Eylau 1807

Battles of Napoleon Volume I

by

Sound of Drums

A Uwe Walentin Design

 I will confess up front that I am a Napoleonic fanboy, and not only in my choice of wargames. If I had my way, some of the decor in my house would be of the Napoleonic variety, much to the chagrin of my better half. To top it off, the Battle of Eylau has for some reason always been my favorite Napoleonic battle to read about and to wargame. So, I might look a little more harshly on a wargame based on the battle compared to others.

 The Battle of Eylau need not have happened. After the destruction of 90% of the Prussian Army in the 1806 campaign, Napoleon was trying to come to grips with the Russian Army who were allies of the Prussians. Time had moved inexorably forward, and it was now almost full winter. Both Armies had pretty much gone into winter quarters. The Battle of Eylau was mostly caused by Marshal Ney disregarding his orders (He might have been the 'Bravest of the Brave' but he was certainly not the brightest of the bright) and causing the Russian Army to stir. Both armies finally met at Eylau in typical norther European weather. The battle was technically named Battle of Preussisch-Eylau, this being the town's actual name. However, the slaughter in the snow would make a more accurate description. The Russian Army was as tenacious as always, as Frederick the Great, Napoleon, and others came to find out. Sometime during the battle, a raging snowstorm took place to make the soldiers and generals jobs that much harder. Marshal Murat at the head of 10,000 French horsemen is usually credited with stopping the battle from becoming Napoleon's first defeat. It ended as the first check and not the outright victory that Napoleon had encountered. The battle was summed up by this conversation between Napoleon and Marshal Soult: Napoleon told Marshal Soult, "The Russians have done us great harm," to which Soult replied, "And we them, our bullets were not made of cotton." This famous interaction between a commander and his troops also took place at Eylau: "At the battle of Eylau, seeing his horse grenadiers lowering their heads as bullets whistled around, Lepic uttered the famous words: "Heads up, gentlemen, these are bullets, not turds!" (Haut la tête, messieurs, la mitraille ce n'est pas de la merde !)."

 This is what comes with the game:

two 88 x 56 cm map sheets

1120 counters (15 mm)

220 alternative counters (15 mm)

40 grey and 42 black cubes

20 blue and 20 green cube

2 army charts

2 OOB charts

2 play aid charts

2 tally sticks

2 counter trays

4 custom dice

1 rulebook

 This is what Sound of Drums has to say about the game:

"Battles of Napoleon is an epic game series that simulates the most famous battles of Napoleon on a tactical scale sharing an elegant and cohesive ruleset. 

The series portrays the most important aspects of battles of the Napoleonic era with easy to learn and remember rules, intuitive mechanics and procedures. This enables players to focus less time consulting the rulebook and more time on strategy, tactical decisions and gameplay.

The system focuses on the “cat-and-mouse game” of coordination and timing of the various formations of the different arms without unnecessarily complex or excessively thematic gameplay that too often compromises game-flow. 

The scale of the series is appr. 150 meters per hex. Infantry units are battalions; artillery are batteries, and cavalry are represented as regiments.

EYLAU 1807 contains 1120 large (15mm) counters, 280 alternative counters, 2 huge map sheets (each 86 x 55 cm) with large hexes, 4 charts and tables, 125 wooden cubes, 2 counter trays, 1 rules manual and 4 customized dice. 

Thanks to the successful funding on Gamefound and the unlocked stretch goals the components of the game are upgraded: the dice are customized and the charts and tables are deluxe (printed on 2mm grey carton) and the game includes 280 alternative counters.

The Game includes 5 scenarios: The fight for night quarters (small scenario), Murat’s massive cavalry charge, Davout’s attack, Lestocq saves the day and the Grand Battle scenario

Marc von Martial, one of the best graphic artists in the business, is in charge of the artwork. Gamers can expect beautiful, era-style maps and counters, and they will not be disappointed by his skill and love for detail."

  One thing about the game that was brought up before it was released was the map. This wasn't a discussion about how excellent it looks but the fact that it has a white overlay to it. Apparently, some people wanted to see the little brown buildings in the town etc. Well, here is a news flash. The battle was fought in the middle of a hard winter during a snowstorm. I thought from the very beginning that the map color added to the game and actually added to the historical immersion of it.

 

 Before I dive into the various components that come with the game there is something very important I have to say. That is, this game has some of the finest materials that I have seen in a game. It truly looks like the labor of love that it is. I was impressed by their earlier Hellas game, review link below, and its pieces but I am blown away by what you find inside this box. Now to be clear, I am talking about what comes in the 'regular', seems a pity to use that word, game box. I was lucky enough to get some of the special items from Mr. Walentin like the mounted map and the special dice. These only added to the magnificence of the ensemble.

 

 Unfortunately, my descriptions and the pictures do not do the game components justice. However, I will list off what comes in the box to the best of my ability. 

