The Hotness
Games|People|Company
Dominion: Dark Ages
Fantastiqa
Mage Knight: Board Game
Mice and Mystics
Eclipse
Among the Stars
Collapsible D: The Final Minutes of the Titanic
Thunder Road
Agricola: All Creatures Big and Small
Lords of Waterdeep
Descent: Journeys in the Dark (Second Edition)
Dungeon Fighter
Virgin Queen
Skyline
The Lord of the Rings: The Card Game
A Game of Thrones: The Board Game (Second Edition)
Twilight Struggle
Dominion
Android: Netrunner
1989: Dawn of Freedom
Agricola
The Big Bang Theory: The Party Game
Total War
Arkham Horror
7 Wonders
Village
Dungeon Command: Sting of Lolth
Wrong Chemistry
The Castles of Burgundy
Ace of Spies
War of the Ring
Through the Ages: A Story of Civilization
Alien Frontiers
Ora et Labora
Le Havre
Kingdom Builder
Twilight Imperium (third edition)
Trajan
Glory to Rome
The Swarm
Race for the Galaxy
Caylus
Battlestar Galactica
Tammany Hall
Small World
Zombicide
Hawaii
Quarriors! Quarmageddon
Power Grid
Space Alert
%name%
Card Driven Wargames Redux
Brian Morris
United States
Raytown
Missouri
flag msg tools
2nd, 6th & 7th Wisconsin, 19th Indiana, 24th Michigan
badge
24th Michigan monument at Gettysburg Pa.
Avatar
mbmbmbmbmb
Recommend
291 
 Thumb up
0.25
 tip
 Thumb up
I used the term redux in the title for this as I did a geeklist on the card driven wargames 2 years ago. However in just the last two years there have been a number of new titles released as well as in the works. The system is being used more and more in different themes and situations. Like the block games it's now seeing the designers pushing the envelope to see what the system can be used for. Enough so that I felt it was worth taking another look at CDGs two years on.

Definition: Ok, now here's the tricky part. What defines a card driven game? The term card driven wargame is generally used to define a game that uses card mechanics similar to the one created by Mark Herman for his game For The People. The cards in these games have several features that are considered standard for the system. The cards should have multiple purposes i.e. the card can be played as an event, played for operation points (OPS) and perhaps even more. Here's an example of cards from a card driven wargame.





In the above cards you can see the two main features of the card driven wargame system. The OPS points are the number located in the upper left while the event is listed in the middle of the card. In the case of Paths of Glory which is the picture on the left, it has two additional features. The first is the second number on the top left which is the number used for strategic redeployment. The second is the bottom which is the reinforcement number. Basically cards in Paths of Glory can be used for operational points OPS, an event, to strategically redeploy SR or to add points for reinforcements at the end of the game turn.

Thus some games that look to qualify as a card driven wargame don't. These would include such titles as Pax Romana which while a fantastic game uses the cards for events but not for things like OPS. Also not qualifying are Memoir '44, Combat Commander: Europe or Grand Imperialism. Yes they are wargames and they use cards but they do not use the card driven system created by Mark Herman.
Your Tags: Add tags
Popular Tags: cdg [+] wargames [+] Golden-Geeklist [+] Geeklist [+] Wargaming [+] bookmark [+] [View All]
1 , 2  Next »   | 
1. Board Game: We the People [Average Rating:7.42 Overall Rank:315]
Brian Morris
United States
Raytown
Missouri
flag msg tools
2nd, 6th & 7th Wisconsin, 19th Indiana, 24th Michigan
badge
24th Michigan monument at Gettysburg Pa.
Avatar
mbmbmbmbmb
Since this is about Mark Herman's system it is only fitting that his game that started it all be first. The game used the cards not just for ops and events but also combat. Released in 1994 by Avalon Hill it took a while to catch on simply because it was so unique. Like the early block games I think many wargamers were slow to warm up to it.

