April 1917</span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">by</span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Against The Odds Magazine</span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgH-UdHKB8Ri3dmA39GYmxjn-rCBRp1vxDv0FIDsdO0buIWpdZkLDXy-ngOP60IOMM7sBKITyGIysrJvKc79vnoBjvxhAYRf9n-e1Cv9slmon36N8iZ8z1E7okcE2kNBSTwobMUESqlapvj_9Zn0LosMvNJQn1nrSqw15GoyWO4TzHJId3IOpHsuW81dOh8/s413/Annual2020-cover-large.gif" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="413" data-original-width="319" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgH-UdHKB8Ri3dmA39GYmxjn-rCBRp1vxDv0FIDsdO0buIWpdZkLDXy-ngOP60IOMM7sBKITyGIysrJvKc79vnoBjvxhAYRf9n-e1Cv9slmon36N8iZ8z1E7okcE2kNBSTwobMUESqlapvj_9Zn0LosMvNJQn1nrSqw15GoyWO4TzHJId3IOpHsuW81dOh8/w494-h640/Annual2020-cover-large.gif" width="494" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><p></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"> The game that comes along with this 2020 Annual from Against the Odds magazine is about 'Bloody April'. In a war that saw so many bloody months, April 1917 saw the Royal Flying Corps (it would not become the Royal Air Force until April 1st, 1918) almost bleed out. British pilots' lives were counted in hours and days during Bloody April. This being the Holiday Season, one is reminded of Snoopy and the Red Baron song. Unfortunately for the British, the lines in the song "</span><span style="font-size: large;">Ten, twenty, thirty, forty, fifty or more, t</span><span style="font-size: large;">he Bloody Red Baron was rollin' up the score", are quite apt for Bloody April, if not for the Richtofen himself.</span><span style="color: #202124;"><span style="font-size: 14px;"> </span></span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"> This is what ATO has to say about the game:</span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">"</span><span style="font-size: large;">The average flying life of an RFC pilot in Arras in April was 18 hours in the air. Our whole picture-- from movies like "Dawn Patrol" or "Aces High" -- of young men going straight from flying school into combat (and straight into the ground shortly after) comes from this six-week period, preparing for and supporting the "spring offensive."</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Now, Paul Rohrbaugh's The Cruelest Month looks at this struggle, with the focus primarily on-air operations and ground battle abstracted (something like he did in Chennault's First Fight.) As the British player, you will marshal your limited numbers of fighters to help secure the skies for 2-seaters that would be better suited to training planes. As the German player, you will employ your well-armed modern fighters against waves of RFC planes that simply keep coming, regardless of how many you shoot down."</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">This is what comes with the Annual 2020 issue:</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Maps - One full color 22" x 34" hex mapsheet</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Counters - 176 full color 5/8" die-cut counters</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Air Displays - 2</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Rules length - 16 pages</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Charts and tables - 2 pages</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Complexity - Medium</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Playing time - Up to 3 to 4 hours</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">How challenging is it solitaire? - Average</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Designer - Paul Rohrbaugh</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Development - Steve Rawling</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Graphic Design - Mark Mahaffey</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEik07NamTfvbhn0d-IqfSI8-Kn5YowNeUTJYF3Z9tNvi4ZCzDTIH9PnlfmR0Ja88vWJX3IrmigAC48eyPKFHf_GZfunUxGITK0AuVtRDh0uQB3rRALyp45MvR2_RuMkg36saGouS_yZz53Xh9g8YD7TiUiL_bJasgRD09wp7spcllnso-AI1TCC8JYqOpo3/s1980/A2020_Picnic.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1980" data-original-width="1530" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEik07NamTfvbhn0d-IqfSI8-Kn5YowNeUTJYF3Z9tNvi4ZCzDTIH9PnlfmR0Ja88vWJX3IrmigAC48eyPKFHf_GZfunUxGITK0AuVtRDh0uQB3rRALyp45MvR2_RuMkg36saGouS_yZz53Xh9g8YD7TiUiL_bJasgRD09wp7spcllnso-AI1TCC8JYqOpo3/w494-h640/A2020_Picnic.jpg" width="494" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Very nicely done counters and map</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p></p><p><br /></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"> As usual, this issue of ATO is filled with excellent articles from all ages of military history. These are:</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">THE CRUELEST MONTH:</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">The Arras Campaign, 1917 </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"> by Paul Rohrbaugh</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Appendix 1: Dramatis Personae </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Appendix 2: Aircraft of Bloody April </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><span>A TALE OF TWO PLANES </span><span>by Kevin Duke</span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Some Other Plane Stories </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><span>Rules of Play for </span><span>The Cruelest Month: Air War over Arras 1917</span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"> by Paul Rohrbaugh</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><span>Rules of Play for </span><span>Backlash! An Expansion for The Lash of the Turk</span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">by Andy Nunez</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">THE TRIPLE ENTENTE TAKES THE DARDANELLES:</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">What if Britain and France had won the Dardanelles Campaign? by Matthew Adams</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">A FURIOUS BACKLASH:</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">The Holy League invades occupied Hungary, 1685-99 by Andy Nunez</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">THE ROLE OF RACE IN PACIFIC WAR PROPAGANDA by Sam Sheikh</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgam3Mt0K-vD-tnNhSrRjzcvpNtSWbLvJEmTslQbvt9kTyxmFr621QP3oRNxZbhEzcmIAN8M9n93S5quTQJlQbTRlJlVOGkY1_JLLgsYrOD-tOH5h0Qp1g0lov6v8he4sOv00KeAbH5Bo5OTTAGtOnVu1KUY9y2aqmMtguoP6EMy-FzGPAaJDuu-6pDyZ6o/s926/GTW_Peek.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="454" data-original-width="926" height="314" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgam3Mt0K-vD-tnNhSrRjzcvpNtSWbLvJEmTslQbvt9kTyxmFr621QP3oRNxZbhEzcmIAN8M9n93S5quTQJlQbTRlJlVOGkY1_JLLgsYrOD-tOH5h0Qp1g0lov6v8he4sOv00KeAbH5Bo5OTTAGtOnVu1KUY9y2aqmMtguoP6EMy-FzGPAaJDuu-6pDyZ6o/w640-h314/GTW_Peek.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">These are from 'Backlash' an add-on for "Lash of the Turk'</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><span style="font-size: large;"> </span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"> As with any issue of ATO, you get a huge dose of history and a well-designed game. The Annual issues give you more of a dose than the normal issues. The articles that come with any ATO issue, at least the ones I have read, are as well written as a military history book. They should be, because a lot of the article writers have written their own books.</span></p><p> <span style="font-size: large;">At the end of the article, The Cruelest Month, are two appendices. The first, Dramatis Personae, has bios for Major General Sir Hugh Trenchard (the father of the Royal Air Force), Field Marshal Sir Douglas Haig, commander of the British Empire's troops in France, General Erich Friedrich Wilhelm Ludendorff, usually considered the brains of the Great General Staff for the second half of World War I, General Ludwig von Kalkenhausen, German general in charge of the defense of the Arras Front. Appendix 2 gives us the information on all of the aircraft on either side that fought the battle in the air. The next article, A Tale of Two Planes, is a deeper dive into some of the major aircraft from both sides and how they were used in Bloody April. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZfudrNMdd9ip0LM-QI74a_KRbKVd3UfnknRpxdhHioUiYk62vf1HqN8JjY-jjftrOMTfhInlutvZPBdDZPQpX3eiIlE0PtuUeNKJd0jSCHEphf9vUcXWbR8K38RDzYHQptNNWyZwxrLh0enwGEcWyURj1rKy9nVYYD0cKlpVCiVyDczL7XQRBjowSs_qC/s4000/20240117_111415.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="4000" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZfudrNMdd9ip0LM-QI74a_KRbKVd3UfnknRpxdhHioUiYk62vf1HqN8JjY-jjftrOMTfhInlutvZPBdDZPQpX3eiIlE0PtuUeNKJd0jSCHEphf9vUcXWbR8K38RDzYHQptNNWyZwxrLh0enwGEcWyURj1rKy9nVYYD0cKlpVCiVyDczL7XQRBjowSs_qC/w640-h480/20240117_111415.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Some of the two-part map</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"> Just so you understand, this is not a game of air-to-air combat above the fields around Arras. This game puts you in the general's seat of either side. Here is more information about the game:</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">"While losses in the air were puny compared to the thousands dying on the ground, those aerial actions had great impact on how things worked out on the ground. The Cruelest Month will give you a full selection of aerial operations, including balloon busting, ground attack, bombing, and the all-important photo-recon and artillery observation missions, plus the fighter dogfights that center around protecting or stopping all the others. You'll use a Air Battle Board for these fights, and your planes will interact with ground forces on a map of the Arras area.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">On the ground, your gray-suited soldiers will face mines, tanks, and the newly adapted "creeping barrage," in trying to maintain your hold on key defense lines. Can you hold the line? For the British, your objective is not so focused on the big "breakthrough," but now working with the idea of biting off chunks of key landscape and holding it. Can you equal the magnificent Canadian assault on Vimy Ridge?"</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjv5pJdCNt1oSmJpz6Pvvh90yXXBB26BDj3ss8_wpPuigP_oZhVrsz0t6YJQtAL-7_2InKomOIyd1ByKoBUiHxXwj5jYjA9haxKntbQefcSxfr297gLVhQbX-IGX_GOmAUN1gddlf1Pmc7Lxh1zZdctB1Sb08R2W6eKComm65UOzIrjroKiF754vJTW-pV/s4000/20240117_111442.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="4000" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjv5pJdCNt1oSmJpz6Pvvh90yXXBB26BDj3ss8_wpPuigP_oZhVrsz0t6YJQtAL-7_2InKomOIyd1ByKoBUiHxXwj5jYjA9haxKntbQefcSxfr297gLVhQbX-IGX_GOmAUN1gddlf1Pmc7Lxh1zZdctB1Sb08R2W6eKComm65UOzIrjroKiF754vJTW-pV/w640-h480/20240117_111442.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">English Air/Ground Display</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p></p><p><br /></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"> This is the game's Sequence of Play:</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Random Event Phase</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Airbase Construction Phase</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Initiative Phase</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Air Operations Phase</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Ground Operations Phase</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Supply Determination Phase</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Regroup Phase</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Allied reinforcement Phase</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Victory Points Phase</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"> The victory levels are determined by subtracting the German VP total from the Allied VP total. The victory levels are:</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">19 or fewer VPs: German Victory</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">20-40 VPs: Draw</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">41 or more VPs: Allied victory (historic result)</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"> The victory points are received by either forcing your opponent to abort air missions or by losing air strength points. At the end of the game, you also get victory points for losing or gaining ground hexes, specifically for the Allies to take Vimy Ridge and parts of the Hindenburg Line or for the Germans to keep them in their control.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"> The magazine itself is 53 pages. It comes with the articles listed above. It is its usual beautiful full color self. There is one full counter sheet for The Cruelest Month game. There is also a smaller counter sheet for use with the add on scenarios for ATO's earlier game, The Lash of the Turk. The counters for The Cruelest Month are 5/8" in size. The plane counters show an above view of each plane that is in that group. The counters are all very nicely done. The ground campaign counters are not little works of art like the plane ones. However, they are easily read and some, like the artillery, tanks, and balloons are made as well as the plane ones. There is an Airbase Display for each player. These are made of thin cardboard. You may want to copy them and use the printed sheets. The map is split into two separate sections. One is a map for the ground war and the operations of the air groups. The other contains the Air Battle Board for resolving aerial combats. Printed on the map are also the Turn Record Track, Game Record track, Random Events Table, and the Sequence of Play. All of the components are well done. Be careful when unfolding the map. I fat fingered it and ripped a small hole in it. Fortunately for me, where I damaged it has no bearing on the map's usefulness at all. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfbZ-YrXGQmGwGxzb2JAA2tWn4tQkh_Z8xcrTRu96rtL4SGflwWBUl9IH0sbxfHBdWQsVDp-4uByvG-aHm7XBYeezFaZ3dmDJwRRwq51h4flPY5tkD30IHgBKZUbpT3Cg_wcCWHTQ-pPagO5a7gff9F8Hu6f6Pq0rQNbZs32LsKhKzzLD5k_7JkfDamh8q/s4000/20240117_111457.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="4000" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfbZ-YrXGQmGwGxzb2JAA2tWn4tQkh_Z8xcrTRu96rtL4SGflwWBUl9IH0sbxfHBdWQsVDp-4uByvG-aHm7XBYeezFaZ3dmDJwRRwq51h4flPY5tkD30IHgBKZUbpT3Cg_wcCWHTQ-pPagO5a7gff9F8Hu6f6Pq0rQNbZs32LsKhKzzLD5k_7JkfDamh8q/w640-h480/20240117_111457.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">German Air/Ground Display</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p></p><p><br /></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"> I very much like the game and its play. Please remember that you are not dogfighting separate planes but groups of them. This is an operational look at the air and ground war around Arras in 1917. If your play is bad enough you can call in reserves. However, like a lot of games, you will get penalized in victory points for doing so. The Allied player will also be penalized if there is clear weather, and he does not execute a bombing mission. This gives the German player a whopping +4 victory points. So, try to avoid this at all costs.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQvVsq3RuWIwvg1smp1SYWT5QYoJZqmDueyTiEctl7PlKS0dG9Mg1lZAeZ_p9nKf3VrtTwtdujWtXLgfEaXtWY3K1E945nP8ErYzEJTTPUwnlXh8LXtBwmHxwyHPdTYb1BoxbSnuh2xAUCFZQr-Iu-tGDDlT6M4YHmwutUgArqoHu7H4dBBYyVnOww5fug/s4000/20240117_111512.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="4000" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQvVsq3RuWIwvg1smp1SYWT5QYoJZqmDueyTiEctl7PlKS0dG9Mg1lZAeZ_p9nKf3VrtTwtdujWtXLgfEaXtWY3K1E945nP8ErYzEJTTPUwnlXh8LXtBwmHxwyHPdTYb1BoxbSnuh2xAUCFZQr-Iu-tGDDlT6M4YHmwutUgArqoHu7H4dBBYyVnOww5fug/w640-h480/20240117_111512.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Another look at the counters</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"> This large annual edition is also filled with excellent information on other times and wars. The issue also comes with rules and counters for 'Backlash' a few scenarios to add to one of ATOs earlier games Lash of the Turk. The scenarios look interesting; however, I do not own that issue so I cannot give you a rundown of them and the game.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"> Thank you, Against The Odds for letting me review this close look at Bloody April from a totally different view than the cockpit. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"> They also have a surprise for we grognards. ATO is doing a reprint of 'Stalingrad Verdun on the Volga' in an annual issue format. This game originally only came in a boxed version. It sold out incredibly fast and is now as rare as hen's teeth. This is what comes with the Ziplock version:</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span><span style="font-size: large;">Maps - One full color 17" x 44" hex mapsheet</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Counters - 230+ full color 5/8" die-cut counters</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Rules length - 24 pages</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Charts and tables - 4 pages</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Complexity - Medium</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Playing time - Up to 3 to 4 hours</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">How challenging is it solitaire? - Average</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Designer - Mikael Rinella</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Development - Kevin Duke</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Graphic Design - Mark Mahaffey</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdRH9q2_Gdq3SnQxbwBFR51tVs1UCgpkUwpohp7I8tPV_-ehnUfA1UQxA1rybZtDzY2x4CXQCq_q5VjwEiLHUKUscxk54aOAsr66qyhzS2IN0Iy4LPAVLxdUZkXOAUYY0HQKB8i1fbjUByfQLYALFJAfl2QRX5KoXk3coSxDkNTKkSfM1ZKh8XolUWQVK4/s413/Annual2022-cover-large.gif" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="413" data-original-width="319" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdRH9q2_Gdq3SnQxbwBFR51tVs1UCgpkUwpohp7I8tPV_-ehnUfA1UQxA1rybZtDzY2x4CXQCq_q5VjwEiLHUKUscxk54aOAsr66qyhzS2IN0Iy4LPAVLxdUZkXOAUYY0HQKB8i1fbjUByfQLYALFJAfl2QRX5KoXk3coSxDkNTKkSfM1ZKh8XolUWQVK4/w494-h640/Annual2022-cover-large.gif" width="494" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbqmP3qfXpzx5P0oll6PpjxMHCwPxOzPb9rBwaYHkQWvvaxnovRuvvKaq5qusU_f6DrfYCc9DU_ITzHC6tixbzucUUNQICEZ5IOzXqNCr59V1oUAdsBr0xhF9Ob-Oy7JScmipsVYUYehHEf_5ROlLhTNXY51-vayg3urjkQJwR6sF-_hmyg3diKSfOhY8T/s807/A2022_Picnic.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="807" data-original-width="768" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbqmP3qfXpzx5P0oll6PpjxMHCwPxOzPb9rBwaYHkQWvvaxnovRuvvKaq5qusU_f6DrfYCc9DU_ITzHC6tixbzucUUNQICEZ5IOzXqNCr59V1oUAdsBr0xhF9Ob-Oy7JScmipsVYUYehHEf_5ROlLhTNXY51-vayg3urjkQJwR6sF-_hmyg3diKSfOhY8T/w610-h640/A2022_Picnic.jpg" width="610" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><p></p><div> <span style="font-size: large;"> Just a few pics to wet your whistle.</span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">Robert</span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">Against the Odds Magazine:</span></div><div><a href="https://www.atomagazine.com/index.cfm"><span style="font-size: large;">Against the Odds (atomagazine.com)</span></a></div><div><br /></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">The Cruelest Month: Air War over Arras, April 1917:</span></div><div><a href="https://www.atomagazine.com/Details.cfm?ProdID=173&category=6"><span style="font-size: large;">Against the Odds (atomagazine.com)</span></a></div><div><br /></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">Stalingrad: Verdun on the Volga:</span></div><div><a href="https://www.atomagazine.com/Details.cfm?ProdID=194&category=17"><span style="font-size: large;">Against the Odds (atomagazine.com)</span></a></div><p><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></p><div><br /></div><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></p>Robert Petersonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17114299951391079193noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4437416196467752074.post-26965336390745531652024-01-20T23:27:00.000+00:002024-01-20T23:27:36.309+00:00The Fate of All by Thin Red Line Games<p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: center;"> <span style="font-size: large;">The Fate of All</span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Strategikon Book I: Alexander's Campaign Against the Persian Empire, The First Diadochi War, and Other Deeds</span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">by</span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Thin Red Line Games</span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtXmbR_pK45iMMqZ3Fu0HisuD1TvBSU2a9-s1aijePqgc4S7gRP6wtuCSL1IJKBpJXeaAmp6XaRtWizttcIrBk798XoFaeVIkeINl86xncIrQ2XsciQ-vCYTPCJbAh8hrYS5CIQXGpNK7o19KjdKhgUKTqv6wQEWRoew7cNP5-DGP2rhWVvdpHfpeNwaGL/s960/Banner-TRLGames-v2.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="332" data-original-width="960" height="222" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtXmbR_pK45iMMqZ3Fu0HisuD1TvBSU2a9-s1aijePqgc4S7gRP6wtuCSL1IJKBpJXeaAmp6XaRtWizttcIrBk798XoFaeVIkeINl86xncIrQ2XsciQ-vCYTPCJbAh8hrYS5CIQXGpNK7o19KjdKhgUKTqv6wQEWRoew7cNP5-DGP2rhWVvdpHfpeNwaGL/w640-h222/Banner-TRLGames-v2.png" width="640" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><p></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"> When I saw that a new Alexander game was coming out my eyes perked up. However, once I saw the part of the title that says 'The First Diadochi War' I started to drool. The Diadochi (Successors) Period is my favorite in all of history. I cannot pass up the chance to say Antigonus "the oldest and greatest of Alexander's Successors" (Plutarch).</span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #660000; font-size: x-large;"> </span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #cc0000;">This is an interview with Fabrizio Vianello</span><span style="color: #cc0000;"> about him, his company, and the game.</span></span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="color: #cc0000; font-size: large;">Please tell us how you got into wargaming?</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">I think I was 14 years old, already reading anything I could find about the Punic Wars and the battles of World War Two, when I stumbled on a magazine article about “War Games”, played with miniatures or paper maps and counters. In a matter of weeks, I was the youngest member of an Italian wargaming club and I had bought AH’s “Panzer Leader”, costing me a fortune. They call it the golden age, but at the time to obtain most of the games in Italy you had to put together a group order and have someone going in the US.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="color: #cc0000; font-size: large;">What games did you play the most?</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">I was (and still am) primarily an SPI fan, so we played a lot of War Between the States, The Next War, Global War, Fulda Gap, Sniper! and so on. Later on, I spent at least a couple of years playing only Squad Leader. I’m also an avid player of role-playing games, with 30 or more years gamemastering Dungeons&Dragons, Traveller and Vampires </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="color: #cc0000; font-size: large;">Tell us about your 1985 series of World War III massive games.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">The 1985 series started as an air and ground simulation with an abstract naval element, and developed during the years into a full naval, air and ground simulation taking into account strategic and logistical problems on a planetary scale.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0q7qsh3NG3n0QPQHhgAAKgtgl_kS7Q2Lash03bbV-W6kZ3x8ZQgbNf2W2PWxiasLTiEyNFv4zcrYU139dKz1mmivUGbofb7KH9AAL9nCoumpd9_iwjT0LH21I_i-LT3ldec0JmMHaS0zDfBELiqbBoZzV9YFJhB_xxm2BPm14JeIj2rL6tRYTXp5kSvJn/s1410/Immagine1.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="602" data-original-width="1410" height="274" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0q7qsh3NG3n0QPQHhgAAKgtgl_kS7Q2Lash03bbV-W6kZ3x8ZQgbNf2W2PWxiasLTiEyNFv4zcrYU139dKz1mmivUGbofb7KH9AAL9nCoumpd9_iwjT0LH21I_i-LT3ldec0JmMHaS0zDfBELiqbBoZzV9YFJhB_xxm2BPm14JeIj2rL6tRYTXp5kSvJn/w640-h274/Immagine1.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">The 15 maps cover central Europe from France to Poland, Scandinavia, Iran and the Persian Gulf. Moreover, a Lines Of Communication area map covers the whole globe and allows to organize (and fight for) the supply and reinforcement lines. The three combined modules include 1700 land units at battalion, brigade, regiment and division level, 1000 aircraft units at squadron level, 300 helicopter units at squadron and regiment level, 400 naval units at single ship and task force level, and 90 submarine units. Practically most of NATO, US and Warsaw Pact armed forces are represented, plus a number of other countries like Austria, Sweden, Iran, Iraq, and several Middle East countries.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4r36Dtf_mE_dAoqkNkbE2W_FmbGWfRqzlLYVe7Pinsxk7Gbr12LfthMJY29AkmgpDlgO_aYmjAHe6JoyvB-7SOzBM0DxvOAxUKhdF2eNj77QA65yE2L5mfDdpdZaXkAL2ARuCv0dCnjoVL9oGH-_FZxt8HKtAtGMmMVQkVIUMpZyd0CJzIOyghSE8nZ7A/s959/Immagine2.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="916" data-original-width="959" height="612" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4r36Dtf_mE_dAoqkNkbE2W_FmbGWfRqzlLYVe7Pinsxk7Gbr12LfthMJY29AkmgpDlgO_aYmjAHe6JoyvB-7SOzBM0DxvOAxUKhdF2eNj77QA65yE2L5mfDdpdZaXkAL2ARuCv0dCnjoVL9oGH-_FZxt8HKtAtGMmMVQkVIUMpZyd0CJzIOyghSE8nZ7A/w640-h612/Immagine2.png" width="640" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Given the scope and complexity of the scenario, we tried our best to include every important aspect of a high intensity conflict set in the ‘80s, without an excessive level of micromanagement. In the end, every possible weapon system, problem, and option is on the table, with a particular attention to air warfare – probably the decisive battlefield in a full-scale war between NATO and Warsaw Pact.</span></p><p><br /></p><p><span style="color: #cc0000;"><span style="font-size: large;">So, your newest game takes a right turn and goes to ancient wargaming and Alexander the Great. Why the change from the Cold War to ancients?</span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Well, I’ve been busy with the Cold War Gone Hot for the last seven years, and I really needed a change, no matter how much I’m interested to the topic! As my other great passion has always been the Classical Period, Alexander the Great looked like an obvious choice. Also, there’s a lot of space for new ideas in one thousand years of history! In any case, Cold War warriors do not have to worry. We still have 2 modules of the C3 series to develop, In a Dark Wood and Bavarian Rhapsody, not to mention the insane 1985: Mutual Assured Destruction project, containing all the three 1985 modules and delivered in a nuclear-resistant box.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #cc0000;">I am a big sucker for anything ancients. Please tell us everything you can about the new game.</span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">I’ve also played a lot of ancient games to the consumption, and with a very few exceptions I’ve found that ancient warfare is represented in an excessively simplified way. The main culprits are area movement, making a march from Greece to Babylon a trivial matter, and logistics, usually limited to a single die roll and a generic “winter is bad” rule. The Fate of All tries to give back to ancient warfare its operational, realistic traits and problems.</span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsh9PeaEm-UmkwaKOMn0VUWdXSy3w9zilF4ULXPKf8fIXvJHyLLzyywLSCfAP2dgvkEQjDPzBSS5ATiTakqsbaafgohiMELEJbsamwyARhWDUhmdq6f0V_oPRX7A2wkORmEt3TYdHnxYGekfV54zfpI7eESodmyt1ZwsVvzA3Q7YSUdMeTFNmJkFYbSV4e/s519/Immagine3.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="194" data-original-width="519" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsh9PeaEm-UmkwaKOMn0VUWdXSy3w9zilF4ULXPKf8fIXvJHyLLzyywLSCfAP2dgvkEQjDPzBSS5ATiTakqsbaafgohiMELEJbsamwyARhWDUhmdq6f0V_oPRX7A2wkORmEt3TYdHnxYGekfV54zfpI7eESodmyt1ZwsVvzA3Q7YSUdMeTFNmJkFYbSV4e/w640-h240/Immagine3.png" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><p></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">The first step in this direction was the use of a traditional hex map, opening all the possibilities when planning a move. A march from the Aegean to Cilicia could use dozens of different routes, each one with its own advantages and problems. Having a detailed map (30 km per hex) also allowed to assign a distinct supply value to the different regions, and to have realistic and precise march rates, taking into account the size of the army and its baggage.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">The second step was to analyze and reproduce the logistics problems of an ancient army. This has been the research part that surprised me more, as I’ve discovered aspects and tricks that I never suspected; a good example is the number of draft animals needed to carry provisions beyond a certain number of days…you may find all the details in the Designers’ Notes.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">When the map and the logistic constraints are put to work together, you find yourself with the same problems faced by the Macedonian and Persian commanders 2400 years ago, and suddenly some previously inexplicable choices made by them start making sense. Even the apparently simple, 20-days march of Alexander from Therme to Abydos requires some planning in order to be completed without incidents and in the same number of days.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Of course, movement and logistic are only the tip of the iceberg. Players must face money problems, difficult sieges requiring a bit of creativity, army morale problems that could be solved or worsened by the military events, revolts of cities and whole regions, treasons, and of course naval and land battles.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDWtV641vYdk_RF71PVqEa3UbwSWbMezbdu-dQbAx_yg8-51Nflwg8e6vFg78sbXJkWEAiVeawyJsiYzPpOkIk6EFr19-otgTgMg4e8_VYcq60YjI4KFltNbRdCLj9Y7r7OS3klL6PjnO6N5frOSkCeqHX4zFRbqF2VDESfr0_t7TKTmwlXhcbeLb_yk0W/s715/Immagine4.png" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="509" data-original-width="715" height="456" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDWtV641vYdk_RF71PVqEa3UbwSWbMezbdu-dQbAx_yg8-51Nflwg8e6vFg78sbXJkWEAiVeawyJsiYzPpOkIk6EFr19-otgTgMg4e8_VYcq60YjI4KFltNbRdCLj9Y7r7OS3klL6PjnO6N5frOSkCeqHX4zFRbqF2VDESfr0_t7TKTmwlXhcbeLb_yk0W/w640-h456/Immagine4.png" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Asia Minor in May 334, just after the Battle of the Granicus</span></td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">The land battles deserve a more detailed explanation, as they can be decided by using a faster “strategic combat” method, or by physically deploying the two armies on the tactical map and using the Tactical Combat rules. Both systems take into account factors like combined arms, morale, leadership, and terrain, but the Tactical Combat is of course the ultimate tool for a decisive battle and offers a detailed but not overwhelming insight of the tactics, advantages and weaknesses of the various troop types.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivmBPNijPzoyiQg_r16R3upqj_8m_rhJtAAY88YQUwoDgIeVto5JllJy1mFdthVk-XvlNFOxuIJEzZu1gkR6UYsaljgN5whbuxyuyq3c-3wCiW1RqJ4KcTtH2stTqiubNlbPuZiI5esWhPdFTG4BLq3Tlfg1PXfpqJjje42oXpZw4Y1iaxfojT920d1Ez_/s1748/Immagine5.png" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1000" data-original-width="1748" height="366" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivmBPNijPzoyiQg_r16R3upqj_8m_rhJtAAY88YQUwoDgIeVto5JllJy1mFdthVk-XvlNFOxuIJEzZu1gkR6UYsaljgN5whbuxyuyq3c-3wCiW1RqJ4KcTtH2stTqiubNlbPuZiI5esWhPdFTG4BLq3Tlfg1PXfpqJjje42oXpZw4Y1iaxfojT920d1Ez_/w640-h366/Immagine5.png" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">The Macedonian right flank in the final phase of the Battle of the Granicus</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Last but not least, defining the order of battle and the exact characteristics for each unit and troop type was a fascinating research work. Here too, there was a lot of surprises, as it was immediately clear how much uncertainty there is still today about the equipment, the tactics and the numbers of both sides – Much more than I’ve ever thought.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">In conclusion, I hope that The Fate of All will help understand how incredible Alexander’s campaign was, and why he really deserves to be called the Great.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRuTx_HuS6BteIpsVu2StOIaFXJGyhyT1-EGsPjq1cAO4HW8VqBm0XNOnbGxngphsU4QbFHrRSmNJvWBNK9DGMmlBkcJbQFwkpiyoDWWAhq4uRrR7e99O0WbpcP0lKCaFHdHIYqPYxOoHXIQrubfQ5LjQhOcDtZIK_fsgzRakaWanlVM562i2U0KCGP0_R/s1024/Map-v28-Overview-1024x635.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="635" data-original-width="1024" height="396" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRuTx_HuS6BteIpsVu2StOIaFXJGyhyT1-EGsPjq1cAO4HW8VqBm0XNOnbGxngphsU4QbFHrRSmNJvWBNK9DGMmlBkcJbQFwkpiyoDWWAhq4uRrR7e99O0WbpcP0lKCaFHdHIYqPYxOoHXIQrubfQ5LjQhOcDtZIK_fsgzRakaWanlVM562i2U0KCGP0_R/w640-h396/Map-v28-Overview-1024x635.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">The four maps in very low resolution</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"> <span style="color: #cc0000;">Thank you for taking the time to write this up for us. I hope your ancient game will become a series like your '1985' games. I will keep my fingers crossed that it happens, and the games go at least until Antiochus the Great's time.</span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Thin Red Line Games:</span></p><p><a href="https://trlgames.com/"><span style="font-size: large;">Thin Red Line Games - (trlgames.com)</span></a></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">The Fate of All:</span></p><p><a href="https://trlgames.com/the-fate-of-all/"><span style="font-size: large;">The Fate of All - Thin Red Line Games (trlgames.com)</span></a></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p>Robert Petersonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17114299951391079193noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4437416196467752074.post-3586985792178362262024-01-20T17:35:00.010+00:002024-01-20T17:35:58.678+00:00Combat Mission Final Blitzkrieg and DLC Downfall by Matrix/Slitherine Games<p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: center;"> <span style="font-size: large;">Combat Mission Final Blitzkrieg and DLC Downfall</span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">by</span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Matrix/Slitherine Games</span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2w97dlGn8ai5hHpFeBbTjnRpOxfC5aGPTHR5bEMUadWQqM3rtN5V22je3BYO_Ido2JeoGmdLo-VIKT2Ul3pWxJ1Kaf6fdUA2I4jJ35SIg8n_7h6cVMKLwUFBMVR33uydHhwhC4x94YMtvCsJYzmEmmQrv22C6_AGWG-uvXaO5N1k09dwg8mlmUXqT2QbD/s1920/ss_7736b4178c78934ea8c1928e78103cbd636eddbb.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1920" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2w97dlGn8ai5hHpFeBbTjnRpOxfC5aGPTHR5bEMUadWQqM3rtN5V22je3BYO_Ido2JeoGmdLo-VIKT2Ul3pWxJ1Kaf6fdUA2I4jJ35SIg8n_7h6cVMKLwUFBMVR33uydHhwhC4x94YMtvCsJYzmEmmQrv22C6_AGWG-uvXaO5N1k09dwg8mlmUXqT2QbD/w640-h360/ss_7736b4178c78934ea8c1928e78103cbd636eddbb.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"> This is the final Combat Mission game in the series, and its release will also coincide with the release of a DLC for Final Blitzkrieg. The Combat Mission series is one that has been one of, if not the, best tactical games on the PC for a long time. The different games have spanned the time from World War II to the present. </span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"> This is what Matrix/Slitherine Games has to say about the dual release:</span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">"Combat Mission Final Blitzkrieg (CMFB) follows the Western Allies through the battles along Germany's border and into the heart of the Reich itself. The game covers the October 1944 through January 1945 timeframe with a focus on the American sector of the Battle of the Bulge.</span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfJa9IQsfV24CZklb7UQgUDTPAfegACixzmebXAjyLsck1B6Gk6z_uVQUid25PzkVm-hjzYasUqqjJbGoJ705jwU6O2_DI8F2HoKmprFbKEDrDYbMPth8VB37mABA4CBeYdxZpYqS-laupdUIrs5PP9UYrWaLo4pwRex3sgrp9jWxdz5YgHOHplGP0Z_jD/s1920/screen_659d566a584f8.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1920" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfJa9IQsfV24CZklb7UQgUDTPAfegACixzmebXAjyLsck1B6Gk6z_uVQUid25PzkVm-hjzYasUqqjJbGoJ705jwU6O2_DI8F2HoKmprFbKEDrDYbMPth8VB37mABA4CBeYdxZpYqS-laupdUIrs5PP9UYrWaLo4pwRex3sgrp9jWxdz5YgHOHplGP0Z_jD/w640-h400/screen_659d566a584f8.png" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">The Sturmtiger</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /></p><p style="text-align: left;"><br /></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Combat Mission Final Blitzkrieg allows you to revisit the famous battlefields along the German border, with the wintery Battle of the Bulge as its main focus. It was a time and place where the Wehrmacht was still highly capable at the tactical level, yet fairly evenly matched against the American forces arrayed against it. The mix of harsh weather in an unforgiving rugged environment ensured the fighting was challenging for both sides.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Two expansive campaigns offer two very different experiences. One focuses on American forces pushing into Aachen, the first major German city to fall into Allied hands. The other portrays the famous drive of Kampfgruppe Peiper deep into the American lines. Also included are one training campaign, 25 standalone scenarios, and multitudes of Quick Battle maps that will test your tactical acumen and give you easy access to the full range of weather, terrain, and forces from this period and place in time.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVYoSgWMvh_sa2FZdspmncTZggsVzGbH25vk3QYxbfSxYg2-rUYVmmvidJgy2VmwqSnQHSb0OqKxxujB3bMvHs2HG0ISdKn-JuJNWnCHJNPn9nJ1r2fie87hZ7cf5MBM7rGQKPs2k0mCedOX9Dm-2qy9K832AwS6d4NlexSnnifvo_l3kXXRK8van1316b/s1680/screen_659d5691187dd.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1050" data-original-width="1680" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVYoSgWMvh_sa2FZdspmncTZggsVzGbH25vk3QYxbfSxYg2-rUYVmmvidJgy2VmwqSnQHSb0OqKxxujB3bMvHs2HG0ISdKn-JuJNWnCHJNPn9nJ1r2fie87hZ7cf5MBM7rGQKPs2k0mCedOX9Dm-2qy9K832AwS6d4NlexSnnifvo_l3kXXRK8van1316b/w640-h400/screen_659d5691187dd.png" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Close-up shot of a German 88</span></td></tr></tbody></table></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Features</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Tactical warfare at battalion and below scale in a true 3D environment</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Command individual vehicles, teams, and squads</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Expansive simulation of "soft factors" such as Morale, Experience, and Leadership</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Innovative systems portraying Fog of War, Spotting, Line of Sight, Command & Control, and Objectives</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Unmatched realistic physics, ballistics, and battlefield effects</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Fight in a wide range of weather and lighting conditions, all of which realistically impact fighting abilities</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Unique hybrid system for RealTime or WeGo (turn based) play</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Full featured Editor for maps, scenarios, and campaigns</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Quick Battle system sets up deliberate or randomized battles based on player specifications</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Single player and head to head play, including Play By Email (PBEM)</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">The final array of German heavy armor makes its first appearance in Combat Mission</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">American forces also have much improved armor, including the M36 tank destroyer</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Organizational changes in the formations on both sides give even the most experienced CM player new tactical challenges and opportunities</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">The winter weather and forested terrain set the tactical experience apart from all other CM games</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Three Regions within the game help set the mood with Dutch, French, and German accents</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Expansive maps with 1m x 1m resolution allow for short and long range action across complex terrain</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Buildings have explicitly simulated doors, windows, and floors</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Weather and ground condition modelling systems allow for everything from dry sunny days to muddy stormy nights, with visibility and mobility dynamically affected by the conditions. Some Combat Mission games include the full range of Winter, Spring, and Fall weather as well</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Line of Sight and Line of Fire are separately calculated, which means sometimes you can see something you can't shoot and sometimes you can shoot at things you can't see</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Soldier posture (prone, kneeling, standing) affects everything including spotting, cover, and ability to engage enemies</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">The way a nation organizes its units has a huge impact on how they perform in combat, therefore great pains are taken to accurately portray formations as they are in real life for a particular point in time</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Lighting affects combat in no small way in real life as well as in the game. The correct lighting conditions are simulated based on time of day, time of year, and weather."</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdbwzN-BVX68XEJlWclYcs8-WXHxKtejui9YG0VDJPAx3I5XwgylCUPcf3PFT9V98wY51uL-QAit13RlBPy-CWrEUQ6hJhyeY3LJdJxk76S-I4pglLiZhUD9mvBHW3zyFU5IbcSPoPX5NpS8-1jIkppR8j2UiPVqZNEiFs0BT9xsfsL4959XJ5mKEQxL0W/s1530/screen_659d57e32d379.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="860" data-original-width="1530" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdbwzN-BVX68XEJlWclYcs8-WXHxKtejui9YG0VDJPAx3I5XwgylCUPcf3PFT9V98wY51uL-QAit13RlBPy-CWrEUQ6hJhyeY3LJdJxk76S-I4pglLiZhUD9mvBHW3zyFU5IbcSPoPX5NpS8-1jIkppR8j2UiPVqZNEiFs0BT9xsfsL4959XJ5mKEQxL0W/w640-h360/screen_659d57e32d379.png" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Allied Forces </span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"> They are also having a sale right now on the other Combat Mission games:</span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">The Matrix team is thrilled to inform you that this week, from January 15th to January 22nd, our entire franchise Combat Mission will be participating in the Midweek Madness Sale, off up to 50%. For example, you can now find Fortress Italy, Shock Force 2 or Battle for Normandy at half price.