 So, let us start off with the map. As mentioned, it comes in two pieces. The size is a little over 22" X 34". I remember that we were supposed to change over to the metric system in the early 1970s, but I digress. It is simply a real wonder of an understated style. It is designed to show a landscape draped in winter and in this it succeeds admirably.

 Next up are the counters. Many games have huge amounts of counters. Usually, these counters are on the small size and rather hard to read, but not with all games. These come in around 5/8". This size is quite sufficient for most people to be able to see the pertinent information. They also have a small picture of the different Marshals and Generals, and they use what we have come to call the NATO symbols. The game places a lot of emphasis on command and control of the different units, as it should in a Napoleonic battle. So, being able to read the different Corps and division numbers is very necessary. The actual game units only take up two and 3/4 of the countersheets. The other 7 1/4 are the counters used in gameplay. The counters also come prerounded. I know this puts a damper on those of you who revel in piles of cut off pieces of counters. There are two types of alternative counters. The first is a set of alternative Marshal and General counters which have a flag instead of a small portrait. The other are 'Pollard" markers to show unit loss of strength. The game has regular loss counters of one number on each. The "Pollard" ones have four numbers on each side of the counter, and you put the correct number toward the front of the counter. Each counter also has a line or a column side. The game also comes with small wooden cubes to keep track of the different parts of the game. These are all uniform and do not have flash or bits of wood hanging off the ends.

  The Rulebook and the Scenarios, Notes, & History Booklet come in magazine type style. They are both in full color. The Rulebook does come with examples of the rules and play. The Rulebook comes in at 33 pages and the other at 19. The size of the lettering could be a little larger. However, the size of the Rulebook would then become a bit unwieldly. It comes with two large colorful foldout Orders of Battle, one for each side. The two identical Player Aids are made of the same material as a mounted map. All of the charts and tables needed to play are on them. You also get two foldouts to keep track of orders etc. These are also made of the same material as a mounted map. It also comes with two Tally Sticks, (more on them later), along with four custom dice. The entire game, except the map, is a bloom of color like a Napoleonic battle should be. 

 Strangely, for a game this size, the designer attempted to make it as easy as possible to play and remember the rules, without the constant checking and cross referencing that is needed in some game systems. The game is listed as a 5/10 on the complexity scale and the game length is listed as 180 minutes. This time is naturally based on knowing the rules and system and not for complete tyros. For a large game like this that is pretty amazing. The amount of counter clutter on the map has been cut down to as small as it can be. Mr. Walentin was trying to design a game series that would involve the player and be historical and yet still be extremely playable. I believe he has succeeded admirably in his assignment to himself. You get all the flavor of a Napoleonic battle without all the fluff and added rules that other systems use. 

 The gameplay is the very meat and potatoes of our chosen hobby. There are many beautiful games that gather dust on numerous shelves because of coming up short in this aspect. This game, and series, will not be one of them. The weather is also a large part of the rules and indeed that of the battle. Augereau's Corps staggered toward the Russian lines in a snow whiteout and was almost destroyed by the Russian cannon. This led to one of the most magnificent feats of the entire Napoleonic Wars. Murat led forward 10,000 French horseman who cut their way through the Russian Army and then repeated the process on the way back. The tableau has been used by numerous painters of the Napoleonic Wars.

 The game is won or lost by the amount of each army's fatigue points. As usual, you lose fatigue points for eliminated units, commanders, and the loss of objectives. However, you also lose fatigue points for each order that you issue. The way that fatigue is kept track of is also different. Instead of just having an army fatigue number that if you hit or go under, your side loses. The black and gray cubes are used to keep track of it. Essentially you have a stock of cubes at the beginning of the battle and scenario. You can win or lose them according to the rules above. When one side loses all of its cubes it has lost the battle. You can play with the historical weather, or you can roll a die to see what it is that turn. Now onto the Tally Sticks. Instead of having to find a bone or possibly a slide rule these are just included to help the player keep track of the army fatigue points etc. that are used in the game. These are a small but elegant addition to the game.

 I am going to break another one of my review rules now. That would make two in this month. While I will not mention the actual price, I can tell you that it is way below what a lot of other companies would charge for a game this size and is designed so well. There are so many outlets for buying games that I feel that it is not to the grognards' advantage to mention just one price. I do understand that it is best to send the money straight to the companies. However, some companies do sell their games to outlets that sell them for as low as the KickStarter prices. The grognard community as a whole is an older group. A lot of us are on fixed incomes and the 'younger' ones are dealing with college tuition for their children and many other things. In this day and age every penny counts.

 Please take a look at the other games that Sound of Drums has released and also take a look at the ones forthcoming. In their Battles of Napoleon Series, the next game is the Battle of Quatre? bras. That one, like Eylau, is a battle that could have gone either way.