2 
 Thumb up
 tip
 Thumb up
Adam Deverell
Australia
Melbourne
Victoria
Avatar
mbmbmbmbmb
This still holds up well. I have periodic bouts of whingeing about the combat cards, the abstract use of PC markers and the number of dud hands that can kill of British hopes in one turn, but it wins out because of its low complexity and fast playing time. It is also an incredibly innovative design - I think it actually saved wargaming.

I'd like to know what would have happened to the wargaming hobby if WtP hadn't ever turned up. ASL would still be around, but surely the (falling) niche marker wargames attracted in the 1990s would have continued to fall - CDGs and We the People have brought a LOT of euro/fantasy/CCG gamers into wargaming.
2 
 Thumb up
 tip
 Thumb up
  • Posted Wed Feb 14, 2007 5:21 am
    • Choose your Dice
      • Roll
      • Comment (Optional)
    • Reply
    •  
    • Quote
John Vasilakos
United States
Annandale
Virginia
mbmbmbmbmb
This is not a wargame, but a Eurogame, so it doesn't belong here....
1 
 Thumb up
 tip
 Thumb up
  • Posted Fri Feb 16, 2007 7:15 pm
    • Choose your Dice
      • Roll
      • Comment (Optional)
    • Reply
    •  
    • Quote
Ian Cooper
United States
Silver Spring
Maryland
Avatar
mb
One of my favourite games. These days a game gets into my list of favourites only if the wife likes to play, and she loves to play this one. As for the comment that this is a Eurogame, I have to disagree - this one has an historical theme and the theme ties in to the gameplay well. The defining characteristic of a Eurogame is that it is either non-historical or the theme is chosen out of a hat after the game has been built.
1 
 Thumb up
 tip
 Thumb up
  • Posted Sun Feb 25, 2007 3:17 pm
    • Choose your Dice
      • Roll
      • Comment (Optional)
    • Reply
    •  
    • Quote
Charles Vasey
Scotland
Mortlake, London
flag msg tools
designer
Avatar
mbmbmbmbmb
Splendid piece of work.
1 
 Thumb up
 tip
 Thumb up
  • Posted Wed Feb 28, 2007 1:00 pm
    • Choose your Dice
      • Roll
      • Comment (Optional)
    • Reply
    •  
    • Quote
John (Jay) Gettel
United States
Brighton
Michigan
Avatar
mbmbmbmbmb
red_gamster wrote:
- I think it actually saved wargaming.


I think block games, which also started to appear more frequently in the early 90's, helped to broaden exposure and saved wargamming as well.

sumo wrote:
I got the impression it was the opposite. Word got round quickly that this was a winner, and people liked it. It was unusual to play, but not that difficult.


I agree, many of the game buzz sources I was reading at the time, Genie, RGB and Sumo, all indicated that We the People was a great game. I went out and picked one up right away.
1 
 Thumb up
 tip
 Thumb up
  • Posted Sun May 20, 2007 5:52 pm
    • Choose your Dice
      • Roll
      • Comment (Optional)
    • Reply
    •  
    • Quote
2. Board Game: Hannibal: Rome vs. Carthage [Average Rating:7.93 Overall Rank:32]
Brian Morris
United States
Raytown
Missouri
flag msg tools
2nd, 6th & 7th Wisconsin, 19th Indiana, 24th Michigan
badge
24th Michigan monument at Gettysburg Pa.
Avatar
mbmbmbmbmb
However warm up people did and here's an example of how far the game system came in just 2 years. Hannibal use to be considered by many to be the holy grail of game collecting. That is until Valley Games got the right to reprint it. I hear the game is selling like hotcakes in terms of pre-orders. I can't help but think back to the guy who posted last year about how nobody cares about the old Avalon Hill titles and even if Hannibal were reprinted it wouldn't sell well.