</span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">Matrix/Slitherine Games:</span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><a href="https://www.matrixgames.com/"><span style="font-size: large;">Welcome to Matrix Games</span></a></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">Combat Mission sale:</span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><a href="https://www.matrixgames.com/inventory/special"><span style="font-size: large;">Games on Sale - Matrix Games</span></a></p><p style="text-align: left;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p>Robert Petersonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17114299951391079193noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4437416196467752074.post-72562803478993954362023-12-21T15:49:00.001+00:002023-12-21T15:55:08.043+00:00Hall or Nothing Productions<p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: center;"> <span style="font-size: large;">Hall or Nothing Productions</span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXDgi7F8CKFRYCHL77XftHoY8KfEYMaVFBdU9DY_0fBNZcnVXx9NJ0bW3eEdZ8U0oYZDqy3q6JZ5KRnX2GaIU-4vNxeS-Y7R4ngfofFZXU6oha6G-ow1d6N3Gncn6JKCgyKLQCU6ckHzcyDIJJRM34PJ0uExPSeu2yJBRhpxSpdIEqIIeIXrG-tBcoayPV/s1436/rs=w_984,h_1436.webp" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1436" data-original-width="984" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXDgi7F8CKFRYCHL77XftHoY8KfEYMaVFBdU9DY_0fBNZcnVXx9NJ0bW3eEdZ8U0oYZDqy3q6JZ5KRnX2GaIU-4vNxeS-Y7R4ngfofFZXU6oha6G-ow1d6N3Gncn6JKCgyKLQCU6ckHzcyDIJJRM34PJ0uExPSeu2yJBRhpxSpdIEqIIeIXrG-tBcoayPV/w438-h640/rs=w_984,h_1436.webp" width="438" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><p></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"> This is a little information that Hall or Nothing Productions sent me. You will see they have a lot of RPGs and Historic games already published and a lot more planned. I will be reviewing their 1565, St. Elmo's Pay in a bit. </span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: left;"></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiGAyzaMzbAjzAbUMCUKWDX3yX8UTCnE-6vl1H4ppZWXjDLn5AR_Q1tS-qMumo7iBU1F6arzxGAwTPGZQercJKQtMYMGSnkkHKxyrbO85CC1NcCesSLCHHNMdyo36Ji4YogCKItsPeyAjqE16muWXnaolapUncDow-b6ycBao9iMn-AYaxfqt7lyIZd31R/s600/rs=w_600,h_300,cg_true.webp" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="299" data-original-width="600" height="318" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiGAyzaMzbAjzAbUMCUKWDX3yX8UTCnE-6vl1H4ppZWXjDLn5AR_Q1tS-qMumo7iBU1F6arzxGAwTPGZQercJKQtMYMGSnkkHKxyrbO85CC1NcCesSLCHHNMdyo36Ji4YogCKItsPeyAjqE16muWXnaolapUncDow-b6ycBao9iMn-AYaxfqt7lyIZd31R/w640-h318/rs=w_600,h_300,cg_true.webp" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Illustration from their upcoming 1066, Tears to Many Mothers</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><p></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">"We’re a passionate indie gaming studio based in the North of England. Since 2015 we have been developing and publishing immersive thematic games. Amazing artwork, achingly beautiful music, and award-winning game designs are our hallmarks. </span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: left;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLiiKo8CCyvTofRvDvkwnYwuWFRsniQGrR9CEMh2ZkgMf9sfUAgMO6VJzKXlKlwR87IvIc6uIGHZ1ALJipCcHB5IAArIIUiuAuJlZP_9UInGvx8cg1DN_PXH-nROtht8BcXa9IHaFhbRUFGIqoKK6Z0qMcusEAWCXD9s6D0VRcZuv_FJmrZqCMXGQ_4m7-/s480/rs=w_600,h_300,cg_true%20(1).webp" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="300" data-original-width="480" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLiiKo8CCyvTofRvDvkwnYwuWFRsniQGrR9CEMh2ZkgMf9sfUAgMO6VJzKXlKlwR87IvIc6uIGHZ1ALJipCcHB5IAArIIUiuAuJlZP_9UInGvx8cg1DN_PXH-nROtht8BcXa9IHaFhbRUFGIqoKK6Z0qMcusEAWCXD9s6D0VRcZuv_FJmrZqCMXGQ_4m7-/w640-h400/rs=w_600,h_300,cg_true%20(1).webp" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Our unique Fantasy Quest Games – Gloom, Shadows, and Call of Kilforth – deliver an unparalleled RPG fantasy tabletop experience in one sitting, including hundreds of remarkably unique cards to create luscious living worlds for bold adventurers to explore. Whereas our richly detailed and lovingly researched Historic Epic Battle System games breathe exhilarating life into critical conflicts throughout history offering slick war-gaming combined with the gorgeous aesthetics of modern, non-collectable card games.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmiOK7TzcB53kPpS0bovESHxzPa2UsWfTvu0_Dww2AvPfqq0NSM2KAcoXMMikcIZSjL3iuZIz96AFcq3TkKwBOgBw-e_1TJve_qJ4hmfV6cIQLUly-lOe6xGzXpxznhYOWPHxP9pVU3gR4gyNy_lHVPCmKn6EQV83jAndAsBECGlDaFqr1DyUCZqQs0gFh/s194/rs=w_388,h_194,cg_true.webp" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="194" data-original-width="136" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmiOK7TzcB53kPpS0bovESHxzPa2UsWfTvu0_Dww2AvPfqq0NSM2KAcoXMMikcIZSjL3iuZIz96AFcq3TkKwBOgBw-e_1TJve_qJ4hmfV6cIQLUly-lOe6xGzXpxznhYOWPHxP9pVU3gR4gyNy_lHVPCmKn6EQV83jAndAsBECGlDaFqr1DyUCZqQs0gFh/w281-h400/rs=w_388,h_194,cg_true.webp" width="281" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">And if you want to experience the apocalyptic, haunting beauty of the world’s end, look no further than our very first Veil Odyssey Game, the monochromatic masterpiece that is Veilwraith and our latest game in production, Kreel Manor: Citadel of Horrors, The Dungeon Crawl Card Game is a prequel to the award-winning Veilwraith and is an all new epic fantasy adventure in the Kilforth universe, for 1-3 cooperative players (up to 4 with expansion) where players become the legendary champions of bygone times, embarking on a doomed quest to save the world."</span></p><p><br /></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4b3J6cTiS99Ff08qNWgWuoRsxrUQaLCdQ1gAm8vJUYLRrfr-ObSU_OGIlk9-jaCyHQYGeZYZhGyPMRJ3erfe47Ht_ykKFfB5FyWnob4-Cu-y1ihxzqWGmZpQgFvCFps4KPgdfaOVBYaTukKAuF-yxzBlVFekSEJ6UZNOk11gPInFvRsa6lA5YUH4q03H3/s205/rs=w_388,h_194,cg_true%20(1).webp" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="194" data-original-width="205" height="379" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4b3J6cTiS99Ff08qNWgWuoRsxrUQaLCdQ1gAm8vJUYLRrfr-ObSU_OGIlk9-jaCyHQYGeZYZhGyPMRJ3erfe47Ht_ykKFfB5FyWnob4-Cu-y1ihxzqWGmZpQgFvCFps4KPgdfaOVBYaTukKAuF-yxzBlVFekSEJ6UZNOk11gPInFvRsa6lA5YUH4q03H3/w400-h379/rs=w_388,h_194,cg_true%20(1).webp" width="400" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Hall or Nothing Productions:</span></p><p><a href="https://hallornothingproductions.co.uk/"><span style="font-size: large;">Hall Or Nothing Productions - Tabletop Games, Board Games</span></a></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Veilwraith video:</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://youtu.be/NlU1cdKyh9M">https://youtu.be/NlU1cdKyh9M</a></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">1565, St. Elmo's Pay video:</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://youtu.be/j1GZT2F7h0U">https://youtu.be/j1GZT2F7h0U</a></span></p><p><br /></p>Robert Petersonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17114299951391079193noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4437416196467752074.post-54429845378282129212023-12-16T15:58:00.000+00:002023-12-16T15:58:12.025+00:00The Siege of Malta 1565 by Worthington Publishing<p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: center;"> <span style="font-size: large;">The Siege of Malta</span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">by</span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Worthington Publishing</span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: center;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6bohLnKdUXRRmPZZnr-HRYxQxxjSPemiqb_lyALh9TQhZ98WFcZkjWJhqpc2E2zFKJe0HaanzqFMO7G9eqUZy47tVz9UwK4vdjHTIMcOvYF9JNt8uerSLqEDgFof6x4lje1WC-Tw12OAXdcIAQ10gTKXowGXHlpk6bHu-ZcXy7KDxgmLIJ503YRr-E_f3/s1278/SoM+Box+Cover+(2).jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1278" data-original-width="1000" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6bohLnKdUXRRmPZZnr-HRYxQxxjSPemiqb_lyALh9TQhZ98WFcZkjWJhqpc2E2zFKJe0HaanzqFMO7G9eqUZy47tVz9UwK4vdjHTIMcOvYF9JNt8uerSLqEDgFof6x4lje1WC-Tw12OAXdcIAQ10gTKXowGXHlpk6bHu-ZcXy7KDxgmLIJ503YRr-E_f3/w500-h640/SoM+Box+Cover+(2).jpg" width="500" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"> </span><span style="font-size: large;">The Knights Hospitallers, their actual name is '</span><span style="font-size: large;">Order of Knights of the Hospital of Saint John of Jerusalem' or in Latin if you prefer 'Ordo Fratrum Hospitalis Sancti Ioannis Hierosolymitani', are probably the least well known out of the three main knightly orders of the Roman Catholic Church. Their well-known cousins, the 'Knights Templars' and to a lesser extent the 'Teutonic Knights', usually steal the limelight. The Knights Hospitallers were founded in Jerusalem after the First Crusade had won it back from the Muslims. They had been displaced with the other crusaders after the fall of Acre in 1291. They then had found themselves on Cyprus and after the fall of Cyprus on the Island of Rhodes. When Rhodes was conquered by the Ottomans in 1522 their next stop was Malta. Their rent for their lands was one Maltese Falcon a year on All Souls Day (November 1st). Unfortunately for Hollywood, it was an actual falcon and not a gem encrusted piece of art.</span></div><p></p><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"> This is the story of one of the greatest sieges of the Renaissance. The historical notes of the game tell us that the Turkish invasion of Malta was commanded by Mustafa Pasha and Piyale Pasha, the first a general the latter an admiral. It also tells us that the Turks had 40,000 troops with them and 380 ships. The Knights Hospitallers could count on the walls of their fortresses and around 6,000 men, with only around 500 of them being knights. The famous corsair Dragut also joined the Turks to help take the fortresses. The main part of the siege, as well as the game, centers on the attack and defense of the three fortresses: St. Elmo, St. Michael, and St. Angelo. You can see below that St. Elmo is separated from the other forts.</span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtqDzELKASg2rdRoR9UGcVWsoW9O2lbyGWpdW-QFbstJEZNe2TVkpxIiZogiXqC4SfwLV27AbzJIY4JxrAu1zUYyXSzTxQCJqLMu56v3Bhenb-KC5jenumg5s9Qsxt8wrJx0Pa0g5K1TxZ3AqeuM6oZG41REZYu4fySg4jce-7JOSLQhrTyi8IZN3uEkFJ/s3235/SoMa+Map-01.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3235" data-original-width="2500" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtqDzELKASg2rdRoR9UGcVWsoW9O2lbyGWpdW-QFbstJEZNe2TVkpxIiZogiXqC4SfwLV27AbzJIY4JxrAu1zUYyXSzTxQCJqLMu56v3Bhenb-KC5jenumg5s9Qsxt8wrJx0Pa0g5K1TxZ3AqeuM6oZG41REZYu4fySg4jce-7JOSLQhrTyi8IZN3uEkFJ/w494-h640/SoMa+Map-01.jpg" width="494" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">The game map</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"> "This is what Worthington Publishing has to say about the game:</span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><div>Both sides have elite units that can affect battle results with die re-rolls. These are limited so deciding when to use them is important.</div><div><br /></div><div>The siege in 1565 was during the early days when gunpowder came into use. Each side has very limited use of gunpowder for musketry which can help their odds of success.</div><div><br /></div><div>The Turks also have limited gunpowder for artillery. While in supply they can bombard the Malta forts. The Turks also have a siege tower they can use.</div><div><br /></div><div>Play solitaire as Muslims or Christians"</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtxsUb5SDNxfpY_as4xf1UnWVixq-WLhyJAwIB85Zhuij0zkKAuJxS4HgAIkEXOOVShZohoMGZUc38_Mgyu-3c_7V8VsSw8MklHMzlo6rJHSdKA7Tityigrt93kDnuu542zB3wcChPsBU6ZKpveJB4MAVbfUWcyVSUtnV4-N12XLiLoMyp2oAhkH2eRqdL/s1575/MALTA+Map+Detail_Seiges.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="740" data-original-width="1575" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtxsUb5SDNxfpY_as4xf1UnWVixq-WLhyJAwIB85Zhuij0zkKAuJxS4HgAIkEXOOVShZohoMGZUc38_Mgyu-3c_7V8VsSw8MklHMzlo6rJHSdKA7Tityigrt93kDnuu542zB3wcChPsBU6ZKpveJB4MAVbfUWcyVSUtnV4-N12XLiLoMyp2oAhkH2eRqdL/w640-h300/MALTA+Map+Detail_Seiges.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div> This is what they have to say about the Great Sieges Series:</div><div><br /></div><div>"Syracuse 414 BC - The Athenian army lays siege to the great city of Syracuse.</div><div><br /></div><div>Malta 1565 - The Turks versus the Knights of Malta in the last battle of the Crusades at the dawn of gunpowder.</div><div><br /></div><div>Quebec 1759 - The siege that won North America for the English.</div><div><br /></div><div>The Great Sieges game series highlights command decisions for players against a solitaire game engine opponent. They have been designed for easy set up and quick game play. Game unit placement is shown on the game board and units are wooden markers representing troop and ship formations. </div><div><br /></div><div>Each game was developed for solitaire play. In 414BC Siege of Syracuse and 1759 Siege of Quebec there is also a two player version of the game. Both sides require you to make great decisions based on good strategy, keep your wits about you when orders do not turn out well, and press on to victory.</div><div><br /></div><div>All three games use a common set of rules for game play, but each game has its own set of unique rules related to specifics of those individual sieges."</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyb3DQDajYe5o7NHumLIqUR6isRa0hd0fZQYYYg24T44zFGIFUZl7UD00s3G2RcD6-NKNxcu8FiXBRI1nIAbHjAjIHoTN4dmzFjOPsVG1kBLqLpeFpS-dMk9VEJztCYkjjsdgJdimQ8cY2CN4vNBQOYBwej0HvI6xyKGU5xeUv7OvpvypZaQnRay8e7B5y/s2500/SOM+Orders+Book.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1618" data-original-width="2500" height="414" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyb3DQDajYe5o7NHumLIqUR6isRa0hd0fZQYYYg24T44zFGIFUZl7UD00s3G2RcD6-NKNxcu8FiXBRI1nIAbHjAjIHoTN4dmzFjOPsVG1kBLqLpeFpS-dMk9VEJztCYkjjsdgJdimQ8cY2CN4vNBQOYBwej0HvI6xyKGU5xeUv7OvpvypZaQnRay8e7B5y/w640-h414/SOM+Orders+Book.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Turkish Order Book</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div><br /></div><div> This is what comes with the game:</div><div><br /></div><div><div>Box</div><div><br /></div><div>Hard Mounted Game Board</div><div><br /></div><div>2 sets of troop markers (one set per army)</div><div><br /></div><div>2 sets of solitaire cards (one set per army)*Only 1 set of solitaire cards in 414BC Syracuse</div><div><br /></div><div>Command Decision Cards</div><div><br /></div><div>2 Field Order Books (one per army)</div><div><br /></div><div>Rule Book</div><div><br /></div><div>Custom plastic storage tray</div><div><br /></div><div>Dice</div><div><br /></div><div>Complexity: 3 of 10</div><div><br /></div><div>Solitaire Suitability: 10 of 10</div><div><br /></div><div>Playing Time: 30 to 60 minutes</div><div><br /></div><div>Players: 1-2</div></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjR_V3MP1bFY8IIXgrgkZYlsSP7XKkcS_o57Muj24gKijn-vl8jgRxXMUYNZ6AWdG75ojBhRZVPsPiy8GUZGWUEvlwbG7Nvl4uLIbwcCdmN2lOkAJWtelfBzqYb3CMOhDlqj9ZrRwfYUtxtz-4-xOE5QukXuhAjIRweEmQmphTzGf48ONhDj7aM1ptCxiD_/s1575/SOM+Cards+1_Seiges.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="740" data-original-width="1575" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjR_V3MP1bFY8IIXgrgkZYlsSP7XKkcS_o57Muj24gKijn-vl8jgRxXMUYNZ6AWdG75ojBhRZVPsPiy8GUZGWUEvlwbG7Nvl4uLIbwcCdmN2lOkAJWtelfBzqYb3CMOhDlqj9ZrRwfYUtxtz-4-xOE5QukXuhAjIRweEmQmphTzGf48ONhDj7aM1ptCxiD_/w640-h300/SOM+Cards+1_Seiges.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Sample of Turkish Cards</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> The components are more toward the utilitarian side of things compared to the arty hex and counter or Euro wargames we might see today. As far as the map goes, because there are only a few places to put your units, the map does not have to show terrain. It can also be smaller than usual for the same reason. The map is mostly light green and blue with the places you can put units coming in as dark green for the Muslims and white for the Hospitallers. It is a mounted map. I believe the units are made of wood and none of them are misshapen in any way. The cards are your standard wargame size cards. They come with a piece of artwork from the time on them. They are easy enough to read and understand. There are two Player Aids, called 'Order Books', one for the Turks and one for the Hospitallers. The Turkish player one is just in green and white with the Hospitaller one having a few more colors. They both come with slightly smaller writing on them than I would like. There is a map in the middle of the 'Orders' and a Sequence of Play on the back of both. The Rulebook is 12 pages in length and is in full color. The rules only take up nine pages and the other have Design Notes and Historical Notes on them. This is written in two columns and has the standard size rulebook type. The game does come with a nice little Battle Record pamphlet where you can record your playthroughs. The bottom of each page has a piece of artwork from the siege. I have reviewed two other of the designers, Maurice Suckling, games and these components are comparable. These games are meant for play and not aesthetics. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjENco558fXrvrQi3OEmWOCPoMTuviQ7Taf0zp-houk3EvvgzYmIXHoB5rc9ZU-0k8THcw77Grl9UzK-bunJj-cgUPRJIavpBgpqr5zhRlXDU1p44Tw0tBhKz1Uy37eRe7sflv-OiMA8wtlJ_PGsPefL4YFcwR4aB6vX02AfM0fLykFAC1ZhYtswS1yHAcZ/s1575/SOM+Cards+2_Seiges.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="740" data-original-width="1575" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjENco558fXrvrQi3OEmWOCPoMTuviQ7Taf0zp-houk3EvvgzYmIXHoB5rc9ZU-0k8THcw77Grl9UzK-bunJj-cgUPRJIavpBgpqr5zhRlXDU1p44Tw0tBhKz1Uy37eRe7sflv-OiMA8wtlJ_PGsPefL4YFcwR4aB6vX02AfM0fLykFAC1ZhYtswS1yHAcZ/w640-h300/SOM+Cards+2_Seiges.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Hospitaller Cards</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> The games play out pretty simply. After all, Worthington Publishing has them listed as a three on the complexity chart. Play time is also listed as between 30 minutes to an hour. So, you can see that these are not the kind of wargames that take one player an hour to make one move. That is not to say that the game does not have depth or give you some immersion. It most certainly does. It is just the mechanics of playing are extremely streamlined. This is great for people who do not have dedicated wargame space. In a night of gaming, you could easily play three of four games all the way through. These Great Siege games are also meant to be played solo. The solo mode is not something that was tacked onto the games at the last minute. These games were built from the ground up to be an excellent choice for the solo game player. I believe that only the game in the Great Sieges series that you cannot play solo on either side is 414 BC Siege of Syracuse, (and no, you are not playing against the Orangemen). Worthington games has made a point of making a lot of these, I hate to say it, easy to learn and hard to master wargames. The way to victory is to drop your opponent's morale to zero. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> This is the Sequence of Play:</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">1. SELECT ORDER: select one of your available Orders</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">by placing the Order Used card on the order in the Order Book corresponding to the choice you make.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">2. USE ADDITIONAL ACTION: decide if you want to use one Aggressive Commander Action (or, for the Knights, a Defiant Speech</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Action). If so, place the appropriate Order Used card on that order too.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">A. The use of an Aggressive Commander Action or Defiant Speech also refreshes all expended Orders, so remove any Order Used cards from the Order Book (except Knights’ Order 6: Launch Reinforcements, if it is not yet available). These orders become</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">available again.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">3. EVENTS & SPECIAL EVENTS: reveal the top card of the Counter Orders deck and place it face up. Implement any effects</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">from the Event section of the card, or take them into account in any ensuing die rolls in the current turn. Then implement any effects from Special Events, if present on the card.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">4. CORRELATE ORDER & COUNTER ORDER: if the turn</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">still proceeds, find the column on your issued Order that corresponds with the Counter Order from the side you are not controlling, then roll the white die, applying any modifiers, to calculate then apply the result. If an Aggressive Commander Action or Defiant Speech is played, roll the black die calculating results from the relevant table, then apply results.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">A. Optionally, you may use your +/-1 ability (if you have any remaining) - your Musketry (for Turks) or Greek Fire (for Knights). Only one may be used per turn, and it may only be used on an Order. But you must decide the use of this ability before you roll, then apply results.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">B. Optionally use your reroll ability (if you have any remaining) - your Janissaries (for Turks) or Elite Knights (for Knights). Only one may be used per turn, and it may only be used on an Order, then</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">reroll and apply results.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">5. ORDER EXPENDED: once you have finished rolling for the current turn, flip the selected Order facedown. It cannot be selected again until refreshed.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">6. Begin next turn.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">7. Play stops immediately victory conditions have been</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">reached. </div><br /><div><br /></div></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"> I have been in awe about the siege of Malta since I was a child. I read The Great Siege of Malta by Ernle Bradford not too long after it was published in the 1960s. I make a habit of rereading it probably once every two years or so. Thank you, Worthington Publishing, for allowing me to review this great game about an incredible historical event. The next Worthington Publishing game I will be reviewing will be 414 BC Siege of Syracuse; I hope Alcibiades makes an entrance into it.</span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">Robert</span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">Worthington Publishing:</span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://www.worthingtonpublishing.com/collection">Worthington/Old School Store — Worthington Publishing</a></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">1565 Siege of Malta:</span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://www.worthingtonpublishing.com/collection/1565-siege-of-malta">1565 Siege of Malta — Worthington Publishing</a></span></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">My review of Freeman's Farm:</span></div><div><a href="https://www.awargamersneedfulthings.co.uk/2020/01/freemans-farm-1777-by-worthington.html"><span style="font-size: large;">Freeman's Farm 1777 by Worthington Publishing - A Wargamers Needful Things</span></a></div><div><br /></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">My review of Chancellorsville 1863:</span></div><div><a href="https://www.awargamersneedfulthings.co.uk/2021/10/chancellorsville-1863-by-worthington.html"><span style="font-size: large;">Chancellorsville 1863 by Worthington Publishing - A Wargamers Needful Things</span></a></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><p style="background-color: #fafafa; color: #575757; font-family: Lato; letter-spacing: 0.75px; margin-top: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><br /></p></span></div>Robert Petersonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17114299951391079193noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4437416196467752074.post-43529826908367395362023-12-13T21:31:00.000+00:002023-12-13T21:31:48.013+00:00By Force of Arms: The Austrian Army in the Seven Years War Volume 2 by Christopher Duffy<p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: center;"> <span style="font-size: large;">By Force of Arms</span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">The Austrian Army in the Seven Years War</span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">by</span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Christopher Duffy</span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: center;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheYrfu8iv_PyszNosjt3mHIrSqAaJn16FqTboa_5S18TfS7Ti1Pm6lUQ1MBj5K-TNFQjPxhlgCaFD6MRUpKSl9q4uZckwOqLBBSnvyMtLHX1lLIibljaXZWg7NFX-t3tyhgVhtw93TPYpPSKjGH_ebJtVKzdiUgVW_ym2KsnN1aXwz3ht9bom3_4KIul4l/s425/9781911628798.webp" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="425" data-original-width="298" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheYrfu8iv_PyszNosjt3mHIrSqAaJn16FqTboa_5S18TfS7Ti1Pm6lUQ1MBj5K-TNFQjPxhlgCaFD6MRUpKSl9q4uZckwOqLBBSnvyMtLHX1lLIibljaXZWg7NFX-t3tyhgVhtw93TPYpPSKjGH_ebJtVKzdiUgVW_ym2KsnN1aXwz3ht9bom3_4KIul4l/w448-h640/9781911628798.webp" width="448" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"> </span><span style="font-size: large;"><span>Fr</span><span>om as far back as I can remember, </span><span>I have always been extremely interested in the history of Austria and Austria-Hungary. As far as history books go, Helion & Company publish some of the best military history books on the market. So, wanting to review this book was a complete no-brainer for me.</span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"> </span><span style="font-size: large;">This is the second volume in the series by Mr. Duffy (who unfortunately passed away in 2022). The first volume, 'Instrument of War', covered the political and national goals of Austria in the Seven Years War. This volume covers the actual battles and warfare of that war. So, for the first time really, we get to see the war from the Austrian viewpoint instead of the Prussian. Most books that have been written about the European theater of war, this being the first real world war, follow the career of Frederick the Great through it. The lack of a well written and all-encompassing book on the Austrian involvement was decried as early as 1881 per the author.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"> One of the best things about this book is you get to see the entire history of the war. A lot of books talk in depth about the first years of the war from 1756-1760, but only pay lip service to the war from 1760-1763. The book shows you both the victories and defeats of the Austrian Army throughout the war (yes, Frederick the Great did lose a good number of battles). However, not only that, but it also shows the reasons behind the successes and failures of the Army.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"> The author switches easily from discussing the war on a strategic level to the tactics during its battles. One thing the book has which is absolutely essential in military histories is a great abundance of maps. The maps are also incredibly clear and well-drawn. You can follow the course of all the battles and the war easily with them. The book also includes black and white photos of some of the areas of the battlefields as they look today. It also comes with portraits of some of the main players in the history of the war.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"> This is a fine work that has been needed for quite a while. For those of us who are interested in the Austrian side of things in the war, it is a veritable gold mine. This book should be on the shelf of any person who is interested in military history and specifically the Seven Years War. Thank you, Casemate Publishers, for allowing me to review this very fine book. </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">Robert</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span>Book: </span><span style="text-align: center;"><span><a href="https://www.casematepublishers.com/9781911628798/by-force-of-arms/" target="_blank">By Force of Arms: The Austrian Army in the Seven Years War Volume 2</a></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Author: <a href="https://www.casematepublishers.com/search-results-grid/?keyword=christopher+duffy" target="_blank">Christopher Duffy</a></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Publisher: <a href="https://www.casematepublishers.com/search-results-grid/?imprint=helion-and-company" target="_blank">Helion & Company</a></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Distributor: <a href="https://www.casematepublishers.com/" target="_blank">Casemate Publishers</a></span></span></div><p></p>Robert Petersonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17114299951391079193noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4437416196467752074.post-59233484403483016002023-12-12T21:10:00.000+00:002023-12-12T21:10:10.980+00:00The Maps of the Wilderness by Bradley M. Gottfried<p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: center;"> <span style="font-size: large;">The Maps of the Wilderness</span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">An Atlas of the Wilderness Campaign, Including all Cavalry Operations, May 2-6, 1864</span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">by</span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Bradley M. Gottfried</span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnb1AsHd_l32_ARHJzPciYml1naa-0EzEK4hH6MtTo-TPlBL2q7DBHBu02CDJ7QXyTDDgkySnLmgbzURGh3r43eeczr7ISfr3-yemKLA1znT488Px8FBXVw6fCZXkKB4U1vRrrMKlgYVzL9AGbTTe14uD-CfqseFLYkcbPhRZLUe9ordTMuxaU9VfBRYX4/s2000/9781611212587__18837.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2000" data-original-width="1383" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnb1AsHd_l32_ARHJzPciYml1naa-0EzEK4hH6MtTo-TPlBL2q7DBHBu02CDJ7QXyTDDgkySnLmgbzURGh3r43eeczr7ISfr3-yemKLA1znT488Px8FBXVw6fCZXkKB4U1vRrrMKlgYVzL9AGbTTe14uD-CfqseFLYkcbPhRZLUe9ordTMuxaU9VfBRYX4/w442-h640/9781611212587__18837.jpg" width="442" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><p></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"> We have all read about how Napoleon and Marshal Berthier would crawl over maps during their campaigns. I think possibly that image in my mind started a lifelong love of maps. I love to look at all maps but especially campaign and battle maps. I believe it gives me, and others, a much-needed visual representation of the histories we are reading.</span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"> These books by Bradley M. Gottfried completely switches the program from what we military history readers are used to. Instead of the prose being the main part of the book, in this case the maps are the real headliner. The descriptions are not inferior; in fact, far from it. It is just we are finally given exact and easy to read and follow maps of a campaign or battle. This is in comparison to many very well written military histories that have two or three maps that look like they were drawn by a second grader. This is actually the fifth in this series of books by the author. I can easily recommend all of them to the reader. They are:</span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">The Maps of Gettysburg</span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">The Maps of First Bull Run</span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">The Maps of Antietam</span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">The Maps of Bristoe Station and Mine Run Campaigns</span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"> This book easily measures up to its elder brothers. The confusing and claustrophobic fighting of the Battle of the Wilderness is finally brought into the light of day. The books written about the battle are sometimes hard to follow because of the complete confusion on the part of the actual participants. They sometimes had no idea of where they were, let alone where the units on either side of them were at any given time. The painstakingly drawn maps clears up all of that confusion. </span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"> In conclusion, if you have any interest in the Battle of the Wilderness, or the American Civil War in general, this book is a must have for your library. While you are ordering it at Savas Beatie please take a look at the rest of the series.</span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"> Robert</span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">Book: <a href="https://www.savasbeatie.com/the-maps-of-the-wilderness-campaign-an-atlas-of-the-wilderness-campaign-may-2-7-1864/" target="_blank">The Maps of the Wilderness</a></span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">Author: <a href="https://www.savasbeatie.com/search.php?search_query=Bradley+M.+Gottfried" target="_blank">Bradley M. Gottfried</a></span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">Publisher: <a href="https://www.savasbeatie.com/" target="_blank">Savas Beatie</a></span></p>Robert Petersonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17114299951391079193noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4437416196467752074.post-18727752716950658782023-12-12T21:09:00.000+00:002023-12-12T21:09:33.593+00:00Conquering the Valley Cross Keys/Port Republic by Tiny Battle Publishing<p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: center;"> <span style="font-size: large;">Conquering the Valley Cross Keys/Port Republic</span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">by</span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Tiny Battle Publishing</span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0PpzNhek2rvwEsi-Gm2ccfdu3LRk7O0113N67Wbky6A_EZbzIXa5fVQ6RLYc-f1F1-0suJzqCfiUIMDPjlwf3oN3AFFofqofC8d6f9AJpjaWDwbIptGxiT5qldJ5KLzQyZmF90wws9x9N_tcq5er83SvS1ZSNtXiYPE1Qiskumkz2GAB307Tah40k3WiO/s600/rs=w_600,h_600.webp" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="484" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0PpzNhek2rvwEsi-Gm2ccfdu3LRk7O0113N67Wbky6A_EZbzIXa5fVQ6RLYc-f1F1-0suJzqCfiUIMDPjlwf3oN3AFFofqofC8d6f9AJpjaWDwbIptGxiT5qldJ5KLzQyZmF90wws9x9N_tcq5er83SvS1ZSNtXiYPE1Qiskumkz2GAB307Tah40k3WiO/w516-h640/rs=w_600,h_600.webp" width="516" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><p></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"> The Shenandoah Valley 1862 campaign raged by the forces under Major General Thomas J. 'Stonewall' Jackson had an immense impact on the American Civil War. Union Major General McClellan was poised to attack the Confederate forces by an amphibious landing on the Virginia Peninsula southeast of Richmond. McClellan, aided by Pinkerton, believed that he was outnumbered by the Confederate forces by as much as two to one. Jackson's campaign was to keep the Valley in Confederate hands and also to panic President Lincoln in Washington to draw troops away from McClellan. Jackson did his job admirably while at the end being outnumbered almost three to one. McClellan slowed his glacial pace toward Richmond while also writing almost daily to his superiors in Washington that he was surrounded by millions of Confederate troops. The game represents the last two battles of the Valley Campaign before Jackson marched to join the Confederate forces at Richmond. The Battles of Cross Keys and Port Republic took place on June 8th and 9th of 1862.</span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"> The game rules are one of the offshoots of Hermann Luttman's numerous designs for wargaming the Civil War (All hail King Hermann the first of his name). This is what Tiny Battle Publishing has to say about the game:</span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"> "Following the release of The Hill of Death, Conquering the Valley is the second game in the Shattered Union series. Heavily influenced by 2022's Wargame of the Year, A Most Fearful Sacrifice, Herm Luttmann’s Shattered Union series is a new line of American Civil War wargames designed to be accessible to gamers of any experience level and playable in 3 hours.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Conquering the Valley covers the final two battles of Stonewall Jackson’s Valley Campaign of 1862. Jackson fights two Union armies, beats them both, and then heads off to Richmond for “The Seven Days”. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Players can fight each battle separately or combine both as they historically were fought. The game also includes an interesting “What If” scenario; a Union cavalry force captured a key bridge but they failed to burn it and thereby cut Jackson off from his supply train. In the “What If” scenario, those Union troopers actually burn the bridge and force Jackson to fight Fremont’s army but Jackson has limited ammunition. In the end though, the historic game comes down to fighting it out for the Union guns at “The Coaling”. If Jackson can capture the Union artillery at Port Republic, he has won the campaign and can head towards Richmond!"</span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: left;"></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOQyPMGRIAE2RSos0VsQG4C5ZrRaFGEaiNqqK6mnV5tGI-c6-EmeIuOlg2SrOFw6Nkq1oSEJs15V0i1ixC6Et7WyVp3jFDa4KS7Z8ptJbYBe3E59wiBG5OkL-Zqh3creBCB28d7PDp7ztldcpsaZ59rlZMgvWrRVVymOsviMXJiuE_tVHs0Ei2bQKl10f1/s600/rs=w_600,h_600%20(1).webp" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="467" data-original-width="600" height="498" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOQyPMGRIAE2RSos0VsQG4C5ZrRaFGEaiNqqK6mnV5tGI-c6-EmeIuOlg2SrOFw6Nkq1oSEJs15V0i1ixC6Et7WyVp3jFDa4KS7Z8ptJbYBe3E59wiBG5OkL-Zqh3creBCB28d7PDp7ztldcpsaZ59rlZMgvWrRVVymOsviMXJiuE_tVHs0Ei2bQKl10f1/w640-h498/rs=w_600,h_600%20(1).webp" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Illustration of the Battle of Cross Keys</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><p></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"> This is what comes with the game:</span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">2 – Maps each 17" x 22"</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">189 – Counters </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">39 – Playing Cards</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Player Aid</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">1 – Series Rulebook</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">1 – Game Module Rulebook</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">5 – Six-Sided Dice (Red, White, Black, Blue and Gray)</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">A box to stuff it in</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Designed by Claude Templeton Whalen </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Art by Jose R. Faura </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Number of Players: 2 (but solo friendly) </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Ages: 9 and up (potential choking hazard for anyone under 9 or hungry adults ) </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Playing Time: 2 hours 53 minutes (except if you play both battles back to back) </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"> The battlefield maps are double-sided. The colors are somewhat muted, but you can clearly see the terrain and elevation. Their biggest claim to fame is that the hexes are 1" in size. The counters are well done with a picture of the troop type on each counter. The number on the bottom left is the unit's Strength Point value. The one on the bottom right is the unit's Cohesion Rating. Artillery units can be either Rifled (R), Smoothbore (S), or Mixed (M). The counters come in at 3/4" size. The game also has an 11"x 17" Players Aid that on one side has the CRT, Terrain, and other charts. The flipside has the Sequence of Play and rules etc. The game can pretty much be played by just looking at it without needing the Rulebooks. As I mentioned, the game materials are mostly in muted colors. However, I assume the art director decided to break free on the CRT and Terrain Chart side which is awash with color. It does not hinder the reading of it; on the contrary, it makes it easier to read and see what you are looking for. It just surprised me compared to the rest of the materials. The game, like most series games, comes with two Rulebooks. One is for the Series and the other for the Conquering the Valley game itself. The Series Rulebook is only 15 pages long. It is printed in double columns and the type is on the small size. It has only one example of play that is pictured; all of the rest are just written. However, there are a lot of them to help the player. This games Rulebook is only 11 pages in length and most of that is taken up by the scenario setups and individual rules. The game comes with four scenarios with the last one being a 'campaign' game of playing both battles. The 39 cards are used for unit activation, among other things. There are also Event Cards, Commander-In-Chief Cards, and Wild Cards The activation cards come with a nice ink drawing of some of the commanders. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"> The components measure up to the standard of the other Tiny Battle Publishing games I have played. About the only thing one could gripe about is the thinness of the counters. I do not remember the other games' counters and unfortunately, I have all of my games packed up for a move. It is possible the counters are the same thickness as in other games. They are certainly not thin enough to be detrimental to the longevity of the game.