 Robert Peterson

Eylau 1807 Battles of Napoleon Volume I

Sound of Drums

My review of Hellas: History of the Ancient Seas I:

Hellas: History of the Ancient Seas I by Sound of Drums - A Wargamers Needful Things

 Blitz in the East

The Russian Campaign 1941-45

by

VentoNuovo Games

 The campaign in Russia was started on June 22nd, 1941. Amazingly it was not expected at all by the majority of the Russian High Command, (which really means Stalin and a lot of yes men. Most of the others were removed from this earth during the purge). The actual backwardness of the Soviet Union, as far as a good road network, is what really saved them. The strain on German supply and the actual breakdown of all types of motorized vehicles was something they had not planned on at all. In fact, Hitler had actually decreased the number of tanks being manufactured before the beginning of Operation Barbarossa. Still, the Soviets in 1941 suffered horrific loses in numerous kesselschlachts (encirclements) throughout the area of the European Soviet Union. The soldiers of the Soviet Union defeated the original onslaught because of their ability to be just like the moles in whack-a-mole. For every Soviet troop concentration that the Germans captured or destroyed at least one, and sometimes two, popped up again. The campaign went from the Germans almost taking Moscow in 1941 to the Soviets taking Berlin in 1945. One can make the argument that the Lend-Lease program was responsible for as good portion of their victory. However, their losses throughout the war show that they were determined to find victory no matter the human cost.

 So, VentoNuovo Games has decided to enter the fray again by releasing another game about the Russian Front. This one is slightly different then their last one. Their newest release is on the small physical scale compared to most Russian Front games. This is what VentoNuovo Games has to say about it:

"VNG developers have created a brand-new engine for this game that is both easy to learn and hard to master. The base rules are minimal in length with many designer notes, examples, and beautiful graphics. Several optional rules and the Scorched Earth Expansion also add more historical flavor and complexity for more seasoned wargamers. The game engine is the strength of BLITZ IN THE EAST, as it is new, easy, and incorporates all of the historical campaign’s main themes. You will not have the feeling of playing "another" Russian front game." says designer Emanuele Santandrea. The base game, with clearly defined concepts, minimal rules length, and numerous examples, allows novice wargamers to quickly learn and play. 

The map is the ultimate creation of our design team. Emphasizing every detail, it depicts the area of operations at 1200dpi instead of the standard 300dpi. This allows for zooming into details without disrupting the graphics.

The 65 counters represent the Armies/Fronts involved in the campaign and are 2.5mm thick, 18x18mm wide, and pre-rounded.

There are also more than 100 game markers to assist game play.

Each turn is two months. The game offers several scenarios and a campaign to relive the struggle from June 1941 till December 1945 (or earlier).

For proficient players, each turn takes approximately 20 minutes to complete. So, a scenario can be played in an afternoon. For campaign play, assume an afternoon and evening is required to complete.

German panzers are really powerful and can punch a hole in the line. But it is infantry that holds the line. Germany cannot win this war without help from her allies. "We are a small company and dedicate attention to Minor Countries." says Emanuele Santandrea."

The very stylish colorful map

 

 As you can see by the pictures this is a very handsome wargame, as are all VentoNuovo Games, that is in the newer Eurogame format. This has much more glitz than most of us grognards are used to. 

 The map has very large hexes and shows the area of Europe from roughly Berlin to the Urals. It also shows the Balkan nations of the forties. The counters are a sight to behold and come prerounded. There is only one countersheet due to their size and the scope of the game. The Soviets have 30 units and the Germans and their allies have 25. The map and counter information and writing is nice and large for these old eyes. There are two Player Aids that are on hard cardstock. Everything that is needed for play is either on the two-sided Player Aids or on the map. The Rulebook is in full color and is 30 pages long. Its pages are thicker than most Rulebooks. The writing in it is as big as what you get in a Large Print book. It is filled with easily understood play examples. It comes with a deck of 28 cards. These either show a historical picture or a picture of a commander from either side. Visually the game is stunning. The fact that all of the writing is oversized just adds to players' ease in learning the ropes.

Back of the box

 You would think by the size of the game and the terseness of the Rulebook that this would be more of a beer & pretzels game. In this you would be highly mistaken. Although VentoNuovo Games, all designed by the owner Emanuele Santandrea, are very much in the flashy Eurogame category, his games always have some meat under that glittering skin. The rules are designed for both grognards and tyros. 

Counters

  The gameplay is meant to be easily understood and to have the player up and running in as little time as possible. You can jump right in and start playing after only a cursory glimpse through the rules. The cards and the optional rules help to make it a much deeper game than you would think upon first glance. Remember that book and cover adage. Air, Armor and everything else that you have come to expect in a game about the Russian Front is here. What you do not get is tons of fiddly high stacks of counters and a rulebook that looks to have been published in 1975. The gameplay can be as fast as the early blitzkriegs of the war. However, I suggest you put as much thought into it as you would with some of its weightier cousins. As was mentioned, the game is played in two month turns and the designer expects each turn to be around 20 minutes. So, even if you wanted to play the whole campaign through, the game does not need to stay on your table (annoying your wife) for more than a day, especially if you were going to play one of the scenarios.