5 
 Thumb up
 tip
 Thumb up
Michael Lawson
United States
Cincinnati
Ohio
mbmbmbmbmb
Maybe the guy was thinking about Outdoor Survival.
4 
 Thumb up
 tip
 Thumb up
  • Posted Wed Feb 14, 2007 1:34 pm
    • Choose your Dice
      • Roll
      • Comment (Optional)
    • Reply
    •  
    • Quote
Brian Morris
United States
Raytown
Missouri
flag msg tools
2nd, 6th & 7th Wisconsin, 19th Indiana, 24th Michigan
badge
24th Michigan monument at Gettysburg Pa.
Avatar
mbmbmbmbmb
LOL. Your comment was funny because there was a thread on the topic and people would talk about games like Hannibal and Republic of Rome getting reprinted. He'd come back and say "You honestly think people are interested in games like Outdoor Survival?" Every response he tried to make it sound like people were trying to get every AH title reprinted.
1 
 Thumb up
 tip
 Thumb up
  • Posted Wed Feb 14, 2007 7:22 pm
    • Choose your Dice
      • Roll
      • Comment (Optional)
    • Reply
    •  
    • Quote
Sean Chick
United States
Hammond
Louisiana
flag msg tools
designer
Avatar
mbmbmbmbmb
For me, Hannibal is king of CDG. My copy just came in today.

I bought Outdoor Survival for a dollar and then sold it for five to a friend.
2 
 Thumb up
 tip
 Thumb up
  • Posted Wed Feb 14, 2007 10:29 pm
    • Choose your Dice
      • Roll
      • Comment (Optional)
    • Reply
    •  
    • Quote
Dave Heberer
United States
Woodinville
Washington
flag msg tools
designer
Avatar
mbmbmbmbmb
That sounds like a very unfriendly thing to do.
3 
 Thumb up
 tip
 Thumb up
  • Posted Wed Feb 14, 2007 11:09 pm
    • Choose your Dice
      • Roll
      • Comment (Optional)
    • Reply
    •  
    • Quote
Sean Chick
United States
Hammond
Louisiana
flag msg tools
designer
Avatar
mbmbmbmbmb
Well it was running for ten dollars on ebay.
1 
 Thumb up
 tip
 Thumb up
  • Posted Thu Feb 15, 2007 3:28 am
    • Choose your Dice
      • Roll
      • Comment (Optional)
    • Reply
    •  
    • Quote
Stephen Parker
United States
Hermann
Missouri
flag msg tools
Avatar
mb
gittes wrote:
I bought Outdoor Survival for a dollar and then sold it for five to a friend.


Friends don't let friends buy Outdoor Survival, much less sell it to them, and for a 500% profit? In Dante's Inferno, the lowest circle of Hell is (or should be) reserved for...
1 
 Thumb up
 tip
 Thumb up
  • Posted Wed Sep 22, 2010 3:32 pm
    • Choose your Dice
      • Roll
      • Comment (Optional)
    • Reply
    •  
    • Quote
3. Board Game: Successors (2nd Edition) [Average Rating:7.01 Overall Rank:1057]
Brian Morris
United States
Raytown
Missouri
flag msg tools
2nd, 6th & 7th Wisconsin, 19th Indiana, 24th Michigan
badge
24th Michigan monument at Gettysburg Pa.
Avatar
mbmbmbmbmb
This one from the minds of Richard Berg and Mark Simonitch. Considered today to be a classic and soon to see a reprint via GMT (Yes, I pre-ordered it). I think this might be the first 4 player CDG.

3 
 Thumb up
 tip
 Thumb up
tiger tiger
United States

South Carolina
mb
First 4 player?

See Sword of Rome, which you added later in the list.
1 
 Thumb up
 tip
 Thumb up
  • Posted Wed Feb 14, 2007 4:40 am
    • Choose your Dice
      • Roll
      • Comment (Optional)
    • Reply
    •  
    • Quote
Nevin Ball
United States
Dallas
Texas
flag msg tools
That tickles!
Avatar
mb
Quote:
First 4 player?

See Sword of Rome, which you added later in the list.