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0PHstRUulmgWQg4N-oyImFQ5pvuwJjHO-gt1NDGv7_9P7RE7mXCKc3tLcR_QgnnIC2jXDBS_LRkGiFc-vyZKDdUnSz9hxZFF9T80G7wrpS37hNb00a75_kLy2c1XgFTXeSudpfTREYLPqXXF48Zm9yUY81fZLGrVaLey0l_WCRNZfyhLNIcZC3EvN6diq/s600/rs=w_600,h_600%20(2).webp" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="492" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0PHstRUulmgWQg4N-oyImFQ5pvuwJjHO-gt1NDGv7_9P7RE7mXCKc3tLcR_QgnnIC2jXDBS_LRkGiFc-vyZKDdUnSz9hxZFF9T80G7wrpS37hNb00a75_kLy2c1XgFTXeSudpfTREYLPqXXF48Zm9yUY81fZLGrVaLey0l_WCRNZfyhLNIcZC3EvN6diq/w524-h640/rs=w_600,h_600%20(2).webp" width="524" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Illustration of the Battle of Port Republic</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><p></p><div> <span style="font-size: large;"> As mentioned, the game and its ruleset are an offshoot from the massive wargaming hit, 'A Most Fearful Sacrifice' from Hermann Luttmann. I for one, would look at buying a game of Tiddlywinks if Mr. Luttmann's name appeared on the rules. So, I was very familiar with his varied rule systems. I also reviewed the other game in the Shattered Union System: 'The Hill of Death', link below. There are only about three and a half pages of rules that pertain just to this game, and already knowing the system made it that much easier. This series is also supposed to be light on the rules and quick playing. The games that Tiny Battle Publishing puts forth are in direct contrast to its older brother Flying Pig Games. <i>Yaah! </i>magazine is the inhouse magazine for both of the companies' games. It comes with in-depth looks at the games and new scenarios or changes to existing scenarios. </span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"> The game comes as exactly advertised. Light on the rules and quick and easy to play. This comes without losing the historical flavor or play of the games. It does not make you think that these are cookie cutter rules where you could just put in a counter of panzers, and it would play the same. The cards used in the game are a refinement of the tried-and-true chit pull system of gaming. It allows the designer so much more latitude in what can be presented to the player for and against him. So, instead of just doing a cup pull to find out what units can move you can vary the number of units that can move etc., the designer can almost design a completely different battle for the player but still be in the realm of historical possibilities. </span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"> The Battle of Port Republic (Jackson Attacks scenario) is a hard one for the Confederates to get a win. First of all, it is only nine turns long. You have almost a two to one advantage in numbers playing the Confederates but that is because of reinforcements. At the beginning of the battle, it is about even. The South River ford causes the main problem for the Confederates because high rain has made the ford very hard to get troops through. So, as the Confederates you have a numerical advantage but because of the ford can you get your troops to where they are needed in time? Between the four scenarios I think it is my favorite because the cards, friction of war, make it so hard to make a plan and go with it. Although, because of the cards it really seems that each battle you play in the system is completely different than the last one. My second favorite scenario is Campbell Burns the Bridge. </span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"> There are a total of four scenarios. They are:</span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">Ewell Does His Job - Historic Cross Keys</span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">Jackson Attacks - Historic Port Republic</span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">Campbell Burns the Bridge - Cross Keys What if</span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">Two Days in June - Both Cross Keys and Port Republic</span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"> Thank you, Tiny Battle Publishing, for letting me review another great game in your stable. With the rules and the small number of counters, this is a great game for anyone, but especially for gamers who do not have a dedicated gaming space. </span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">Robert</span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">Tiny Battle Publishing:</span></div><div><a href="https://tinybattlepublishing.com/"><span style="font-size: large;">Tiny Battle Publishing</span></a></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">Conquering the Valley:</span></div><div><a href="https://tinybattlepublishing.com/products/conquering-the-valley"><span style="font-size: large;">Conquering the Valley | Tiny Battle Publishing</span></a></div><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">My review of The Hill of Death:</span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><a href="https://www.awargamersneedfulthings.co.uk/2023/03/the-hill-of-death-champion-hill-by-tiny.html"><span style="font-size: large;">The Hill of Death: Champion Hill by Tiny Battle Publishing - A Wargamers Needful Things</span></a></p>Robert Petersonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17114299951391079193noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4437416196467752074.post-55899358457853247112023-12-03T15:24:00.001+00:002023-12-03T15:28:58.438+00:00FOURTEEN DAYS IN JUNE<p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><b><i> FOURTEEN DAYS IN JUNE</i></b></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">FROM</span></b></p><p style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: x-large;">STRATEGEMATA</span></b></p><p style="text-align: center;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKa38ZDFF4BagrP7HbW1pJzbtvba3saqdbve8V4YBQ8BoJPgrokMDox8WlOClwWDGGD01MDhi0icGt9mPC6NFZiidGzYbhlG_n_iEOMaiI87KEzIz-x96vFl2bR0EgT9WDjldTLITUHNd3QtPIrBxJcb7ad6om5m-TPC-xJgGFcmighNepvAiM6zJl9es/s3028/15.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2176" data-original-width="3028" height="460" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKa38ZDFF4BagrP7HbW1pJzbtvba3saqdbve8V4YBQ8BoJPgrokMDox8WlOClwWDGGD01MDhi0icGt9mPC6NFZiidGzYbhlG_n_iEOMaiI87KEzIz-x96vFl2bR0EgT9WDjldTLITUHNd3QtPIrBxJcb7ad6om5m-TPC-xJgGFcmighNepvAiM6zJl9es/w640-h460/15.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">It may sound like the title of a spy novel, but as you can see we're back in familiar war gaming territory... or, perhaps, not so familiar. Especially, there's no need for the immediate exclamation - not another Waterloo game. Why? Well, because this isn't the typical focus of the three days, but as the title and subscript spells out, it's a treatment of the whole two weeks leading up to and culminating in the battle of Waterloo. This is a very refreshing change, especially as it's a game coming from a designer that I already rate highly. Several of his games I've already reviewed for A Wargamers Needful Things and nearly all his other games are in my collection. So, it was no surprise to see "A game by Stephen Pole" featured on the front of the game box. It's a detail that would immediately make me pick up a game and have me well on the way to buying it.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">However, once again I've got Strategemata to thank for their kindness in sending me <i><b>Fourteen Days In June</b></i> to review. Opening up the box revealed typical features of both a Stephen Pole design and Strategemata production. Much as I've liked the sequence of their smaller mounted maps in recent games, I was more than happy to see a full sized paper map for this game which gives justice to the necessary scale for this campaign.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgY75kIdOTylP43EzY9SwUEnsBrD047fvp5DjTrfch9TQSM_sgEK3FuXG5JEvPuG3gNt3Iz34Mhwfw3FpSLLpQjZ-9jOpFPYjrRSTkFeV-v4aFkG_oBeGq3DZV0ZUS58GyLyQM-6PBohiYTqIL79xDUqyJUlNkilzsO-XUJC0nerDA8fpz7mFh2swNlF70/s3171/Full%20map.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2192" data-original-width="3171" height="442" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgY75kIdOTylP43EzY9SwUEnsBrD047fvp5DjTrfch9TQSM_sgEK3FuXG5JEvPuG3gNt3Iz34Mhwfw3FpSLLpQjZ-9jOpFPYjrRSTkFeV-v4aFkG_oBeGq3DZV0ZUS58GyLyQM-6PBohiYTqIL79xDUqyJUlNkilzsO-XUJC0nerDA8fpz7mFh2swNlF70/w640-h442/Full%20map.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">The counters remain of very average quality by current standards and remind me very much of the simplicity of when I first encountered board games through SPI magazine games back in the 1970s! Everything is functional and serviceable and so is the rule book, which remains a simple twelve page, stapled, black and white production. </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPWkrTOCbuMH9oO4Zyqmfao27luPl6ryDnlnpAOvHAxzQUZw5Y5tOsAKJ6fn5aD7hWJtAHCulYqSPedUaxDFI1dd4mbA8HszOQAt1Z1hna7YNkKxLb31UtULD_A-Dr5yNwTXbvNBK8wq2JDi-ItHr9ZXQuja2CKBQqZckyu3E0xBXYF7mePfTQVS6Vr4E/s3011/Rule%20Book.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3011" data-original-width="2058" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPWkrTOCbuMH9oO4Zyqmfao27luPl6ryDnlnpAOvHAxzQUZw5Y5tOsAKJ6fn5aD7hWJtAHCulYqSPedUaxDFI1dd4mbA8HszOQAt1Z1hna7YNkKxLb31UtULD_A-Dr5yNwTXbvNBK8wq2JDi-ItHr9ZXQuja2CKBQqZckyu3E0xBXYF7mePfTQVS6Vr4E/w438-h640/Rule%20Book.jpg" width="438" /></a></div><b><span style="font-size: large;">Front page of Rules Booklet</span></b><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">As has become almost standard, it is supported by a similar eight page booklet of rules examples, with plenty of helpful coloured illustrations, but with text in even smaller print than the rules themselves. </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPJnv43xfywOGUYWFyfnE7BpYXIZjnkOEAKWVPYhahGtaP9e7681K7N_iFYU9Gw7acZoDstIofhPSFGTOEsFHTwhKHjVAPa0flxPAYkd6y9r3m22HhaIhXbPM9Q5zqFYcOCcPyRYh8HtzCVu6IldcL2FftMz-S2xolb4K_QYEXNCCQiV3p2HJMEJLtXAI/s3016/Play%20examples.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3016" data-original-width="2128" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPJnv43xfywOGUYWFyfnE7BpYXIZjnkOEAKWVPYhahGtaP9e7681K7N_iFYU9Gw7acZoDstIofhPSFGTOEsFHTwhKHjVAPa0flxPAYkd6y9r3m22HhaIhXbPM9Q5zqFYcOCcPyRYh8HtzCVu6IldcL2FftMz-S2xolb4K_QYEXNCCQiV3p2HJMEJLtXAI/w452-h640/Play%20examples.jpg" width="452" /></a></div><b><span style="font-size: large;">Eight page Examples Booklet</span></b><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">Though these production qualities are a far cry from the gloss of many nascent games companies, the design itself is very much a quality one, blending as it does elements familiar from a number of Stephen Pole's previous games with some very interesting developments.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">To start with, what is familiar from 2021's <i style="font-weight: bold;">How The Union Was Saved </i>are the wooden stands and oblong leader counters that are all that appear on the map itself. Each stand and Leader represents a Formation. They are very few in number, with only eight in total for the joint Allied British and Prussian forces and seven for the French when set up at the start, growing to a maximum of fourteen for the Allied and twelve for the French. This is followed by the identical layout down one side of the map for the units that make up each leader's command. </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzgpJWAOBk5lejZKyclYjPenmn_tErEHHnGPN6y955swbN_QAOd8p04w8XRJA8ij5n0iskNC_8aMTtAYe7TRRFo9SQv-qd1szGepRs5ml2Nqvj-oxsNvtLvcRPBcDRvvbeHFvOZ_El72psT_yD_4Y725FwjBRVl7XVH_sKn9aqZMrhiINHDw3oTmGyBGQ/s3127/Command%20Display.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3127" data-original-width="1836" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzgpJWAOBk5lejZKyclYjPenmn_tErEHHnGPN6y955swbN_QAOd8p04w8XRJA8ij5n0iskNC_8aMTtAYe7TRRFo9SQv-qd1szGepRs5ml2Nqvj-oxsNvtLvcRPBcDRvvbeHFvOZ_El72psT_yD_4Y725FwjBRVl7XVH_sKn9aqZMrhiINHDw3oTmGyBGQ/w376-h640/Command%20Display.jpg" width="376" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">On the display, you place unit markers, one for each of the three combat arms: infantry, cavalry and artillery. These markers are numbered so that you can register the current number of divisions of each type that the force contains. Those placed on each top row will be numbered in black to show full strength and those on each bottom row will be numbered in white to show half strength.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">Just as your display was hidden from your opponent's by screens in <i style="font-weight: bold;">How the Union Was Saved</i>, so too here.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-size: xx-large; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtktIQ90NCqMojBE2ErGiVtKIA9cixMeyt1kK_0p6bXaF5GgZ25DMW5mfl-wq0mPsXCi_2XDyy6OTMmT5rNa-8_EWJ0rRX4NQkB-J8a4CW6nawmt5AR0uxt5hS4Vsjbs1EZitDz57wZEz1toQmbl3TupC0u6Gn_-Z7N7dWUf1lnGPAdXJ4Qqs5OoruEVc/s2799/Screens.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2799" data-original-width="1918" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtktIQ90NCqMojBE2ErGiVtKIA9cixMeyt1kK_0p6bXaF5GgZ25DMW5mfl-wq0mPsXCi_2XDyy6OTMmT5rNa-8_EWJ0rRX4NQkB-J8a4CW6nawmt5AR0uxt5hS4Vsjbs1EZitDz57wZEz1toQmbl3TupC0u6Gn_-Z7N7dWUf1lnGPAdXJ4Qqs5OoruEVc/w438-h640/Screens.jpg" width="438" /></a></div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">Each player gets to see a suitably dramatic scene of their enemy in firing line, while on the reverse they face a helpful set of informative tables. All these elements are identical to those in the previous game, along with the combat system that I'll discuss later. Virtually everything else is different.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">The initial and very obvious difference is the larger size of map which promises that manoeuvre will be even more important than it was for the ACW game. However, it is within the system itself that the major changes and developments appear and all of them I've found highly rewarding. </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">The major one in this game is the issuing of orders. What is rather strange is that in the Sequence of Play, it doesn't even get named! There are, in fact, only three Phases listed:</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">[1] Attrition and Supply</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">[2] Movement and Combat</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">[3] Commander Movement</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">The first, <b>Attrition and Supply</b>, is fairly conventional. Attrition is affected by two factors - the size of the Force and whether it is in supply or not. Supply is handled by the tried and trusted method of tracing to a supply source along a road, but thankfully doesn't allow the often ridiculous ability to allow your road to wander all over the map back to a supply source! Instead the road you are using to trace supply may only progress three hexes ahead of the compass direction fixed for your nationality - south for the British, north for the French and west for the Prussians. An extra restriction is that you must be on or adjacent to the road or be separated by a single clear hex. It may seem a small point, but having despaired of many games with easy, but ridiculously liberal supply rules or some games with immensely complex ones! Here, it is simple, but realistic.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">Virtually all the rest of the game's rules are contained in Phase 2 <b>Movement and Combat</b>. Personally, I would have labelled this Phase <i>Orders and Movement, </i>as it has five sections. Parts I to IV<i> </i>deal with Orders, while Part V deals specifically with the details of Movement. <i> </i>However, the type of Order will affect movement and whether you can engage in combat too. All these combinations depart significantly from the simplicity and ease of understanding that I associate with Steve Pole's designs. Don't be deterred. It is well worth getting to grips with and I would strongly recommend following through each part of the rules, using both the examples in the supporting booklet along with physical counters on the map too. A single play of the game was then sufficient for me to play subsequent games with barely a reference to the rule book about orders. I'd also suggest that, when first learning and playing the game, you stick to the Historical Set-Up rules and only move on to the Quasi-Historical Set-Up or Free Set-Up when you've bedded in the rules!</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZK5e99txIV5Gs9L5aTVUhp_W5ZRVPwcdrO5NMQvE9JHbqagPmYKZ8yQD7znJAiRm22PofUArD5gsSXahyphenhyphenHPgkEu250HwctYYa06uipCWnc2mVnOLcr35oK6jNEIQlrMTcJSoH1mjmx6BIY2N7yiT9XZ4se3-fo_5Pep4krbV-klPBCUWWxPeLgd6LZGA/s3264/Map%20at%20Set%20up.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2448" data-original-width="3264" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZK5e99txIV5Gs9L5aTVUhp_W5ZRVPwcdrO5NMQvE9JHbqagPmYKZ8yQD7znJAiRm22PofUArD5gsSXahyphenhyphenHPgkEu250HwctYYa06uipCWnc2mVnOLcr35oK6jNEIQlrMTcJSoH1mjmx6BIY2N7yiT9XZ4se3-fo_5Pep4krbV-klPBCUWWxPeLgd6LZGA/w640-h480/Map%20at%20Set%20up.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><b>Historical Set-Up</b><br /> </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">So, at the start only the French issue Initial Orders, one for each Force on the map and this involves writing a destination village, town or city on a record sheet. This is a very similar method to Hexasim's Rising/Falling Eagles games that also cover Napoleonic battles. While under Initial Orders, formations can only move on the road network. For the first three turns, only the French can move using these Initial Orders, though on turn 2 the Allied forces do write down their Initial Orders and on turn 3 place the Order markers on the map.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">Without going into too much detail, what follows on from Turn 4 is the issuing of Further Orders. This is done one force at a time alternately from one side to the other. Each time you attempt to issue an order, you test by rolling two dice with a decreasing bonus system to see if you are successful. Fail and you cannot issue any more orders; also if you decide not to issue an order, you can't issue any more that turn. There is quite a deal of subtlety here (especially as you can place +1 or +2 markers which act as a sort of delayed order process). Once comfortable with applying them, it's a system I thoroughly enjoy and would single out as being a major factor.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">Once all Order markers have been placed on the map, they are carried out, again alternately. One side chooses a Force with an Order marker, removes the Order marker and moves and conducts combat, if desired and possible, and then the other side activates a Force and does the same. Like the issuing of orders, if you decide not to activate a Force, then you won't be able to activate any more that turn and any Forces that still have orders on them have them removed!</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">Part IV (of the Movement and Combat Phase) is named Updating Orders and is the process by which a Force with a +1 marker is given an Order marker and a Force with a +2 marker has it substituted by a +1 marker. </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">Included among these central processes of the game are a number of small details that contribute to the flavour and feel of this game. Route blocked markers that hinder the progress of your own units</span><span style="font-size: x-large;">; </span><span style="font-size: large;">the ability to Force March resulting in placing a fatigue marker that affects combat; the use of markers to show that your Force has already been in combat and adds a negative affect to further combat; the role of Commanders for whom only the single highest ranking Commander's standee is ever located on the map and as Forces merge or split new Commanders come into play or are placed on the hidden displays where the unit strength markers are located; and one of my favourites, Inadvertent Moves whereby every hex moved off-road has to be diced for and a failed roll ends the Force's movement in a randomly generated hex adjacent to the one you've just entered. The latter is an excellent reminder of the difficulties of off-road movement along with the added difficulties brought on by bad weather. </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeWgnRLCnJKvtQrOPmCVBnmZUahlc5JgI9lbLFSLfdKNQjYzNc85izfsCx9UXPmS4oQ82AplLH6_m4-vOd5F37AADre54zlXKEqTEIao2jVYdhNWw0WFXtOleLbaTyqLGIZtSToPJhNHMpxChl1P8FygR6pbC3KebwaCfaYQ2aF50rtkV7kES7b_9rSXA/s3264/En%20Avant.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2448" data-original-width="3264" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeWgnRLCnJKvtQrOPmCVBnmZUahlc5JgI9lbLFSLfdKNQjYzNc85izfsCx9UXPmS4oQ82AplLH6_m4-vOd5F37AADre54zlXKEqTEIao2jVYdhNWw0WFXtOleLbaTyqLGIZtSToPJhNHMpxChl1P8FygR6pbC3KebwaCfaYQ2aF50rtkV7kES7b_9rSXA/w640-h480/En%20Avant.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><span style="font-size: large;"><b><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>En Avant. Mes Amis</b></span></div>The blue markers indicate Route Blocked</b></span><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">Moving on to the Combat rules, they are the identical ones used in Stephen Pole's previous ACW game and they are highly effective and easy to implement. Commanders once more play an important role, as the number of stars of rank a leader possesses determines the maximum number of dice you <i>may</i> choose to roll and the total rolled is the number of divisions you <i>must</i> commit to a battle. So, a leader like Napoleon can roll up to five dice which, of course, means, depending on what he rolls, he may be able to commit anywhere between 5 to 30 divisions. Obviously, if you don't have as many as the number rolled, you simply commit all that you have! Factors like the quality of your Army Commander if leading the Force, combined arms and terrain add to your total with the final addition of a D6 roll for each player.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">Whoever achieves the higher number wins the battle. Then the difference between the scores is the maximum number of hits that the winner inflicts on the loser and the loser scores half that number of hits on the winner. Each hit eliminates half a division point. The scale of a victory also involves who retreats and who controls that retreat. </span><span style="font-size: large;">This is an excellent and very easy method which does away with unrealistic combat factor counting just to get that perfect combat odds and also does away with computing column shifts and die roll modifiers. Moreover, losses from combat and attrition are crucial to winning the game.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">Unless the French gain an automatic victory by capturing one of the two hexes of Brussels, victory is determined at the end of the fourteen turn game by the number of divisions lost by each side. </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">The French win if <b><i>either</i></b> the British <i><b>or</b></i> the Prussians have lost at lest 10 divisions <b style="font-style: italic;">and </b>the French have lost fewer than half the total number of divisions lost by the the British and Prussians combined. Any other result is a win for the Allied side. These conditions influence game play and player decisions from the very start - another excellent factor in the game.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">This is a hugely enjoyable two-player game. It is easy to play and one that will not have your head buried in the rule book, but concentrating on what's happening on the map. Hidden strengths, the order system and combined movement & combat rules all lead to a fast moving, tension filled contest of cat and mouse game that can be played out in a single sitting. It’s also the type of game where you will certainly make blunders, as you learn the potential for each side to deceive and pursue unexpected lines. Learning how to counter these and devise and exploit twists of your own is part of the pleasure. Even using the historical setup, the course of the campaign may well not follow history, unless both players pursue identical decisions to their historical counterparts. But if you want to put yourself in the place of those commanders with all the uncertainty that they faced and execute your plan to achieve victory, this game should just serve your needs. Personally, I intend to try it out in the future with the added uncertainty of using my sleds so that I cannot initially see who is leading each Force. nor who may be in command when forces split up.</span></div></span></div></div></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></div><p style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></b></p>Polydorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08875339847623732683noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4437416196467752074.post-33382011708955473732023-11-10T21:16:00.000+00:002023-11-10T21:16:35.807+00:00MacGowan & Lombardy's The Great War by Lombardy Studios<p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"> MacGowan & Lombardy's The Great War</span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">by</span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Lombardy Studios</span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifkVDyqb92Y5L2USqmFUV_5yeWGTCPfvw4g2bfrixfi_VE4fuAfV6iXy2xKtxo1e_dde27xUcMyqgmpeLCnSvWLeCNbF-CEnTrLJHQgE18AK5UHKcmG4mbnUjDKIr_22dI-JWfCHLBpvclhyZNtwDWXpj9Uc3g791KhJ_42FjRQ2O9iSIGq0lPk0WhWRo8/s640/Back%20-%20WW1%20Cards%20Backs%20Print%2020170717_large.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="469" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifkVDyqb92Y5L2USqmFUV_5yeWGTCPfvw4g2bfrixfi_VE4fuAfV6iXy2xKtxo1e_dde27xUcMyqgmpeLCnSvWLeCNbF-CEnTrLJHQgE18AK5UHKcmG4mbnUjDKIr_22dI-JWfCHLBpvclhyZNtwDWXpj9Uc3g791KhJ_42FjRQ2O9iSIGq0lPk0WhWRo8/w470-h640/Back%20-%20WW1%20Cards%20Backs%20Print%2020170717_large.png" width="470" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><p></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"> Once again, I am playing a card-based wargame. As a child I preferred craps. My father owed me 100k by the time I was eleven. Instead of bedtime stories we would mostly play craps, but occasionally vingt et un or Poker. I always played five or seven card stud poker. They now call it 'Texas Hold-em' like they invented it. I never could stand 'joker' cards or getting more cards from the dealer. I guess I went off on a tangent there. Circling back, we have a card game from Messieurs MacGowan and Lombardy. If you haven't been trapped in a basement for fifty years, the names should sound familiar. Almost every one of the wargame covers that pop into your mind Mr. MacGowan has had his hand in it one way or the other. Mr. Lombardy is a game designer of great repute, or so he tells me. At some time in my life, I will get a copy of Streets of Stalingrad III and prove it to myself. That game is in grognards dreams just like Campaign for North Africa, and they both cost a down payment on a car. Here they have pooled their brains and artistry to come up with a card game that plays out the Great War. </span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: left;"></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAJni_Qg6pHrNrgOA0x1q_bTe0AOojHSBjNFJwdBdzyhrYGy38KoWHDVJJdKImdvAP_pJxb3o7B-YmGmbCmiqaebnM6et-X_kVbLVaPPUew_w4OJzqjmoQ8pCbd205Wjig20XU2IauflewfNDuGaTcif7XbrbImjQIMd4qEauaSg-VRR9AOdLkNoc_9fR6/s1105/pic7569527.webp" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1105" height="522" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAJni_Qg6pHrNrgOA0x1q_bTe0AOojHSBjNFJwdBdzyhrYGy38KoWHDVJJdKImdvAP_pJxb3o7B-YmGmbCmiqaebnM6et-X_kVbLVaPPUew_w4OJzqjmoQ8pCbd205Wjig20XU2IauflewfNDuGaTcif7XbrbImjQIMd4qEauaSg-VRR9AOdLkNoc_9fR6/w640-h522/pic7569527.webp" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Some 4th graders enjoying the game earlier this year.</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><p></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"> This is what comes in the box:</span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">200 poker-size cards denoting weapons and key personalities representing almost 20 nations</span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">Rule for 2-players, solitaire, and the special expansion</span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">Quick Play outline</span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">1 Decks and Discard Mat</span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">1 Battle Mat to keep track of turn winner and cumulative points</span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">PLUS - cards and rules for a science fiction expansion with a direct link to the Great War</span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"> This is what Lombardy Studios says about the game:</span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">"MacGowan & Lombardy's The Great War by award-winning game designer Dana Lombardy is a simple, fast-playing stand-alone (non-collectible) 2-player card game built around important weapon systems, commanders, and other historical aspects of this unprecedented industrial-scale war. Two 54-card decks feature colorized historical images and illustrations by game industry Hall of Fame graphic artist Rodger B. MacGowan. Icons, insignias, and game text on each card eliminate the need for complex rules. (Note to collectors: Nearly all of Rodger's exceptional WW1 illustrations appear on the cards.)"</span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: center;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2XVbdaQRfrwMJzyoeGUjHx6mCP7kEoNWsTfqRgaR-aOeymB8OHOiTjdGvmWQuthl1xvECfmW7G-RoAzwB0pbxAVjQGmrenUtYTLU9Iwn3N7TjNK9Kt3NbnuG0OopFi7sOXjyUaEW630GNFndhD4Bn9sCEZMPxOjlXdZWHXsKlbQFCJi9TRUvZXjlg786n/s2048/GreatWar-CoverBox-Revised1-RBM_combined-2048x1235.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1235" data-original-width="2048" height="386" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2XVbdaQRfrwMJzyoeGUjHx6mCP7kEoNWsTfqRgaR-aOeymB8OHOiTjdGvmWQuthl1xvECfmW7G-RoAzwB0pbxAVjQGmrenUtYTLU9Iwn3N7TjNK9Kt3NbnuG0OopFi7sOXjyUaEW630GNFndhD4Bn9sCEZMPxOjlXdZWHXsKlbQFCJi9TRUvZXjlg786n/w640-h386/GreatWar-CoverBox-Revised1-RBM_combined-2048x1235.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><p></p><div><span style="font-size: large;"> The card Battle Board is 11"x 17" in size. Nothing really fancy here: it just has the spots to put the different decks and used cards etc. The instructions come on a double-sided 8 1/2"x 11" sheet of glossy paper sheet. The instructions type size is the same as most books. There is a Game Overview, Cards, and Glossary double-sided sheet. Next, we have a double-sided sheet with the solitaire rules. One side has the basic game, and the other side has the Bonus and Joker AI cards and usage. The science fiction expansion rules are next on a double-sided sheet. It is based on Well's War of the Worlds. This adds a nice touch and gives the game more playability. last, we have an eight-page full color booklet that has the examples of play. Then comes the most important and beautiful part of the game: the cards. The 200 cards are all small pieces of artwork of people, places, and events from the Great war. I cannot say enough about how well they look. Just to have the pictures is worth the price of the game. The components are fine and more on the useful scale other than being artwork. To me, this helps showcase the cards even more. Look at the card below to see how good they look.</span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4apftNRdjN0XSWFTk-H7MGmb5tmm-oDV_zPLQCInI5Lo1jyjk-2OZBPTUTmPexQLKhHo-IdFcVV_3HIaT-Bb_5pEkHmTUP1Z1Bj9qpF90AHm_P-16GnbraEqkyAKbDyXkADD7V0sRXIpcCPCkS_8CY3cMLWZvZb4KmkrTJmSGcvYNm0NmlNdmDKTEjhug/s900/pic5777515.webp" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="660" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4apftNRdjN0XSWFTk-H7MGmb5tmm-oDV_zPLQCInI5Lo1jyjk-2OZBPTUTmPexQLKhHo-IdFcVV_3HIaT-Bb_5pEkHmTUP1Z1Bj9qpF90AHm_P-16GnbraEqkyAKbDyXkADD7V0sRXIpcCPCkS_8CY3cMLWZvZb4KmkrTJmSGcvYNm0NmlNdmDKTEjhug/w470-h640/pic5777515.webp" width="470" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"> The game is interesting in many ways. I have played a few card wargames, but they were usually about just one battle or a few planes battling it out. This game you can play out the whole of World War One.</span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"> These are the Victory Conditions:</span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><div> The Basic Game ends after 10 Turns. Some scenarios have more or </div></span><div><span style="font-size: large;"><span>fewer Turns. The game also ends immediately if one side is unable to draw a </span><span>Nationality card when required. See Section 3.4.</span></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"> 3.2 At the end of the last Turn of the game or scenario, count the Battle Points </span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">(BP) of all enemy Nationality cards you captured and any friendly Nationality </span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><span>cards still in your hand. You capture enemy cards when you have the highest </span><span>BP total when a Turn is scored.</span></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><span> 3.3 Do not count the BP of any cards in your Nationality draw deck or discard </span><span>pile. Do not count the BP of Neutral or Bonus cards.</span></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><span>3.4 When a player is required to draw a Nationality card and is unable to </span><span>reconstitute the Nationality draw deck by reshuffling their discard pile the </span><span>game ends immediately.</span></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"> 3.5 Compare the two opposing sides’ BP total to determine the level of victory:</span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"> A) MORAL VICTORY: One side has 10 to 19 more BP.</span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"> B) TACTICAL VICTORY. One side has 20 to 39 more BP.</span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"> C) OPERATIONAL VICTORY. One side has 40 to 79 more BP.</span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"> D) STRATEGIC VICTORY. One side has at least 80 or more BP.</span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"> E) The game ends in a DRAW if a player has only 1 to 9 more BP than their </span><span style="font-size: large;">opponent at the end of the game.</span></div></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"> The game is not really hard to learn. You just have to learn how the cards interact with each other. Meaning, your cards could lower or totally negate the cards held by your opponent. </span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">This video done by Mr. Lombardy is the best way to learn the game:</span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://youtu.be/LIfNvUNMDJE">https://youtu.be/LIfNvUNMDJE</a></span></div><div><br /></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"> The national decks are all marked as a normal card deck. So, you could play Poker or anything else with these beautiful decks. There are normally ten rounds/turns in each game. Each side can be the defender or attacker. At the end of the round, each player counts up his points on all his cards as does the attacker. The higher number wins the round.</span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"> Thank you, Lombardy Studios, for letting me review this beautiful, fun, and quick game. The outstanding artwork by Mr. MacGowan and the period photographs etc. are the most striking part of this game. Too bad my father is no longer with us. I would have enjoyed our Poker or twenty-one games that much more.</span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">Robert </span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">Lombardy Studios (while you are there check all of the books and other games):</span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://lombardystudios.com/">Welcome to Lombardy Studios - Lombardy Studios</a></span></div><div><br /></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">MacGowan & Lombardy's The Great War:</span></div><div><a href="https://lombardystudios.com/2020/09/13/macgowan-and-lombardys-the-great-war-card-game/"><span style="font-size: large;">MacGowan and Lombardy's The Great War card game - Lombardy Studios</span></a></div>Robert Petersonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17114299951391079193noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4437416196467752074.post-79521114556670477852023-11-05T19:24:00.004+00:002023-11-13T16:14:16.888+00:00Streel Beasts Professional by eSim Games<p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"> Steel Beasts</span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Professional</span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">by</span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">eSim Games</span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-_PumCg91P-C8oxNSSG98KWSEQX6drN4rGI6Ho6ApBnI75bd73h_PqE4k2BvM62WA0PJHpgkUaZrhjh9m2haHrPePMR_a6LpM0Xe4IUYIVd11TPJZ0Mwe7tB3AkuYgJDMDf76nJj3k9uzPCXcS_nLr-OKH_1JWYR0utrc5LAXBzHrDf3GTdg4hsnU1iQu/s1280/APS_Intercept2.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="1280" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-_PumCg91P-C8oxNSSG98KWSEQX6drN4rGI6Ho6ApBnI75bd73h_PqE4k2BvM62WA0PJHpgkUaZrhjh9m2haHrPePMR_a6LpM0Xe4IUYIVd11TPJZ0Mwe7tB3AkuYgJDMDf76nJj3k9uzPCXcS_nLr-OKH_1JWYR0utrc5LAXBzHrDf3GTdg4hsnU1iQu/w640-h360/APS_Intercept2.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"> Steel Beasts: Simulator and Wargame</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">A made-up conversation between the two designers of Steel Beasts Professional</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">About Design Principles</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Nils Hinrichsen: When I joined Al Delaney some 25 years ago, we didn't spend much time defining development goals and writing specifications. We looked at examples that we liked, even more so at what we didn't like, and then tried to come up with a formula that would cater to our strengths as engineers with some professional military experience, to make something that we would like to play.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Five years into that, with Ed Williams on board, we decided to try and cater for the professional military training market, and from that point a lot of our development was driven by uncoordinated and short-term customer demand. Fortunately, much of that was of the more of the same type of development where the customers liked what was there, they just wanted to see their own vehicles added to it all.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Still, we need to somehow make sure that we're still following some overarching design principles, and we must keep in mind that military training actually means three distinct audiences crews of fighting vehicles, junior leaders learning the basics of tactics, and then the command posts of higher-ups for tactical training at the battlegroup level (with the support of dozens of low-level constructive operators).</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">These design principles have partially emerged over time, partially we are assuring adherence through our development processes and continuity in team composition, and there is of course also a more rigid intellectual element at work as well.</span></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnQjuNfijGjAZpd142e-dQ_njRilRwQRGaZl4qTj1s8higEftzkSrVtDLbspnqnMq4GKODsbzZqVH2EJ1nNu9x80TpjFIPckwf-WXjQEEZNqH5PXTwhTIoAytQY2XxdOWRn_7RdRgyEdm4JwRd-HhOLXso1qDi6sLmFRPTuc0S_-aRrLxusRKFvAuzjQKs/s1280/Armata-Afganit.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1024" data-original-width="1280" height="512" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnQjuNfijGjAZpd142e-dQ_njRilRwQRGaZl4qTj1s8higEftzkSrVtDLbspnqnMq4GKODsbzZqVH2EJ1nNu9x80TpjFIPckwf-WXjQEEZNqH5PXTwhTIoAytQY2XxdOWRn_7RdRgyEdm4JwRd-HhOLXso1qDi6sLmFRPTuc0S_-aRrLxusRKFvAuzjQKs/w640-h512/Armata-Afganit.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Ed Williams: Generally, when we think of a military based simulator, we think of a first-person view simulation of something, such as the user flying an aircraft, or driving a vehicle. We see what is happening at the ground level, and experience combat up close and personally, but the player has little or no perspective of the larger tactical picture, and usually has no influence on it either. In a simulation the player strives to become proficient at fighting, either learning how to operate their aircraft in all its functions and roles, or practicing their accuracy when they personally engage targets. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">When we think of a wargame, we think of a top-down view of a map, where the user is a commander, moving units around. We don't see what is happening at the ground level, but we do see the larger tactical or strategic picture which we usually have full control of. In a wargame, the conflict is not personal as the combat is not experienced, and instead it becomes more like a game of chess which abstracts a battle into a game of tactics and maneuver. When the knight takes the pawn, we aren't thinking about cavalry overrunning infantry, but instead we are looking to move our units to gain superiority over the enemy. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Steel Beasts does something that few others do, it combines both a simulator and a wargame into one. The player can fight the battle from the map view, moving units around while the AI engages the enemy directly, or the user can jump into the vehicle and engage the enemy personally, experiencing both personal combat and the tactics involved in maneuvering larger forces. The player can also choose to fight the battle and concentrate very little on the map view, in certain well-designed scenarios. Most importantly, the player is not one person, but is instead a sort of driving force on the side, usually (depending on the scenarios restrictions) able to jump from unit to unit, manning all sorts of different types of vehicles, or jumping into infantry units to assist them with tactics.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Nils Hinrichsen: This description of Steel Beasts applies to the single-player experience. In a sense, that is also what you do in multiplayer network sessions; players usually take responsibility of more than just a crew position but rather multiple platoons, simply because the AI takes seamlessly over whenever you leave a unit and jump to the next to influence their actions. The exception being Steel Beasts as a crew training tool, whereby design the exercise is set up at a much smaller scale and students stay in that gunners seat because it is their new job now, and they need to learn it.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">But with more players you can scale up the scope of an exercise from company team to battlegroup; some of our customers even use it at brigade combat team level with regularity.</span></p><p><br /></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5CiW5xshzwKS2kKISWOfaO4HfCtVFVSGlc-lwbuNzLnic4qOOUXWyBsrWYEsrOoCrIXPbKqKsOP98ld67ue5XPUpUyuPzhIFsZAg6kfWVijvKEJRWiB3rv9hFMTjNl6tKJIrvr58lkQXd7Mhx6K_CH0MtsbA3ZDwS0d0VORcJaK_kRAnpkCJqXXkFv-Si/s1280/APS_Intercept.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="1280" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5CiW5xshzwKS2kKISWOfaO4HfCtVFVSGlc-lwbuNzLnic4qOOUXWyBsrWYEsrOoCrIXPbKqKsOP98ld67ue5XPUpUyuPzhIFsZAg6kfWVijvKEJRWiB3rv9hFMTjNl6tKJIrvr58lkQXd7Mhx6K_CH0MtsbA3ZDwS0d0VORcJaK_kRAnpkCJqXXkFv-Si/w640-h360/APS_Intercept.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p><br /></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">About Scale</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Ed Williams: What makes a great wargame is scale. In wargame design, if you don't get the scale right then the game simply doesn't work. Scale affects all aspects of a wargame, whether it is time (number of hours per turn for turn based game, for example), the size of the units on the map, and the distance involved. These are the most obvious things in wargame design when we think of scale, but it is far more complex than that. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">At the core of a well-designed wargame are calculations based on numeric values used to abstract everything. Most often this is in the form of combat values of attack and defense, but also range when it comes to the scale used for distance. The heart of a wargame are these values and how they are scaled between the combat units. If there is either an error in scaling or no scaling at all, then the wargame does not function the player will soon realize that it is not based in reality. In other words, it just doesn't feel right. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">The simplest way to demonstrate this is, let's say you are designing a World War II wargame at company level. One unit on the map represents a platoon of Tiger tanks, while another represents a platoon of 1942 era T-34 (not T-34/85) tanks. If the Tiger tank platoon does not have better defense and attack values than the T-34, then the player will immediately know that it is not realistic. On the other hand, the player would expect that the T-34 might have a higher speed. Then there is the range, where the Tiger would need to be better, able to engage the T-34 for a greater distance. However, if the distance scale of the game is wrong, such as too many meters per hex for company and platoon combat, then the Tiger will not have any range advantage possible since combat would all happen when the units are adjacent on the map. Additionally, not only do the combat values have to based in reality, they have to also be scaled together, across the various available vehicles and infantry in the wargame, so that one particular type of unit is not in its own world, unrealistically superior or inferior than the rest in some way. If you get any of these aspects wrong, you will get an unrealistic wargame at best, or a nonfunctional game at worst.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7ZILss-ZkuCTg3SihRLEvzDLzkl6Pm6S7fjpivNNXguXzpdu99rUfvJ4ncwKQPCVED9mG5jJsU_miwoATvJ791XKnSXD_3wo11ovv9KX8eOy-xoDwpvDVrdsgazH0VZYYWMdfj4WmvjCp8C-9QjcukNsU6QrKGM39VFpjvNwgBBzXhD5QyZr-4ZA1G6pq/s1280/MLRS_launch.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="1280" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7ZILss-ZkuCTg3SihRLEvzDLzkl6Pm6S7fjpivNNXguXzpdu99rUfvJ4ncwKQPCVED9mG5jJsU_miwoATvJ791XKnSXD_3wo11ovv9KX8eOy-xoDwpvDVrdsgazH0VZYYWMdfj4WmvjCp8C-9QjcukNsU6QrKGM39VFpjvNwgBBzXhD5QyZr-4ZA1G6pq/w640-h360/MLRS_launch.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p><br /></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Nils Hinrichsen: There's also a user interface aspect to scale. It's absolutely necessary to give a human player adequate span of control for the task or tactical role he's supposed to fulfill. We have to rely on the map as the primary interface to give orders to your units, but our map is by design incomplete. It doesn't show you everything, and it doesn't show you everything in real time. There's a delay between things that happen and when they appear on the map. This forces a multiplayer audience to communicate verbally, it forces the audience to actually look at the 3D view of the terrain to recognize mobility obstacles that aren't represented on the map. There are command elements to give orders at the platoon level without ever having to use the map. There are 3rd person view positions just as there is the first-person view, depending on the scale of your task. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">And then there's a temporal aspect to scale. For a tactical exercise you want tasks to take as long as they do in physical reality. For crew training, you don't want to wait for that bag full of spent 30mm autocannon casings to be dumped; you want to know if the crew remembers that it's something that they have to do from time to time, but then you want to skip those wait times that are basically unproductive, lost hours in crew training.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">At the same time, we clearly couldn't design Steel Beasts as something turn-based. So, you can't have a real-time game with responsibility for an entire mechanized company, reinforced by a tank platoon, forward observer, engineers, and air defense, plus supply train, without delegating tasks to the AI, and you can't have a successful game if the AI is not sufficiently competent.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Ed Williams: In simulations, scale is equally as important. In a similar way to the wargame design example between the Tiger platoon and the T-34 platoon, in a tank simulation the ammunition and armor performance has to be scaled properly. If the ammunition performance is too strong over reality, and the armor is weaker than reality, then in a tank simulation you end up with serious problems, which is obvious. What is not obvious is that when ammunition and armor between vehicles are not scaled properly against each other then you also end up with serious problems, since a particular vehicle or weapon may outperform similarly matched opponents. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">In Steel Beasts, over 20 years of development has allowed this scaling to be finely honed. Vehicles have armor models which model the varying levels of armor on the vehicle, and these armor values are held to a strict standard like what can be seen in wargaming design, where everything is cross checked and scaled relative to all the other vehicles. This means that players can be confident that no one vehicle is in its own reality, and they all perform on an equal level of representation in its performance. In a similar way, the ammunition data is also cross referenced and scaled so that one weapon system is not under or over performing compared to the others. Of course, in practice this is a constant never-ending pursuit of perfection and mistakes are made, but by using wargaming methods in design, a high degree of accuracy can be achieved. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjh3miBLQLOVVlgwr9ItdL1R9MiGxKyk2uSgQYPn02xwnw3vkyanvH_2pQXJYnf4389xsZaVCO_UQE0ZWLqadBkP4c0jaR5C0v6RFlUwWALtVdq01sXlZYklIXZWQJzt5ImOm50TDWtaTKldmPKstsmiSG-pwRfP9YMJTAwcQHe_tlDp7JrHgA_c05MH9NE/s1280/Mortar.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1024" data-original-width="1280" height="512" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjh3miBLQLOVVlgwr9ItdL1R9MiGxKyk2uSgQYPn02xwnw3vkyanvH_2pQXJYnf4389xsZaVCO_UQE0ZWLqadBkP4c0jaR5C0v6RFlUwWALtVdq01sXlZYklIXZWQJzt5ImOm50TDWtaTKldmPKstsmiSG-pwRfP9YMJTAwcQHe_tlDp7JrHgA_c05MH9NE/w640-h512/Mortar.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p><br /></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Nils Hinrichsen: Technological progress has helped, too. Microprose's M1 Tank Platoon was made for Amiga and the Intel 80 386 processor, and it had to squeeze these machines for all the juice their 250,000 transistors could deliver at 25MHz. We started Steel Beasts development work in the late 80 486 era which already was an advantage, and four years ago you could get a 16 core CPU at 4GHz with 7.6 billion transistors. While that doesn't directly translate to how much more you can do: That's about four million times as many instructions that can be processed in a given time than 30 years ago, for about the same price per computer as then. This is an enormous technological budget handed to all of us, allowing to solve some question of scale simply with brute force. We do not have to aggregate and disaggregate units as the player moves up and down on the command ladder. We can afford simulating every fire control system at the entity level even when running a brigade level exercise, raytracing the fragments of artillery shells as they explode on the battlefield. That simply was out of the question decades ago. I'm still stunned at what's possible these days despite daily exposure to the change since my first Texas Instruments 99/4A home computer in the early 1980s.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">The Sandbox</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Nils Hinrichsen: Steel Beasts isn't just wargame and simulation. It's just as suitable as a sandbox to set up a certain type of confrontation and then investigate events as they unfold. Case in point, the screenshots made for this article. A custom scenario was built in minutes to illustrate aspects of modern warfare with drones and loitering munitions as prevalent threats. I then ran the scenario in test mode, giving me complete freedom to move the camera and capture perspectives that wouldn't be accessible when playing by the rules where the player is deliberately constrained to information and actions available to him in the field as well.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">One example shown in the screenshots is the "Libelle" anti-tank drone concept to transport a 155mm artillery shells EFP warhead and fly it to the target. This concept was developed as a part of the actual development of the weapon to illustrate how the user interface of the final product might look like. So, while it's not a real device just yet, the technological capability is absolutely there and will materialize eventually.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Steel Beasts players have used UAVs to call for artillery fire for about a decade now. Some TV pundits expressed surprise that drones would take over that role when it was pretty obvious, and not just in hindsight, if you just think of artillery observation balloons in WW1. As a result, no seasoned Steel Beasts player will stay much longer than two or three minutes in a given position because he just knows that, if spotted, he'll receive artillery fire after that time. So, the rules of the game how long it takes for a spot report to actual effect as it filters through the chain of command have measurable effect on player behavior; experts, I think, call that learning.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">An infantry unit launches a drone in the morning for area</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">surveillance.</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEfZHdKb4sBoDBVn1BPNB9hG_2sczRzHedrDzubkQZNuTCld0ZWFDIWZSi9t-5aZrG6hiCzgkNzafrSnUrcgtu25jaQ5_tIM2LpKd9qh8jDiofBY2doMs9CplH3xS14qxUr0yE0GVYau6QOaC2aU5yL5RKwp6_kOw5hhyphenhyphen9dKPfUx5vDFuCHadmUQCcBdJ1/s1920/01_Launch.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1920" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEfZHdKb4sBoDBVn1BPNB9hG_2sczRzHedrDzubkQZNuTCld0ZWFDIWZSi9t-5aZrG6hiCzgkNzafrSnUrcgtu25jaQ5_tIM2LpKd9qh8jDiofBY2doMs9CplH3xS14qxUr0yE0GVYau6QOaC2aU5yL5RKwp6_kOw5hhyphenhyphen9dKPfUx5vDFuCHadmUQCcBdJ1/w640-h360/01_Launch.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWnuX3RS6-MlYh8e0Hzs0xrzXvKFK7ytAFaFEme1SssjGlvyTuBIJ2Cnobup5M9ye7qI8hgbeURLn0PJIY0NvQ8GTA6v7JIAMyAJucOFFFDSFCQZvUK4MnBayWogLqmlj9GS2qIB7q3fZrlobQrGMjBICgOEt07p1NhpZIZbJuYYFjwUzAl1LiT3USIm2o/s1920/02_MorningOverGermany.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1920" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWnuX3RS6-MlYh8e0Hzs0xrzXvKFK7ytAFaFEme1SssjGlvyTuBIJ2Cnobup5M9ye7qI8hgbeURLn0PJIY0NvQ8GTA6v7JIAMyAJucOFFFDSFCQZvUK4MnBayWogLqmlj9GS2qIB7q3fZrlobQrGMjBICgOEt07p1NhpZIZbJuYYFjwUzAl1LiT3USIm2o/w640-h360/02_MorningOverGermany.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Eventually, a hostile tank platoon is spotted.</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTwG6clt45NqG9yW-L5KWnygmWGj6OgxBOYjH-yc83cHUoccGfEzjsEg19F2Xd4bhXpMfqJF2s-unuq-oHUBBEOW2L7y0JmP_d1wncmwULDr6GLzKIAaLhIz-pItUId1xnRrIKFSQsMvf-NpHEDx1nEcwW87aZptzSqWWOJFhvtUK2cTHrs4tqhxBvuUOV/s1920/03_TargetFound.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1920" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTwG6clt45NqG9yW-L5KWnygmWGj6OgxBOYjH-yc83cHUoccGfEzjsEg19F2Xd4bhXpMfqJF2s-unuq-oHUBBEOW2L7y0JmP_d1wncmwULDr6GLzKIAaLhIz-pItUId1xnRrIKFSQsMvf-NpHEDx1nEcwW87aZptzSqWWOJFhvtUK2cTHrs4tqhxBvuUOV/w640-h360/03_TargetFound.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">The chase is on.</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcalqz5mVRFATO4f-Y-GW2YmtjN-GG9VH10XXGrqb9k_XeHFZo-itx3GULQfhSjkL7zVsfSYbUVMu6md6-bKgrGOzPNn9g09fLPi01o7Sef28jmgqvyYWkGXkKJBt3HiCdVjGTpCmefu7smJL691SmAwCd25cTropCS72Sq1_dTUTVwLwDkZnwAqaKANHg/s1920/04_StalkingTankPLT.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1920" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcalqz5mVRFATO4f-Y-GW2YmtjN-GG9VH10XXGrqb9k_XeHFZo-itx3GULQfhSjkL7zVsfSYbUVMu6md6-bKgrGOzPNn9g09fLPi01o7Sef28jmgqvyYWkGXkKJBt3HiCdVjGTpCmefu7smJL691SmAwCd25cTropCS72Sq1_dTUTVwLwDkZnwAqaKANHg/w640-h360/04_StalkingTankPLT.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Alas, it's too far away:</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3fFti8YVnA96H68muKDIMBrloo7-VxUs38GWQU54JNjnfuIQoibmklroM6bhc4alYvvzlvqIjcuH9Al6cVP0bykUfOwEIXGo0hHhf5p4y5VgoxSM4pmyp_i7Ck3JymIF4VWV0skwuMroFC9O-feS_AprHs6YQkvgA6V-S3It9ejqlXsIEaIdkz0t9mJ5h/s1920/05_MaxRange.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1920" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3fFti8YVnA96H68muKDIMBrloo7-VxUs38GWQU54JNjnfuIQoibmklroM6bhc4alYvvzlvqIjcuH9Al6cVP0bykUfOwEIXGo0hHhf5p4y5VgoxSM4pmyp_i7Ck3JymIF4VWV0skwuMroFC9O-feS_AprHs6YQkvgA6V-S3It9ejqlXsIEaIdkz0t9mJ5h/w640-h360/05_MaxRange.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">A new drone with longer endurance and range is sent, with thermal/Day </span><span style="font-size: large;">fusion mode:</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9f9OiEs27d1kzKCrthqZY_YD4cxlcIzvpGmNyHVjmpwqZDGwUmE890obplgAdVU-xydC9F2No9WHB0ZC9gIOIXIpZ0jl0UFB7S4JAT9DmFFYGwr4yRpedhXJq911TyOjM1UeFgyBthoXoOUkk6An0AGcAzp604X9fj1HTQaJ1oAA-oQ1RHaw3_hAS74uW/s1920/06_ThermalDayFusion.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1920" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9f9OiEs27d1kzKCrthqZY_YD4cxlcIzvpGmNyHVjmpwqZDGwUmE890obplgAdVU-xydC9F2No9WHB0ZC9gIOIXIpZ0jl0UFB7S4JAT9DmFFYGwr4yRpedhXJq911TyOjM1UeFgyBthoXoOUkk6An0AGcAzp604X9fj1HTQaJ1oAA-oQ1RHaw3_hAS74uW/w640-h360/06_ThermalDayFusion.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">The anti-tank drone arrives over the target area, the engagement</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">begins:</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgl6JqeGW59Z3N9shRsxoABHsoMwF8WdpbXC9KoalDLWYRMq0JdQeJFS5X91DaF1EVQLrjQ26xjcOOjvwxbIwvKCBuIMDb0P5xJutoob1wTL_u9qfaRU9Zlm5f0JoHzsSCHaqz_cI6u7-59Z5qCvjjOz5iJgjg135gw5gN08Zru1PyC3n8hqWi4yrar-rHo/s1920/07_Spot.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1920" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgl6JqeGW59Z3N9shRsxoABHsoMwF8WdpbXC9KoalDLWYRMq0JdQeJFS5X91DaF1EVQLrjQ26xjcOOjvwxbIwvKCBuIMDb0P5xJutoob1wTL_u9qfaRU9Zlm5f0JoHzsSCHaqz_cI6u7-59Z5qCvjjOz5iJgjg135gw5gN08Zru1PyC3n8hqWi4yrar-rHo/w640-h360/07_Spot.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6fmtcIHvfMHOM8206M4AdZ-ilZh0EDQYiWl4j4j94wx5eJoL1ykjXfptCBe-VJfd1ouvMOahgStmwXgq_rOWuMeYV3glNliK0z8LsCvJnkD9kQNbL8dij5_5bEAUamX3ifQoG7bdeIbxVg_crycAsj8sH3zhwWoNkXh9rD1i2VvNLQCVRssOBwb77ScFo/s1920/08_Arm.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1920" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6fmtcIHvfMHOM8206M4AdZ-ilZh0EDQYiWl4j4j94wx5eJoL1ykjXfptCBe-VJfd1ouvMOahgStmwXgq_rOWuMeYV3glNliK0z8LsCvJnkD9kQNbL8dij5_5bEAUamX3ifQoG7bdeIbxVg_crycAsj8sH3zhwWoNkXh9rD1i2VvNLQCVRssOBwb77ScFo/w640-h360/08_Arm.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBDQOgTckWNYr6UWFkdTu7GkEgDhv_0BoSpQV3SVhp5dl0KxHfF1dMqQEuTS23ff9LWIVvodhNR9ytinGXEfVIxycR8e1H1LZxvZXL72tnbldC5Ygfjwobyhv2NOBzvd1xyHOiKNAGHo_CY_pAMR9rDjvmmOyfcxANugOHOsmvU1fz86FjF1Dl6UsoGOcF/s1920/09_Lining_up.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1920" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBDQOgTckWNYr6UWFkdTu7GkEgDhv_0BoSpQV3SVhp5dl0KxHfF1dMqQEuTS23ff9LWIVvodhNR9ytinGXEfVIxycR8e1H1LZxvZXL72tnbldC5Ygfjwobyhv2NOBzvd1xyHOiKNAGHo_CY_pAMR9rDjvmmOyfcxANugOHOsmvU1fz86FjF1Dl6UsoGOcF/w640-h360/09_Lining_up.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">What is this thing, and how big is it?</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhN0xjabHTiMyQXYVn8-7eCC2FV44HtC76djz5tnSmOtQ2MCjwfzwOQ44P0nTAepHAST5vFYt0tk6esYftCc2zLETY5fxuEHjC-7LWf556qN5GM58hhMsN3-17zwP40oRbhb15OgOayPKlIupoDHEcuF5k2SAVjwnTQDe9sdrsU3pJc0OesfqDfAQdTbWYW/s1920/10_Coaxial_Libelle.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1920" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhN0xjabHTiMyQXYVn8-7eCC2FV44HtC76djz5tnSmOtQ2MCjwfzwOQ44P0nTAepHAST5vFYt0tk6esYftCc2zLETY5fxuEHjC-7LWf556qN5GM58hhMsN3-17zwP40oRbhb15OgOayPKlIupoDHEcuF5k2SAVjwnTQDe9sdrsU3pJc0OesfqDfAQdTbWYW/w640-h360/10_Coaxial_Libelle.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDF3iB5NN-_t8FRAhzDgOnhlOfdWEYAAFRmzBASnBDcPZT8-Tlgai0eGYTOlRXtjuxwlfI68_f-f-4ONW_Ljwl4Gmr_cafsG1LjokF_9VlMWMx-hUavUgefJU9tWvVXfwvaM1D39l3VkFNdx496b2vj48puA7K5Q89A2kfXhTyURJ5Nn8FL2ZKTBTAlaKg/s1920/11_SpotTheThreat.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1920" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDF3iB5NN-_t8FRAhzDgOnhlOfdWEYAAFRmzBASnBDcPZT8-Tlgai0eGYTOlRXtjuxwlfI68_f-f-4ONW_Ljwl4Gmr_cafsG1LjokF_9VlMWMx-hUavUgefJU9tWvVXfwvaM1D39l3VkFNdx496b2vj48puA7K5Q89A2kfXhTyURJ5Nn8FL2ZKTBTAlaKg/w640-h360/11_SpotTheThreat.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">The operator selects the target, and fires.</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOxhAW1SwTkHtZhnua6dEES6K-n0LwlCWPqXTlrfO1agLN8qOMvzyBofE65qCNkA2Ph9TRziQtfUQMvDNx1qsgSB5f8KG9183BfzT4UlpsToN7X_kysBMQBo8adcLzDgzv5dtT9qPmJIUws4ZOuWfJ3d7Hr3deGDVPPORgiC74gE4FdoanH40k7VJBxhlq/s1920/12_Select.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1920" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOxhAW1SwTkHtZhnua6dEES6K-n0LwlCWPqXTlrfO1agLN8qOMvzyBofE65qCNkA2Ph9TRziQtfUQMvDNx1qsgSB5f8KG9183BfzT4UlpsToN7X_kysBMQBo8adcLzDgzv5dtT9qPmJIUws4ZOuWfJ3d7Hr3deGDVPPORgiC74gE4FdoanH40k7VJBxhlq/w640-h360/12_Select.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6WXkB2B-jupAZnY7CeR1BakXltPCK7eoOo1oeRyGuO0v03vRLiPsHYeE_14RgWvZ0hQJ67d0l8CJvkwfWvd-s6z6EbGi0IfuVmd8gMLCPUwG5pB0I5BeSeOcisnpu62A0wpKjyB46n28RdslsGSQFm7reuj13D05949Giu82HIfKrs4eferITF9qzesqT/s1920/13_Fire.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1920" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6WXkB2B-jupAZnY7CeR1BakXltPCK7eoOo1oeRyGuO0v03vRLiPsHYeE_14RgWvZ0hQJ67d0l8CJvkwfWvd-s6z6EbGi0IfuVmd8gMLCPUwG5pB0I5BeSeOcisnpu62A0wpKjyB46n28RdslsGSQFm7reuj13D05949Giu82HIfKrs4eferITF9qzesqT/w640-h360/13_Fire.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgE7C6OTLwGOx9ALy9BVAIuQkcYrDeLnXylq4uPmWV6GE5o59Vw5DTWeKRoG1QozSa5u6vK9kB8bNiM1aUyZ1mcTNCxYbchTXC1Rw71sGA-QdCVCkiHKdpR9WCZasK6HKhZY0mUaKDoz-RvwWnQWKfVvUD4sZvO6gTnzaigVwvbOKW5XASNpx-DsYwvJyRN/s1920/14_TopAttack.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1920" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgE7C6OTLwGOx9ALy9BVAIuQkcYrDeLnXylq4uPmWV6GE5o59Vw5DTWeKRoG1QozSa5u6vK9kB8bNiM1aUyZ1mcTNCxYbchTXC1Rw71sGA-QdCVCkiHKdpR9WCZasK6HKhZY0mUaKDoz-RvwWnQWKfVvUD4sZvO6gTnzaigVwvbOKW5XASNpx-DsYwvJyRN/w640-h360/14_TopAttack.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">After Action Review</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisT0zgw81AAICu6whKLTuw8pvuTLGc61ZkQbqPkDnyqVI_QD7zhEo7vW0c3NiVEy8DYzRjXPxDZ5aAeMtSvokXXHzP1t9Yj5sujyguQY2cHnCiaCbdAa-72cTL31dacc52YypQHLh6CMsBzLrPWyNQM02PBGjkPtd2TWB39Dcg1hiyvO8zCGo4YQXTczHp/s1920/15_AttackEvent.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1920" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisT0zgw81AAICu6whKLTuw8pvuTLGc61ZkQbqPkDnyqVI_QD7zhEo7vW0c3NiVEy8DYzRjXPxDZ5aAeMtSvokXXHzP1t9Yj5sujyguQY2cHnCiaCbdAa-72cTL31dacc52YypQHLh6CMsBzLrPWyNQM02PBGjkPtd2TWB39Dcg1hiyvO8zCGo4YQXTczHp/w640-h360/15_AttackEvent.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhk33rAh4rC9419sjTczEbmhLcpaum9phyuGXpGuD4r1TdeJlzwpUOcIZrarS1S1KHlCJEJYuYp4xVdjfcoxChx8yVp67tehxLk7T7rjZwu8ZxNEkpFZgcYDEEUhFLUP-7-b7gXrxMtVXu8j12v6GwwuAJhz4jHNMwGcERaSrnMuj7SM0iYdXPIALlpn-NN/s1920/16_FragmentScatter.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1920" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhk33rAh4rC9419sjTczEbmhLcpaum9phyuGXpGuD4r1TdeJlzwpUOcIZrarS1S1KHlCJEJYuYp4xVdjfcoxChx8yVp67tehxLk7T7rjZwu8ZxNEkpFZgcYDEEUhFLUP-7-b7gXrxMtVXu8j12v6GwwuAJhz4jHNMwGcERaSrnMuj7SM0iYdXPIALlpn-NN/w640-h360/16_FragmentScatter.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">The last shot is a reminder that you don't just get the desired effect</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">on target, but that fragments are also flying in other directions.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Steel Beasts simulates the velocity distribution of fragments, their</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">spatial distribution, and their mass distribution based on accepted</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">models (Gourney, Taylor, Mott), and raytraces the thousand heaviest</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">fragments in the near vicinity of the explosion, and uses statistical</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">methods to calculate effects on target for the remaining smaller</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">fragments.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">The drone war may be less exciting</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">than what traditional wargamers are looking for, but it's relevant for</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">today, and Steel Beasts has always been about high intensity combat in </span><span style="font-size: large;">the contemporary operational environment.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihCNB_G5orxTNAuc_qbnfmw6vPT8wuKHrVv9O6_b5wvSige66-BUbOrq5GzyYxdkEVbo5O6pWXxlIctKxxFmr0qAFu-WtLp3lgoCbSgnex6W_8qf8CO2dm_eiwuL0iE11Dd4aWEOPbXQsEvVmWzmLgAnNDTANTn4nEKw_tcGA1IBC_T5I_YFChoqMqgn-Y/s1200/MP_10.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="1200" height="512" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihCNB_G5orxTNAuc_qbnfmw6vPT8wuKHrVv9O6_b5wvSige66-BUbOrq5GzyYxdkEVbo5O6pWXxlIctKxxFmr0qAFu-WtLp3lgoCbSgnex6W_8qf8CO2dm_eiwuL0iE11Dd4aWEOPbXQsEvVmWzmLgAnNDTANTn4nEKw_tcGA1IBC_T5I_YFChoqMqgn-Y/w640-h512/MP_10.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"> This is not a </span><span style="font-size: large;"><span>screenshot but illustrates the different drones, loitering munitions, </span><span>and countermeasures. We had that artwork made for the 2022 edition of </span><span>our collectible mousepads.</span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><span>For your blog readers attending IITSEC in Orlando in four weeks, we'll </span><span>be found between the STEM and the US Cyber Command pavilions.</span></span></p><p><br /></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Thank you, eSim Games, for this look at this spectacular and deep simulation. I have owned the game for years and there is no other tank simulation on the market. As far as simulations go, the only one that comes close is DCS, and both of them are used by armed forces around the world.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Robert</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Steel Beasts Professional/eSim Games:</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://www.esimgames.com/">eSim Games – Vehicle-centric Combined Arms Combat Tactics and Gunnery Simulation</a></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p>Robert Petersonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17114299951391079193noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4437416196467752074.post-33478100799953911962023-11-01T19:55:00.000+00:002023-11-01T19:55:21.206+00:00The Battle of KhalKhin Gol July - August 1939 by Princeps Games<p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">The Battle of KhalKhin Gol July - August 1939</span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">by</span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Princeps Games</span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEio5NeHnNdhb4VKyjeDPn3rHtQBJ8C4dGvTaBcHZyXQF5-NcBW3ddMJ6Dot6Qv-L-V3bt3fV2ZOJQz1IDYEs9vAl1kL9DytqL25PD4b1dvL15kNYbqwv0pIyV8yAmv647pOh2BsoNIoUEgxER_Y6pO0AF_P_8tO5ANGCRMqeb_KwJSgcH_p-zo7_-sKXLXS/s1024/naslovna-1024x1024.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1024" data-original-width="1024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEio5NeHnNdhb4VKyjeDPn3rHtQBJ8C4dGvTaBcHZyXQF5-NcBW3ddMJ6Dot6Qv-L-V3bt3fV2ZOJQz1IDYEs9vAl1kL9DytqL25PD4b1dvL15kNYbqwv0pIyV8yAmv647pOh2BsoNIoUEgxER_Y6pO0AF_P_8tO5ANGCRMqeb_KwJSgcH_p-zo7_-sKXLXS/w640-h640/naslovna-1024x1024.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><p></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"> For those of you who have never heard of the Khalkhin Gol, or Nomohan, campaign this is the most important battle that took place before the normal date given to the start of World War II (September 1939). In actuality, Japan and China had been fighting since 1931 and in full war mode since 1937. The Japanese had taken Manchuria away from China. They had installed their own puppet regime and called it Manchukuo. This comprised the entire Northeast of China. Abutting Manchukuo was the nominally free state of Mongolia. Japan wanted to force Mongolia into their sphere of influence. However, the big Soviet bear was watching. This showdown between the Japanese and Soviets is tremendously important. It may be one of the most important battles ever fought. The Soviets steamrolled through the Japanese forces and gave them a very bloody nose. The Soviets were partially commanded by one of the few generals in the Soviet Army who still had a pulse, Georgy Zhukov. The Japanese had up until that time been fighting a war between their own Navy and Army. The Army wanted to 'strike north' and attack the Soviet Union. The Japanese Navy wanted to 'strike south' toward the oil, rubber, and other commodities of the South Pacific Islands. The mauling that the Japanese Army received from the Soviet Army convinced the Japanese Generals to agree to the strike south proposition of the Navy. Imagine what would have happened in late 1941 if the Japanese had invaded the Soviet Union instead of going to war with the US and Great Britain etc. We know that in the final battle for Moscow in 1941, the Soviet Army units from Siberia turned the tide against the German invaders. If Japan had attacked the Soviet Union, it would have been faced with a war on two fronts and would have been unable to use their Asian forces to help stem the German tide. So, as you can see, a lot is riding on your shoulders, general, no matter which side you decide to play. Onto the game.</span></p><p style="text-align: left;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUSxUEsVkrv2C2IVaXEJ7YwwD_QSPxzuRp4hJ_Qa_A0qEqS8EtFWxJ1eh4kndCm8iwaotDok5LoxQiV3eeDETNqKrfKjSuUoSJhqADUrTAOMaBOv-CegP4gHaPuxVnZr6gibwlNtzZZw-SPBSziRIFKcuFDZCXOfUBc2qYxyehvwmsg4by5nnnV8HjwJZN/s968/viber_image_2023-09-23_08-14-03-561.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="918" data-original-width="968" height="606" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUSxUEsVkrv2C2IVaXEJ7YwwD_QSPxzuRp4hJ_Qa_A0qEqS8EtFWxJ1eh4kndCm8iwaotDok5LoxQiV3eeDETNqKrfKjSuUoSJhqADUrTAOMaBOv-CegP4gHaPuxVnZr6gibwlNtzZZw-SPBSziRIFKcuFDZCXOfUBc2qYxyehvwmsg4by5nnnV8HjwJZN/w640-h606/viber_image_2023-09-23_08-14-03-561.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><p></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"> This is what comes with the game:</span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">1 Game Box - 14" x 11" x 4" </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">1 Mounted Game Board - 34" x 36"</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">24 Calendar Cards - 2.8" x 4.8" </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">18 Air Battle Cards </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">16 Air Strike Cards </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">The First Player Token </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">1 Combat Result Table - 8.8" x 5.5" </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">2 Player Cards - 8.8" x 5.5" </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">2 Players'Aid Card - 8" x 4" </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">1 Attack Modifier Chart - 8" x 4" </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">5 Counters Sheets - Over 200 Counters</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">50 Sheets of Minimap - 6" x 4" </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">1 Rulebook -6.8" x 9.6′′ </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">45 Money Chits 2"x1" </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">1 Die D8 </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">1 Die D10 </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">1 Die D12 </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">2 Dice D20 </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"> All of the Players Aid Cards are mounted like the map.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBS4j0daK83XCjMggY7FRfYhdehkg1vHwCXuRRdwVbulNSFBPJMZ1nyWLxeDv7RET6-Ckf7wBRhLCDFFXYCUpz18q0-nvJTgWY5Ts7Lu2EOEYBPRz6XvAeENX0GnGLlUIZENJiGr0O5FaFsjfLQLylRHBnHtTg1vB4-H6Rc50KfxDekOr2f42gnUXnEnVw/s1024/viber_image_2023-09-23_08-14-03-739-1024x871.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="871" data-original-width="1024" height="544" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBS4j0daK83XCjMggY7FRfYhdehkg1vHwCXuRRdwVbulNSFBPJMZ1nyWLxeDv7RET6-Ckf7wBRhLCDFFXYCUpz18q0-nvJTgWY5Ts7Lu2EOEYBPRz6XvAeENX0GnGLlUIZENJiGr0O5FaFsjfLQLylRHBnHtTg1vB4-H6Rc50KfxDekOr2f42gnUXnEnVw/w640-h544/viber_image_2023-09-23_08-14-03-739-1024x871.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">One side of the map</span></td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><p><br /></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">This is what Princeps Games has to say about Khalkhin Gol:</span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">"The Battle of Khalkhin Gol is a beginner’s level wargame covering the WW2 border clash between Japan and the USSR at the very dawn of this global conflict.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">It is a hex & counter game with unique battle mechanism, a lot of strategy and a number of features specific to the harsh conditions of the setting.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Khalkhin Gol is medium level complexity, with variable setup and random cards bringing effects to the game which offers great replayability.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Game duration is 2-4 hours and it can be played by 1 or 2 players age 14+.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">The game uses unique battle resolving mechanisms from ‘March on the Drina’ and ‘Freezing Inferno’ but with many upgrades such as terrain and weather modifiers, usage of Combat Result Table and Technological-tactical improvements.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">The Calendar with the most important events of the period as used in “March on the Drina” is also an important part of the game and here it comes upgraded – you have three cards for each round of the game so the effects the cards bring are different every time you play. This, combined with variable setup regarding to the units number, layout and strength and variable winning conditions make this game’s replayability value high.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">The game has a beautiful twelve-folded mounted board with thick 20x20mm counters and a practical cardboard insert for storing your punched counters, markers and dice, which allow the players to store and move the game without having to worry that the components might get damaged."</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxvTldScR2Axwxq_TEsoMnxghSViXgeomB1AwLCDT1aoJgu1gVI4eXvVfIK6CB2SasjuGonxJqRiukd5bWPvOtHX2bpkB-cBDVThUGEHYJJ3csJG5BweWUrGR6ayIurt2J7l6OwYhUjOA1fAUvEuLpDtX0ZDztcobmx5cNZ1aVkzf_gX4vtHXsfnX57dTh/s1024/viber_image_2023-09-23_09-34-22-851-939x1024.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1024" data-original-width="939" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxvTldScR2Axwxq_TEsoMnxghSViXgeomB1AwLCDT1aoJgu1gVI4eXvVfIK6CB2SasjuGonxJqRiukd5bWPvOtHX2bpkB-cBDVThUGEHYJJ3csJG5BweWUrGR6ayIurt2J7l6OwYhUjOA1fAUvEuLpDtX0ZDztcobmx5cNZ1aVkzf_gX4vtHXsfnX57dTh/w586-h640/viber_image_2023-09-23_09-34-22-851-939x1024.jpg" width="586" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Boxes inside the main box for storage</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"> This is a review of a preproduction copy of the game. Most of the parts are the finished product but some, like the rules, are not. It also does not have all of the great stretch goals add-ons.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"> The map is interesting because it is two-sided. One side you might call the artistic wargame map side, and it is just that. It has a lot of color and is very well done. The other side, we will call the simple side, is a map that looks like an old Panzerblitz or even a Tactics II map. It is pretty much as plain Jane as you can get. However, both sides of the map work just fine. There is no ambiguity of the terrain in each hex. The only thing that each represents is the choice of the player/players at the moment of setup (Freezing Inferno also has the two-sided map choice). The Players' Aids are all mounted and easy to read. The fact that they are not just pieces of paper is a very nice touch. The counters are large and come pre-rounded. You can see below that the counters are easy to read. Three of the card decks are on the small side. However, they are very easy to read with large print. The Event Cards Deck are the size of playing card and have a good amount of historical information on each one. The card size allows the print on the Event Cards to also be nice and large. Then we come to another piece of the game that would be familiar to players of Freezing Inferno. This would be the small setup sheets for both sides. There are fifty for both sides and they come on a pad in which you tear off the sheets. This, along with the cards, makes for a ton of replayability. The components are definitely up to the high standards that Princeps Games have set for themselves.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"></span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVGu4OY1UX-g1shyphenhyphenrdhZ5fRx-TNRqlY1EQ4mEdXB_Xb4YG09cFOy6jdZ9uLs0-P6WozF8ukIn_FdBeN13sfhd8XrADh6Jgj7sFnAvJnxOVzJxYMxdZfwcV5x1jYnBVXcWJWb1K9wioc5T-ur1Kuu58UTycMuhcz42qcOq5k02Na7ZGjU-snlzovtSjFS8S/s1024/viber_image_2023-09-23_08-10-13-077-922x1024.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1024" data-original-width="922" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVGu4OY1UX-g1shyphenhyphenrdhZ5fRx-TNRqlY1EQ4mEdXB_Xb4YG09cFOy6jdZ9uLs0-P6WozF8ukIn_FdBeN13sfhd8XrADh6Jgj7sFnAvJnxOVzJxYMxdZfwcV5x1jYnBVXcWJWb1K9wioc5T-ur1Kuu58UTycMuhcz42qcOq5k02Na7ZGjU-snlzovtSjFS8S/w576-h640/viber_image_2023-09-23_08-10-13-077-922x1024.jpg" width="576" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Counter close-up</span></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-size: large;"><br /><br /> If you have played their Freezing Inferno game most of the concepts will be known to you. That does not mean that you cannot start your gaming with Khalkhin Gol. While it may seem that there are many cogs and wheels working at the same time, the game is not hard to learn at all. It is a simple process that the rules work you through one by one. With all of the decks it may seem like a card driven game. However, it is not; it is just a card assisted game. Unlike most designers or game companies, (hint, hint), they have done excellent videos on YouTube to walk you through their games step by step. Perhaps the hardest part to understand are the Air rules. If the step-by-step version in the rules still gives you pause, once again I point to their video on YouTube about them. <br /><br /></span><p></p><p style="text-align: left;"></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyOikdnEZjE246TxTaXsit4xMPRCpjzzZjBBdzskaMkQTipGL1FNi9W_F9JflaSwdcxjcHrv2SwtGjCvQUV9I8U7mm7keVuby7OK3BSIng0EButCfeqPWap7SwKEQc5vpWgpmfXBQaR_ZFdtGEQVRRlPCpxzBvlWHNmvABP9rBDh6QItsKPHsVkBUARGpB/s602/viber_image_2023-09-23_08-21-29-697.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="602" data-original-width="578" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyOikdnEZjE246TxTaXsit4xMPRCpjzzZjBBdzskaMkQTipGL1FNi9W_F9JflaSwdcxjcHrv2SwtGjCvQUV9I8U7mm7keVuby7OK3BSIng0EButCfeqPWap7SwKEQc5vpWgpmfXBQaR_ZFdtGEQVRRlPCpxzBvlWHNmvABP9rBDh6QItsKPHsVkBUARGpB/w614-h640/viber_image_2023-09-23_08-21-29-697.jpg" width="614" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Soviet Cards</span></td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNS-Y7Xa9ZwwxAjHRQPcpBQC6QaVMAvclzmFAtdIPu4uS5_Ef9eaoy6xVbGSO26ONiDjLEB67c3NYac5tBiTuTrBybatwIIL_nfJky1u8yFf95Q9_yda9IjAkqhBlIPtfg-uyYXAzJLTbvnlUu16hER-PpAoeNxbIy5GHMR-byQzu_RM2BQrxns67cxU2i/s582/viber_image_2023-09-23_08-21-29-843.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="532" data-original-width="582" height="586" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNS-Y7Xa9ZwwxAjHRQPcpBQC6QaVMAvclzmFAtdIPu4uS5_Ef9eaoy6xVbGSO26ONiDjLEB67c3NYac5tBiTuTrBybatwIIL_nfJky1u8yFf95Q9_yda9IjAkqhBlIPtfg-uyYXAzJLTbvnlUu16hER-PpAoeNxbIy5GHMR-byQzu_RM2BQrxns67cxU2i/w640-h586/viber_image_2023-09-23_08-21-29-843.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Japanese Cards</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><br /><span style="font-size: large;"> These are the Victory Conditions:</span><p></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">"Victory Condition No.1: In order for the USSR to win, it must occupy 5 of the 9 checkpoints on the disputed territory (marked with white flag) and hold them until the beginning of the next round, while also controlling at least 4 of its 6 checkpoint on the Soviet territory. If this is not achieved by the end of the 8th round, the winner of the game is the player who controls Japan.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Victory Condition No.2: If the Soviet player takes control of the Nomonhan and holds it until the beginning of their next turn the Soviet player wins the game.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Victory Condition No.3: If the Japanese player takes control of the Tamsak-Bulak and holds it until the beginning of their next turn the Japanese player wins the game.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">The game uses unique battle resolving mechanisms from 'Freezing Inferno', the previous game of Princeps Games studio, successfully funded on Kickstarter last year."</span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"> This is a YouTube video about how the Air Battle System works:</span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://youtu.be/_T9ajDV5hAo">https://youtu.be/_T9ajDV5hAo</a></span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: left;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibsXhceKivaT3SuDc8WmOoc8GVMFhZWjEDxn4t1E_LyIYPRzMx6bdEyqms9hex-htD9gbPcpzf4rtJR9NW1wXYczRah4U6l8issG46EF-BO1tP1rExq3Nu9SAa_8sUCT1zmjUHhbVVTYuA-L-GCIfIF7f7u8xjzlBEEGm7VEFOARA6HHL9uuf3zbt0v_ie/s992/viber_image_2023-09-23_08-21-31-947.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="698" data-original-width="992" height="450" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibsXhceKivaT3SuDc8WmOoc8GVMFhZWjEDxn4t1E_LyIYPRzMx6bdEyqms9hex-htD9gbPcpzf4rtJR9NW1wXYczRah4U6l8issG46EF-BO1tP1rExq3Nu9SAa_8sUCT1zmjUHhbVVTYuA-L-GCIfIF7f7u8xjzlBEEGm7VEFOARA6HHL9uuf3zbt0v_ie/w640-h450/viber_image_2023-09-23_08-21-31-947.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHCOPArVDsplGEhmsrFCnKwKs4ufXLP4DJA7rOc3QSSn-mEIF8V6R-bvCAOzNTstW9456YLc9m_oEO5lTvZ4RNmgb82qIF42FYhYIoKsq4HXyg4XzcqoB9I7dQrNuNDqsYCmDbNSy4cJg7hjBJBhlUB5NxAnMGeeUDHm2dzYUiD3mFA0sWV-TPdMhKkERZ/s808/viber_image_2023-09-23_08-21-32-486.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="706" data-original-width="808" height="560" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHCOPArVDsplGEhmsrFCnKwKs4ufXLP4DJA7rOc3QSSn-mEIF8V6R-bvCAOzNTstW9456YLc9m_oEO5lTvZ4RNmgb82qIF42FYhYIoKsq4HXyg4XzcqoB9I7dQrNuNDqsYCmDbNSy4cJg7hjBJBhlUB5NxAnMGeeUDHm2dzYUiD3mFA0sWV-TPdMhKkERZ/w640-h560/viber_image_2023-09-23_08-21-32-486.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><br /><br /> This is the Sequence of Play:</span><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><div>INITIAL OPERATIONS</div><div><span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>1. The Players set markers on PPC</div><div> <span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>2. Players take the appropriate number of units from the box</div><div> <span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>3. Minimaps are filled and players place units on the board according to the minimaps</div><div> <span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>4. A deck of calendar cards is formed</div><div> <span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>5. Initial weather conditions are set</div><div> <span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>6. Tactical progress boards are placed</div><div>ROUND I</div><div><span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>1. A calendar card is revealed and effects that last a full round are applied</div><div> <span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>2. Air Superiority Battle is Resolved</div><div> <span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>3. USSR’s turn</div><div> <span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>3.1. Actions with units (move, attack, regroup)</div><div> <span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>3.2. The PPC marker is adjusted if a Check Point is captured</div><div> <span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>3.3. The player takes as many PCs as indicated on the PPC</div><div> <span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>4. Japan’s turn</div><div> <span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>4.1. Move, attack, regroup units</div><div> <span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>4.2. The PPC marker is adjusted if a Check Point is captured</div><div> <span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>4.3. The player takes as many PCs as indicated on the PPC</div><div> <span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>5. End of round</div><div>ROUNDS II - VIII<span style="white-space: pre;"> </span></div><div> 1. A calendar card is revealed and effects that last a full round are applied</div><div> <span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>2. The weather is adjusted</div><div> <span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>3. Players replenish units on the board and buy new ones (only in round III, V, VII and VIII)</div><div> <span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>4. Air Superiority Battle is Resolved </div><div> <span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>5. USSR’s turn</div><div> <span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>5.1. Tactical progress is adjusted on the Player’s Card</div><div> <span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>5.3. Actions with units (move, attack, regroup)</div><div> <span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>5.4. The PPC marker is adjusted if a Check Point is captured</div><div> <span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>5.5. A player takes as many PPs as indicated on the PPC</div><div> <span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>5.6. Places newly formed units on the board (only in rounds III, V, VII and VIII)</div><div> <span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>6. Japan’s turn</div><div> <span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>6.1. Tactical progress is adjusted on the Player’s Card</div><div> <span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>6.3. Actions with units (move, attack, regroup)</div><div> <span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>6.4. The PPC marker is adjusted if a Check Point is captured</div><div> <span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>6.5. A player takes as many PPs as indicated on the PPC</div><div> <span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>6.6. Places newly formed units on the board (only in rounds III, V, VII and VIII)</div><div> <span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>7. End of Round/Game</div><div><br /></div><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEij2fqGSy9GwoKIdX0WhxGJUwlNBVU-CSdYEbwj6Jiac_IsbzSJqoVdsnNRtgW0HOmqmDwEo_zycS-qdqCov0IUlpI8sK4Pc_ye4UPRaMFj4jvlSBzwV7eZY0H8pNxud7BMi9bUw4Ro5eXUPX0cmJPyzHqgQBNTw-fgfiTNq06hQzIVYyFnhB4AgZqDq0-8/s726/viber_image_2023-09-23_08-21-29-400.