One side of the Player's Aid

 The scenarios that come with the base game are:

The game comes with two tutorials

  Beyond the Dnieper

  Blitz in the East

Operation Barbarossa

Russian Campaign

A picture of some gameplay

 The game can be enhanced by the addition of The Scorched Earth Expansion. This is some information on the expansion:

125 game markers 2.5mm-thick with pre-rounded corners

28 Game Event Cards

Illustrated rules with many examples

Two historical scenarios plus two alternative "what if" scenarios

"The base game, with clearly defined concepts, minimal rules length, and numerous examples, allows novice wargamers to quickly learn and play.

Veteran wargamers can also enjoy a more complex experience via several optional rules and the Scorched Earth Expansion.

New events and new details add historical flavor and depth with "what if" situations and detailed logistics management to expand your game experience!"

  The new rules and additional scenarios really help to make this game into much more of a grognards game. The additional scenarios are:

Fall Blau

In or Out

Balkans Pacified four turn version. This is a hypothetical scenario; there was no Balkan campaign in 1940-41.

Balkans Pacified full 28 turn version

 I was fully prepared to not take to the game. I am one of those people who thought that because the Russian Front was so massive you need a big game to simulate it. Luckily, I persevered with a Blitz in the East and found that I was totally mistaken. The addition of The Scorched Earth expansion also made my grognard synapses feel more at home. Thank you, Mr. Santandrea, for allowing me to take Blitz in the East for a test drive. As usual, with all of your games, it brings a new twist on an old gaming subject. 

 

 I forgot to mention that the game has a free downloadable Strategy Guide for the players.

Robert Peterson

Blitz in the East

VentoNuovo Games

 The Fate of All

Strategikon Book I: Alexander's Campaign Against the Persian Empire, The First Diadochi War, and Other Deeds

by

Thin Red Line Games

 Megas Alexandros, the son of Philip II and Olympias, both of which have had numerous books written about them, was born in July 356 B.C. Philip II was a hard man and king who had two desires. The first was to be considered Greek by the Greeks; most thought of the Macedonians as barbarians. The second, to invade the Persian Empire supposedly in retaliation for the two Persian invasions of Greece. Olympias was another matter entirely. To Alexander she was a doting mother who considered her son to be divinely born, or at least half divine. To others, she was Mommie Dearest on steroids. Anything or especially anyone who got in Alexander or his offspring's way was considered fair game for horrific retribution. The story of Alexander's invasion of Persia and his marching all the way from India and back is the stuff of legends and is well known. However, the stories of his generals are not as well known. Napoleon was well served by most of his Marshals. In reality they could not hold a candle to Alexander's generals, especially the Diadochi (Successors). 

 I am breaking a rule that I have followed since I started wring for AWNT a good number of years ago. This rule was to never compare one game to another, the main reason being is that much like children, all games are different, and they are the offspring of each designer's thoughts. There are two games that I would never part with. These are the Art of Siege and The Conquerors, or just Conquerors. Both were released by SPI in the late 1970s. Between the two, The Conquerors is in the number one spot of this grognard's heart. I have three copies of the SPI version, two just for extra maps and counters. Both I got for a steal, and even another version by Excalibre Games released in 2011. As grognards we all have our most favorite games, and we also have extra copies in case of something untoward happening (much like how Foghorn Leghorn has his numbered feathers for emergencies). However, my heart skipped a beat when I opened the first map I came across and looked at the area of Lydia. I was absolutely enthralled. I was not really expecting to be. This game after all is about Alexander's invasion of the Persian Empire (The Conquerors also has a campaign about the Roman war with Antiochus the Great). Whilst I have read all of the books that have been written about Alexander and his great enterprise, I was never really a fan of Alexander's. Some things he did have really touched a chord with me such as smashing Cassander's head into the wall repeatedly when he laughed at the obeisance that the Persin nobles showed Alexander (Cassander being no favorite of mine). The Diadochi and their wars and battles have always meant much more to me than the great Alexander. I saw that one of the scenarios was about the first Diadochi War. Then I saw a counter that really grabbed my wargamer's heart. It was a counter for Antigonus, who according to Plutarch "was the oldest and greatest of Alexander's successors". To finally find a boardgame with a scenario about one of my heroes pretty much put me in awe of the game. It was from that moment that I began to realize that I had found a successor, no pun intended, to SPIs The Conquerors.