I'm confused by your statement. Successors came out in 1997. SoR came out seven years later in 2004.
1 
 Thumb up
 tip
 Thumb up
  • Posted Wed Feb 14, 2007 5:35 am
    • Choose your Dice
      • Roll
      • Comment (Optional)
    • Reply
    •  
    • Quote
Nicholas Jost
United States
Fresno
California
Avatar
mbmbmbmbmb
I think he was unaware that this is a reprint.
1 
 Thumb up
 tip
 Thumb up
  • Posted Wed Feb 14, 2007 11:30 pm
    • Choose your Dice
      • Roll
      • Comment (Optional)
    • Reply
    •  
    • Quote
4. Board Game: For the People [Average Rating:7.55 Overall Rank:329]
Brian Morris
United States
Raytown
Missouri
flag msg tools
2nd, 6th & 7th Wisconsin, 19th Indiana, 24th Michigan
badge
24th Michigan monument at Gettysburg Pa.
Avatar
mbmbmbmbmb
Perhaps my favorite CDG. What I love about the card driven system is how at a strategic level it draws in the exterior political and social events surrounding the conflict and makes them an important part of the game. For example the events you see on the cards in the picture, the New York Draft riots, Confederate railroad degradation and the Confederate ironclad program all had significant effects on the conflict. Yet few games if any do these factors have an effect on the game. Here they do and it adds so much to the flavor of the game.

7 
 Thumb up
 tip
 Thumb up
  • 14 comments [Hide]
Brian Morris
United States
Raytown
Missouri
flag msg tools
2nd, 6th & 7th Wisconsin, 19th Indiana, 24th Michigan
badge
24th Michigan monument at Gettysburg Pa.
Avatar
mbmbmbmbmb
The command structure is one of the great things in this game and plays pretty well actually. It's pretty much the excellent command system created for VG's Civil War which Herman adopted for this one.

What's great is it recreates the command system during the war. Rank and service was very important during the war. It was military protocol that if a general had more time in grade than another he got promoted, often regardless of ability. This is why for example Burnside in 1864 had a separate command for the most part for his 9th Corps away from Meade who technically was under Burnside in terms of rank. To promote someone over another higher in rank caused a lot of feathers to be ruffled (these guys had some big egos remember). The game reflects that if you put a general in command of an army over another general who outranks him there there will be consequences.
2 
 Thumb up
 tip
 Thumb up
  • Posted Wed Feb 14, 2007 11:44 am
    • Choose your Dice
      • Roll
      • Comment (Optional)
    • Reply
    •  
    • Quote
Mike Bruington
United States

California
mbmb
I am still scratching my head and trying to parse out the rules for this one. For some reason, it is proving difficult for me.
1 
 Thumb up
 tip
 Thumb up
  • Posted Sun Feb 18, 2007 10:27 am
    • Choose your Dice
      • Roll
      • Comment (Optional)
    • Reply
    •  
    • Quote
Mark Herman
United States
Unspecified
Unspecified
designer
Avatar
mbmbmbmbmb
mtlawson wrote:
I also have to admit that in 1998 I thought I'd scored a big coup by picking this up right as AH was getting bought out by Hasbro. Now, after GMT had picked it up and released FTP2 and FTP2:2.0, I can only shrug. Too bad I can't turn my AH copy in to GMT to get a new version of FTP2:2.0.



Unless you are playing in tournaments, the original AH version that you own is just fine from my perspective. I have posted a set of pdf rules for this title that are a free download and the changes are in my opinion much less dramatic than some think between the AH and the GMT versions. My view is you own the original, and you should forgo spending another dime by playing what you own. The point in fact is when I am visiting some relatives who I have given copies to way back when, this is the version I play.

Now if you want to play in tournaments, it still will not cost you a penny. I have made available the entire game via cyberboard and vassal for free. From my perspective you bought into the design back in the beginning and you should avail yourself of the updated electronic version. So, I think it is a win-win for anyone who is interested in playing.