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="656" data-original-width="726" height="578" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEij2fqGSy9GwoKIdX0WhxGJUwlNBVU-CSdYEbwj6Jiac_IsbzSJqoVdsnNRtgW0HOmqmDwEo_zycS-qdqCov0IUlpI8sK4Pc_ye4UPRaMFj4jvlSBzwV7eZY0H8pNxud7BMi9bUw4Ro5eXUPX0cmJPyzHqgQBNTw-fgfiTNq06hQzIVYyFnhB4AgZqDq0-8/w640-h578/viber_image_2023-09-23_08-21-29-400.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwooSJRg7Z9646CP3OvzpNr5yMMvO9HFVS9A8w4t0HqJt0LyAD1H29HSDkApjj9C4LmKKYqulrqgcZntrF4Ez6IePxPhYCmFqko1kAn5Q45RmjAivoz22fafb_bV5p9OYlerkkqnbjfKCJ0s_XdeIUM3yEY_OtmDA4qsk1275tRY1qydKvAjhBpK2USAk9/s798/viber_image_2023-09-23_08-21-33-127.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="798" data-original-width="776" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwooSJRg7Z9646CP3OvzpNr5yMMvO9HFVS9A8w4t0HqJt0LyAD1H29HSDkApjj9C4LmKKYqulrqgcZntrF4Ez6IePxPhYCmFqko1kAn5Q45RmjAivoz22fafb_bV5p9OYlerkkqnbjfKCJ0s_XdeIUM3yEY_OtmDA4qsk1275tRY1qydKvAjhBpK2USAk9/w622-h640/viber_image_2023-09-23_08-21-33-127.jpg" width="622" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"> Histo</span><span style="font-size: large;">rically the Soviets' equipment and troops, mostly equipment, were far better than the Japanese material, except maybe in their air assets. You will be playing on the defense as the Japanese most of the time unless you get and play the right cards and some die rolls go your way, this could change. The Soviet Player may want to be more cautious than they were historically. As the Soviet player, you will more than likely start on the attack (this can also be completely up in the air if you are using the hidden setup maps). The Japanese are not equipped or have tactics to deal with armor battles in the Second World War. This is strange in that they were one of the few armies that embraced tanks and their mobility early on. When faced with the Chinese and the equipment that the Allied nations had in the beginning of the war it did not matter much. Against the Soviets, this was another matter altogether. The Soviets had not yet given up on the 'Deep Battle' strategy that they would hone to a sharp point in the end of WWII. </span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"> This is a very enjoyable game from both the game and history sides of the coin. I like Princeps Games because they do a lot of historical research, and it shows in their games. Then they are also able to make the situation into a good playable game.</span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: left;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZAipogDBkF15GxvdCeGGTRxz4tnvZd1-6UDrxe6h9S4ambHSFopzxKKCnMjZ4cof9pN0VzmaFUC_rJk8w5Jh6FF7TNcjcHjsTFoxq0GjMiAqz7xAZDgSPqc57UYwxm8WNXntAAN3DH8SYO1zlZYO_6OL1QtPUCnRtKy3bGTVN888B19pAK8sXb0X0XWc7/s868/viber_image_2023-09-23_08-21-32-565.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="868" data-original-width="810" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZAipogDBkF15GxvdCeGGTRxz4tnvZd1-6UDrxe6h9S4ambHSFopzxKKCnMjZ4cof9pN0VzmaFUC_rJk8w5Jh6FF7TNcjcHjsTFoxq0GjMiAqz7xAZDgSPqc57UYwxm8WNXntAAN3DH8SYO1zlZYO_6OL1QtPUCnRtKy3bGTVN888B19pAK8sXb0X0XWc7/w598-h640/viber_image_2023-09-23_08-21-32-565.jpg" width="598" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAqTPcqKKwGBM5U4_U3iJjKQbC4io7UF-7YmS7qsdNSnuk0HxoqSHTNuC3-2gKCYV3q9HnRjfaQN-MpEdaJUZCEcYmhnXT3qRkPSq9XGsYaRiIvHK5_zJgYraDnv2Xd_tLMLWFoaUgzjD_bdBcQn46PeJpBhcEf3hyphenhyphenvdyOx23GpxdoAtSQw6ayvmRPUfsy/s834/viber_image_2023-09-23_08-21-32-914.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="712" data-original-width="834" height="546" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAqTPcqKKwGBM5U4_U3iJjKQbC4io7UF-7YmS7qsdNSnuk0HxoqSHTNuC3-2gKCYV3q9HnRjfaQN-MpEdaJUZCEcYmhnXT3qRkPSq9XGsYaRiIvHK5_zJgYraDnv2Xd_tLMLWFoaUgzjD_bdBcQn46PeJpBhcEf3hyphenhyphenvdyOx23GpxdoAtSQw6ayvmRPUfsy/w640-h546/viber_image_2023-09-23_08-21-32-914.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><p></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"> Thank you very much, Princeps Games, for allowing me to play this very good reproduction of the fighting in Mongolia in 1939. It achieves all Princeps Games was looking to produce with this game. It is somewhat quick playing, compared to many wargames, and gives the player a lot of choices in their tactics and strategy. Princeps Games has now produced March on the Drina, Freezing Inferno, and Khalkhin Gol wargames. The games are definitely some of the finest produced games out on the market.</span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"> The KickStarter for KhalKhin Gol is here:</span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/princepsgames/the-battle-of-khalkhin-gol?ref=nav_search&result=project&term=Khalkhin%20">The Battle of Khalkhin Gol by Princeps Games — Kickstarter</a></span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">It has already hit two stretch goals and is very close to the third.</span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">You can purchase all three of Princeps Games wargames during this KS campaign (March on the Drina, Freezing Inferno, and Khalkhin Gol) for the unbelievable cost of only $160 in the US and Canada. The three games are a steal at that price.</span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">Robert</span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">Princeps Games:</span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://princepsgames.com/">Home - Princeps Games</a> </span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">Khalkhin Gol:</span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><a href="https://princepsgames.com/the-battle-of-khalkin-gol/"><span style="font-size: large;">The Battle of Khalkin Gol - Princeps Games</span></a></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">This is a review of Freezing Inferno that Polydor did for AWNT:</span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><a href="https://www.awargamersneedfulthings.co.uk/2023/10/freezing-inferno.html"><span style="font-size: large;">FREEZING INFERNO - A Wargamers Needful Things</span></a></p><p style="text-align: left;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><br /></p></div>Robert Petersonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17114299951391079193noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4437416196467752074.post-68993141378321392822023-11-01T14:32:00.002+00:002023-11-07T22:48:07.782+00:00DESCENT: LEGENDS OF THE DARK - THE BETRAYER'S WAR<p style="text-align: center;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVMbmw-4kmXPDV5bhDqHXz53xQajlvITT51D4wCrYd4uCglIrzBRSGVOrGJK5JSG8h9YDmH7ZHf9n0-YRuQc5aKl-dwUxR8IX9tSYSYXhl3uOmkeO1wqhXfYfnqEY1EKeaV6yVNMxzhqGsgRAs7j4kB7NCcxxPZu3_34ubFZfJzEDIVYbtMaCHMpArATs/s640/Descent%20Title.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="269" data-original-width="640" height="270" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVMbmw-4kmXPDV5bhDqHXz53xQajlvITT51D4wCrYd4uCglIrzBRSGVOrGJK5JSG8h9YDmH7ZHf9n0-YRuQc5aKl-dwUxR8IX9tSYSYXhl3uOmkeO1wqhXfYfnqEY1EKeaV6yVNMxzhqGsgRAs7j4kB7NCcxxPZu3_34ubFZfJzEDIVYbtMaCHMpArATs/w640-h270/Descent%20Title.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"> <span style="font-size: x-large;">FROM</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><b>FANTASY FLIGHT GAMES</b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicTZvfMoJa3J6FPw1QB-rgIOcNBgKsQmoNkPdap_dOFn6ZVtZc1CYmZptAv0W0rpIy0PnuRa8qR2VlGlfjoZ3fAbS5CAZPYD30IuLDGZYT24BAx1y2fjVDMu-4JAwRY3m36-hQknHrShWFna0DlydG4gImu18t-YYnt70Z66o8TtjzMhRRpccCNeOIsP8/s464/Box%20cover%202.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="463" data-original-width="464" height="638" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicTZvfMoJa3J6FPw1QB-rgIOcNBgKsQmoNkPdap_dOFn6ZVtZc1CYmZptAv0W0rpIy0PnuRa8qR2VlGlfjoZ3fAbS5CAZPYD30IuLDGZYT24BAx1y2fjVDMu-4JAwRY3m36-hQknHrShWFna0DlydG4gImu18t-YYnt70Z66o8TtjzMhRRpccCNeOIsP8/w640-h638/Box%20cover%202.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><b><br /></b></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">Just a few crucial preliminary points, in case this series is new to you. Most important is that you will often find this game abbreviated to Descent Act II. It is, despite its rather eye-watering cost, an Expansion and so owning Act I is essential for playing this game. If you choose to read on, be warned that I cannot be held responsible for what may lead to an unfortunate hole in your bank balance!</span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">First a little history (which may be skipped over by those who do own Act I). The Descent lineage of games began with <i><b>Descent: Journeys in the Dark</b></i> - a relatively conventional, though excellent, fantasy cooperative quest style game with an active evil games master controlling and seeking to win by thwarting all the efforts of the good guys (I use the latter word as an all embracing gender term). Later came <i><b>Descent: Legends of the Dark - Act I</b></i>. This was a monumental step forward in a similar mould to and from the same people who created <b><i>Journeys in Middle Earth</i></b>. (Another favourite of mine.) In other words, the marriage of a table top fantasy game with an app that not only fulfilled the role of dungeon/quest-master, but also controlled many other facets of the game.</span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">Virtually anything, if not absolutely everything, that has been said about Act I can be said about Act II. Supreme quality - check. Amazing miniatures - check. Massive narrative arc -check. Zillions of tokens - well ok, not as many, because you already have all the ones from Act I, but some new ones. Lots of cards - check. And so on…</span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">Briefly too, we’re still inhabiting the world of Terrinoth and working cooperatively to accomplish a sequence of quests with the same six heroic characters as in Act I, using at most four out of the six characters in any individual quest. It is a linear game in its time-line and order of play with each turn divided into a Hero Phase and then a Darkness Phase.</span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">In this next section, I’m going to look at the physical contents of Act II and make some comparisons with Act I. As is my custom, I’ll point out now that these are often opinions and your taste may differ from mine. My first statement, however, should (fingers crossed) be agreed on by all. The boxes that the games come in are well nigh identical, except for colour and title. Very large, very heavy and looking as if the top section and bottom section have been separated by another box - which is a fairly accurate description of things!</span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">Raising the top section and looking into the top layer, you find the most amazing three packages of miniatures. </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhau3MmXAHo1AuFLmu-AIRb2yJo4DJhLd6WIKeGLgUe1esYljU1vTH7W5ZOQc4y_15P9lbj7W_TB4C-ll_GTMM0fdtgjfS5aQrP4CjxmKQeQ2nPU3ZT6UvE078XuulDhU74oXQZYa_0fwUIVj_72kDHjAz2aqDmuw5edHJVXpG1dRhveLaVkL9go3Pl56A/s3264/Miniatures%20boxed.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2448" data-original-width="3264" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhau3MmXAHo1AuFLmu-AIRb2yJo4DJhLd6WIKeGLgUe1esYljU1vTH7W5ZOQc4y_15P9lbj7W_TB4C-ll_GTMM0fdtgjfS5aQrP4CjxmKQeQ2nPU3ZT6UvE078XuulDhU74oXQZYa_0fwUIVj_72kDHjAz2aqDmuw5edHJVXpG1dRhveLaVkL9go3Pl56A/w640-h480/Miniatures%20boxed.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><span style="font-size: large;"><b>The miniatures in their recessed trays</b></span><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">One of which is absolutely awesome and then some! The supreme agent of evil - a towering 10 inch (25cm) sculpture of striking detail - all alone in its individual recessed container. Next to it are six brand new miniatures for each of the six heroes: Brynn, Galaden, Vaerix, Syrus, Kehli and Chance. Then there is a surprise seventh miniature, Indris, which introduces one of the new concepts in this expansion, namely Companions. Indris is the only Companion in Act II. A Companion is explained as a separate type of figure from either heroes or enemies. It’s controlled by a hero when they activate, but has an independent sculpt and a double-sided card just like a hero. </span><span style="font-size: large;">Does this hint at future expansions with other Companions? </span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">Just my personal view on the heroic</span><span style="font-size: x-large;"> </span><span style="font-size: large;">figures - I </span><span style="font-size: large;"><span>find them in general more finely sculpted than their matching ones in Act I and this level of detail is equally brought out in the</span><span> 18 enemies they face off against. These too are all outstanding, especially the fantastically named Dragon Hybrid Doom Caller with the equally fantastically massive bell that they carry on their backs. </span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXsRqBMoZMH974e0NuY7F0Vr345kUTUUeW5VA2q8lmmmSOMlam1gKUS6NR1PNHWhLMnlgWtISToTNR6h9X96VOha1Ae8v52sBdAwzHTXxT8Bgy1XgjiLoQQ_IRvJ7p3smOATQA1PNwwv2eg8JU1y7iXRcYQnnEN05O5VzG910ChA1JD4lB0iiTvY4vpO8/s2114/Demon%20Bell.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2114" data-original-width="2063" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXsRqBMoZMH974e0NuY7F0Vr345kUTUUeW5VA2q8lmmmSOMlam1gKUS6NR1PNHWhLMnlgWtISToTNR6h9X96VOha1Ae8v52sBdAwzHTXxT8Bgy1XgjiLoQQ_IRvJ7p3smOATQA1PNwwv2eg8JU1y7iXRcYQnnEN05O5VzG910ChA1JD4lB0iiTvY4vpO8/w624-h640/Demon%20Bell.jpg" width="624" /></a></div><br /><span><span style="text-align: left;"><b>Dragon Hybrid Doom Caller</b></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span><span style="text-align: left;"><b><br /></b></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span><span style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjheg3llpxw8DbOsBjmngFZDIAkP5HZvfsi906FMUVdw1BmBpIY6T4N87K_GT_6WuM5JXnlxX1bwzIV13zigbQFJOHyONtfJKGrFp1C7lOxeh058FfHomTHyRZvWxSCDJT1BhFxViynBQrOGLQ0BPJKoCetlzss-giybF_IqfGbEdDFEJVr4Q1NlrvHDEY/s2815/Demon%20Bell2.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2448" data-original-width="2815" height="556" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjheg3llpxw8DbOsBjmngFZDIAkP5HZvfsi906FMUVdw1BmBpIY6T4N87K_GT_6WuM5JXnlxX1bwzIV13zigbQFJOHyONtfJKGrFp1C7lOxeh058FfHomTHyRZvWxSCDJT1BhFxViynBQrOGLQ0BPJKoCetlzss-giybF_IqfGbEdDFEJVr4Q1NlrvHDEY/w640-h556/Demon%20Bell2.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><b>...and his mighty bell</b></span></span></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><span><br /></span></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><span>As before, all the enemy figures come with bases that have room for coloured inserts so that you can distinguish between them when you have more than one of the same type appearing in a given quest. For the inserts themselves you’ll need to use the ones from Act I. </span></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><span>Just a few random views on both the heroes and their opponents. I love the fact that in Act II, Brynn is swinging her mighty hammer and has exchanged her massive winged helmet (not one of my favourites) for a much neater piece of headgear (a winged tiara?)! </span></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><span><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaj5CyxKOWsh2nNTLbFY0nGklaBsuJobJMeHUwq_Mtr7r-ge6_HZWqchNiJeZLLMwydjKc-iSAohPzorF_fRK_0F4Q2YPYY1arciPZuGJsi3QHm0XDp0BI215ey2Ouvs1_nB5sCQup4sxaHMMRgIM7lIqozolxYPY_ftI2T_eTyRxR1WX6tyVXJQviQYc/s2201/Brynn.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2201" data-original-width="2199" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaj5CyxKOWsh2nNTLbFY0nGklaBsuJobJMeHUwq_Mtr7r-ge6_HZWqchNiJeZLLMwydjKc-iSAohPzorF_fRK_0F4Q2YPYY1arciPZuGJsi3QHm0XDp0BI215ey2Ouvs1_nB5sCQup4sxaHMMRgIM7lIqozolxYPY_ftI2T_eTyRxR1WX6tyVXJQviQYc/w640-h640/Brynn.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><b>Brynn and that immense hammer</b><br /><div style="text-align: left;">Chance has, shall we say, stepped from the shadows and no longer sports a mask - an item I did like! - while Kehli seems a little less chunky and both she and Chance are in even more dynamic poses almost seeming about to launch themselves from their bases. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7hAAAtbIzcA-Cnvsrt4f4l7UZBafKGODatA3dhzMu6lByz2g3cwAN3TGv18AgOpV7Y3T8ssKq0KSxbCtIuyezo_oPxUVnmGsHKFHjTWe73vNODjFuDW4al3vHZLWU0lNWmI9snCiZEX0h4UHdhTQLM9jsXQGm9inxA-gChSAVXOry1S8n-x5xGu1C_ys/s2540/Chance%20&%20Kehli.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2156" data-original-width="2540" height="544" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7hAAAtbIzcA-Cnvsrt4f4l7UZBafKGODatA3dhzMu6lByz2g3cwAN3TGv18AgOpV7Y3T8ssKq0KSxbCtIuyezo_oPxUVnmGsHKFHjTWe73vNODjFuDW4al3vHZLWU0lNWmI9snCiZEX0h4UHdhTQLM9jsXQGm9inxA-gChSAVXOry1S8n-x5xGu1C_ys/w640-h544/Chance%20&%20Kehli.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><b>Kehli & Chance: a dynamic duo</b><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Perhaps my favourite change is the new figure of Vaerix. Now he sports not just his mighty spear which is slung on his back, but swings with great power his bell weapon. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrO8PUTEUjWpRkpR-DdFkvURYwgL_VC9RthjPo0Q4Yu0SUhZAXfdavNaloSsbCtbV8U637n_zDZ1bKXCnlZ_mTZcqPxKhpl0GUQrJrz02QLlCQitPxEEvgH3MZmqXAxke741IjuqHyvmHDW53VU1FV8Dbo9_5c_8Xvq0043S-w507dXc2PXaAH1dFjVoI/s1688/Vaerix.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1688" data-original-width="1357" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrO8PUTEUjWpRkpR-DdFkvURYwgL_VC9RthjPo0Q4Yu0SUhZAXfdavNaloSsbCtbV8U637n_zDZ1bKXCnlZ_mTZcqPxKhpl0GUQrJrz02QLlCQitPxEEvgH3MZmqXAxke741IjuqHyvmHDW53VU1FV8Dbo9_5c_8Xvq0043S-w507dXc2PXaAH1dFjVoI/w514-h640/Vaerix.jpg" width="514" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Still, the most significant change must be that Syrus and Indris, the phoenix, are no longer one bonded sculpt, as the short rule book tells us, “As Syrus’s mastery over elemental magic has grown, so has his bond with Indris …(who) can now move independently across the map.”</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-T3uolk0FSDsWOTU-648HD6nx1wlmKJhqBHnXbw58mjNGRzb7juffpBcMgLVel51FdmcnRnCyPMVN7R5PmzlczlY2fqcVmOtyKMV-trNDMLyfjqdHsKnTmoGB6BT2jHmWpBGLosPWhbtTaovGA-t6Qrtr9uVBTlt0pEQnSlevJ-K0XwPW4uQiBYzZXes/s2635/Syrus%20&%20Indris.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1870" data-original-width="2635" height="454" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-T3uolk0FSDsWOTU-648HD6nx1wlmKJhqBHnXbw58mjNGRzb7juffpBcMgLVel51FdmcnRnCyPMVN7R5PmzlczlY2fqcVmOtyKMV-trNDMLyfjqdHsKnTmoGB6BT2jHmWpBGLosPWhbtTaovGA-t6Qrtr9uVBTlt0pEQnSlevJ-K0XwPW4uQiBYzZXes/w640-h454/Syrus%20&%20Indris.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><b>Syrus & Indris</b><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div></span></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">Confronting them are the new forces of evil in all the glorious detail familiar from the figures in Act I.</span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsV2I0j7_1FGxHOsWYhLw6pR0Rm8Gi6Vp5ti6XqrcQCkM5zGHmZCqhMAmM7r5GE4KHWRUKaWf1mAq-rpcFt_2u7PfiFzYK5bwUWhj-ud7N3YNtSfLMPG3G412oGo3d7s4gw15-YPpU9F3mIDDk0FlbaqgkC-5XxaDRIam9LSp-ENk4CIPNt9Nl9p1EjRU/s3264/Villians.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2448" data-original-width="3264" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsV2I0j7_1FGxHOsWYhLw6pR0Rm8Gi6Vp5ti6XqrcQCkM5zGHmZCqhMAmM7r5GE4KHWRUKaWf1mAq-rpcFt_2u7PfiFzYK5bwUWhj-ud7N3YNtSfLMPG3G412oGo3d7s4gw15-YPpU9F3mIDDk0FlbaqgkC-5XxaDRIam9LSp-ENk4CIPNt9Nl9p1EjRU/w640-h480/Villians.jpg" width="640" /></a></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">Out of these four, all bar the vampiric figure have four copies apiece, while the Doom Caller has two, along with the smaller salamander/dragon.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">Moving from the world created in plastic to that in cardboard, there is everything you might expect. Starting once more with a new set of large double sided cards, one for each hero, you’ll find a similar change and one that, like the figures, I’ve welcomed. Act I’s cards were for me slightly too cartoonish - these seem slightly more mature, more adult almost. Each new Hero card features new abilities, increased health and improved statistics and additional Surge abilities. Indris, though now an independent figure, is still very much bound up with Syrus and so, as a Companion, does not get their own large card, but a smaller playing card sized one. This cannot be flipped in the way the hero cards can to reveal new attributes, but has a defeated side instead that affects Syrus. </span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmvvktCHYD2onoK8kb_1mlrf-FVPIBxG3xqJMV7dxo64W3gIyiIkhU530fCdGVNBhF-IYRifyOPh282kC7gzT7ZPvzsjor8SVEdnuJFEU3I2i6280P0WURZnZdFk_-wwbJzwA4xSpgtES987dLHNtviXsAbO7Izq7SXbczn9dAQTUPzbP6Ed3ZvtAKs6g/s2639/Brynn%20a.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2109" data-original-width="2639" height="512" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmvvktCHYD2onoK8kb_1mlrf-FVPIBxG3xqJMV7dxo64W3gIyiIkhU530fCdGVNBhF-IYRifyOPh282kC7gzT7ZPvzsjor8SVEdnuJFEU3I2i6280P0WURZnZdFk_-wwbJzwA4xSpgtES987dLHNtviXsAbO7Izq7SXbczn9dAQTUPzbP6Ed3ZvtAKs6g/w640-h512/Brynn%20a.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><b>Brynn's new character card</b></span></div></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">The two substantial packs of cards cover the many new items be be revealed as the campaign progresses. Among them are weapons and stacks of skills for our heroes, a variety of light, medium and heavy armour and a new type of card, Legends. Each Hero has up to three of these Legend cards which may be unlocked based on decisions made or their performance in the various quests. Though double-sided, you can choose only one side to be used in this current campaign and there are several other features of these cards that make them stand out and differ from previous familiar card use. Typically the app has a handy tab that can be called up which shows the legends and skills that each hero has unlocked so far and can equip themselves with at the beginning of a quest. Added to all this is an assortment of cards for trinkets and consumable items.</span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">All this information and the rules linked with them is covered in the compact 12 page booklet. Each Hero is prefaced by a brief piece of atmospheric text and introduces one major new unique feature. For <b>Syrus</b>, as I've explained, there is Indris as his Companion. <b>Chance</b> possesses <i>Umbra Tokens </i>to help friends and elude enemies. <b>Kehli</b> has acquired <i>Contraptions</i> that she can lay about the terrain, while <b>Galaden</b> brings <i>Shroud Tokens </i>in to play<i>. </i>Over and above these specific<i> </i>Hero-related elements, there's a new status - Confused - that can be laid on their enemies by attacks and abilities, as well as a new feature that benefits enemies - Resistances - that will initially be unknown until they suffer damage from whatever they are resistant to. Nor should you forget that all the rules and everything presented and unlocked in Act I carry over to Act II.</span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">So, plenty of new twists and turns to add layers of depth to the ongoing saga and finally, of course, there's plenty of new terrain pieces. Here's a comprehensive look at everything when constructed and for someone not gifted at assembling most things these went together with little problem and in remarkably quick time by a careful attention to the four page guide to construction.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwuHDZ8GbCKabfJowwcg4SV_3MajdlJZRKjx4KBmagi2FKIXtY2z6FRDcNYuhZULJNjaehuciYG0PH5IQ4FlSi5QU2Gt_xt64Fh-ccPLDC9nOnVxRY-qDuP5FMeXPuDBQ9OmVcHfBwCVbPbEL0k9wwQDZlP4IMpHCONYgo0Shq2soHFdve7Qk9KQzF4Dw/s640/Made%20up.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwuHDZ8GbCKabfJowwcg4SV_3MajdlJZRKjx4KBmagi2FKIXtY2z6FRDcNYuhZULJNjaehuciYG0PH5IQ4FlSi5QU2Gt_xt64Fh-ccPLDC9nOnVxRY-qDuP5FMeXPuDBQ9OmVcHfBwCVbPbEL0k9wwQDZlP4IMpHCONYgo0Shq2soHFdve7Qk9KQzF4Dw/w640-h480/Made%20up.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">Ladders, columns (in three sizes), a cart, a bridge, a couple of shrines an arch with two choices of bells (one for the Heroes to ring, the other for the Evil Ones!) and lurking at the left rear a statue that figures can physically be located on! In the centre you can see the range of tokens and another new element: fire. Rather like barricades in Act I, fire can play its part in adding to the damage caused by Heroes and their enemies alike. I particularly appreciated the single piece fires that can be attached to other items of furniture. Anyone for a spot of book burning!</span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">Below you can see an impressionistic creation to allow you to see how some of this might work together. Pay special attention to the large stone platform some of the forces of evil are standing on. </span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinZR07k8MRSIvKEeMFheHvgSyrjjWHdsuHVSa6CIVxTm9e94U8ghrGV4mPpXIbS_kZMvNIJU3zWC31BU_RUAOic1p3scb3T6NsWGj3P7IkR35X_w5m2prVaM0dcB90Ql8kSjTfmSCymmALLMZBUS4nIJ9c8ojL3cSmqG3KMX3vn_ATWPghtqj1HhgLJIk/s640/Scenery.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinZR07k8MRSIvKEeMFheHvgSyrjjWHdsuHVSa6CIVxTm9e94U8ghrGV4mPpXIbS_kZMvNIJU3zWC31BU_RUAOic1p3scb3T6NsWGj3P7IkR35X_w5m2prVaM0dcB90Ql8kSjTfmSCymmALLMZBUS4nIJ9c8ojL3cSmqG3KMX3vn_ATWPghtqj1HhgLJIk/w640-h480/Scenery.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">This is not just a great item playing a single scenic part. It can also be inverted to form a walled courtyard and then, at the end of a day's gaming, reverts back to being a very successful container for all the other terrain!</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgM9jnHVVNlCN60MaCJJbvp0k30zIOp1byDsNrurWzSn4FMsk1Aku6I4yvCk5dTsX5cJs21x0Ni1vbmnY8R8oovy3Y2IcMxIFh9FoUfLROTJ_Eo0Hmucw663swtoYvzMpGNXh7co_WICDuRV_UPamIcPIS0mLEiVtB-e4oZndWWQadmEfRtJiYpsgN1t_Q/s546/In%20the%20box.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="546" data-original-width="480" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgM9jnHVVNlCN60MaCJJbvp0k30zIOp1byDsNrurWzSn4FMsk1Aku6I4yvCk5dTsX5cJs21x0Ni1vbmnY8R8oovy3Y2IcMxIFh9FoUfLROTJ_Eo0Hmucw663swtoYvzMpGNXh7co_WICDuRV_UPamIcPIS0mLEiVtB-e4oZndWWQadmEfRtJiYpsgN1t_Q/w562-h640/In%20the%20box.jpg" width="562" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Walled courtyard or storage box!</b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">Without giving<b> </b>away any detail, the beginning quest of Act II is a substantially long introduction and then the campaign settles down to sequences of similar length to Act I. The system rolls on well polished wheels and, though I've been told the campaign is estimated to be slightly shorter in overall length than Act I, you should be more than satisfied by its length and the whole promises many more hours of game play. What I find is a final incentive to buy is that all that is unlocked in Act II can potentially make an appearance through the wonders of the app, if you decide to return to Act I again. </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">To feed you with the nightmare that awaits should you succumb to this game, here are three final shots to dwell on! </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcJaxTzKW07Q-0xkhaR5AJJwFbGJrwP0ycm0nFAsYH3Nk-VrPt6VBBtvav3wfYqfrRE56sGif0heSl55puOYBvacdI6ARRATIdSuIv70Bk9g_YviRDcmrCwZ9wF7v7TjqHh4vuuPyZbE5apvNspj2vSgJdPRWXXhTvjz_jzRZww_QRuM9QfToIaq3eSCw/s3264/Dagon.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3264" data-original-width="2448" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcJaxTzKW07Q-0xkhaR5AJJwFbGJrwP0ycm0nFAsYH3Nk-VrPt6VBBtvav3wfYqfrRE56sGif0heSl55puOYBvacdI6ARRATIdSuIv70Bk9g_YviRDcmrCwZ9wF7v7TjqHh4vuuPyZbE5apvNspj2vSgJdPRWXXhTvjz_jzRZww_QRuM9QfToIaq3eSCw/w480-h640/Dagon.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuKYM3yEYvVGf_BGz69Cb5HQcTfgQkUXobL2SRVM_M980OAMsQHobfjbd2fFcJL8rlJUiXupgkkHf6YKjLMxuf1l4W-Ax6T3PVBtHuoR5VPwMTmcsycgundR2cqpxmNCgrFvaSZGSaZ3sHYMYhcd_7Ow0uqm87Q83-iybNAcdybUCofg-GURMciLwfTMs/s3088/Dagon2.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3088" data-original-width="1663" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuKYM3yEYvVGf_BGz69Cb5HQcTfgQkUXobL2SRVM_M980OAMsQHobfjbd2fFcJL8rlJUiXupgkkHf6YKjLMxuf1l4W-Ax6T3PVBtHuoR5VPwMTmcsycgundR2cqpxmNCgrFvaSZGSaZ3sHYMYhcd_7Ow0uqm87Q83-iybNAcdybUCofg-GURMciLwfTMs/w344-h640/Dagon2.jpg" width="344" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1FK5gDrj7UyegCAi1xIm4mXYNh07667Ms-CoUqnKHiL8xBXZXdQ7tP-WrqikQZE0HCdj_rGrBZ6j4ay70Zgl9auNLbc2MllHg1v3iu23cGU0lYv4kJsuM0as7qRKejcD0Z6Lfd2ooN67oBl24EPUe9iAO2q5z6tHqUyAPHpwKP7zElCyNxcp54iETMRY/s3264/Dagon3.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3264" data-original-width="2448" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1FK5gDrj7UyegCAi1xIm4mXYNh07667Ms-CoUqnKHiL8xBXZXdQ7tP-WrqikQZE0HCdj_rGrBZ6j4ay70Zgl9auNLbc2MllHg1v3iu23cGU0lYv4kJsuM0as7qRKejcD0Z6Lfd2ooN67oBl24EPUe9iAO2q5z6tHqUyAPHpwKP7zElCyNxcp54iETMRY/w480-h640/Dagon3.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">Finally, I must express great thanks to Asmodee for providing me with this review copy and the opportunity to tread this absorbing path.</span></div></div><p></p>Polydorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08875339847623732683noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4437416196467752074.post-72199300516770420852023-10-21T13:48:00.000+01:002023-10-21T13:48:06.413+01:00FREEZING INFERNO<h1 style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: x-large;">FREEZING INFERNO</span></i></h1><h2 style="text-align: center;">FROM </h2><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: x-large;">PRINCEPS GAMES</span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-weight: bold; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNUc_siToT5Kc3fyB-QdWxy6a9vIO4FxVw98TvTu4wX6F3xoHH0EFok630WXxL4w_hLcmDi6l-R7muYHXAJLyEZcIxmicbzIScG1BQfpTFJ9m6yYYbHvR36SoeHhvRDfBQdAi7v0SSt-Vgi5Jc05D5LYrpFElEhouKv4i0ZzlgoavIcPAB7gZOay4kfGQ/s2802/Box%20Cover.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2177" data-original-width="2802" height="498" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNUc_siToT5Kc3fyB-QdWxy6a9vIO4FxVw98TvTu4wX6F3xoHH0EFok630WXxL4w_hLcmDi6l-R7muYHXAJLyEZcIxmicbzIScG1BQfpTFJ9m6yYYbHvR36SoeHhvRDfBQdAi7v0SSt-Vgi5Jc05D5LYrpFElEhouKv4i0ZzlgoavIcPAB7gZOay4kfGQ/w640-h498/Box%20Cover.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><span style="font-size: large;"><b>A stunning box art</b></span><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">Quite a bit of newness to open with here. First off is the company, Princeps Games, who started out in 2019. Second is that <b><i>Freezing Inferno</i></b> is only their second wargame. Their first <i><b>March on the Drina</b></i> was reviewed last year by my fellow reviewer, Robert Peterson. Third is the topic, the Finnish-Soviet war of 1939-40. This campaign has been visited before, starting with SPI's Winter War back in 1972 and returned to in 2021 by Decision Games as a magazine issue in their World at War series. In between came GMT's <b><i>Arctic Storm</i></b> in 1992, not to forget the recent Finnish Expansion for Russia Besieged Deluxe edition. So, a very limited treatment for what remains a relatively little known conflict.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">So, a little background information. What's generally referred to as the Winter War was a Soviet invasion of Finland launched in November of 1939, soon after the beginning of WWII. Finland successfully withstood these attacks for over two months, but was ultimately overwhelmed after renewed Soviet offensives in February 1940 and the war concluded in March with the signing of the Moscow Peace Treaty. Though the gains made by the Soviets were more than they had ostensibly sought in their demands before the war, many writers take the view that their real intentions had been to conquer and establish a puppet government. Certainly, many are of the opinion that the Soviet effort reinforced Hitler's decision to invade Russia.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">Whatever the reality, in <b style="font-style: italic;">Freezing Inferno</b>, you now have the chance to experience this war in what, for any company, can only be described as an excellent deluxe package. I'd been very impressed by what I'd seen of <b style="font-style: italic;">March on the Drina</b>, which introduced the basics of the system used here. I've no hesitation in saying that this game takes everything even further.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">The box art is truly dramatic with its roiling black smoke and menacing tank back-lit by the explosion just behind it. Opening the deep box, revealed a very safely bubble-wrapped map and when you open it out, what a map!</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6NjN9lS3JDGEaVagTGUFuQJRr02BF2Lnv3nF0hOda9LI5GuaE4exKO7GU3ZFEo1gN8S3Fph6WDrEoOgiuTcx97gy3Z-Yy4tzch6-J1N2puawa3Gx-GGri_rqe1FjdmzOutogl_FVe0pjQ5y3BhYi1wx4SryOaUBEOod5UWbcyp2GWqR8ejvqVCIlHDWg/s3010/Map%20a.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3010" data-original-width="2077" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6NjN9lS3JDGEaVagTGUFuQJRr02BF2Lnv3nF0hOda9LI5GuaE4exKO7GU3ZFEo1gN8S3Fph6WDrEoOgiuTcx97gy3Z-Yy4tzch6-J1N2puawa3Gx-GGri_rqe1FjdmzOutogl_FVe0pjQ5y3BhYi1wx4SryOaUBEOod5UWbcyp2GWqR8ejvqVCIlHDWg/w442-h640/Map%20a.jpg" width="442" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">The mounted board is stunning and as each player sits either on the west or east side, the orientation of trees, cities, charts and military capacity track are all easily readable. However, if you don't like this perspective, flip the map over and you swop from a semi-natural rendering to a more conventional game map perspective. The latter, seen below, looks less striking, but I confess that I prefer it for game play purposes and also because it names all the cities on the map unlike the other map side. Congratulations to Princeps Games for going the extra mile to provide us with a choice.</span></div></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRLRRFduGjq8ud6IRhCk_XhZlVHjFazbQavZSRjkKpBEd-wimKIO9b7grWpdd7-UyLkrmtxDGfZwqipCL-AIhyphenhyphenT-7xV2JmyMaYFtMCJKqeVoXtg3sff7M7D2UEY0jQgV0kjXkhPpI7qla7LoRGBpoeEjYDxVtmcBJICephsb9TgdSNx1CjDJ2G9rsmPzo/s3144/Map%20b.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3144" data-original-width="2223" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRLRRFduGjq8ud6IRhCk_XhZlVHjFazbQavZSRjkKpBEd-wimKIO9b7grWpdd7-UyLkrmtxDGfZwqipCL-AIhyphenhyphenT-7xV2JmyMaYFtMCJKqeVoXtg3sff7M7D2UEY0jQgV0kjXkhPpI7qla7LoRGBpoeEjYDxVtmcBJICephsb9TgdSNx1CjDJ2G9rsmPzo/w452-h640/Map%20b.jpg" width="452" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">Digging deeper into the very deep box, beneath five sheets of magnificent counters, this is what's revealed...</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhE_8cDJxPvmaSqRfZzif87uWaa5Jo_rd2Kg42VoMr71OmSgfUnAmIfvDIVs94XS38NtDJTHipI5BaZ4bvIJ6QnFkCvXC8sR6wgdvX1ghwCIgE0gmQ3dTI7hk7KShAC0cgKdEEiQKJBorIGmj8AB3ynf1Tv1oGvOO43_6NkxkOu3PC3nvdETAlufgX8AhE/s3264/Box%20interior.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3264" data-original-width="2448" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhE_8cDJxPvmaSqRfZzif87uWaa5Jo_rd2Kg42VoMr71OmSgfUnAmIfvDIVs94XS38NtDJTHipI5BaZ4bvIJ6QnFkCvXC8sR6wgdvX1ghwCIgE0gmQ3dTI7hk7KShAC0cgKdEEiQKJBorIGmj8AB3ynf1Tv1oGvOO43_6NkxkOu3PC3nvdETAlufgX8AhE/w480-h640/Box%20interior.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">... and here they are lifted out of the main box.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjO2jH15ym7ZdMR0RX3BVIonmxV4daW0LWdIVM5E23lyDT55EB5_-sGAxOe6DEs9nEeTfFBZO9rAeL1D6OOTD8JST82Xy1XGHjiveTEWLqAZeFso1FY_sM7URE6pGR6lugvjfZ3qxkUhcOAHdhgAsV8oJLEFLkLA0fYREYQk6xXbrujf7_7cndr36Ep4sg/s3264/Storage.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3264" data-original-width="2448" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjO2jH15ym7ZdMR0RX3BVIonmxV4daW0LWdIVM5E23lyDT55EB5_-sGAxOe6DEs9nEeTfFBZO9rAeL1D6OOTD8JST82Xy1XGHjiveTEWLqAZeFso1FY_sM7URE6pGR6lugvjfZ3qxkUhcOAHdhgAsV8oJLEFLkLA0fYREYQk6xXbrujf7_7cndr36Ep4sg/w480-h640/Storage.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">Five very impressive storage boxes. The largest one </span><span style="font-size: large;">contains six super thick, rigid play aids. Of the first two smaller boxes, initially one is empty and the other contains a variety of dice: 1 D8, 1 D10, 1D12 and 2 D20. However, from the flags on each they are presumably intended for each side's counters. My preference has been to bag and label them as well for ease of setting up. Finally, in the other two smaller boxes, one contains the Military Capacity Tokens and the other a deck of twenty four tarot-sized cards, three for each of the eight game rounds. It’s important to note here the terminology, as the rules use the word round for what is normally in most games called a full game turn and instead uses turn for each player’s individual part.</span></div></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsGzph0nJfwXYYu0mZHrrZFko_bPkijMcmJq1w2-r2KaaG4Z0B7tNFM2qusSEbjzLknNf_zJ_CfDpH12xQpZnqaUz5WOefwgiJfMltTKimXT1XrDcdfivylREVme0W8t_NY-KGztkuSlXSluSsvEVqfBIpIOGctZ8Z38aRvzYqf4g2HsUmcyZh6jfRXfM/s3264/Money.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3264" data-original-width="2448" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsGzph0nJfwXYYu0mZHrrZFko_bPkijMcmJq1w2-r2KaaG4Z0B7tNFM2qusSEbjzLknNf_zJ_CfDpH12xQpZnqaUz5WOefwgiJfMltTKimXT1XrDcdfivylREVme0W8t_NY-KGztkuSlXSluSsvEVqfBIpIOGctZ8Z38aRvzYqf4g2HsUmcyZh6jfRXfM/w480-h640/Money.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><b>Military Capacity Tokens in four denominations</b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZowYnKMUPL7laY8QCt3Sa7n5XEPWNF1uChKLDSXxNFDBurSN8_gYXf6_-0eXmP7bj2j-B0gUcdxr28DJW8VWmBvXbdBiIhsORPRsSldgrJGaE89uVfItpGM_ESBXHlkQbLss1boLUOsTCqEZo3Nfd8O_PiyUVgx5vLa-DKaX5zUDAlmxsq0c6lf_JM68/s3264/Cards.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2448" data-original-width="3264" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZowYnKMUPL7laY8QCt3Sa7n5XEPWNF1uChKLDSXxNFDBurSN8_gYXf6_-0eXmP7bj2j-B0gUcdxr28DJW8VWmBvXbdBiIhsORPRsSldgrJGaE89uVfItpGM_ESBXHlkQbLss1boLUOsTCqEZo3Nfd8O_PiyUVgx5vLa-DKaX5zUDAlmxsq0c6lf_JM68/w640-h480/Cards.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><b>Turn Cards</b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">The quality of every single item is magnificent. To some extent, you may consider that this is not the essential aspect of any game. Bells and whistles don’t necessarily guarantee a good game, but the current trend is for lavish production values and this is never more true than in the game funding process where often it seems that a game is only valued by how many stretch goals it can pile up.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">That said, the historical war and rather unexceptional previous games that have dealt with it would not have been likely to draw my attention, but the striking visual appeal of the game did. I was also amazed by the remarkable base cost of $58, though I have to thank the generosity of Princeps Games for their willingness to provide a review copy and not just a proto-type, but the finished product.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">As you can see , I’ve been more than satisfied by everything so far that relates to what constitutes the physical qualities of this game. So the crucial test was how does this game play and how successful is the system and the rules that explain it.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">I confess I had some confidence from what I’d read and seen of their first war game, <b><i>March on the Drina</i></b>. The reality far exceeded my expectations. At heart it is a fairly simple hex and counter wargame with a familiar igo-ugo sequence of play. So, what lifts it way beyond that simple premise?</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">For me the first thing was the large scale of the map and the surprisingly low unit density. The latter was the biggest revelation, as with five sheets of counters that are almost entirely combat units, I’d anticipated a very heavy, dense and possibly complex affair. Not so, at start 24 Finnish units face off against 29 Soviet units and the numbers on the map will rarely go much beyond those figures. The reason is that the designers have chosen to create most units at start as five step units with each unit having a counter for each step. That’s why there are so many counter sheets. Apart from HQs and AA units that are single step, what you see on the map at the beginning of the game are single unit stacks of 5 counters. This adds to the impressive visual appeal of the game. </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgm-5AwWgWcByOi5rcc2mNgSbc_FFuVkMbZkI_cB3phIhyphenhyphen8m4r5oZj25TN9tE1eI57aWiLyPlLvBNbnD5sfhrEDVTqFYclc04WmbBOscwx00Jt2r1mjr_YuAdF1p7lu-VgA9iOF-xs2AaLojNvYTQbzIkXYjUQ9zKMOWAN9gloas0VilZ25PE-Cuba1_EI/s3264/Map%20Turn%203.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3264" data-original-width="2448" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgm-5AwWgWcByOi5rcc2mNgSbc_FFuVkMbZkI_cB3phIhyphenhyphen8m4r5oZj25TN9tE1eI57aWiLyPlLvBNbnD5sfhrEDVTqFYclc04WmbBOscwx00Jt2r1mjr_YuAdF1p7lu-VgA9iOF-xs2AaLojNvYTQbzIkXYjUQ9zKMOWAN9gloas0VilZ25PE-Cuba1_EI/w480-h640/Map%20Turn%203.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">The photo really does not do justice to the visual impact of the game, nor can it convey the tactile pleasure of manoeuvring those counters.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">As I did and several other commentators on the game, you may have initial reservations on learning about a counter for every strength step. Will the stacks topple? Will it make the game clumsy to manage? Will it make unit strengths awkward to work out? The answer is no, no and no. One reason is that the hexes are so nice and large and the counters are equally large and solid. Consequently the stacks are easy to handle and move around the map and it's far easier to see how many steps there are in them than having to lift up a counter to read a strength marker underneath.