 Thin Red Line Games are known for their massive simulations about the Third World War happening in 1985. It seems the minute they go into print they go out of stock and the games then hit astronomical resale numbers? on those markets. I had read about those games, but never have I seen one up close to see for myself what all the other grognards were swooning over. Having seen the contents of this box I can now say that they have absolutely wonderful production quality. If they World War III games are like this no wonder, there has been such hubbub over them. This is a list of their WWIII games:

In a Dark Wood

1985: Under an Iron Sky

Less Than 60 Miles

1985: Deadly Northern Lights

The Dogs of War

1985: Sacred Oil

Die Festung Hamburg

 This is what comes with this game:

4x 90×60 cm matte plasticized map, covering Greece, Anatolia and the Middle East

1x Battle Map

5x 5/8″ matte plasticized counter sheets

20x Fate Cards

Rules Booklet

Scenarios & Designers’ Notes Booklet

Strategikon Booklet, containing examples and suggestions for the Commanders

2x Charts & Tables booklets

4x Player Aid Charts

2x 10-sided dice

10x zipbags

Game Highlights

30 km per hex, one month per turn

Units representing various formations, from Phalanx to Chariots

Order of battle and commanders based on primary sources and the most recent historical research

Realistic supply problems with realistic and possibly violent solutions

Cavalry Reconnaissance, Foraging and Raiding

Reaction Movement, not so easy retreats and catastrophic routs

Attrition and Army Morale, your first problems in the morning

Naval Warfare

Satrapies, Taxation and Bribes

Revolts, Treachery and worse

Five Different Scenarios with different complexity

A picture of all you get with your purchase

 This is what Thin Red Line Games has to say about their magnum opus:

"Loosely inspired on SPI’s “The Conquerors”, The Fate of All is an operational / tactical simulation covering the first four years of the campaign led by Alexander the Great against the Achaemenid Empire ruled by Darius III.

The final goal is to give a realistic representation of ancient warfare, without strange salads of godly interventions, auguries and Homeric duels. In the end, players will find that the problems faced were similar to those encountered during the Napoleonic era or the American Civil War.

The four maps cover Greece, part of the Balkans, Anatolia, Egypt and the Middle East up to Babylon. The scale is 30 km per hex with monthly turns.

The maps are designed using the latest archaeological studies and findings, but despite centuries of research several things are still only vaguely known: Some examples are the extension and path of the Persian Royal Roads, the location of several important cities and the exact route of Alexander’s Army. In these cases, the “most accepted theory” rule has been used.

Counters are 5/8″, each one representing a formation, from a Macedonian Phalanx Taxis (approx. 1500 soldiers) to a Cavalry Ile (200 – 300 mounted soldiers). Commanders and naval forces are also represented and will be key elements for the final victory.

Rules are centered on the problems of army organization, supply and morale: Commanders are essentials, armies must be organized in a balanced way, or they will move slowly, cavalry must be used for foraging, raid and reconnaissance, morale must be kept under control using sound military achievements or donations.

Political aspects are also a key element: Actions like Plundering and Sacking will have a negative impact on the local support by the ruling class and population, and both sides will have to use money or threats to gain it back. Last but not least, treason, revolts and dubious allies will be a problem too."

The map pieces put together

 

 I will just say at the beginning that the booklets and pieces of the game are really a sight to behold. There is a gaggle of player aids that come in the box. Here is a rundown on them.

 The Rulebook is in full color and is 23 pages long. The front and back cover have the famous mosaic of Alexander attacking Darius III in the latter's chariot. The different sections are headed by titles made to look like ancient Greek writing. This is a nice added touch to the game. Next up is the Scenarios and Designer Notes Booklet. It is 19 pages long and both of the above are designed in thick magazine style. The print is large enough where you do not need a magnifying glass and the rules etc. are written out so that you are not jumping back and forth to learn them. The Strategikon is an eight-page booklet of examples of all of the types of play. It is wonderfully illustrated for the player to follow along easily to learn the ropes. The charts and tables booklets, you get one for each player, are done the same way as all of the rest of the booklets mentioned. They are six-pages long and give the player everything he needs at his fingertips. There is a map made of card stock of the entire area of the map. It comes with the Forage Value of each of the different Satrapies. Then there are two card stock sheets for each side's Force Boxes. Each side has four armies and four fleet boxes with the Persian side getting an extra box for troops in Persepolis. This means that the map is not cluttered with large stacks of individual units. Last is a card stock sheet with the Calendar, Satrapies Alignment, and the Movement Points track. The counters of troops and markers are on five sheets and are a nice size of 5/8". The troop counters are little works of art and even show portraits of the different leaders on both sides. There are four wonderful maps from roughly Babylon to the entire Greek Peninsula. There is also a large fold out map for the tactical battles that comes with extra-large hexes. Both the counters and maps are in matte and come 'plasticized'. I know these help with waterproofing; however, it will be a cold day in hell before I let liquid of any kind near any of my games. Of course, this is a personal preference and is a very nice touch that has been added to the game. It will also help the life span of the maps. The game has a deck of 20 Fate Cards that are in line from an artistic point of view as the rest of the game. These give a historical feel to the game and also give it a bit of a wild card approach to play. So, there you have the long list of what you get. I cannot stress too much the excellent design and manufacturing of the game parts. You really have to see and feel them for yourself.

Phoenicia and Cyprus

Macedonia

 Just as with any other game, the gameplay is the real thing. As they say, you can put lipstick on a pig, but it is still a barnyard animal. So, how does the game play? I was a bit hesitant about how the game was designed and plays. After all, this was a game that was meant to replace one of my favorite games for 45+ years. I am here to tell you that it not only matches, or surpasses, The Conquerors in gameplay, especially the tactical part, but blows it out of the water in the art department. It almost makes me a little sad. It makes me think of the games like Philip II and Alexander. One was excellent for its time and the other is just superb. This 'game' is much more a military and political simulation of the time period. The designer stresses the fact that supply is one of the major factors in the game, just as it should be. The game puts you in these ancient leaders' shoes. You do not feel that you could put Panzers on the map and the game would play out the same. Supply and strategic thinking are the name of the game in this simulation. You actually get to see if you can emulate Alexander, or you can stop him with Memnon's take on what strategy the Persians should have used. As Alexander, you have one of the greatest fighting forces of all time. However, they can easily be swallowed up by the vastness of the greatest of ancient empires up until that time. As the Persian player, you have vast amounts of troops at your disposal, but they are not a homogenous force whatsoever. Most of them are of a lesser caliber than Alexander's troops. The ones that are able to stand up to the Macedonians' foot soldiers are few and far between. The Perian Empire was based upon some of the greatest horseman that had been seen in the ancient world up to that point. The Persian player has excellent cavalry and also a good number of them. You need to use them both tactically and strategically to win against a deck that is definitely stacked against you. As mentioned, the rules are set up for the player to easily learn how to play and find a rule or situation that may come up in the game. 

 Just like The Conquerors, you can have land combat resolved in a simple way or actually use the tactical map for the battles to play out (the tactical portion of The Conquerors was the only real downside to the game). In this game the tactical gameplay is just as good as the strategic.

  This is the Sequence of Play:

1. Events Phase

 a. Fate Step

 b. Bribery Step

 c. Revolt Step

 2. Administrative Phase

 a. Taxation Step (January only)

 b. Maintenance Step (January only)

 c. Recruitment Step

 d. Build Baggage and Siege Trains

 e. Remove Depleted Markers (April only)

 f. Remove Requisition markers

 g. Adjust Plunder markers

 h. Flip Breach markers to the Siege side

 3. Faction 1 Campaign Phase

 The first Faction executes the following steps:

 a. Siege Resolution Step

 b. Siege Declaration Step

 c. Naval Assignment Step

 d. Sea Shipping Step

 e. March, Fight & Die (MFD) Step

 f.  Final Supply Check Step

 4. Faction 2 Campaign Phase

 The second Faction executes the steps of Phase 3

Two different event cards form the deck. Oops, there goes Cleitus the black. The latter might show his marriage to Roxana.

 The Fate of All has been able to make me decide to put an old friend on the shelf probably never to be played again. This is both a sad moment for me but also a revelation and a wonderful feeling of great gaming to come. The fact that the designer was also a fan and used The Conquerors as a steppingstone mitigates my sadness. I am a self-professed ancient's nut when it comes to military history. The fact that this game has a scenario about the first Diadochi War is just the best icing I have ever tasted on the cake. 

The Battle of the Granicus setup.

"The Shattered Bonds

The first Diadochi war, 320 BCE

In 321 BCE, most of the internal rebellions caused by the untimely death of Alexander and the subsequent splitting of his empire have been quelled, and the Diadochi are finally ready to put every energy toward their common goal: Killing each other.

As Perdiccas moves to settle the score with Ptolemy, a coalition formed by Antipater, Craterus and Antigonus prepares to invade Anatolia, hoping to undermine Perdiccas’ dominant position and to bring support to Ptolemy before it’s too late.

The defence of Anatolia is entrusted to Eumenes, a previous secretary of Alexander raised to the rank of general thanks to his capabilities. Perdiccas also assigns Neoptolemos, an able officer but with a reputation for troublemaking, to act under the command of Eumenes.

As Antipater and his allies move into Anatolia by land and sea, Perdiccas’ faction is hit by a string of defections: Neoptolemos, the fleet admiral Cleitus the White, the Lydia Satrap Menandros, and the Karia Satrap Asandros all side with the enemy.

It’s only the beginning of a bloody war that will claim the life of most of its protagonists."

Read the introduction carefully.

 Thank you, Thin Red Line Games, for allowing me to review this excellent addition to your stable of games. I have read so much and seen how well your Third World War games play and look. I was really wondering how you would do with a game from this era. I need not have worried. Great gameplay and wonderful artwork are what grognards' dreams are made of. In this game you have succeeded in making dreams come true. I hope the readers take a look at those Third World War games when they click the link below to this masterpiece. Luckily, Thin Red Line Games does do reprints on occasion.

Some of the counters in all their glory.

Robert

Thin Red Line Games

The Fate of All

 Gettysburg July 1-3, 1863

by 

Worthington Publishing

 

 So, where do we begin this review? Gettysburg July 1st, 1863 touched off the bloodiest three days in the American Civil War. However, Gettysburg was not the largest battle in The Civil War. That distinction actually goes to The Battle of Fredericksburg. Because of the ramifications of the Battle of Gettysburg, most people assume it was the largest battle (one can make the case that the fall of Vicksburg at the same time was more momentous) of the Civil War. Yes, it did have the most casualties on both sides of any battle during it. However, at the time, it was not seen as the momentous occasion that it was. Lee was able to escape back to Virginia, much to President Lincoln's chagrin, and drag out the war almost another two full years.