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">There are so many small factors pertaining to these units that combine to make this both novel, easy to play and easy to understand. But before moving into the smaller details that make this design shine, I'd like to outline some of the broader aspects of the rules that confirm the outstanding features of <i style="font-weight: bold;">Freezing Inferno</i>. The first begins with set up and the great replay value it brings. One of the game's contents is a pad of 48 mini-maps; 24 for each player. The rules tell you how many of each type of unit you start </span><span style="font-size: large;">with and all are at full strength (for most units, as I mentioned earlier, that's a maximum of 5 steps, except for HQs and AA units that can only ever have a single step). Each player designates the starting positions of their units on a mini-map and then sets up. If this weren't enough to provide variety, the rule book contains eight different pre-designated set ups for each player. The rules even suggest the two set-ups with which to start your first play of the game. Just personally choosing from these or even randomly rolling for them will keep you going for quite some time, but I'm quite sure that like me you'll soon want to experiment with your own planned set ups. </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg10W2ZEiCoJ7po0fGB5p2nb93_SE3hYZ7jvtkKROf7v2DT0t-dxA3_s_ScnGFTJh0L2p4an1mHyYhadPKRZpkeeywlIXtQ3xvg2ht-dJ09HlMkRe8iqyhDIjt854ofvfR-ulmxie_vdLRKhYkJ_Xw_pJrmLrS6QC_HrklOdMWtq9VGYCGAfYx9L03veBw/s2875/Map%20pad.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2875" data-original-width="2037" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg10W2ZEiCoJ7po0fGB5p2nb93_SE3hYZ7jvtkKROf7v2DT0t-dxA3_s_ScnGFTJh0L2p4an1mHyYhadPKRZpkeeywlIXtQ3xvg2ht-dJ09HlMkRe8iqyhDIjt854ofvfR-ulmxie_vdLRKhYkJ_Xw_pJrmLrS6QC_HrklOdMWtq9VGYCGAfYx9L03veBw/s320/Map%20pad.jpg" width="227" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Pad of 48 mini-maps to log your initial set-up</b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">Just in case that's not enough, an advanced option for set-up tells you how many strength points of each unit type you start with, but allows you to vary the strength of units. This means that you can field more units, but some will be at less than full strength. This one area of the game not only gives excellent replay value, but the chance to try out very different situations to begin the game and many different styles of play. As the game comes with a straightforward bot for each side, solo play is also greatly enhanced by these rules.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUZVbMr5T2UKROrdrAN39f1DuSl_5-EmWfoKm0viqlzhmfIu-KB6QpVpNETRMizzcl03piBrIQSkSfJnzK7RavDsos7e1AGCm_py4sMK_WrZjScOVtUUqZNO3H36wXQA9i5hUqipaCn11LeKEeNmLNbNSfd9EmPYEGcDzKdenjRwM59kuiSHhj4uWkH-I/s2899/Play%20seq.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2899" data-original-width="1819" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUZVbMr5T2UKROrdrAN39f1DuSl_5-EmWfoKm0viqlzhmfIu-KB6QpVpNETRMizzcl03piBrIQSkSfJnzK7RavDsos7e1AGCm_py4sMK_WrZjScOVtUUqZNO3H36wXQA9i5hUqipaCn11LeKEeNmLNbNSfd9EmPYEGcDzKdenjRwM59kuiSHhj4uWkH-I/w402-h640/Play%20seq.jpg" width="402" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Soviet BOT play aid</b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">The next major area concerns the handling of reinforcements and directly links with the fact that each side's cities have a National Military Capacity (NMC) with which you buy your reinforcements. Finland starts with cities totalling 28 NMC points and the Soviets 29 NMC points. At the end of each player's turn, they will collect however many points worth of cities they control. This is where those chunky oblong counters come in to record how many NMCs you possess and the large numerical track on the game board records what your current control level is. Capturing an enemy city will deduct the full value of that city's points from your opponent, but will only gain you 1 NMC. If your opponent retakes the city, you lose that 1 point and they regain its full value. </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">How does all this then relate to and affect reinforcements? Very simply, at the beginning of specific rounds (3,5,7 & 8), each player can pay with the NMCs that they possess for reinforcements and build up steps lost in combat of units that are in supply on the map. A very good point here is that replacement steps are allocated immediately at the beginning of the round, but reinforcements are only placed on the map at the end of a player’s turn, Another very simple idea, but it creates for both players another small decision point. It is these small incremental details that give the game so much flavour and individuality.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">No more so than at least two of the three optional modules - all three of which add to the replay value and add a little more depth of game play without spoiling the basic simplicity and ease of play. The first is weather which is rolled for at the beginning of rounds 2 -8. </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSvgpboDbyQhfmuNtMUod3mSjoPQYvXtICxOuAPxuOVO8MS7IkxQ84zJ5tCQ4pvKHkWrd3dZUruVuFcQTShXWafgWk0fk0KRwF6X2-mbP0ayLOP5Q7TwcFW2QLGy8UzIDt3d3AADne07If4-Z5zUMXfe0zL3S2XuuGhjOUeBDnInQec0g9mJqZQaRw6Do/s1727/Weather%20chart.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1104" data-original-width="1727" height="410" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSvgpboDbyQhfmuNtMUod3mSjoPQYvXtICxOuAPxuOVO8MS7IkxQ84zJ5tCQ4pvKHkWrd3dZUruVuFcQTShXWafgWk0fk0KRwF6X2-mbP0ayLOP5Q7TwcFW2QLGy8UzIDt3d3AADne07If4-Z5zUMXfe0zL3S2XuuGhjOUeBDnInQec0g9mJqZQaRw6Do/w640-h410/Weather%20chart.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">You roll for both temperature and weather conditions which are interlinked, affecting both terrain and movement costs. Frankly, I don't think this should even be an option. It's so quick and easy and was a significant factor in this war. My advice - just include it from your very first game. The other two modules bring in respectively technological-tactical factors and diplomacy. Both involve expenditure of NMCs and there is a chart in the rule book that shows how choice of either or both options marginally reduces the cost of replacement steps for each type of unit. There is also a small section in the rules for Solo Mode that tells you how to prioritise bot choices if using these modules. For me the Diplomacy Module offers least as, though you can affect the Diplomacy Track through Rounds 2-6, the potential effect may be very small and only comes in to play on round 7. What is interesting about it is that the pro-Soviet benefit is hardly worth having, but the pro-Finnish one might just be enough to save the Finnish player from defeat. So, if this option is chosen and the Finnish player decides to aim to use it to their best advantage, the Soviet player may feel forced to counter it just to avoid the possibility of a last minute influx of Finnish units. A nice conundrum and so easy to include. </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">The second module introduces the type of tech-tree concept found in a range of WWII games. What I like about this one is that again, for very little addition to the rules or game play time, it adds an element that contributes to the different feel of playing each side. Some may perhaps feel that they don’t add enough difference, but I like the fact that none of them overbalance or over-complicate the smooth and quick play of the game. It also brings in such evocative words as sabotage and espionage, though what I think is most important for the game is that the benefits from the tech-tree add to the different and distinctive flavour of the two sides.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0zivMwAkA4-5JyuWZpACrOmHzbpajyoHLk2dsuta0ebuLU8h5Tqzmc2sbs9RtJ1LngIZ_ayV1h-VnmXt_Y_0rKTJZtw5ugoE9WE7FnRfGyue0gMGXTdIvphpIzKdFnanQOFCmewP0Q1nzsfCxz5eH0A2Hx1JwSYwI6LDjxt6KdaiObiSLtAInMeV5hps/s2950/Tech%20tree.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1872" data-original-width="2950" height="406" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0zivMwAkA4-5JyuWZpACrOmHzbpajyoHLk2dsuta0ebuLU8h5Tqzmc2sbs9RtJ1LngIZ_ayV1h-VnmXt_Y_0rKTJZtw5ugoE9WE7FnRfGyue0gMGXTdIvphpIzKdFnanQOFCmewP0Q1nzsfCxz5eH0A2Hx1JwSYwI6LDjxt6KdaiObiSLtAInMeV5hps/w640-h406/Tech%20tree.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Finnish tech-tree</b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">Turning to the basic game play, o</span><span style="font-size: large;">n your turn you move and have combat with one unit against one enemy unit before activating the next unit. No adding up combat factors and dividing them by enemy combat factors. Just determine what is the attacking unit’s attack strength and what is the defending unit’s defence strength. Look this ratio up directly on the appropriate combat chart and roll the die. It is as simple and quick as that. Both combat results tables are printed on one of the excellent, solid card Play Aids. Ground to Ground & Air to Air is on one side and on the reverse side is Air to Ground.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">There are several novel , but easy to understand features related to Combat. First of all, each unit has an initial attack value and defence value (as well as its movement value )clearly printed on its counter. To determine its strength, you simply add the value to the number of steps the unit currently has. So, an infantry unit of attack value 2 with 4 steps would have an attack strength of 6. If the defending unit was a tank of defence value 4 that had 2 steps, then the total defence strength of the tank would be 6. Combat modifiers provided by terrain are very straightforward and easy to remember, though there is a very nice large, clear chart printed on the map and reproduced in the rule book.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDpsjcE7r2KrECviabO5z-4VG-t7p9NMznDL7IT_1kWtQITulVuWljA2lW3fU2o7yp0h23do8XfjhfLgieUOD9VAshVWSvX_YqeWZEKHL0aFJ_RjvDKej5P2cB8_hUZXUAusnYOQYiBOTCtffZK4eQgXzP-tno7WEyPLGMEW2mqduvkvk-WeSslNfVEUc/s3264/Attack%20Mods.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3264" data-original-width="2448" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDpsjcE7r2KrECviabO5z-4VG-t7p9NMznDL7IT_1kWtQITulVuWljA2lW3fU2o7yp0h23do8XfjhfLgieUOD9VAshVWSvX_YqeWZEKHL0aFJ_RjvDKej5P2cB8_hUZXUAusnYOQYiBOTCtffZK4eQgXzP-tno7WEyPLGMEW2mqduvkvk-WeSslNfVEUc/w480-h640/Attack%20Mods.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">Next important detail is that whichever unit suffers losses retreats one hex. The only exceptions to this is the result where both sides suffer 1 loss in which case neither side retreats or the Defender 1(DR) result where the defender has the option not to retreat. Additionally there are two other possible combat results. CA is very familiar, the defending unit can CounterAttack, the other is - as far as I’m aware - totally original and that is NONT. This means that a defending unit cannot attack or move on its next turn and also, if it suffers another NONT result during this same opponent’s turn, it will take a step loss.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">These few rules are so easy to remember and apply and this is true of just about all the rules in this game. This is a major reason why I like this game so much. All your focus goes into the battle, not the rule book. There is a final and unusual option related to combat that I have similar praise for and this is Rule 6.4 Adjusting Luck! At the beginning of the game you decide whether you want to reduce the element of luck in your combats. This is done by your choice of combat die. The basic die for combat is a standard D8, but the game includes two different D20 dice that have the numbers 1-8 on them. Because of the distribution of the numbers on the dice, each of these dice reduces the chances of rolling very high or very low. Such a simple idea, but perhaps not for those who like to blame their defeats on the roll of the dice!!</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixSdx6BWaaAmNEz7VzvA3brS33YsPkJVyap1Q9sdD3lF9A0-1Mo4wSB1oIkFyiSo_vIfih4WZ10ftVTkpxfPOG0iXEqmr0B1Vg5i56VrtQ4fMx4OFF-o7aSOIPBOsjt0CYtZsFsGm0W2i6Pt6-fpkR8S0NasOT-7qDOFk4l97vCmu9x4NV22vKmoqFbaA/s2933/Play%20sequence.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2933" data-original-width="1847" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixSdx6BWaaAmNEz7VzvA3brS33YsPkJVyap1Q9sdD3lF9A0-1Mo4wSB1oIkFyiSo_vIfih4WZ10ftVTkpxfPOG0iXEqmr0B1Vg5i56VrtQ4fMx4OFF-o7aSOIPBOsjt0CYtZsFsGm0W2i6Pt6-fpkR8S0NasOT-7qDOFk4l97vCmu9x4NV22vKmoqFbaA/w404-h640/Play%20sequence.jpg" width="404" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Play aid for Sequence of Play</b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">What other factors give this game its individuality? Supply rather unusually is just a question of being within 7 hexes of an HQ and that’s it. The HQ itself doesn’t have to be linked to any supply source.A little unusual, but it does throw even more emphasis on seeking to take out HQs and on protecting them. The next factor is air power. At this scale it’s often just a question of air points. Freezing Inferno gives you air units, but only a handful. So, they play their role, but don’t overshadow the main ground game. The rules too are clear and simple, with fighters only used to intercept bombers, not to directly attack ground units. The air presence brings in a few AA units to add to the counter mix and what I really, really like most of all is the presence of airports - though, perhaps, a better translation would have been airdromes or even airfields! A plane must have enough movement points to fly from an airfield to attack its target and return to another airfield - no kamikaze attacks in the European theatre! Consequently, it does give the opportunity to have runways and control towers depicted on the map and, even more to my liking, the need to capture the hex with the control tower in order to control the whole 2 or even 3 hexes that make up the airport. Again lots of feel added through some simple rules here and capturing airports is very important for the Soviet player if they are to maintain their bombers as a strength in the progress of their invasion, both directly as attackers or because of their capacity to transport infantry.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXzZtxQQOP4-BoBrXv-GXEuWHpMeX59_4j1jlP0h8hRazRvnlSWTO1wp65eAmDm9XVuemQg53_H2FmX_kyFBmuCavT_o0uc6ZqdVvMh7KGTlO0294vJSzwqzz43C_FSvCWmtm-dATARTtrVMw0K83DnPXbLtxVPV3KqXY8FHxzTi9u-7ggC3QJ_mQVfKY/s640/Airfield.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="480" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXzZtxQQOP4-BoBrXv-GXEuWHpMeX59_4j1jlP0h8hRazRvnlSWTO1wp65eAmDm9XVuemQg53_H2FmX_kyFBmuCavT_o0uc6ZqdVvMh7KGTlO0294vJSzwqzz43C_FSvCWmtm-dATARTtrVMw0K83DnPXbLtxVPV3KqXY8FHxzTi9u-7ggC3QJ_mQVfKY/w480-h640/Airfield.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: large;">S<b>oviets within striking distance of enemy airfield</b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">Next up is how recording each Round is dealt with. What the game calls Calendar cards don't just help you keep track of what Round you're playing, they add another small variable to the game! Each Round has three cards and at the beginning of the game you randomly draw unseen one card for each Round. These make up your Round Deck. When you reveal the current Round card, it has a brief outline of an historical event and a small benefit or disadvantage for one side or the other. Great stuff - I get to learn a bit about this little known war and it adds to play too.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGSOp7pHHbbwgEMK4R2-dBvXxT4AQTqwCeJfOF290rFfc1pZvPN1-bTILScnoPa9ITnqswAn5U4F5OtLGvFjICpMGii0qPjvT0fluDAAzdW0IAT9QUvi6_o2PTkUV1iCVm24lO2E7ooRs5CRjShwJT6aSq4jrrv_NI0YHRewxS7sGfneVnCMh77x2ERYs/s587/Calendar.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="587" data-original-width="336" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGSOp7pHHbbwgEMK4R2-dBvXxT4AQTqwCeJfOF290rFfc1pZvPN1-bTILScnoPa9ITnqswAn5U4F5OtLGvFjICpMGii0qPjvT0fluDAAzdW0IAT9QUvi6_o2PTkUV1iCVm24lO2E7ooRs5CRjShwJT6aSq4jrrv_NI0YHRewxS7sGfneVnCMh77x2ERYs/w366-h640/Calendar.jpg" width="366" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><b>The history and game effect for Round 4 of my current play</b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">Finally, just a last couple of original ideas that are worth mentioning; neither of them have I encountered in any other game. The first is related to ZOCs. Control of a hex’s ZOC is determined by which side has the most units imposing a ZOC on a hex. Watch out for this one, as it obviously tends to benefit the Soviet player, as they are more likely to be able to muster the units to control a ZOC and deprive the Finnish player of control. A useful minor but additional tool when you’re the main attacker. </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">Last of all is what is called unit regrouping, not at all what I expected. Essentially, units can transfer strength between units of the same type by movement. For example, a unit of strength 5 could detach say 2 strength steps using movement points to travel three hexes to a unit that has only a single step left. If it wishes, the newly formed unit (now containing 3 steps) can move as far as the remaining movement points possessed by the unit that joined it. This is, for me, an idea that I strongly welcome and is part of the great marriage this game creates between simple, familiar rules and equally simple, but innovative additions.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">So, in conclusion, <i><b>Freezing Inferno</b></i> is a huge success in every aspect of its production qualities and gives excellent playability and play value in its rules. It’s swift moving and wholly enjoyable whichever side you play. It has bags of replay value and I believe successfully creates the <i>feel</i> of the Winter War. What I don’t think it gives you is the <i>historical</i> Winter War. As my previous games involving this war that strove for an historical simulation weren’t exactly the most exciting or enjoyable to play, I know that <b><i>Freezing Inferno</i></b> gets my vote for a great gaming session.</span></div></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div></div></div></div></div>Polydorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08875339847623732683noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4437416196467752074.post-49594601598952526562023-10-15T20:26:00.000+01:002023-10-15T20:26:07.128+01:00Stargard Solstice by Three Crowns Games<p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: center;"> <span style="font-size: large;">Stargard Solstice</span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">by</span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Three Crowns Games</span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwyUb7OTswHqk_DZFIkvxjL27tayZ4jPHzPxDJrElAN8EM3RCCmH-GI-C59IiVjerZ63A9hqmLs16UxniSf230qyC6a51UK3syuBj1HZC_irWJLDJXG0zWxT7MbAV3tdAQZGCdcit53P5a0svGM35KUShHLrrVuDLBbkuWT0SimrOH5LPWaz-xahijGyPq/s710/0e737b_3d24777666324857b85edde569213acf~mv2.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="677" data-original-width="710" height="610" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwyUb7OTswHqk_DZFIkvxjL27tayZ4jPHzPxDJrElAN8EM3RCCmH-GI-C59IiVjerZ63A9hqmLs16UxniSf230qyC6a51UK3syuBj1HZC_irWJLDJXG0zWxT7MbAV3tdAQZGCdcit53P5a0svGM35KUShHLrrVuDLBbkuWT0SimrOH5LPWaz-xahijGyPq/w640-h610/0e737b_3d24777666324857b85edde569213acf~mv2.png" width="640" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><p></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"> It is 1945 and the Red Army is seeking vengeance for the horrors that were perpetrated in the Motherland. Conversely, the German Army is trying to hold back the red hordes from invading the Fatherland. The Germans are attempting to strike with Operation Solstice (Sonnenwende). Meanwhile, the Soviets are starting their East Pomeranian Campaign. The Germans are scraping the bottom of the barrel as far as manpower and armaments. The Soviets are also low on manpower, but they have plenty of artillery, tanks, and planes to support their offensive.</span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: left;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: left;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUD4o742I6i0z4takYBVI6hRZASebLWwHEiPWYusAao3-HQfijIGmhGVIKlxxo1ly4tMCNk2XOISoJZt86zIGyak9hZhoQ9xw2upOJ-xNWTX3zJVAtGv0CtHGSiakCeTX-5myIA5EqH5RUC3Ky9QAl_GUzXDNiDmb5Fe40cZzYSOL5Co25vjvsk9RawjLH/s798/0e737b_deb8788c27d54756aa6dc962f54bcbf2~mv2.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="798" data-original-width="644" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUD4o742I6i0z4takYBVI6hRZASebLWwHEiPWYusAao3-HQfijIGmhGVIKlxxo1ly4tMCNk2XOISoJZt86zIGyak9hZhoQ9xw2upOJ-xNWTX3zJVAtGv0CtHGSiakCeTX-5myIA5EqH5RUC3Ky9QAl_GUzXDNiDmb5Fe40cZzYSOL5Co25vjvsk9RawjLH/w516-h640/0e737b_deb8788c27d54756aa6dc962f54bcbf2~mv2.jpg" width="516" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><p></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"> This is what Three Crown Games has to say about their game:</span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">"Stargard Solstice starts with one of the last German offensives of 1945, ‘Operation Solstice’. At the beginning Guderian had planned a pincer move to relieve Küstrin, but Hitler wanted to save troops to retake Budapest. This resulted in changing objectives to the relief of Festung Arnswalde and trying to cut the Soviet supply route towards Küstrin. The historical objective for the Soviets was to drive the Germans out of Pomerania and thereby protect their right flank while preparing to take Küstrin and make the final thrust towards Berlin. Stargard Solstice is a game recreating this campaign in Pomerania from 15th February – 6th March, 1945."</span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"> This is what comes with the game:</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"> A full color A1 map</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"> 16 page rulebook</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"> 286 high quality, 15mm die cut counters</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"> Front and Back cover with game aids, charts and tables</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"> Sturdy 100my ZIP-lock bag</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Game Turn: 2 days</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Hex: about 3 to about 4 km</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Units: Battalion to Division</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Solitaire Playability: High</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Complexity Level: Medium</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Players: 2 or more</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Playing Time: 3-10 hours</span></p><div><br /></div><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgApnPI2GquDyU9Z5nQpc5KmSIYjJZw8bp7Afi0fs2wgFI6r19aT3oNTT_9LXE5jIlbTOnsK5InaVu9QbltvHVrhrhVSzdRHA_rW6HBQKMdtdUQqWRI3ctoqfxe1w157B8_bTF_gshmJWxYhDAB-k7Vn6F8okzokT8jW7VTERQoN2-NlyuQZnqIYd8NhdkT/s620/0e737b_a7892d0968ef437fbaf5300cc1e28179~mv2.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="620" data-original-width="500" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgApnPI2GquDyU9Z5nQpc5KmSIYjJZw8bp7Afi0fs2wgFI6r19aT3oNTT_9LXE5jIlbTOnsK5InaVu9QbltvHVrhrhVSzdRHA_rW6HBQKMdtdUQqWRI3ctoqfxe1w157B8_bTF_gshmJWxYhDAB-k7Vn6F8okzokT8jW7VTERQoN2-NlyuQZnqIYd8NhdkT/w516-h640/0e737b_a7892d0968ef437fbaf5300cc1e28179~mv2.jpg" width="516" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Soviet counters</span></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"> The map is a standard size one. It has large hexes and is easy to read. The Turn Record Track and some German and Soviet holding boxes are on it. As far as wargames maps go this is pretty standard. On its plus side is that there is no ambiguity to the terrain in each hex. The counters are also large and easy to read. There is no difficulty in distinguishing between the counters for setup purpose. Their color is pretty standard also, black for SS, gray for Army (Heer), with the Soviet regular troops brown and the guards units being red. Watch out when dealing with the counters. They look like the older ones we are used to, but these want to detach from the sprues in a slight breeze. The Rulebook is in black and white on thick paper. It is printed in double columns and the type is large. The Rulebook is sixteen pages long. The actual rules are only twelve pages and then comes the setup, Optional Rules, Designer Notes, and finally Random Events. There are two cardstock full page Player Aids. These are in full color. Most of the writing is fine, but the Terrain Chart writing is small. What we have here is a fine group of components for a wargame.</span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: left;"></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNdyJ-9y_4MR7mQlirNwalY_6izr6NxeORVe-KPtR8ZlYpew-24XTsBhd5er0sQr0TDm5u5XTN3ulhY3OFL5PuGnLS4dSyI2zO64e7hvI-D1ueG60v9qvrO4yhZc0jV21bbNZrO5lL1N_4K6-58HGAw5h0AC2VW_iSBKkgQkDL-jM_NEzDswnz-xbeWKJV/s599/0e737b_61c7d9c50af3462283fa753bc2fcdffa~mv2.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="599" data-original-width="482" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNdyJ-9y_4MR7mQlirNwalY_6izr6NxeORVe-KPtR8ZlYpew-24XTsBhd5er0sQr0TDm5u5XTN3ulhY3OFL5PuGnLS4dSyI2zO64e7hvI-D1ueG60v9qvrO4yhZc0jV21bbNZrO5lL1N_4K6-58HGAw5h0AC2VW_iSBKkgQkDL-jM_NEzDswnz-xbeWKJV/w514-h640/0e737b_61c7d9c50af3462283fa753bc2fcdffa~mv2.jpg" width="514" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">German counters</span></td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><p style="text-align: left;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: left;"> <span style="font-size: large;">This is the Sequence of Play:</span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">Air Unit Phase</span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"> Refitted Unit Return Segment</span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"> Grounded Unit Refitting Segment</span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">Random Event Phase</span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"> Random Event Table Roll Segment</span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">Command Phase</span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"> Command Segment</span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"> Movement Segment</span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"> Combat Segment</span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">Supply Phase</span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">Reinforcement Phase</span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"> Reinforcement Segment</span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"> Soviet Replacement Segment</span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"> Volkstrum Deployment Segment</span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">End of Turn Phase</span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></p><p style="text-align: left;"></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJOB4O4Wev68JINSJladDIB3ZwaLNelL5flIDPTlxRGkkKxKnFJkltHWlX23A9mI-8Gba8xh3xDuqYhkvxFZNE9iqhrBWkp-I59BYUuoMuBwIS4wuqdAJLWlf41Afrij2FdxU9Z3pgjil1pD_qgQSW0YMZJQYMW4SZcxW13Kxc40kzi6Z6Eo6asCt2r7f5/s448/0e737b_303e2e2b5fd749fa89fe484d6f5acf9d~mv2.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="444" data-original-width="448" height="317" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJOB4O4Wev68JINSJladDIB3ZwaLNelL5flIDPTlxRGkkKxKnFJkltHWlX23A9mI-8Gba8xh3xDuqYhkvxFZNE9iqhrBWkp-I59BYUuoMuBwIS4wuqdAJLWlf41Afrij2FdxU9Z3pgjil1pD_qgQSW0YMZJQYMW4SZcxW13Kxc40kzi6Z6Eo6asCt2r7f5/w320-h317/0e737b_303e2e2b5fd749fa89fe484d6f5acf9d~mv2.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">German counter with a Hetzer on it</span></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><p></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"> This is the fourth game in Three Crowns Games WWII Battle Series. Some of the other games in the system are:</span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">Iskra, Tolling of the Bell, Konigsberg 45, Across the Narva </span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"> The game series has all the rules about everything we grognards expect to see: Fog of War, Command Chits, Regular and Strategic Movement, Rail Movement, Stacking, Reinforcements, Barrage, Retreats, Supply etc.</span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"> So, pretty much if it walks, and looks and plays like a grognards wargame, it is one. This game and all of Three Crown Games games are meat and potatoes for grognards. Nothing too overly fancy with great gameplay. I have always liked the Random Events that they come up with in all of their games I have played. One thing about the game in the Designer Notes is the fact that the OOBs for the game are probably not spot on for the actual battle. It has all of the major units listed but, especially on the German side, it is hard to say for certain. With the destruction of records and the German forces completely falling apart, to assemble a complete OOB without any errors would be practically impossible. </span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"> The game plays like any wargame about the Eastern front in 1945. As the Soviet player, you are supposed to charge forward and crush everything with your tank tracks. As the German player, you are really emulating Hans Brinker. The only problem is that you only have so many digits to plug the holes. The game adds some chrome with a counter for Rudel among other things.</span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">The Victory Conditions are:</span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">Soviet Sudden Death Victory: If the Soviets have any of the Victory Hexes in Stettin.</span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">German Sudden Death Victory: If the German player can get three attack-capable units off the map through the Landsberg Supply Line.</span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">The normal Victory Conditions are based on the Soviet possession of Victory Point Hexes.</span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"> Thank you, Three Crown Games, for allowing me to review another of your great wargames.</span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">Robert</span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">Three Crowns Games:</span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><a href="https://www.threecrownsgames.com/"><span style="font-size: large;">War Game Design | Three Crowns Games Production (3cg)</span></a></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">Stargard Solstice:</span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><a href="https://www.threecrownsgames.com/product-page/stargard-solstice"><span style="font-size: large;">Stargard Solstice | 3CG (threecrownsgames.com)</span></a></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">Please see my review of their East Prussian Carnage:</span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><a href="https://www.awargamersneedfulthings.co.uk/2023/07/east-prussian-carnage-tannenberg.html"><span style="font-size: large;">East Prussian Carnage: The Tannenberg Campaign 1914 by Three Crowns Games - A Wargamers Needful Things</span></a></p>Robert Petersonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17114299951391079193noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4437416196467752074.post-11680452503924338272023-10-15T20:25:00.001+01:002023-10-15T20:25:39.178+01:00Fortress Games Talks About Their Games and Themselves<p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Fortress Games Talks About Their Games and Themselves</span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: center;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1bNPiE69gtJHESz1Ryu9NNQavSy5F4gTTxVM9i8u06zu3hOtmRungBIpOStyElYja4yTZcVebCGDAGiZ7BCD2lorQk_-2620vMUtw9fSPp1zVKKc0zgEL9QeodDxm6U9RfAfpxfJtUKL5oJRxxkLvTmLGlEUaHnemzrmjtWi8JD1YNNy6dS1MD-hwTyBL/s650/8th-AF.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="650" data-original-width="600" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1bNPiE69gtJHESz1Ryu9NNQavSy5F4gTTxVM9i8u06zu3hOtmRungBIpOStyElYja4yTZcVebCGDAGiZ7BCD2lorQk_-2620vMUtw9fSPp1zVKKc0zgEL9QeodDxm6U9RfAfpxfJtUKL5oJRxxkLvTmLGlEUaHnemzrmjtWi8JD1YNNy6dS1MD-hwTyBL/w590-h640/8th-AF.png" width="590" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><p></p><p style="text-align: left;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span> </span><span>"<span face="Aptos, Aptos_EmbeddedFont, Aptos_MSFontService, Calibri, Helvetica, sans-serif" style="background-color: white;">Fortress Games was a product of two things: what I thought was a revolutionary board game combo, and…Covid, lol.</span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; font-family: Aptos, Aptos_EmbeddedFont, Aptos_MSFontService, Calibri, Helvetica, sans-serif; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: large;"><u></u></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; font-family: Aptos, Aptos_EmbeddedFont, Aptos_MSFontService, Calibri, Helvetica, sans-serif; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; font-family: Aptos, Aptos_EmbeddedFont, Aptos_MSFontService, Calibri, Helvetica, sans-serif; margin: 0px;"><span><span style="font-size: large;">Sitting around the house or just walking around the block here in Florida during early 2020 while restaurants, stores, and just about everything else was closed, I decided to dedicate a bunch of time to developing a solitaire game about the 8<sup>th</sup> Air Force’s bombing campaign against Germany in WW2. I’d always loved Avalon Hill’s “Luftwaffe” as a kid – preplanning your bombing missions and then executing them – but the game had several fatal (in my opinion) flaws: needing to chart out the missions with a pencil and pad each campaign turn, requiring all Luftwaffe planes of the same type to land at the same time (probably to save bookkeeping time on airborne German fighters), and other issues. There was for me a truly eureka moment on a walk around the block one day when I realized I had the solutions to all those issues and could build a great solitaire game. At the time, I assumed it would be another game for my and my friends’ entertainment.<u></u><u></u></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; font-family: Aptos, Aptos_EmbeddedFont, Aptos_MSFontService, Calibri, Helvetica, sans-serif; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; font-family: Aptos, Aptos_EmbeddedFont, Aptos_MSFontService, Calibri, Helvetica, sans-serif; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; font-family: Aptos, Aptos_EmbeddedFont, Aptos_MSFontService, Calibri, Helvetica, sans-serif; margin: 0px;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNSa0cYVNr1eC6rqqW82rXuSW0hYh6dXyRHqtvyQsaUJjFI1AXB7YWvWUv-0NIsRnyLbkS-G3qaCY-aD-fNg9mkf4RojE5Q0yz47-Lzkg8o48pB35ldzax4KvNTQm1bv8bH8xWAl9vHYibEqMwPMlQS94eULjv33Qg1aEMngmSvXkwwPkpMkq-_k1yqmg5/s1024/8th-AF-back-of-box-796x1024.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1024" data-original-width="796" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNSa0cYVNr1eC6rqqW82rXuSW0hYh6dXyRHqtvyQsaUJjFI1AXB7YWvWUv-0NIsRnyLbkS-G3qaCY-aD-fNg9mkf4RojE5Q0yz47-Lzkg8o48pB35ldzax4KvNTQm1bv8bH8xWAl9vHYibEqMwPMlQS94eULjv33Qg1aEMngmSvXkwwPkpMkq-_k1yqmg5/w498-h640/8th-AF-back-of-box-796x1024.png" width="498" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; font-family: Aptos, Aptos_EmbeddedFont, Aptos_MSFontService, Calibri, Helvetica, sans-serif; margin: 0px;"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; font-family: Aptos, Aptos_EmbeddedFont, Aptos_MSFontService, Calibri, Helvetica, sans-serif; margin: 0px;"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; font-family: Aptos, Aptos_EmbeddedFont, Aptos_MSFontService, Calibri, Helvetica, sans-serif; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: large;">A brief detour to disclose a little about me – I’ve designed games since I was a young kid. I definitely had a bit of a knack for it: when I was in college in the early 80s the war in El Salvador was in the news every day, so I designed a game about it and put it in the common area of my dorm. For the whole year you’d never walk in there without two kids playing it and others watching and commenting. Based on its success I designed a Vietnam game which was equally popular. With more titles in mind, we contemplated launching a game company to compete with Avalon Hill, SPI, etc. after we graduated but, upon doing a little research, realized that logistical work of starting a game company – lawyers for copyrights, trademarks; vetting artists; finding printers who could print all the game elements including printed and punched counters (good luck on that in 1983) – the whole thing was overwhelming for a bunch of 22 year olds, and we passed.<u></u><u></u></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; font-family: Aptos, Aptos_EmbeddedFont, Aptos_MSFontService, Calibri, Helvetica, sans-serif; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; font-family: Aptos, Aptos_EmbeddedFont, Aptos_MSFontService, Calibri, Helvetica, sans-serif; margin: 0px;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYJoV6NmPALbz2F3WjZVgFJDS3SagRqCIB_rlrMfZPYBS5dPzAUewFuuafPEZVYsu3B9HAKpWQ8VU7KJrnPe1xZ3kIBBDualAWPYT_8T4XzdnYHpHyAQU2b16hpvTJMADFVrgsN2k5vurFBZ1l2ToIYl5UGaAkYfdUGfR0Q-JfT_BWIU6v717ixv2JJMUS/s1024/8-box-555x1024.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1024" data-original-width="555" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYJoV6NmPALbz2F3WjZVgFJDS3SagRqCIB_rlrMfZPYBS5dPzAUewFuuafPEZVYsu3B9HAKpWQ8VU7KJrnPe1xZ3kIBBDualAWPYT_8T4XzdnYHpHyAQU2b16hpvTJMADFVrgsN2k5vurFBZ1l2ToIYl5UGaAkYfdUGfR0Q-JfT_BWIU6v717ixv2JJMUS/w346-h640/8-box-555x1024.png" width="346" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; font-family: Aptos, Aptos_EmbeddedFont, Aptos_MSFontService, Calibri, Helvetica, sans-serif; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: large;">Fast forward to 2020 – all those things are easy (or easier) thanks to the internet! So, I had designed “8<sup>th</sup> Air Force” for my own amusement. In the process, I designed “20<sup>th</sup> Air Force” because it was a logical twin game. No one has done a game of the strategic bombing campaign against Japan that culminated in the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, and the “8<sup>th</sup> Air Force” game system worked perfectly and the two campaigns were different enough that both games were unique. By the way, both games are seriously fun! I’ve designed dozens of games in my life, and I’ve enjoyed and developed them all to some extent or another, but I’d never designed a game as great as “8<sup>th</sup> Air Force” (and “20<sup>th</sup> Air Force”, but I give founders credit to “8<sup>th</sup> Air Force” because it was the desire to recreate that campaign that created all the concepts). Talking to some friends about it one day I was told why don’t you publish them? After an evening of discussing it I realized that, in 2020, that might actually be doable!<u></u><u></u></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; font-family: Aptos, Aptos_EmbeddedFont, Aptos_MSFontService, Calibri, Helvetica, sans-serif; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; font-family: Aptos, Aptos_EmbeddedFont, Aptos_MSFontService, Calibri, Helvetica, sans-serif; margin: 0px;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZvbLVDcZemUpyBvsvyOnSChIZCiIFLXJr6oKp6Jji_r3-F7izpQxYFziGYyV3bF1hO4ue0GPiR8k4PgFbpQqKhNAKGaCmjjmSTvvQ6saXabG_dHzYgzsQVQKBVEkAAw2e68KTnGFTT62udwEAqcVbzujokSwd7FsSs3HXrEvkQvOMkGl8TFP3IBAMJkiX/s648/SSV.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="648" data-original-width="600" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZvbLVDcZemUpyBvsvyOnSChIZCiIFLXJr6oKp6Jji_r3-F7izpQxYFziGYyV3bF1hO4ue0GPiR8k4PgFbpQqKhNAKGaCmjjmSTvvQ6saXabG_dHzYgzsQVQKBVEkAAw2e68KTnGFTT62udwEAqcVbzujokSwd7FsSs3HXrEvkQvOMkGl8TFP3IBAMJkiX/w592-h640/SSV.png" width="592" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; font-family: Aptos, Aptos_EmbeddedFont, Aptos_MSFontService, Calibri, Helvetica, sans-serif; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; font-family: Aptos, Aptos_EmbeddedFont, Aptos_MSFontService, Calibri, Helvetica, sans-serif; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: large;">We launched our Kickstarter campaign in September, 2020 and sold $8,700 worth of folio games. While dedicated to delivering quickly and with quality to our customers, I nevertheless considered this likely a hobby of sorts, not a business, but the games got GREAT play reviews. Next thing I knew we completely sold out our inventory, just weeks after the KS campaign was fulfilled! Our customers had to wait weeks for our second, much larger print, and it sold like crazy. I realized I had an actual business.<u></u><u></u></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; font-family: Aptos, Aptos_EmbeddedFont, Aptos_MSFontService, Calibri, Helvetica, sans-serif; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; font-family: Aptos, Aptos_EmbeddedFont, Aptos_MSFontService, Calibri, Helvetica, sans-serif; margin: 0px;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQ1RcXqwJhvDxYtQmhCaaQTmCMxJvHKibmQNFoFcvpFyp9pqme568WoG3XSGwmjHhGoyQyqqZZY7SGYjh_y3gzpL7HUY_nR2S43oDDgyD7pfOjO_z8uVOtA5mDahHOUwLGwk7FsZmiZXoCN_-auGu9ZbEoQrU9OhWc_7m4mFcwhqa9uA-qyQ-5QQKWDn8t/s650/20th-AF.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="650" data-original-width="600" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQ1RcXqwJhvDxYtQmhCaaQTmCMxJvHKibmQNFoFcvpFyp9pqme568WoG3XSGwmjHhGoyQyqqZZY7SGYjh_y3gzpL7HUY_nR2S43oDDgyD7pfOjO_z8uVOtA5mDahHOUwLGwk7FsZmiZXoCN_-auGu9ZbEoQrU9OhWc_7m4mFcwhqa9uA-qyQ-5QQKWDn8t/w590-h640/20th-AF.png" width="590" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; font-family: Aptos, Aptos_EmbeddedFont, Aptos_MSFontService, Calibri, Helvetica, sans-serif; margin: 0px;"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; font-family: Aptos, Aptos_EmbeddedFont, Aptos_MSFontService, Calibri, Helvetica, sans-serif; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: large;">Our next offerings were “Save Afghanistan, Comrade!” and “Save South Vietnam!” – again twin solitaire folio games, in a Kickstarter campaign which started October, 2021. We learned a lot from our first publications and I would venture that the component quality (game board and counter art, game manual structure, etc.) of these games were leagues superior to our first two offerings. This time we sold $9,000 worth of games and, again, sold out our inventory after the KS – this time I was a little ahead of the game and had restocked my inventory with a handful of games left in stock. A little background on the games, because how could we develop and playtest, etc., two new games that fast? They were already completely done. I designed them, “Save Afghanistan, Comrade!” first, around 2001 and had been playing ever since. I chose these themes because in 2001 I wanted a game about the Soviet war in Afghanistan and there simply was none. Similar to 8<sup>th</sup> AF & 20<sup>th</sup> AF, when I had designed “Save Afghanistan, Comrade!” and was thoroughly enjoying it, I realized the system leant itself perfectly to the US adventure in Vietnam and designed that game probably in 2002. At that time, I never even considered publishing them for the same reasons my college friends and I never launched in 1983. But after the success of 8<sup>th</sup> AF & 20<sup>th</sup> AF, especially with what I learned publishing them, it was pretty easy to get a fully designed and play tested game system published. The work was in the art and writing the game manual, but it’s nice to start with a fully developed system.