 The next question about the battle comes from the grognard community itself, or at least a portion of us, and that is why another game about this battle? The big three games in wargaming are Waterloo, The Bulge, and Gettysburg. Someone said once, (it has been attributed to a few people), that NATO, nukes, and Nazis sell games. However, the big three games that I just mentioned are really the big sellers. The American Civil War is slightly behind World War II in wargaming circles. It is even a large seller in the European markets. So, why another game? Is it just a money grab or is there something else to it. To my way of thinking, it is not a cash grab. Designers have been bombarded with Gettysburg games since they were children. I believe they feel a burning need to try their hand at it. They have tallied up the pros and cons of all of the different Gettysburg games they have played and want to put their own spin on it.

 So, let us take a look at this go round by designers Grant and Mike Wylie and see if they have hit the mark or couldn't hit an elephant at that distance, much to Sedgewick's chagrin.

 This is what Worthington Publishing has to say about the game:

"GETTYSBURG 1863 is Volume IV in the Old School Wargames Civil War Brigade Battle series. The game allows gamers to refight the historic and pivotal battle of Gettysburg in 1863 using a large mounted map board, large pieces, and a streamlined set of series rules that is just 8 -12 pages long. The Battle Booklet will give you historical details, design, notes and 7 scenarios:

July 1 - Meeting Engagement

July 1 - Take That Hill (Can Ewell take Culp's Hill?)

July 2 - The Fight for the Flanks

July 2 - The Fight for Little Round Top

July 3 - Lee's Folly

July 4 - Should Meade Have Attacked?

July 1 - July 4 (the full battle)

The single day scenarios should take between 1 to 3 hours to play with the full battle taking 6 - 10 hours to play.

Special rules for early or late arrival of reinforcements, Follow up attacks, new terrain rules for multi level hex changes, a new rout rule, and more!

Game Scale:

Game Turn: 1 hour

Hex: 200-250 yards / 183-229 meters

Units: Infantry/Cavalry Brigades & Artillery Battalions

Game Inventory:

Two 22 x 34" full color mounted map boards (34x44" when combined for game play)

Five dual-side printed countersheets (540 3/4" counters - including 4 extra Tide of Battle counters intended for the earlier Antietam & Shiloh games)

Two 8-page Brigade series v1.4 rulebooks

Two 16-page Gettysburg playbooks

One Cavalry Battle Board Play Aid

Two Order of Battle Charts

Two Reinforcement/Casualty Charts

Two dual-side printed Combat & Terrain Charts

Two 10-sided dice

One Counter Tray

Solitaire Playability: High

Complexity Level: Medium

Players: 2 or more

Playing Time: 1-10 hours"

This is what comes in the box

 

 Although Worthington Publishing has been around a good number of years, it is sort of a dark horse. You don't see its games mentioned a lot when games are discussed. This is truly a shame because of their excellent product line. Hopefully, their Civil War Brigade Battle Series will make the above a thing of the past. The series now includes Gettysburg July 1-3 ,1863, Antietam September 17, 1862, Shiloh April 6-7, 1862, The Seven Days Battles, and the newest Franklin November 29-30, 1864. 

The Union Counters

 The production value of Worthington Publishing has always been one of their strong points. They go for substance rather than art form. The game comes with two 16-page Playbooks and two 8-page Brigade Battle Series rules. They are both in full color and have nice large print. In substance, they are much like a substantial magazine. Next, we have two card stock with all the charts needed to play, and on the reverse, the terrain chart. The player also gets two pages of a single-sided reinforcement chart with a casualty track at the bottom. These are also printed on card stock. Then we have a one-page card stock cavalry battle board. Finally, each player gets his own chain of command fold out sheet. The counters are incredibly easy to read and use and are 3/4" in size. These are not the largest we have seen but they are quite large enough for easy viewing and movement. The very large and nicely done map comes in two parts. There is no ambiguity of each hex's terrain for grognards to fight over. The large box is nice and sturdy which is another Worthington Publishing trademark. It even comes with a sleeve to cover the box. 

This is a close-up of the southern end of the battlefield

 I am a big fan of Worthington Publishing games, whether they are hex and counter or block games. They have always been a proponent of KISS for game rules and play. However, that does not mean that their games have no historical flavor. You can get as lost in their games as much as you can a game with four to five times the counters and size. Worthington Publishing adds as much historical flavor and reality as they can while still bringing you a playable and enjoyable game. The player has ability in this game to just play a smaller scenario or take the plunge into the entire battle and beyond. This is one of the few games that gives you a July fourth scenario to see if the critics of George Meade are correct. 