<u></u><u></u></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; font-family: Aptos, Aptos_EmbeddedFont, Aptos_MSFontService, Calibri, Helvetica, sans-serif; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; font-family: Aptos, Aptos_EmbeddedFont, Aptos_MSFontService, Calibri, Helvetica, sans-serif; margin: 0px;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmFjL1B0feDEGGtWogeN6O9WENdCYDOJBVKQKOl0_xY6OAibiPuuE_anX8hqFWxl_hJL2Cv2NkMFJ_1lvFKYRuxoLhKyeCAwgvVrtEQWqv11JV3pX0eLN_I7_P9gEqdTzwenqrHScyo_nHGKUtn6FR068bgbw18KP-IBScS6Ga0iTHU4e1tfqFE8OrL9hf/s650/SAC.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="650" data-original-width="600" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmFjL1B0feDEGGtWogeN6O9WENdCYDOJBVKQKOl0_xY6OAibiPuuE_anX8hqFWxl_hJL2Cv2NkMFJ_1lvFKYRuxoLhKyeCAwgvVrtEQWqv11JV3pX0eLN_I7_P9gEqdTzwenqrHScyo_nHGKUtn6FR068bgbw18KP-IBScS6Ga0iTHU4e1tfqFE8OrL9hf/w590-h640/SAC.png" width="590" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; font-family: Aptos, Aptos_EmbeddedFont, Aptos_MSFontService, Calibri, Helvetica, sans-serif; margin: 0px;"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; font-family: Aptos, Aptos_EmbeddedFont, Aptos_MSFontService, Calibri, Helvetica, sans-serif; margin: 0px;"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; font-family: Aptos, Aptos_EmbeddedFont, Aptos_MSFontService, Calibri, Helvetica, sans-serif; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: large;">Finally, the high quality of the artwork in the “Save” game series compared with the “Air Force” series made me a little embarrassed at our first publication. In our defense, we were new and inexperienced when we launched 8<sup>th</sup> AF & 20<sup>th</sup> AF, and the game play received GREAT reviews and required no errata, but the component quality of these two great games was no longer acceptable. So, our last Kickstarter (January, 2023) was a complete redo of those two games: in shrink-wrapped BOXES not folios, on MOUNTED game boards no cardstock, laser-cut super-high-quality counters, all new game board player aid and counter artwork, and completely redone rulebooks including countless illustrations and illustrated examples. While our first two KS campaigns did about $9k each, this one did $38k, and the sales have been pouring in ever since. By the way, I tried very hard to take care of the original KS backers of 8<sup>th</sup> AF & 20<sup>th</sup> AF – if you were an original backer you got both games for $59, or $29.50 each. We sell them post-KS from our website for $69 each, or $139 for both. I went over my philosophical approach to our original supporters in an interview I did with the “Lead Pursuit” podcast which I have a link to on our website (click “News”, scroll down to 3/1/2023).<u></u><u></u></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; font-family: Aptos, Aptos_EmbeddedFont, Aptos_MSFontService, Calibri, Helvetica, sans-serif; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; font-family: Aptos, Aptos_EmbeddedFont, Aptos_MSFontService, Calibri, Helvetica, sans-serif; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: large;">We currently have two more twin solitaire games in the works, but while the first one is very well along (90%, including fully playtested), the second one has lots of work ahead, including lots of playtesting, so it’s hard for me to imagine publication before mid-late next year. Again, we’ll launch them on Kickstarter."</span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"> </span><span style="font-size: medium;">Thank you very much for this look under the hood, so to speak.</span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span>Fortress Games: </span><a href="https://fortress-games.net/"><span>Fortress Games – The Art of Wargames (fortress-games.net)</span></a></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p>Robert Petersonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17114299951391079193noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4437416196467752074.post-43177972585489930572023-10-10T12:29:00.006+01:002023-10-10T12:41:17.971+01:00STUKA LEADER<h1 style="text-align: center;"><i>STUKA LEADER</i> </h1><div style="text-align: center;"><b>FROM</b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: x-large;">DVG</span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-weight: bold; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1hm1Z0m-RGXIjYpeUZFb1C7eHDJ-1Nor2od9TTC4qWZ7BYMHEb3qme6sDYCXjcBiSnUTF74MVcMZW4J_YnvpnVugCA5KrH74cN9AfqwpenX5dw5ElZJun4ycuZh_OEO-zP-2QrDzoT0RQsBdX0dWbRqv0AiCIIxOTStAjSAA16T0Hu4LyWN1T-AsTyPs/s3026/Box%20Cover.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3026" data-original-width="2255" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1hm1Z0m-RGXIjYpeUZFb1C7eHDJ-1Nor2od9TTC4qWZ7BYMHEb3qme6sDYCXjcBiSnUTF74MVcMZW4J_YnvpnVugCA5KrH74cN9AfqwpenX5dw5ElZJun4ycuZh_OEO-zP-2QrDzoT0RQsBdX0dWbRqv0AiCIIxOTStAjSAA16T0Hu4LyWN1T-AsTyPs/w476-h640/Box%20Cover.jpg" width="476" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">After the amazing package of the latest <i style="font-weight: bold;">Warfighter WWII </i>boxed games and the huge stack of expansion decks that I recently reviewed, I am again indebted to <b>Dan Verssen Games</b> for their generosity in providing me with not only a review copy of <b><i>Stuka Leader</i></b> but all seven expansion packs!</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">If you've followed my reviews, you'll know that over the years the Leader series in the air, beneath the waves and on land have been a familiar feature among the many games I've reviewed here on <i><b>A Wargamers Needful Things</b></i> and in some ways it's hard to do more than say, "Wow, they've done it again."</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">If somehow you haven't experienced any of these stunning games before, I'd suggest that you have a quick look first at both my earliest and my most recent review of the air games in the Leader corpus - links to which can be found at the end of this review. This will give you all the background knowledge to this excellent system and how it works. <span style="color: red;">[</span><i><span style="color: red;">For those of you new to the series and of an impatient disposition, I've copied in a lengthy extract at the end of this review that you might like to read now from my <b>Zero Leader</b> review</span></i> <span style="color: red;">that gives you an overview of the Sequence of Play.]</span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">For those of you already familiar, I know it's been quite a lengthy wait for this much anticipated addition, but I hope you'll agree that, as always, your patience has eventually been rewarded with another amazing offering.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">Component quality maintains the highest possible standards in all areas, with continued tweaks and additions that just add that extra touch of pizzazz.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0T4wfYJwFvMS9zylpWbc5azTtz7GG-RuG-cNgwwrE8K1iJ_CIOI3PW3SDJkQknr_gqPQmZfmBoHk_IrZ7R5t5OZ2B0wBdaXlOwh9wRXMuQyBuVm3Z0L9sS9MYPwwlgc_kSdEwtz46YOw5RM2S2JNyQqI6rhxKQC9qQs9dtsMUebb8wJxAV2jWuVEiTU0/s2931/Game%20Board.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2327" data-original-width="2931" height="508" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0T4wfYJwFvMS9zylpWbc5azTtz7GG-RuG-cNgwwrE8K1iJ_CIOI3PW3SDJkQknr_gqPQmZfmBoHk_IrZ7R5t5OZ2B0wBdaXlOwh9wRXMuQyBuVm3Z0L9sS9MYPwwlgc_kSdEwtz46YOw5RM2S2JNyQqI6rhxKQC9qQs9dtsMUebb8wJxAV2jWuVEiTU0/w640-h508/Game%20Board.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">It starts here with the mounted Tactical Display board where all the action takes place. The information is much the same, but presented with just that touch more detail and style. Where you will place your air unit and the opposing enemy units has been upgraded from a simple black or blue background to an aerial map image. This alone would be a nice cosmetic improvement, but the game comes with <i>seven </i>double-sided overlays to chime in with the many differing campaigns and locations you will be flying over. From heavily urban dock waterfronts to what looks like a bend in the Thames through London and on to a convoy probably in the English Channel, each adds an element of historical depth to the situation. </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhU1Ooaj_Z-nMbGFxj4H_BwieDHVIfdwRA00tKhRO5MQu-J2FZdav5cGYY1fs-rdCg4H3K9N0v0-4ouzPxmzh5l1SEx15BkYXEmzYKhvs8br8QUpxtNejgArnu4ZKsZAnnIxmTbn6GEIB_Ute2aKq1sICRBrpijEZkVp1dz1XIzHfIXQaNnmWh-3luyX8E/s3264/Target%20Card%20chnage%202.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2448" data-original-width="3264" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhU1Ooaj_Z-nMbGFxj4H_BwieDHVIfdwRA00tKhRO5MQu-J2FZdav5cGYY1fs-rdCg4H3K9N0v0-4ouzPxmzh5l1SEx15BkYXEmzYKhvs8br8QUpxtNejgArnu4ZKsZAnnIxmTbn6GEIB_Ute2aKq1sICRBrpijEZkVp1dz1XIzHfIXQaNnmWh-3luyX8E/w640-h480/Target%20Card%20chnage%202.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><b>One of my favourite overlays</b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">The turn track has been given just a little more clarity and prominence at the top left of the board and I love the sequence of holding areas illustrated with an ambulance, a fuel bowser and a supply truck, where you will place your medic tokens, fuel barrels and supply cubes. </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">As always there is a massive number of unit counter sheets, eleven in all, and five packs of cards encompassing the expected stacks of pilots (83 in total), Event Cards and Target Cards. The fifteen substantial Campaign sheets all on flexible A4 card stock, in fact, offer the ability to fight a massive total of 30 campaigns - all of which can be played as short, medium or long in turn length. </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmb9cttVYk8fpfUJYPqrYrGdlc3GgLGkpodc-hV4vDFcOHLUhZ-yr3wfJHCrtMGRcuzVclvxZ5UgaD-AbyliG-7rZ9LJ4QpnA1_q_YMAeQtqVEhjMlmkletegrM-ePaxDTWGk_koM0rtx05j_wdUwU4hcGkUAvCsKzQDtPDpmoHr_8WyTcfy3Gddw2Sjs/s3264/All%20Campaign%20Sheets.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2448" data-original-width="3264" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmb9cttVYk8fpfUJYPqrYrGdlc3GgLGkpodc-hV4vDFcOHLUhZ-yr3wfJHCrtMGRcuzVclvxZ5UgaD-AbyliG-7rZ9LJ4QpnA1_q_YMAeQtqVEhjMlmkletegrM-ePaxDTWGk_koM0rtx05j_wdUwU4hcGkUAvCsKzQDtPDpmoHr_8WyTcfy3Gddw2Sjs/w640-h480/All%20Campaign%20Sheets.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">To help you in your choice of Campaign, the back of the Rule Book contains 2 Appendices, both of which list the degree of difficulty of each campaign ranging from Introductory level, through Standard and Skilled to Expert level. One Appendix records which German fighters and bombers are available in each year and the other does the same for Enemy Aircraft.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgesIX9fq9SMOos_S9grwHjDntWI3v0m_b47k2E5woUkkugWj287opcANrFbmM_GY6DfD8az6KYaj1njim-01_1xzUMbQd9r6Hv4ZV8c-67UFq_WpZmmkHk2fdp7tsnyOXKBq2bgfNuNrpo3ByratHHoA8z7_ZHvn1B89ll-YwclB3xdrEhZUyntty81Zg/s2985/Battle%20of%20Britain.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2985" data-original-width="2320" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgesIX9fq9SMOos_S9grwHjDntWI3v0m_b47k2E5woUkkugWj287opcANrFbmM_GY6DfD8az6KYaj1njim-01_1xzUMbQd9r6Hv4ZV8c-67UFq_WpZmmkHk2fdp7tsnyOXKBq2bgfNuNrpo3ByratHHoA8z7_ZHvn1B89ll-YwclB3xdrEhZUyntty81Zg/w498-h640/Battle%20of%20Britain.jpg" width="498" /></a></div><span style="font-size: large;"><b>The Battle of Britain Campaign Card</b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>- not too surprising, it's a favourite of mine!<br /></b></span><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">Of identical quality are four Play Aids: Key Terms, Hit Result Definitions, Player Help sheet and Skills,</span><span style="font-size: large;"><span> </span><span>while the final two Play Aids: Stuka Dogfight and Turreted Bombers are substantial rigid A4 boards. Love the pic of Marlene Dietrich in the top corner.</span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpacMvkFia32wBGZBmkXJZdk8YBXb6NpmUcFQ2bRiE9jXDfVM0pFjhdIqZwBLJB2bhEuYQrK5e9OcynCyG9Ks76pl6w0OpU-VcJ-wYWMBQtHTiXBp7Cb2nRlTfidr14CHFtrGdWSHQLjtPl51nGTHxetstB0yXjYvNelOh8iMkBjFpJF7Waqbu6mqScVc/s2880/Dogfight.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2880" data-original-width="2212" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpacMvkFia32wBGZBmkXJZdk8YBXb6NpmUcFQ2bRiE9jXDfVM0pFjhdIqZwBLJB2bhEuYQrK5e9OcynCyG9Ks76pl6w0OpU-VcJ-wYWMBQtHTiXBp7Cb2nRlTfidr14CHFtrGdWSHQLjtPl51nGTHxetstB0yXjYvNelOh8iMkBjFpJF7Waqbu6mqScVc/w492-h640/Dogfight.jpg" width="492" /></a></div><br /> </span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="text-align: center;">The final essential form is the Player Log, which remains, for what reason I've never understood, on thin paper, but at least this time it has been upgraded to the same glossy sepia colour as all the other Aids.</span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">Among these many items, I was particularly thrilled by the range of Target Cards. They cover so many tantalising situations from larger missions like bombing an airfield or radar installation to attacking a convoy of trucks or hitting an AA battery and even conducting an Air/Sea Rescue mission.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">The rulebook remains almost identical in every way to previous Leader games that deal with the war in the air. The same high quality of paper and print is matched by the attention to detail in drawing all the many illustrations and examples from the appropriate German material, even to a smattering of quotations from the Luftwaffe flying ace, Adolf Galland. The rules, though detailed, are well-honed to perfection by now and continue to be in a layout that makes use of an exemplary use of white space. As a result everything progresses in meticulous order from a thorough explanation of components through Set-up and into the exact Sequence of Play and ending with Aces expansion rules. a single page of very simple options and ending with five pages of aircraft data.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">Though you get a few brief Aces rules, to use them you'll need the last of the seven Expansion packs that DVG so generously sent me. Below is what each package looks like, before opening and unzipping.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9uGnny3q-PKR7WJNQiQLEA5lxH5oU889E3JOrJAKUgZg81FwxGB2HNEbyetXQTY7zDUs4khlRREL2mrc-TYrVaIBFO92x1KmzZJbrkz3xVvpWTNHYP8EA0LNPMTSn65eCz4mqG1PsKJp5oXzRY__B49hAx7gGKy2QN0MKVYO_8kO44g95nM_bgnkZPDE/s640/Exp%201.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="480" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9uGnny3q-PKR7WJNQiQLEA5lxH5oU889E3JOrJAKUgZg81FwxGB2HNEbyetXQTY7zDUs4khlRREL2mrc-TYrVaIBFO92x1KmzZJbrkz3xVvpWTNHYP8EA0LNPMTSn65eCz4mqG1PsKJp5oXzRY__B49hAx7gGKy2QN0MKVYO_8kO44g95nM_bgnkZPDE/w480-h640/Exp%201.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;">They cover the following theatres of the war.</div><div style="text-align: left;">Expansion 1 Eastern Front 1</div><div style="text-align: left;">Expansion 2 Eastern Front 2</div><div style="text-align: left;">Expansion 3 Mediterranean 1</div><div style="text-align: left;">Expansion 4 Mediterranean 2</div><div style="text-align: left;">Expansion 5 Spanish Civil War</div><div style="text-align: left;">Expansion 6 What If?</div><div style="text-align: left;">Expansion 7 Aces</div><div style="text-align: left;">Despite there being several Eastern Front campaigns in the core box, I know that this is a focus I'll be drawn back to. Though for me first on my list to explore has been the Spanish Civil War expansion, a period I've repeatedly been drawn to both in historical accounts and novels as well as board wargames. Each Expansion pack includes a full counter sheet, a deck of cards containing mainly more pilots, but also a few Event and Target Cards and much to my delight not just one new campaign Sheet, but two! The sequence of photos that follow come from the Spanish Civil War expansion</div><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgf67oTWVJl1ayJTOBrg1GpQtlPOa9cr4XCULbPbITihc6n59jxY4aH9Ss_AoZkaovTqxXfflQuCBCfWGWZeI2uyi9ym2Og7l4NECda5nBhmsqHR_1ImHTTnaabddtuwiruQIBlmtjrYjY_9Bhu-Z-n1JtDcpyWSK49hYXCszLol0hYJ0eUtIT6uOXFiGI/s591/SpCW%20campaign%201.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="591" data-original-width="458" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgf67oTWVJl1ayJTOBrg1GpQtlPOa9cr4XCULbPbITihc6n59jxY4aH9Ss_AoZkaovTqxXfflQuCBCfWGWZeI2uyi9ym2Og7l4NECda5nBhmsqHR_1ImHTTnaabddtuwiruQIBlmtjrYjY_9Bhu-Z-n1JtDcpyWSK49hYXCszLol0hYJ0eUtIT6uOXFiGI/s320/SpCW%20campaign%201.jpg" width="248" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjKdBa96WOCUy6hhZWKOP5jEkXr6DYD3-SySVxNVFscAa3Kac83AQSddQD3tEa0NQyLthzLUpn8I5OUzGYwNi0BOQDotCt-bLbDlRmFiWQhdotnQsL7XCSgZtYZQvrSNVM0m_y9ikfdQGXUoztQ6Q2dJPs3HueVzEQtpBsapwTyDjghlm0-LKBh4H-Fa8/s619/SpCW%20campaign%202.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="619" data-original-width="470" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjKdBa96WOCUy6hhZWKOP5jEkXr6DYD3-SySVxNVFscAa3Kac83AQSddQD3tEa0NQyLthzLUpn8I5OUzGYwNi0BOQDotCt-bLbDlRmFiWQhdotnQsL7XCSgZtYZQvrSNVM0m_y9ikfdQGXUoztQ6Q2dJPs3HueVzEQtpBsapwTyDjghlm0-LKBh4H-Fa8/s320/SpCW%20campaign%202.jpg" width="243" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><br /> </span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXKrn7rG-JI55zxMamC8vJ_9TVC83_uT5P_4WjDiwj7j8hAL0rXV-nmH10jWQDd3Bsbm8dhR-mvdhNDqWF8-BV_IIFqEoxUwg0UPiDyLxq_Y6UinMpHm4HOyl8nIWJ4Vtq4TvlVJJ-5kVe4xXk3FrRM4GHRm1rlFKZRDoT6EtvInvdQJ6vLlSy7_6I_ls/s640/SpCW%20counters.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="480" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXKrn7rG-JI55zxMamC8vJ_9TVC83_uT5P_4WjDiwj7j8hAL0rXV-nmH10jWQDd3Bsbm8dhR-mvdhNDqWF8-BV_IIFqEoxUwg0UPiDyLxq_Y6UinMpHm4HOyl8nIWJ4Vtq4TvlVJJ-5kVe4xXk3FrRM4GHRm1rlFKZRDoT6EtvInvdQJ6vLlSy7_6I_ls/s320/SpCW%20counters.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjP6LCELV_LbU6sjMZMBi67fyyNEsnfzIj-I2MJEl8A7MWZItgdB-ZRxRW3oIYUOK5f1y07ewB-5VLRglU4d-Y6goSsFFrjT9DFlB67uETY4EvUrJVaaeKvh0blNS2UZMhmta4WkhD4DXmyqQMzjBGeAZ_T7sQaHIdIDn0z27LsNul1PATCt4nNH8woLY/s640/SpCW%20cards.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjP6LCELV_LbU6sjMZMBi67fyyNEsnfzIj-I2MJEl8A7MWZItgdB-ZRxRW3oIYUOK5f1y07ewB-5VLRglU4d-Y6goSsFFrjT9DFlB67uETY4EvUrJVaaeKvh0blNS2UZMhmta4WkhD4DXmyqQMzjBGeAZ_T7sQaHIdIDn0z27LsNul1PATCt4nNH8woLY/s320/SpCW%20cards.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggS6wi0wn5P673NXdvTkIybXJr1jTfbN5Lbvo3xeuZ5R6U75BExMpLp8_ZLl_bZQksNeRrzUYbswtHS_qJ0gXdeKjHDdhuQ1XZ-8I4CKHsa_TIu42k_nrN0ejpqPLVJ6EoYLSOZg8DkFcVScJhsgTyJ2cYXVahbqzE5bqT_CBqGNfjbf_umQwtpOvXT8E/s640/SpCW%20pilots.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="480" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggS6wi0wn5P673NXdvTkIybXJr1jTfbN5Lbvo3xeuZ5R6U75BExMpLp8_ZLl_bZQksNeRrzUYbswtHS_qJ0gXdeKjHDdhuQ1XZ-8I4CKHsa_TIu42k_nrN0ejpqPLVJ6EoYLSOZg8DkFcVScJhsgTyJ2cYXVahbqzE5bqT_CBqGNfjbf_umQwtpOvXT8E/s320/SpCW%20pilots.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><b>A nice thick stack of specific pilot cards</b></span></div></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">There's no doubt in my mind that this is not just a fantastic addition to the Leader series, but for me it's probably going to me my preferred choice- that is unless we can have a <i><b>Spitfire Leader</b></i> or <b style="font-style: italic;">Hurricane Leader</b>. Come on guys ... I know you can do it! </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: red; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: red; font-size: large;">Extract from Zero Leader review detailing Sequence of Play</span></div></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span><div><span style="border: medium none; font-size: medium; list-style: outside none none; margin: 0px; outline: none medium; padding: 0px;">Most steps in this game are fairly quick and easy to execute, with one major proviso and that is the need for a very careful initial sorting of components. This is particularly advisable for all the Pilot cards, which, I suggest, need to be grouped according to some system that you feel comfortable with. No solution can cover all the multiplicity of year ranges perfectly. So, my own preferred, personal choice is by plane type and then according to the earliest year in which a given Pilot first appears.</span></div><div><span style="border: medium none; font-size: medium; list-style: outside none none; margin: 0px; outline: none medium; padding: 0px;">As in all this series, there are 3 double-sided cards for each Pilot taking them from Newbie to Legendary level which you need to keep grouped together. </span></div><div><span style="border: medium none; font-size: medium; list-style: outside none none; margin: 0px; outline: none medium; padding: 0px;">With Target cards simply keep them in numerical order, draw the numbers needed for a specific Campaign and make sure they get slotted back at the end of a game. Event cards are a boon as they are always shuffled at the beginning of a game!</span></div><div><span style="border: medium none; font-size: medium; list-style: outside none none; margin: 0px; outline: none medium; padding: 0px;">For the many counters, the most important to sort are Site, Bandit and Bomber counters by year. Though not as necessary, sorting the pilot counters by plane type is very helpful, though small groupings by alphabetical order is a good alternative. </span></div><div><span style="border: medium none; font-size: medium; list-style: outside none none; margin: 0px; outline: none medium; padding: 0px;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="border: medium none; font-size: medium; list-style: outside none none; margin: 0px; outline: none medium; padding: 0px;">With that out of the way, you can get down to play where your first task is to choose one out of the fifteen Campaigns on offer. This is the identical number to those in the <i><b>Corsair Leader</b></i> game, though I was pleased to see a few different choices here. Each Campaign can be played for a Short/Medium/Long duration. As a starter, I'd suggest an Introductory Campaign such as Midway [a personal favourite] played for a Short or Medium duration. Next you'll select the appropriate Target cards as numbered on the well presented Campaign Card.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhy88J_8wfLZr3dCstRK26dLzf5FSgQJBml1mX38ihsWHZMyvw6pB0z707Ljom_hlYHF8zad5MjJ5k-HD7-cn99B_z4mqDPIKSMOxZHqBHyW0Xbv2jzGO7yC_mahdSEaI3xEJDwbMr0Ge4TG4ddWUS76wBFIx4bmrxz4Hxpo6bL7LanlZSNOieDQEPY=s640" style="border: medium none; color: #09bbb2; list-style: outside none none; margin: 0px 1em; outline: none medium; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="480" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhy88J_8wfLZr3dCstRK26dLzf5FSgQJBml1mX38ihsWHZMyvw6pB0z707Ljom_hlYHF8zad5MjJ5k-HD7-cn99B_z4mqDPIKSMOxZHqBHyW0Xbv2jzGO7yC_mahdSEaI3xEJDwbMr0Ge4TG4ddWUS76wBFIx4bmrxz4Hxpo6bL7LanlZSNOieDQEPY=w480-h640" style="border: medium none; height: auto; list-style: outside none none; margin: 0px; max-width: 500px; outline: none medium; padding: 0px;" width="480" /></span></a></div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="border: medium none; font-size: medium; list-style: outside none none; margin: 0px; outline: none medium; padding: 0px;">Among the many other details on the card are the types of Japanese planes involved and the types of Allied bandits and bombers, you may come up against. </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="border: medium none; font-size: medium; list-style: outside none none; margin: 0px; outline: none medium; padding: 0px;">Next you will select from among the named Pilot cards for the appropriate plane types and the year of the Campaign and the number of pilots allowed in your Squadron. The rule book supplies the latter information on the number of pilots as well as the typical experience composition for the appropriate year and Campaign duration. So, continuing as an example Midway and a Medium duration, I would choose 10 pilots made up of the following experience levels - 1 Newbie, 2 Green, 4 Average, 1 Skilled and 2 Veteran. It's also worth noting that all Pilots are also divided into two categories; Fast and Slow. This is important for combat, as will be discussed later.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="border: medium none; font-size: medium; list-style: outside none none; margin: 0px; outline: none medium; padding: 0px;">These details will be recorded on the Player Log [either a photocopy of the one supplied with the game or a downloadable copy from the <b>DVG</b> site] along with the number of Special Option [SO] points for the Campaign that allow you to further fine tune your Squadron by using them to upgrade experience or acquire specific skills to assign to individual pilots or improve the quality of a plane.</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEisGlTj_ap4BKPmfLjkZ58iXxIryLhEZZrf7Rg0pbGy6HNohGIqB34Vo0BnabCKF0pG3yx_3CXngQh7_EMB4yAy-MeJRn1bri9Bp_swwUFZE5zmbb9HF0xUIB2fPmvf2s7vxxaB9znWlvBCcVFmhlBuZD7pm2wdM24wx1VPtuOBhre7j3Ob7GS8b5TC=s640" style="border: medium none; color: #09bbb2; list-style: outside none none; margin: 0px 1em; outline: none medium; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="480" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEisGlTj_ap4BKPmfLjkZ58iXxIryLhEZZrf7Rg0pbGy6HNohGIqB34Vo0BnabCKF0pG3yx_3CXngQh7_EMB4yAy-MeJRn1bri9Bp_swwUFZE5zmbb9HF0xUIB2fPmvf2s7vxxaB9znWlvBCcVFmhlBuZD7pm2wdM24wx1VPtuOBhre7j3Ob7GS8b5TC=w480-h640" style="border: medium none; height: auto; list-style: outside none none; margin: 0px; max-width: 500px; outline: none medium; padding: 0px;" width="480" /></span></a></div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="border: medium none; font-size: medium; list-style: outside none none; margin: 0px; outline: none medium; padding: 0px;">Above is a partially filled in Log for a short Midway Campaign. I tend to include the type of plane under the Pilot name. Each letter to the right indicates the pilot experience level and the black dots indicate in the first column the current Cool quality of the Pilot and in the second column their aggression. Apart from keeping the completed Logs as a reminder of a Campaign, they're very handy if you want to quickly assemble a squadron and you don't have time for making a lengthy choice of a new squadron.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="border: medium none; font-size: medium; list-style: outside none none; margin: 0px; outline: none medium; padding: 0px;">The duration of a Campaign will tell you how many days the Campaign will last and on each day you will be able to fly at most one Primary Mission and, possibly, one Secondary Mission. Though the longer the Campaign the more pilots you will have in your assembled squadron, one of the delights/dilemmas/pressures of the game is how may pilots you assign to a given Mission. Obviously the harder the Mission the more pilots is a pretty obvious decision, but so many factors come into play that it is rarely an easy choice!</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="border: medium none; font-size: medium; list-style: outside none none; margin: 0px; outline: none medium; padding: 0px;">I'm now going to step you through the basic play Sequence.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="border: medium none; font-size: medium; list-style: outside none none; margin: 0px; outline: none medium; padding: 0px;"><b>PRE-FLIGHT</b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="border: medium none; font-size: medium; list-style: outside none none; margin: 0px; outline: none medium; padding: 0px;">Draw target card[s] and select one primary Mission. Determine and place sites according to info on the Target card. assign Pilots to the Mission - later in the war you may have the option to select Kamikaze aircraft or Ohka pilots. Finally prepare for the Mission. This mainly involves choosing the weapons [essentially the bomb ordinance allowed by your plane] and drop tanks for added fuel. However, Situational Awareness counters and Samurai Spirit counters may be assigned if purchased or originally allocated as part of your Pilot's profile. Both obviously provide special benefits.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="border: medium none; font-size: medium; list-style: outside none none; margin: 0px; outline: none medium; padding: 0px;"><b>TARGET-BOUND FLIGHT</b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="border: medium none; font-size: medium; list-style: outside none none; margin: 0px; outline: none medium; padding: 0px;">Draw an Event Card and consult the top box. </span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgRUQHiwCxZN8nNASCigXjG8gd6Yj3K6iIiKKe0JQK1-VJtlNqmLVesCYWhagksD0oOzVfD9OnbW7gKyFc4GJIf-ovdR9E2O4Vl__WcLiS8y4-hmA6olyshSUu5h2Cl7A8PlQussu5zJbtpOIBazASpQDHwa6ChuYg_eP2AovtyoWaIT5iAUdTxFQ99=s640" style="border: medium none; color: #09bbb2; list-style: outside none none; margin: 0px 1em; outline: none medium; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgRUQHiwCxZN8nNASCigXjG8gd6Yj3K6iIiKKe0JQK1-VJtlNqmLVesCYWhagksD0oOzVfD9OnbW7gKyFc4GJIf-ovdR9E2O4Vl__WcLiS8y4-hmA6olyshSUu5h2Cl7A8PlQussu5zJbtpOIBazASpQDHwa6ChuYg_eP2AovtyoWaIT5iAUdTxFQ99=w640-h480" style="border: medium none; height: auto; list-style: outside none none; margin: 0px; max-width: 500px; outline: none medium; padding: 0px;" width="640" /></span></a></div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><span style="border: medium none; font-size: medium; list-style: outside none none; margin: 0px; outline: none medium; padding: 0px;"><br /></span><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="border: medium none; font-size: medium; list-style: outside none none; margin: 0px; outline: none medium; padding: 0px;">After the Event is resolved, you can even abort at this stage - but I've found making that choice is very rare, unless you are doing very well in a Campaign or conversely very badly!</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="border: medium none; font-size: medium; list-style: outside none none; margin: 0px; outline: none medium; padding: 0px;">You then place your aircraft counters on the mapboard in one of the Pre-Approach Areas. You also have to choose the altitude of your plane [either High or Low], as unlike all the modern era Leader games you won't be able to change this later, unless you are a dive-bomber or a kamikaze!</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgNE1xImNdo21kxrpDU1la5IyUvam-XJNUxtW0M8iWB14Hdbr1sA8sxoJV_wex_xiNnqcwHdQ-IAf_WRbYH-MMwgDQ6NUSQW74VoNh5mjPHvNAVRrCL_LA2hiTBIlFEbYBCfIojaZ137ad_kpQ5S5KWsMQJSiKrn_hNEEUssqlDCvbDeqU5vzHMLvBG=s640" style="border: medium none; color: #09bbb2; list-style: outside none none; margin: 0px 1em; outline: none medium; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="480" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgNE1xImNdo21kxrpDU1la5IyUvam-XJNUxtW0M8iWB14Hdbr1sA8sxoJV_wex_xiNnqcwHdQ-IAf_WRbYH-MMwgDQ6NUSQW74VoNh5mjPHvNAVRrCL_LA2hiTBIlFEbYBCfIojaZ137ad_kpQ5S5KWsMQJSiKrn_hNEEUssqlDCvbDeqU5vzHMLvBG=w480-h640" style="border: medium none; height: auto; list-style: outside none none; margin: 0px; max-width: 500px; outline: none medium; padding: 0px;" width="480" /></span></a></div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="border: medium none; font-size: medium; list-style: outside none none; margin: 0px; outline: none medium; padding: 0px;">Here's one occasion when I went for all planes in one Pre-Approach Area, but beware as you don't know the exact Bandit [i.e. enemy plane] composition in the Approach Areas yet. So, the next step is to draw them and you may get lucky and find that some of your draws may be No Bandits - great! On the other hand, there may be some nastier opposition than you expected - not so great! </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="border: medium none; font-size: medium; list-style: outside none none; margin: 0px; outline: none medium; padding: 0px;">Finally, you draw another Event card and consult and execute the instructions in the middle box and then place the Turn marker in the 1 position. You now have 5 turns in the next Phase in which to complete your Mission.</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhMv7eNK8I-Yekw_BvPtIkf4ozCT4q18IpjVKE0YyHNK93797O2uCz8-hlsqeVaL3kGxLRibKEKnKQZKGpxXA3GlgoamZREGq3jiWdmKtWsxHJmH5rDirLOJWx1PWFzIEZQATOuSGM8oZM18hEttwOTE0AHuA32zqS4bTTC-yvjE_Ck5J13f4SJrX6j=s2048" style="border: medium none; color: #09bbb2; list-style: outside none none; margin: 0px 1em; outline: none medium; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhMv7eNK8I-Yekw_BvPtIkf4ozCT4q18IpjVKE0YyHNK93797O2uCz8-hlsqeVaL3kGxLRibKEKnKQZKGpxXA3GlgoamZREGq3jiWdmKtWsxHJmH5rDirLOJWx1PWFzIEZQATOuSGM8oZM18hEttwOTE0AHuA32zqS4bTTC-yvjE_Ck5J13f4SJrX6j=w640-h480" style="border: medium none; height: auto; list-style: outside none none; margin: 0px; max-width: 500px; outline: none medium; padding: 0px;" width="640" /></span></a></div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /><span style="border: medium none; list-style: outside none none; margin: 0px; outline: none medium; padding: 0px;"><b>Mission Pilots weaponed up!</b></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="border: medium none; font-size: medium; list-style: outside none none; margin: 0px; outline: none medium; padding: 0px;">OVER-TARGET RESOLUTION</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="border: medium none; font-size: medium; list-style: outside none none; margin: 0px; outline: none medium; padding: 0px;">At this stage you have 5 turns in which to complete your Mission. Each turn follows the same sequence:</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="border: medium none; font-size: medium; list-style: outside none none; margin: 0px; outline: none medium; padding: 0px;">[1] Dive Bombers or Kamikazes dive to low altitude. </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="border: medium none; font-size: medium; list-style: outside none none; margin: 0px; outline: none medium; padding: 0px;">[2] Fast Pilots may make one attack on a Site, a Bandit or the Target - the choice will depend on the plane's location, altitude, appropriate range and weapon.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="border: medium none; font-size: medium; list-style: outside none none; margin: 0px; outline: none medium; padding: 0px;">[3] Sites and Bandits attack</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="border: medium none; font-size: medium; list-style: outside none none; margin: 0px; outline: none medium; padding: 0px;">[4] Slow Pilots may attack</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="border: medium none; font-size: medium; list-style: outside none none; margin: 0px; outline: none medium; padding: 0px;">[5] All Pilots may move</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="border: medium none; font-size: medium; list-style: outside none none; margin: 0px; outline: none medium; padding: 0px;">[6] Bandits move</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="border: medium none; font-size: medium; list-style: outside none none; margin: 0px; outline: none medium; padding: 0px;">What happens will depend on whether you are in a Pre-Approach Area, an Approach Area or the Target Area. If in a Pre-Approach Area, not much more than moving your planes into an adjacent Approach Area or adjacent Pre-Approach Area is likely to happen. But once into an Approach Area or the Target Area things are guaranteed to heat up!</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="border: medium none; font-size: medium; list-style: outside none none; margin: 0px; outline: none medium; padding: 0px;">It is also here that the main complexity of play also increases and is the major difference between all the modern era Leader games and <b><i>Corsair</i></b> <i><b>Leader</b></i> and <b style="font-style: italic;">Zero Leader</b>. That's because we're in WWII and DOGFIGHTING comes into play!</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhF7aVDm22z2dO8nTMPSNhok-Lk3nD85BltSLk3JxCeD0sDgvFnbY3F1_Mw0TxqaVW7_NSqzGK8sySQ-euIAkuYFImoKz9HxOAPRv4u_5WtDxZGf9FHmR_tGYBSZZaZoPU-Ukwd8NKJrL6QFBQiNoNHyn2Ac1yi9Iaw3rlkwy9qO_I5ZG8QEARBqX11=s640" style="border: medium none; color: #09bbb2; list-style: outside none none; margin: 0px 1em; outline: none medium; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="480" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhF7aVDm22z2dO8nTMPSNhok-Lk3nD85BltSLk3JxCeD0sDgvFnbY3F1_Mw0TxqaVW7_NSqzGK8sySQ-euIAkuYFImoKz9HxOAPRv4u_5WtDxZGf9FHmR_tGYBSZZaZoPU-Ukwd8NKJrL6QFBQiNoNHyn2Ac1yi9Iaw3rlkwy9qO_I5ZG8QEARBqX11=w480-h640" style="border: medium none; height: auto; list-style: outside none none; margin: 0px; max-width: 500px; outline: none medium; padding: 0px;" width="480" /></span></a></div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="border: medium none; list-style: outside none none; margin: 0px; outline: none medium; padding: 0px;">As can be seen it even has its own special mounted chart. Unengaged, Engaged and Positioning all play their part with a matrix of manoeuvres bringing a series of potential modifiers and choices into play. Some of these will also depend on qualities inherent on the Pilot card or Skills purchased with SO points.</span><span style="border: medium none; list-style: outside none none; margin: 0px; outline: none medium; padding: 0px;"> </span><span style="border: medium none; list-style: outside none none; margin: 0px; outline: none medium; padding: 0px;">The element of Dogfighting was the one I was most looking forward to in this and its companion game. It adds greatly to the level of detail, but I must admit it does add significantly to the many small rules that you need to master to play the game well. </span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="border: medium none; font-size: medium; list-style: outside none none; margin: 0px; outline: none medium; padding: 0px;">Herein lies the major complexity of playing <b style="font-style: italic;">Zero Leader</b>. The basic stages and rules of the game are clear and fairly easy to grasp and retain without too much return to the rule book. However, the many skills, qualities and attributes when combined with the modifiers on the Dogfight chart and how they affect them, allowing usage of some and not of others can lead to a much greater level of checking and rechecking that I've got things correct.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="border: medium none; font-size: medium; list-style: outside none none; margin: 0px; outline: none medium; padding: 0px;">Regular play of the game obviously smooths the path, but this is not a game that you can easily lift down from the shelf for the occasional and infrequent session. Play is engrossing and as always, a system which has named Pilots invests the action with an element of personal involvement as Stress levels mount, planes suffer damage and for some go down in flames.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="border: medium none; font-size: medium; list-style: outside none none; margin: 0px; outline: none medium; padding: 0px;">Battling through the Bandits and the defensive sites in both the Approach Areas and the central Target Area, eventually you get a crack at the target itself which may range from a simple shore battery all the way up to a carrier.</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiXs-ludc8lUuon6dDvx1LJ45oOWHRso0q2ND9nk7x3mpYzagMDIMsCrgmdFcWNG2rSJR_822eFV4jJ818JvYS9Ha6LCQ9um-pFwTVMBiIRZkszJugfzpoSgO0FolkajggTjqQgOVpr9ZewHPNXt_jdQZF6i7vx-bzValarDdMbiJZ0txgcWgGcc_a4=s2048" style="border: medium none; color: #09bbb2; list-style: outside none none; margin: 0px 1em; outline: none medium; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiXs-ludc8lUuon6dDvx1LJ45oOWHRso0q2ND9nk7x3mpYzagMDIMsCrgmdFcWNG2rSJR_822eFV4jJ818JvYS9Ha6LCQ9um-pFwTVMBiIRZkszJugfzpoSgO0FolkajggTjqQgOVpr9ZewHPNXt_jdQZF6i7vx-bzValarDdMbiJZ0txgcWgGcc_a4=w640-h480" style="border: medium none; height: auto; list-style: outside none none; margin: 0px; max-width: 500px; outline: none medium; padding: 0px;" width="640" /></span></a></div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /><span style="border: medium none; list-style: outside none none; margin: 0px; outline: none medium; padding: 0px;"><b>And here are my heroes taking on those shore batteries</b></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="border: medium none; list-style: outside none none; margin: 0px; outline: none medium; padding: 0px;">This will have taken at least two or three of your five turns and so you'll find yourself with at the most three turns to destroy the target to gain your main victory points. Whatever degree of success you've had, </span><span style="border: medium none; list-style: outside none none; margin: 0px; outline: none medium; padding: 0px;"><span style="border: medium none; list-style: outside none none; margin: 0px; outline: none medium; padding: 0px;">h</span>owever, the game's not over yet - there's still one last stage to work through.</span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="border: medium none; font-size: medium; list-style: outside none none; margin: 0px; outline: none medium; padding: 0px;"><b>HOME-BOUND FLIGHT</b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="border: medium none; font-size: medium; list-style: outside none none; margin: 0px; outline: none medium; padding: 0px;">One last Event card is to be drawn and instructions on the bottom row of the card carried out.</span></div><div><span style="border: medium none; list-style: outside none none; margin: 0px; outline: none medium; padding: 0px;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgN9PHK4XbkfQVz-olYaWxa1xGqCo7ZZag7RIYKz3ymR5xkbm49ccwaboI04IbaZfrAmMjNbngwsS23NK4OFsJAOXvTgPa42rqfT8ZxvGRgf1a7hiaS3SpA_NG18Sv3KvTcje1QwdjHzaAbSSLpnXkgo3j6iQY59iWeVUuGL1fh7W05JmQS2WdssSTG=s640" style="border: medium none; color: #09bbb2; list-style: outside none none; margin: 0px 1em; outline: none medium; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="480" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgN9PHK4XbkfQVz-olYaWxa1xGqCo7ZZag7RIYKz3ymR5xkbm49ccwaboI04IbaZfrAmMjNbngwsS23NK4OFsJAOXvTgPa42rqfT8ZxvGRgf1a7hiaS3SpA_NG18Sv3KvTcje1QwdjHzaAbSSLpnXkgo3j6iQY59iWeVUuGL1fh7W05JmQS2WdssSTG=w480-h640" style="border: medium none; height: auto; list-style: outside none none; margin: 0px; max-width: 500px; outline: none medium; padding: 0px;" width="480" /></span></a></div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"> In what's called a debriefing section, the success of your mission and the number of VPs gained is entered on your Pilot Log. The quality of your Recon and Intelligence abilities on the game board may be improved to give your future benefits in new missions. Stress gained by all your participating pilots is recorded. Experience points may be gained, leading to possible pilot promotion; stress may be recovered from and finally your Maintenance Crews come into play. Yes, you even have a chance to put in some repair work, mend damage that might have been taken and by rolling on a special table, you can even push your crews to additional work at the risk of them gaining fatigue and at the very worst making a mistake in their efforts.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;">The game may be played out on a very stylised and abstract mounted board, but a great amount of realistic detail of this brutal war is packed into <b style="font-style: italic;">Zero Leader</b>. Consulting your Campaign success at the end of a gruelling 6 day Long Campaign from the VPs you've accrued may sound anti-climactic, but I can tell you it's not. There is a profound sense of satisfaction even if you've only achieved Adequate and just don't ask about what went wrong if the result is deemed Dismal!