 One of the rules that makes the game different than most is the 'Tide of Battle Marker'. It is like a wild card to be used by a player once a day during a scenario. This can be used by the active player to:

 Reroll any one combat die roll made by their unit.

 Reroll any one morale check die roll made for their unit.

Various Game Markers

 With a rulebook that is only eight pages long the Worthington Brigade Battle Series is meant to be a player's game. You do not have to read through, or meander with some rulebooks, 40 plus pages to get a grip on how the game plays. Gettysburg was a large battle so you will need a large enough table for the maps and the ability to have it placed there for some time. You are not going to be able to squeeze in a game on the dinner table with only an hour until the food is served. This is perfectly fine and something that most wargamers, and especially grognards, thrive on. Much like a connoisseur of wines we like to gaze at the map and take it in slowly to get the full flavor of the game and setup, although most of us know the historical Gettysburg setups in our sleep. As Lee, do you attack as he thought he must, or do you take a more surgical approach to the battle? Playing as Meade, do you hesitate as he did, and rightly so, or take the bit in your teeth and go for broke? Worthington allows us to try any and all of the strategies that you can come up with. Thank you, Worthington Publishing, for allowing me to review this very well done on a much-gamed battle. Please take a look at the other games in the series and also Worthington Publishing' large stable of other wargames.

Robert

Worthington Publishing

Gettysburg July 1-3, 1863

 The Wars of the Sun King: Lace Wars Series - Volume I

by

Serious Historical Games

 This is an expanded edition of the game that was first issued in Vae Victis in 2019. Below is what the designer Philippe Hardy has to say about the game:

"This the Deluxe and augmented version of “Les Guerres du Roi Soleil 1667-1713” (The Wars of the Sun King) published in 2019 by Cerigo Edition.

This the first opportunity to play, with a single set of rules, the five conflicts led by France under the reign of Louis XIV the Great and the great rebellion called “La fronde”.

La Fronde rebellion (1648-1653) – taking advantage of the weakness of royal power while Louis, the future Louis XIV, was still a minor, the parliament of Paris and the nobility revolted at different periods and to different degrees against the regency ensured by Anne of Austria (widow of Louis XIII) and Cardinal Mazarin, hated by all. This weakening of France is a boon for Spain, still at war with France, to recover territories (Catalonia, Roussillon, the North of France).

The War of Devolution (1667-1668) - Spain’s non-payment of the Infanta of Spain’s dowry at her marriage to Louis XIV was used as a pretext for a war of conquest. This was the first conflict initiated by Louis XIV against a militarily and economically weakened Spain.

The Franco-Dutch War (1672-1678) - France wants to bring the Dutch Republic to its knees. This fierce commercial competitor, too tolerant as a state, opposes France’s expansion toward the Spanish Netherlands. This war for glory pitches against each other living legends of the Thirty Years War like Turenne, Condé et Montecuccoli. As a result of this conflict, the King of France earns the nickname Louis the Great.

This is the game map along with some of the counters

The War of the Reunions (1683-1684) - Spain does not accept the annexation by France of enclaves and surrounding areas in the Spanish Netherlands, stating their boundaries were poorly defined by the international treaties ending the War of Devolution and the Franco-Dutch War. Vauban recommends limiting the territorial enclaves, leaning against the mountainous area and securing the enclaves by constructing strongholds; it’s a matter of turf.

The War of the League of Augsburg (1688-1697) - The Habsburg’s victory against the Ottomans diverted the Empire’s attention on the French territorial gains following the War of the Reunions. In 1687, Louis XIV wanted to transform the Truce of Ratisbon into a permanent accord and send an ultimatum to the emperor who refused. The German princes and the great European powers form an alliance to counter France’s politics of expansionism and religious persecution. France finds itself diplomatically isolated.

The War of Spanish Succession (1701-1713) - King Charles II of Spain dies with no descendants. The two principal reigning families of Europe, the Bourbons (France) and the Habsburgs (Austria), are both related to Charles II and claim the throne. The principal stake is the domination of Europe by seizing the enormous heritage of the Spanish Habsburgs. France is confronted with its fiercest military enemies: Marlborough and Prince Eugene of Savoy.

This is the back of the box

Maximise your resource points to recruit armies, build strongholds, lead sieges and battles and win glory points.

Will you be able to vanquish Montecuccoli, Eugene of Savoy or Marlborough with Turenne, Condé, Villars and impose the Sun King’s will? Or Vauban will be the nemesis of all enemies ‘citadels?"

The game includes :

• One 59 x 85 cm MOUNTED (!) map

• 324 double-sided, pre-cut counters and markers

• A scenario booklet and a rulebook

• Many player aids

 I never played the original. However, I am a self-professed ultra fan of the history of Louis XIV's wars. This is a game that has been needed for a long time.

 You can order the game here:

 https://www.payfacile.com/serious-historical-g/s/the-wars-of-the-sun-king-1648-1713

 This is the link to the website of Serious Historical Games:

SERIOUS HISTORICAL GAMES