</span></div><div style="font-size: x-large; text-align: left;"><br style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: Arial, HelveticaNeue, "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;" /></div></span></div></div></div></div></div></div></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><a href="https://www.awargamersneedfulthings.co.uk/2016/07/phantom-leader-deluxe-review.html" style="font-size: x-large;">LINK 1</a><span style="font-size: x-large;"> </span><b style="font-size: x-large;"><i>Phantom Leader</i></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b><i><br /></i></b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://www.awargamersneedfulthings.co.uk/2021/10/zero-leader.html">LINK 2</a></span><span style="font-size: x-large;"> </span><b style="font-size: x-large;"><i>Zero Leader</i></b></div></div>Polydorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08875339847623732683noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4437416196467752074.post-41398726402504749202023-10-09T18:46:00.012+01:002023-10-10T13:15:55.670+01:00Atlantic Chase: The Kriegsmarine Against the Home Fleet 1939-1942 by GMT Games<p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Atlantic Chase</span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">The Kriegsmarine Against the Home Fleet 1939-1942</span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Intercept Volume One</span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">by</span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">GMT Games</span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrEDO9sAzmFJdEScQ4U2uGwNxcxZG1_RpJmyMcNm1KjTwHBEZDCESMkkSUvWeHUCvae5pZ8CslLNmCC4ieX_fgU6MW8Y-fqVUgvL3xfAKIDbjoYQG7APS6DMEpauracfNA8LZuJTopFKi92zhmcIPvSSSGb6pITl09KW-5tF7ZWX194bjRYxj2u0IRhOtE/s500/957.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="500" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrEDO9sAzmFJdEScQ4U2uGwNxcxZG1_RpJmyMcNm1KjTwHBEZDCESMkkSUvWeHUCvae5pZ8CslLNmCC4ieX_fgU6MW8Y-fqVUgvL3xfAKIDbjoYQG7APS6DMEpauracfNA8LZuJTopFKi92zhmcIPvSSSGb6pITl09KW-5tF7ZWX194bjRYxj2u0IRhOtE/w640-h640/957.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"> </span><span style="font-size: large;">The box cover, I believe, shows the Bismarck and the Prinz Eugen breaking out into the North Atlantic during 1941 Operation Rheinubung. This would lead to the sinking of both the H.M.S. Hood and the Bismarck. At first glance, the naval balance between Britain and Germany looks ridiculous. How are the Germans supposed to try and attack the Royal Navy? In 1939, the Germans have two battlecruisers and two battleships being built, with some heavy and light cruisers. In battleships alone, the British Navy had fifteen on hand with another seven being built. It seems on paper that Britain had nothing to worry about. In actuality, the British Navy had to patrol the North Atlantic, Mediterranean Sea, and Southeast Asia. So, it was spread pretty thin, especially after Japan declared war on Britain. Obviously, there was not going to be another Battle of Jutland during the Second World War. All of the German ships would be used in the North Atlantic as commerce raiders. So now let us see what comes in this hefty box. This is a review of the 2nd printing of the game.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><p></p><p style="text-align: center;"></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtyphUXQwbO-4mdLmkD2cjD2Vsv2qNLbjOnKHFTK6HoOpc_c_PJJzD_HIhvbOBju-U5d3-ZKiz333Gqkz2jnhKoRifTxf9-fam-It9dZ_gNgrqeS5XYGazkAfZn4jVmYVsS9geFNl_U71gxh6XknIbPxvJSc8oCLdsv67mg6ncUsb0NamwFaLgA1RLhyEx/s2492/AC_Map.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1620" data-original-width="2492" height="416" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtyphUXQwbO-4mdLmkD2cjD2Vsv2qNLbjOnKHFTK6HoOpc_c_PJJzD_HIhvbOBju-U5d3-ZKiz333Gqkz2jnhKoRifTxf9-fam-It9dZ_gNgrqeS5XYGazkAfZn4jVmYVsS9geFNl_U71gxh6XknIbPxvJSc8oCLdsv67mg6ncUsb0NamwFaLgA1RLhyEx/w640-h416/AC_Map.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">The mounted map</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p></p><p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p><span style="font-size: large;"><div style="text-align: left;"> This is what GMT says about the game:</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">"Atlantic Chase simulates the naval campaigns fought in the North Atlantic between the surface fleets of the Royal Navy and the Kriegsmarine between 1939 and 1942. It utilizes a system of trajectories to model the fog of war that bedeviled the commands during this period. Just as the pins and strings adorning Churchill’s wall represented the course of the ships underway, players arrange trajectory lines across the shared game board, each line representing a task force’s path of travel. Without resorting to dummy blocks, hidden movement, or a double-blind system requiring a referee or computer, players experience the uncertainty endemic to this period of naval warfare. This system also has the benefit of allowing the game to be played solitaire, and to be played quickly.</div></span><div><br /></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">The German player’s task is clear: sever Britain’s lifeline to its overseas colonies and allies. All hangs on the fate of convoys. Ultimately, success or failure in Atlantic Chase will hinge on the Kriegsmarine’s ability to breakout into the Atlantic and find convoys while frustrating British attempts to catch his raiders. The game chronicles the development of the Royal Navy’s strategy to contain the German fleet by pitting players against each other in five successive operations that comprise a Campaign Game. Seven additional scenarios treat specific historical actions, including a Sink the Bismarck scenario, a PQ17 scenario, and the Channel Dash. The game features battleships, aircraft carriers, cruisers, convoys, and pocket battleships, while U-boats, elusive armed merchant raiders, and air assets play an important role too. Operations during the Campaign Game and stand-alone historical scenarios each take 1-2 hours to play."</span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhtHsd76MHfbqCwQVoDF3Qt0byUPfzuhVI6NtjtZ2u1rz1SDluWZ5njw8ypoS-tPWzrqjlSvdcj4v0Mxr2DE8FhH-6wrEMyo95v1E0NGPt6w6uEZaGC_3UGaWNq3JgVlzBLkJKO21cvZoY_mLlR2xsnULExmxntATz5RC0xWMrqojyWjdogSDmzDfMIWXc/s1020/AC_image2_counters.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="387" data-original-width="1020" height="242" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhtHsd76MHfbqCwQVoDF3Qt0byUPfzuhVI6NtjtZ2u1rz1SDluWZ5njw8ypoS-tPWzrqjlSvdcj4v0Mxr2DE8FhH-6wrEMyo95v1E0NGPt6w6uEZaGC_3UGaWNq3JgVlzBLkJKO21cvZoY_mLlR2xsnULExmxntATz5RC0xWMrqojyWjdogSDmzDfMIWXc/w640-h242/AC_image2_counters.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Some counters</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"> This is what comes in the box:</span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><div>22 x 34" mounted game board</div><div>Two 8.5"x11" Inset Maps</div><div>Three 11"x17" player aid cards</div><div>Two 8.5"x11" player aid cards</div><div>Two Task Force Displays</div><div>Sheet and a half of counters</div><div>240 wood segments and cylinders</div><div>Rule book</div><div>Advanced Battle Rules</div><div>Tutorial booklet</div><div>Solitaire Scenario booklet</div><div>Two-player Scenario booklet</div><div>Four six-sided dice</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiH7fV-e6sXN4_Aez0MUzMQ-a6rsQqs4t52_KHbcVFIqGuc8eCtI7OHQviKoMLlqgSVPHHg8gz6XSvcOIzaIg08udsNLk6eXiRmJfEESm7iwnWSiExdZoJ3z0GT0zS1Z_Xw_T-QfZHDBTYEfAJTI7wE0ctiZyWzLDl7lSmWyC6CzwzmhnHLKntohKjzpWx_/s1020/AC_image3_scenarios.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="387" data-original-width="1020" height="242" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiH7fV-e6sXN4_Aez0MUzMQ-a6rsQqs4t52_KHbcVFIqGuc8eCtI7OHQviKoMLlqgSVPHHg8gz6XSvcOIzaIg08udsNLk6eXiRmJfEESm7iwnWSiExdZoJ3z0GT0zS1Z_Xw_T-QfZHDBTYEfAJTI7wE0ctiZyWzLDl7lSmWyC6CzwzmhnHLKntohKjzpWx_/w640-h242/AC_image3_scenarios.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Some scenarios and setups</span></td></tr></tbody></table><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div> These are the awards it has won:</div><div><br /></div><div><div>2021 Charles S. Roberts Wargame of the Year Winner</div><div>2021 Charles S. Roberts Best World War II Era Board Wargame Winner</div><div>2021 Charles S. Roberts Best Solitaire or Cooperative Board Wargame Winner</div><div>2021 Charles S. Roberts Best Board Wargame Rules Winner</div><div>2021 Charles S. Roberts Best Board Wargame Playing Components Winner</div></div></span></div><p></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"> After the list above, I should just post this and say "Goodnight Gracie".</span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"></span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3LiCrvImmydLfhaOsCjQ795s-6fXAtBECfxZBGlXstAr3twr-PRJsop8ua2aNrLpp9tno1fyCChzTtFdVkJ4z8uQyzHgCV2yD2rtonZJ1HOZ1IgcVeM8JrnhRjBPeOBI7jqrQB6UmTtyPPB5CAs6vzLbNv_P_Y7vKcsRbQur6dwnzNTl9GiNlLeSOuU2M/s738/AC_image4_trajectories.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="502" data-original-width="738" height="436" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3LiCrvImmydLfhaOsCjQ795s-6fXAtBECfxZBGlXstAr3twr-PRJsop8ua2aNrLpp9tno1fyCChzTtFdVkJ4z8uQyzHgCV2yD2rtonZJ1HOZ1IgcVeM8JrnhRjBPeOBI7jqrQB6UmTtyPPB5CAs6vzLbNv_P_Y7vKcsRbQur6dwnzNTl9GiNlLeSOuU2M/w640-h436/AC_image4_trajectories.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">A game in progress</span></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"> I am not often staggered by the contents of a wargame. I have more than a few that are monsters. However, I was really surprised about the number of contents that GMT Games was able to stuff inside the box. It was like a cornucopia, and seemed to be a never-ending stream of things, especially Rulebooks. I was a little trepidatious about what I had gotten myself into. Read on to see if I had bitten off more than I could chew. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"> For the contents, we will start with all of the booklets. First off, all five of them are made from glossy magazine type paper (although thicker). They also all come in full color. The printing, examples, and pictures throughout them are very large. It is always nice to see a game company help out us old timers. The Rulebook is sixty-three pages long! However, remember that everything in them is large. The Tutorial Booklet comes in next at fifty-five pages. Once again it is filled with large examples of play. The last four pages are the Design Notes. Please read this because it explains the missing elephant in the room. After that comes the Solitaire Scenarios Booklet. This comes in at seventy-one pages, and the last three pages are Historical Notes. The Two-Player Scenarios Booklet is sixty-three pages long. The runt of the litter of booklets comes next. This would be the Advanced Battle Rules Booklet at a mere fifteen pages. This is a bit funny if you have been keeping track of the pages from the other Booklets. Before the Advanced Rules Booklet, the total pages are a whopping 252! I was beginning to wonder if playing the game would give me some college credits.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOUnx758iih_euQJ9NZ8aYWXqO1bquLSZawMN2QNRJqpCZEP5MnLkTY1DlDv19yGZ8IHsDTd0lDv7zTquXIwnrlgelr3n-zQ8YRsGdgr7P3DSix3kQkx2z4awA7QJp36bNYV5hoeez6SvbHFoFJZoie-SytrknwHkJ2FCmwLFLzSV9NsRBwUhJI1duiHLV/s1020/AC_image5_SEQ1.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="377" data-original-width="1020" height="236" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOUnx758iih_euQJ9NZ8aYWXqO1bquLSZawMN2QNRJqpCZEP5MnLkTY1DlDv19yGZ8IHsDTd0lDv7zTquXIwnrlgelr3n-zQ8YRsGdgr7P3DSix3kQkx2z4awA7QJp36bNYV5hoeez6SvbHFoFJZoie-SytrknwHkJ2FCmwLFLzSV9NsRBwUhJI1duiHLV/w640-h236/AC_image5_SEQ1.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></div><span style="font-size: large;"> The next component is the mounted map. The map goes from the Canadian Maritime provinces to the top of Greenland on the western edge. On the eastern edge it goes from Gibraltar to the top of Norway/USSR. There are boxes to represent all of the different ports on the map. The Battle Board that is used to plot out ship gunnery exchanges is on the right side of the map. It also has sundry tables/charts that are needed for play. The colors are muted, and nothing was added to take away from gameplay. As in most naval wargames, the majority of the map is the big blue ocean. There is also a double-sided hard card stock map. One side has the western side of Norway on it and the other side has the North Sea hemmed in by Britain, Norway, and Denmark. There are two double-sided and fold out Players Aids. These are both easy to read and nice and sturdy. Up next are two double sided Player Aids that on one side have the Campaign Player Aid and the other has the British/German Force Pool Schedule. After that comes two single-sided British/German Task Force Displays. Then we have the last one, another foldout and double-sided Advanced Battle Rules Player Aid. </span><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"> The last things to talk about are the wooden pieces and the counters. The wooden pieces are all uniform in their segments and cylinders, meaning that there are no flash or missing chunks of wood in any of them. When I saw them, I gave a sigh of relief. Why, you ask? Because they are already pre-marked for the game. I was not looking forward do dealing with 240 stickers. I have stickered many a game, but I do not enjoy it. The counters are fully functional and easy to read. The capital ships, cruisers and above, are represented by large rectangular counters that are almost universal in naval wargames. These have the obligatory silhouette of the ship in question. The leaders and 'Intel' markers are 5/8" square. The other markers are 1/2" in size.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div> I know we grognards are a hard to please bunch. However, GMT Games should be proud of their endeavors with this game's manufacturing (so should we game buyers). I really have not had a game from them that was subpar in components, and I do not think it is because I am lucky.</span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6lweNMa6mMCsADYdKKpby5jPZA_ognKXsG3A0k3fZfmn-QvG4KOuwVbH8cEPh73hCUmBFlCoJh1gkS8MBBd_ehwkxaIj63BiyVxZyS10hZyDlg4IIjfJike04km-9kj2VmMewChmf5odAMLmuUdMF2gsKdIC0f05QB1Yo3xm7q8XFZCV3fISEBlpYNhll/s1020/AC_image5_SEQ1.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="377" data-original-width="1020" height="236" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6lweNMa6mMCsADYdKKpby5jPZA_ognKXsG3A0k3fZfmn-QvG4KOuwVbH8cEPh73hCUmBFlCoJh1gkS8MBBd_ehwkxaIj63BiyVxZyS10hZyDlg4IIjfJike04km-9kj2VmMewChmf5odAMLmuUdMF2gsKdIC0f05QB1Yo3xm7q8XFZCV3fISEBlpYNhll/w640-h236/AC_image5_SEQ1.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Game situation</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> The missing elephant in the game box are U-boats. When the designer (Jeremy White) started talking about his new design, the first question was "where are the U-boats?". When he answered that they were not really present in the game, the next query would be "so, it is another sink the Bismarck game?". Apparently when told the answer to that question most people were a bit confused. He writes that some grognards even begged him to put in U-boats. The various Air and submarine assets of both sides are represented as adjuncts to the surface war. I will let him address the issue from his Design Notes:</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> "U-boats appear in Atlantic Chase as an effect rather than a fleet of machines. The U-boat arm operated independently (and invisibly) of surface vessels, for the most part, but because they hunted the same waters, this game presents opportunities for their operations to overlap with those of the surface arm. The player should understand that Admiral Donitz and his fleet of Steel Wolves are busy throughout this game, but that activity is not particularly visible."</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> The story of how this game started out in the 1990s because of working on command and control in the American Civil War is a very interesting story. The designer definitely does a deep dive into the background story of the game and its mechanics. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh09EJzgn628sfROD3ZLjGDwSInKpvL1oC9lvutHbrwhay5fVHyT0yII8P2MX0iE_eGQITTlHmte7ZIGlZ3YEcFkIqszzpQFuEE5e5OnxdRL7cPkOcFgQMYVcxYoZnCchVoZf8Doc5r5_q6Idgw1iP5r6dk31G9rqXVl63IVBAbPYQgh1SqIAOJYR0FuC7T/s1020/AC_image6_SEQ2.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="377" data-original-width="1020" height="236" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh09EJzgn628sfROD3ZLjGDwSInKpvL1oC9lvutHbrwhay5fVHyT0yII8P2MX0iE_eGQITTlHmte7ZIGlZ3YEcFkIqszzpQFuEE5e5OnxdRL7cPkOcFgQMYVcxYoZnCchVoZf8Doc5r5_q6Idgw1iP5r6dk31G9rqXVl63IVBAbPYQgh1SqIAOJYR0FuC7T/w640-h236/AC_image6_SEQ2.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> So, the first thing you absolutely need to know that this game is not one that you can set up and glance through the Rulebook and be at it in no time flat. The tutorials are your friend and spoon feed you bit after tasty bit of what you can handle from one to the next. The complexity level of the game is only marked at a five, and I believe that is correct. There are a lot of things going on in the game, but none of them by themselves is a deal breaker or insurmountable object. You will not feel like Sisyphus while learning the game. The hardest part, and that is not correct either, is learning about the trajectories. Those would be the different colored rectangles snaking across the map. The thing you have to remember is that you are playing the admiralty of either nation, not an admiral at sea. So, you somewhat know where your forces are heading and what bearing they will be following, but because of radio silences etc. you are not quite certain exactly where they are at any given moment. The designer explains that the board is not meant to represent the actual ocean, but instead the operational maps that were hung up in the Admiralties of London and Berlin. These would have the trajectories charted out with colored string and pins. He has just brought the representation to the 21st century for us to have a blast with. Because of the new way of representing naval warfare, it is a bit hard to describe. All I know is that the system works extremely well but does not take the fun out of gaming. </div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhD4uEXI2qddOpYjN4aSouO38zH-sgbtSbJZdWXWWe2KUsVi7UEUoN3VJyb6iQLwtUnLTqsEFrWAVmjWbfPilCciH5VqQdYkmbszDFlBkSu8dWJXNyTxtkUBCc_ye_L7s3LJtfUplVnf6yaOrGw0hoNTgLj0b2I8Z8gOVVG5aeuxhW711-Lr0OiVTZSVkI4/s1020/AC_image10_SEQ6.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="387" data-original-width="1020" height="242" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhD4uEXI2qddOpYjN4aSouO38zH-sgbtSbJZdWXWWe2KUsVi7UEUoN3VJyb6iQLwtUnLTqsEFrWAVmjWbfPilCciH5VqQdYkmbszDFlBkSu8dWJXNyTxtkUBCc_ye_L7s3LJtfUplVnf6yaOrGw0hoNTgLj0b2I8Z8gOVVG5aeuxhW711-Lr0OiVTZSVkI4/w640-h242/AC_image10_SEQ6.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> Thank you, GMT Games, for allowing me to review this really excellent and innovative game which works just as well as a solitaire game and a two-player one. You do not need a shoehorn to make it fit into one or the other. Much like the word love, innovation is used far too often for just a change or even a slight change in a gaming mechanism. The Atlantic Chase mechanism is really innovative and, as many people have said, is ripe for being used in so many other situations in wargames. The designer should be wearing shades, because his future looks bright indeed. Pardon me, I have to now go to YT and listen to Timbuk 3.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Robert </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Atlantic Chase:</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://www.gmtgames.com/p-957-atlantic-chase-2nd-printing.aspx">GMT Games - Atlantic Chase, 2nd Printing</a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">GMT Games:</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://www.gmtgames.com/">GMT Games</a></div><br /> </span><p></p></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br />Robert Petersonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17114299951391079193noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4437416196467752074.post-80736673695567393982023-10-09T13:42:00.000+01:002023-10-09T13:42:10.817+01:00Terminator: Dark Fate - Defiance by Slitherine<p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: center;"> <span style="font-size: large;">Terminator: Dark Fate - Defiance</span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">by</span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Slitherine</span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEip4tp0vpXsKkayUBJK2n9i6WpPJfyhNJq6xdMrrIFJEcLSEHvlif0KJ4c7MX3btdwoJU8Yo6zBTPxS5faCqreVDOSH6gsjGL5NDqS8C7MtLCPdF_xgmr76YPLINn80S6JSwBGqYVhQdKusgYenWc_KIvfTQcfu8FyEP2zWZIxR16aIz658DkF2_ssJCX18/s1920/20231006104743_1.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1920" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEip4tp0vpXsKkayUBJK2n9i6WpPJfyhNJq6xdMrrIFJEcLSEHvlif0KJ4c7MX3btdwoJU8Yo6zBTPxS5faCqreVDOSH6gsjGL5NDqS8C7MtLCPdF_xgmr76YPLINn80S6JSwBGqYVhQdKusgYenWc_KIvfTQcfu8FyEP2zWZIxR16aIz658DkF2_ssJCX18/w640-h360/20231006104743_1.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><p></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"> This is a demo of Slitherine's new real time strategy game based in the Terminator universe. I will state this right up front, I am not a big fan of RTS games. They are usually way too frenetic in pace. I have always liked turn based strategy games with their slower pace and with the ability to think about what you are doing each turn. That being said, it is good to get out of your safe space in games every once in a while. </span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: left;"></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjp_-kWtXLFY4GliQPrzg-EXKVq4qawZhQBeoyroDYvp4h1ja7tlnIPPgsdWZ38xjudOkKJatA_m9u-Rl39GTBWgD8LKEfujn1itB7A9jQSTXN0zceay-rkB5BakQMaiZCn8IMGsliyAUEdAz43kjFdMM1NmZhyphenhyphendCmbj_qUf_6o7cnNrf_yoh8DQCuKNasX/s1920/20231006105618_1.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1920" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjp_-kWtXLFY4GliQPrzg-EXKVq4qawZhQBeoyroDYvp4h1ja7tlnIPPgsdWZ38xjudOkKJatA_m9u-Rl39GTBWgD8LKEfujn1itB7A9jQSTXN0zceay-rkB5BakQMaiZCn8IMGsliyAUEdAz43kjFdMM1NmZhyphenhyphendCmbj_qUf_6o7cnNrf_yoh8DQCuKNasX/w640-h360/20231006105618_1.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Screenshot from the first mission</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><p></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"> This is what Slitherine has to say about the demo:</span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">"</span><span style="font-size: large;">The Terminator: Dark Fate – Defiance Demo will give you an insight into the campaign and skirmish modes in the final game. The demo will be published on October 9th as part of the Steam Next Fest, and will be available to everyone for a limited amount of time.</span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">The Steam Next demo includes the first 3 single player campaign missions, and includes 1 Skirmish Map. This preview demo is identical, except it doesn’t have the skirmish map yet. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">The early campaign missions will teach you the basics of the game but doesn’t include the multi-choice RPG aspects seen in later missions, where players can choose which factions to ally with (or attack), which objectives to follow or ignore, and how to respond to other characters through multi-response conversations. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">These early missions also don’t include the army management screen. Here, you can upgrade skills, weapons and armor for your squads and vehicles. It’s possible to buy and sell manpower, vehicles, equipment, weapons and ammo at bases and trading zones, place troops into vehicles, and edit and rename your unit names. Your army is taken from mission to mission, so if you lose a unit in a mission, then it’s gone! But if you upgrade a squad, they’re ready for the next mission. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">The Skirmish Mode in the demo includes an Assault Mode map. This Mode allows only the Founders or Legion to be selected and includes Assault Mode gameplay, with objectives to either attack or defend points on the map. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">The release will also include Domination Mode maps that allow Founders, Legion or Movement forces to be selected, with different reinforcement rules. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">All skirmish maps will also be available in Multiplayer, which isn’t provided in this initial preview. Multiplayer will allow up to 4 players to play within a map, in 1v1, 2v1, 2v2 modes."</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Terminator: Dark Fate – Defiance will be available on PC later this Fall.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: left;"></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifpUfCzRDwSvsDt9quj6lFl50b40NPNZH6Ch7k3FzosJu4ZfcqYJi4yYSpCgolPxZy4sOQG-QnQETSxuX3nV8dgIzWBgkOInhk0rbakvIRjNTEecIO94uPytffSBdKMUVHwAOLJ8bZRCaj_pqrcFLDIhsUvJeymdNFJSX3wImZ_AtUBuPRF1bD0I524mK1/s1920/20231006111403_1.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1920" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifpUfCzRDwSvsDt9quj6lFl50b40NPNZH6Ch7k3FzosJu4ZfcqYJi4yYSpCgolPxZy4sOQG-QnQETSxuX3nV8dgIzWBgkOInhk0rbakvIRjNTEecIO94uPytffSBdKMUVHwAOLJ8bZRCaj_pqrcFLDIhsUvJeymdNFJSX3wImZ_AtUBuPRF1bD0I524mK1/w640-h360/20231006111403_1.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Screenshot from the second mission</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p></p><p style="text-align: left;"> <span style="font-size: large;">I can tell you three things about the demo that I really like. The first is that the game is really nice looking you can almost say beautiful to behold. The second is that you are given a few different orders to give to your small soldiers and vehicles. The third is something you do not usually see in a RTS at least when they are first released, and that is a pause button. I have played more than a few RTS games where the pause button was added in an update or is a mod made by a player.</span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: left;"></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUjl0TqMp5n_wo9peeL4B2sNXPwjfGXDnOTUa2CRZEVeVuzNa5tmb6yQcw3iixfqG4-rpaKDV1TIE17LYem7-rcE1p12EYKgH3X8P0gW5FQ2gREuivukn1OWUzRFv3yTgwF0RQdqhmrQ8c6-vn-A73lJ0yI4DCrk1QJ_iQvBMHfeKwraY0SZAcMyLTPC6F/s3840/Mission%203_Haven%20(3).jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2160" data-original-width="3840" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUjl0TqMp5n_wo9peeL4B2sNXPwjfGXDnOTUa2CRZEVeVuzNa5tmb6yQcw3iixfqG4-rpaKDV1TIE17LYem7-rcE1p12EYKgH3X8P0gW5FQ2gREuivukn1OWUzRFv3yTgwF0RQdqhmrQ8c6-vn-A73lJ0yI4DCrk1QJ_iQvBMHfeKwraY0SZAcMyLTPC6F/w640-h360/Mission%203_Haven%20(3).jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">This is a screenshot from the third mission </span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><p></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"> Another thing I like is that you are really given a storyline to follow. In the demo you are a Policeman who has decided to help both civilians and the army units. So, you become immersed in the game. Instead of just sprites, the characters in the game actually mean something to you. Before the second mission begins you find out that it is ten years later, and you are now a Major in the Founders. This would be the remnants of the civilians and army that have coalesced after the rise of the machines. The machine army is called the Legion. </span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: left;"></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikVweqApZur_iLiqj-8D-Tct3lJTU9hJLbrRGcq3tX5d2rdUhAFg00xZWWG7JSZdoCOmCf_JHx1ChvQlINMp0rsmGAcmwPHB3X6KkFLB9lmSsvX1v0sJLzLt0tQPeIkHg1E06ScqifQmQyZ6BHcU9ybtto5Kqn4uKmaqpznnRAyNoR54KI7dL3B-NH9K5T/s3840/Mission%203_Haven%20(5).jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2160" data-original-width="3840" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikVweqApZur_iLiqj-8D-Tct3lJTU9hJLbrRGcq3tX5d2rdUhAFg00xZWWG7JSZdoCOmCf_JHx1ChvQlINMp0rsmGAcmwPHB3X6KkFLB9lmSsvX1v0sJLzLt0tQPeIkHg1E06ScqifQmQyZ6BHcU9ybtto5Kqn4uKmaqpznnRAyNoR54KI7dL3B-NH9K5T/w640-h360/Mission%203_Haven%20(5).jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Another pic from the third mission</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p></p><p style="text-align: left;"> <span style="font-size: large;">I was quite pleasantly surprised by the demo and the gameplay, especially the pause button. For a demo of a game it was very immersive and really left me wanting more to play.</span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: left;"></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnVl3S0gWnuuVJeRl1lR0SBHpUQXfgUrh2w8MdBivqDe1rEKkqVMaFGyPoQzMMalBpnYwfeA22A7aOsf8o1cDrDsjAvJAqXckjnRTyZXs1lE0BloYAYg9EyM_9yDHDaEtSSY_9qfy2xstdoRpajLOAD1ay51W7iLbTJ9qiql1xU3JRHfXzVgT60ffbllqI/s3840/Mission%203_Haven%20(4).jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2160" data-original-width="3840" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnVl3S0gWnuuVJeRl1lR0SBHpUQXfgUrh2w8MdBivqDe1rEKkqVMaFGyPoQzMMalBpnYwfeA22A7aOsf8o1cDrDsjAvJAqXckjnRTyZXs1lE0BloYAYg9EyM_9yDHDaEtSSY_9qfy2xstdoRpajLOAD1ay51W7iLbTJ9qiql1xU3JRHfXzVgT60ffbllqI/w640-h360/Mission%203_Haven%20(4).jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Another screenshot from the third mission</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><p></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"> The game will come with the ability to play either side, at least in skirmish mode, and that is another point on the plus side. The only thing about the demo I did not like was the inability to zoom out much at all. You can zoom in to see separate soldiers. However, there is an inset map that even if the zoom is not increased can be used to keep an eye on your units and the enemy. Thank you Slitherine for letting me take this demo for a ride.</span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">Robert</span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://www.slitherine.com/" target="_blank">Slitherine</a></span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://www.slitherine.com/game/terminator-dark-fate-defiance" target="_blank">Terminator: Dark Fate - Defiance</a></span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p>Robert Petersonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17114299951391079193noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4437416196467752074.post-58611641530514988562023-10-07T16:01:00.000+01:002023-10-07T16:01:14.298+01:001212 Las Navas de Tolosa by Draco Ideas<p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">1212 Las Navas de Tolosa</span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">by</span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Draco Ideas</span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJ5BmC8OHkFZQsIGuLdOEFV_LjjH7GFStkfEFeyJ2FObVYqozXvVmuscp0VhrZ-Md_0t7XjA-y-vUuIFSKZ1kOQc-3H2TLiOnLoNNqPkjAw3Vs95xg7nn_SJ0aW2i7udH1o9v_hTs9DMDB0WJrK6B3ft2z1v3xove0eazlQfSLB7yqmQJN2g8AocPag0LM/s768/portada_1212_high-768x523.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="523" data-original-width="768" height="436" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJ5BmC8OHkFZQsIGuLdOEFV_LjjH7GFStkfEFeyJ2FObVYqozXvVmuscp0VhrZ-Md_0t7XjA-y-vUuIFSKZ1kOQc-3H2TLiOnLoNNqPkjAw3Vs95xg7nn_SJ0aW2i7udH1o9v_hTs9DMDB0WJrK6B3ft2z1v3xove0eazlQfSLB7yqmQJN2g8AocPag0LM/w640-h436/portada_1212_high-768x523.jpg" width="640" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /><br /></span><p></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"> The year is 1212 and El Cid has been dead for thirteen years. The deadly conflict between the Muslims and Christians for Spain is still going on. In fact, the Reconquista will continue for almost three hundred years. The tide had turned and the Muslims, commanded by their Caliph Muhammad al-Nasir, were taking a good number of Spanish fortresses. It had gotten so bad that the pope, Innocent III, had called for a crusade in Spain. I am simplifying the historical tale. Both the Christians and Muslims were a loose group of smaller states that fought each other as often as they fought against their supposed enemies. The crusaders and a number of Christian states banded together to fight against a similarly made-up army under the Caliph. This is the backdrop behind the Battle of Las Navas de Tolosa.</span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"> This is an excerpt from a written account of the time:</span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"> "They attacked, fighting against one another, hand-to-hand, with lances, swords, and battle-axes; there was no room for archers. The Christians pressed on." – (The Latin Chronicle of The Kings of Castile)</span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"> This is what comes with the game:</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Board</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">54 Unit Markers</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">9 Combat Cards</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">6 help cards</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">12 special cards (6 from each side)</span></p><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6LLaGnBI8j6tAtQ9TWF1VUSDxj9rVfMNP5Xneihpl_5Shj-c5s1io32L9sjmC7iumMNGbCCxqXYagpjo7nciXFcfjr-7cdvTYv2D24Qbl-S4F7YhYg0KVkuIdYEwiseHBt3NKRJGQupTWirCzcnTILh2fIY57RtxKzFNuWU3Db5P-ABMvxfZq2z59AGxA/s768/bodegon-3D-1212-Las-Navas-de-Tolosa-768x465.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="465" data-original-width="768" height="388" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6LLaGnBI8j6tAtQ9TWF1VUSDxj9rVfMNP5Xneihpl_5Shj-c5s1io32L9sjmC7iumMNGbCCxqXYagpjo7nciXFcfjr-7cdvTYv2D24Qbl-S4F7YhYg0KVkuIdYEwiseHBt3NKRJGQupTWirCzcnTILh2fIY57RtxKzFNuWU3Db5P-ABMvxfZq2z59AGxA/w640-h388/bodegon-3D-1212-Las-Navas-de-Tolosa-768x465.png" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div> </div><div> <span style="font-size: large;">This is what Draco Ideas has to say about the game:</span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"> "1212: Las Navas de Tolosa is an asymmetric, two-player wargame in which Almohad and Christian troops face each other, reliving the emblematic battle of the Reconquista.</span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">Fast games and a very contained deployment, in which the battle is decided in about 30 minutes, with a card engine to determine the initiative and the outcome of the combat.</span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">Although small in size, 1212 Las Navas de Tolosa perfectly integrates the theme in a reduced number of components, placing special emphasis on the asymmetry of the sides to revive the different strategies that took place in the battle that would change the course of the Reconquista.</span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">Among other features, Christian units receive bonuses if they are activated by cards with their King’s shield, adding a further decision to the player on when to play the cards in his hand.</span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">For his part, the Almohad player can use a free ‘Tornafuye’ (karr wa-l-farr) action, which allows him to make a counterattack after a Christian cavalry charge, and also has special units such as the Black Guard protecting the Caliph an-Nasir, or the Jihad Volunteers, fanatical troops that will throw themselves into combat advancing if they manage to create a breach in the Christian defense."</span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLuo08XCLdDy26sxdukAjsovWD5GDeqd4Y4Hvw0WDhdJL7tWawHLW6dBI5TROYr-W6Zjo8-ldTQgxWX10CA8lyvODXn7hQUiGtJC8dU85vCKyTWBUqmv5Lxvm_OpQyVj7vYYqS5KtZkodXdVXH6jnj7RzvBg9DPWdAfFMau3N0knR5htDCf3NDt-NOAigQ/s236/1212-ficha2.png" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="236" data-original-width="236" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLuo08XCLdDy26sxdukAjsovWD5GDeqd4Y4Hvw0WDhdJL7tWawHLW6dBI5TROYr-W6Zjo8-ldTQgxWX10CA8lyvODXn7hQUiGtJC8dU85vCKyTWBUqmv5Lxvm_OpQyVj7vYYqS5KtZkodXdVXH6jnj7RzvBg9DPWdAfFMau3N0knR5htDCf3NDt-NOAigQ/w400-h400/1212-ficha2.png" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">A Muslim Counter</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"> I know it is a cliche, but sometimes good things do come in tiny boxes. Most of the parts of the game are small. The board is a mounted one. It measures around 11 3/4" x 8". It consists of eighteen rectangles (nine for each side). It is pretty much made up of open terrain with a few trees and the Caliph's stockade on the edge of one side. The counters are large at 18mm and come pre-rounded. Each counter comes with a very nicely done picture in the middle of it. The designer/artist (Pablo Sanz) has drawn them to look like period pieces of the battles' time. The Rulebook is small, about half the size of a normal Rulebook. It is however, done in full color. It is only twenty pages in length with the last page being a quick reference for the rules. The regular rules are fifteen pages in length. Then there is a two-page Advanced Variant for the rules. The game comes with two Rulebooks: one in English and one in Spanish. Next up are the Victory Conditions and a Historical Context. The Cards come with six cards for quick refence. On one side is English and the other is in Spanish. There are nine regular cards to be played with the normal game. A further 12 cards (six per side) are used with the Advanced Variant. That sums it up for the game's components. Draco Ideas does put a lot into the physical presentation of their games.</span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoq0meH04ZOMsFzzo1KlLKmvBhLYosiC8fcY_Q5SxfHtRB7E9RBqB1lkJUoHaW45YWyCQtqg4YxxtbAkovUU_s2sa8a4QKdOfYAsPwU8nsXtW9OIFMngC4KqtK5PbW8jVr0wuw5Jm6TjV1xft-v5oQwOZpQtUj1BfPV1V9CmiCBY72S4z3S95ZhE9NPce3/s300/1212-carta-2-216x300.png" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="300" data-original-width="216" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoq0meH04ZOMsFzzo1KlLKmvBhLYosiC8fcY_Q5SxfHtRB7E9RBqB1lkJUoHaW45YWyCQtqg4YxxtbAkovUU_s2sa8a4QKdOfYAsPwU8nsXtW9OIFMngC4KqtK5PbW8jVr0wuw5Jm6TjV1xft-v5oQwOZpQtUj1BfPV1V9CmiCBY72S4z3S95ZhE9NPce3/w288-h400/1212-carta-2-216x300.png" width="288" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">One of the Cards for the Regular Game</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"> The game was designed to take up a very small footprint and to be played in about thirty minutes. Draco Ideas has succeeded in both of these endeavors. This is a quick playing fun game that also has both strategy and tactics built into it. The addition of the Advanced Variant makes it so the game does not get stale or boring. The regular game is a good game, but it might get too repetitious for some people. The Advanced Variant Cards are either commanders in the game or units. These Cards give the player either Action Points or extra attack power when played. </span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"> This is the Sequence of Play:</span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">Initiative Phase: 1 card from each player. The highest wins the initiative and ties go to the Christian player.</span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">Action Phase: 2 cards for Action Points, playing alternative turns.</span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">Exhaustion: Tilted units (exhausted units) can neither attack or rally. They recover at the end of the turn.</span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"> These are a few of the rules:</span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">Ties in the standard attacks = 1 damage per side.</span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">If there are no cards left in the game deck, turn over the discard pile Without Shuffling.</span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"> Action allowed per turn:</span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">Maximum 3 units per board zone</span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">Maximum 2 combat actions per turn</span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">Maximum 1 archer attack per turn</span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3Ii_lSLMcRA7rYGN76idqDHNF35kxBlnz_9y103ZP03q02IIFSdDdWb5y-ZGl9RrpTIcW6hWvM6vK1LOh43Tal5bQO3XPD_HeerkRyX73EE5NW4kkcHAYu1-IfGgV0pPj0mAjZBIcQZB7e_LK6QGVaV3pL-ITi1BT_52I3toXU6p5pmtfpCPkwzPImVlA/s236/ficha-1212.png" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="236" data-original-width="236" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3Ii_lSLMcRA7rYGN76idqDHNF35kxBlnz_9y103ZP03q02IIFSdDdWb5y-ZGl9RrpTIcW6hWvM6vK1LOh43Tal5bQO3XPD_HeerkRyX73EE5NW4kkcHAYu1-IfGgV0pPj0mAjZBIcQZB7e_LK6QGVaV3pL-ITi1BT_52I3toXU6p5pmtfpCPkwzPImVlA/w400-h400/ficha-1212.png" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Christian Counter</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"> The Victory Conditions are:</span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">The Christian Player wins if Caliph al-Nasir's unit is eliminated.</span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">The Muslim Player wins if the Christian Player is not occupying any of the nine Muslim zones and there are less than four Christian occupied zones.</span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">Either side wins if they control twice as many zones as the other side.</span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"> 1212 Las Navas de Tolosa was designed to be a fun short game that can be setup and taken down with ease. The price point of the game is also easy on the player's wallet. This is not just a beer & pretzels game. It is certainly not as deep as some wargames but to win you have to put on your thinking cap. </span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"> Thank you Draco Ideas for allowing me to review this game. This game and their SCOPE series of games are built on the same premise. Please take a look at their War Storm series of games. They are tactical gems of games. Their two games on the Spanish Civil War (A las Barricadas! and Help Arrives) are two of the finest tactical games on the subject.</span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">Robert</span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">Draco Ideas:</span></div><div><a href="https://dracoideas.com/editorial/en/home/"><span style="font-size: large;">Draco Ideas editorial | Boardgames publisher</span></a></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">1212 Las Navas de Tolosa:</span></div><div><a href="https://dracoideas.com/editorial/en/1212-las-navas-de-tolosa-english/"><span style="font-size: large;">1212: Las Navas de Tolosa (English) | Draco Ideas editorial</span></a></div>Robert Petersonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17114299951391079193noreply@blogger.com0