Enjoy,
Mark
16 
 Thumb up
 tip
 Thumb up
  • Edited Mon Apr 7, 2008 9:42 pm
  • Posted Mon Apr 7, 2008 9:37 pm
    • Choose your Dice
      • Roll
      • Comment (Optional)
    • Reply
    •  
    • Quote
Chris Kelly
Malaysia
George Town
Penang
Avatar
mbmbmbmbmb
Mark, your continued support of this and your other titles is absolutely amazing - thank you so very much for your energy and commitment to our hobby. It is relatively easy for a computer manufacturer or software supplier to provide free downloads for their products as they are updated; it is far less easy for a board wargame author to do so. You are one of the giants of the hobby and your CDG system has defined "wargaming 2.0" for me.
5 
 Thumb up
 tip
 Thumb up
  • Posted Mon Jun 2, 2008 4:21 am
    • Choose your Dice
      • Roll
      • Comment (Optional)
    • Reply
    •  
    • Quote
Mark Herman
United States
Unspecified
Unspecified
designer
Avatar
mbmbmbmbmb
chris_arsenal wrote:
Mark, your continued support of this and your other titles is absolutely amazing - thank you so very much for your energy and commitment to our hobby. It is relatively easy for a computer manufacturer or software supplier to provide free downloads for their products as they are updated; it is far less easy for a board wargame author to do so. You are one of the giants of the hobby and your CDG system has defined "wargaming 2.0" for me.


I sincerely thank you for your warm remarks.

Mark
7 
 Thumb up
 tip
 Thumb up
  • Posted Mon Jun 23, 2008 12:58 pm
    • Choose your Dice
      • Roll
      • Comment (Optional)
    • Reply
    •  
    • Quote
5. Board Game: Paths of Glory [Average Rating:8.06 Overall Rank:23]
Brian Morris
United States
Raytown
Missouri
flag msg tools
2nd, 6th & 7th Wisconsin, 19th Indiana, 24th Michigan
badge
24th Michigan monument at Gettysburg Pa.
Avatar
mbmbmbmbmb
Use to be the highest rated card driven game on BGG. Is it the best? Well like Puerto Rico that is a matter of opinion. It sure is a hell of a good game. I'm hooked on it. I think it's a good example of how well the system works for games of large strategic scope. You will notice most games on this list are at a high strategic level.

9 
 Thumb up
 tip
 Thumb up
  • 17 comments [Hide]
Adam Deverell
Australia
Melbourne
Victoria
Avatar
mbmbmbmbmb
Probably the best designed of the CDWs. In fact, one of the cleanest and most innovative designs of all time, IMHO.

However, starting up a game gives me the same sort of chill as, say, beginning an accountancy exam. You know you're in for a cerebal pounding.

My only problem with PoG is that experienced players have such a huge advantage. You have to play this a LOT to get really good at it.
2 
 Thumb up
 tip
 Thumb up
  • Posted Wed Feb 14, 2007 6:05 am
    • Choose your Dice
      • Roll
      • Comment (Optional)
    • Reply
    •  
    • Quote
Brian Morris
United States
Raytown
Missouri
flag msg tools
2nd, 6th & 7th Wisconsin, 19th Indiana, 24th Michigan
badge
24th Michigan monument at Gettysburg Pa.
Avatar
mbmbmbmbmb
Then shift some units south into Italy and come up from the south. If they don't want to attack France then use that strategy to your advantage.

That's the beauty of this game. There are a lot of strategies you can pursue. Maybe all aren't truly historical but it is a game after all.
1 
 Thumb up
 tip
 Thumb up
  • Posted Fri Feb 16, 2007 10:05 pm
    • Choose your Dice
      • Roll
      • Comment (Optional)
    • Reply
    •  
    • Quote
Marc Morley
United States
Rainier
Washington
Avatar
mbmbmbmbmb
I love this game and have enjoyed myself every time I've played it. I'm truly amazed at how many times some of you are able to play it. I guess I've never played it enough to see any shortcomings and am able to just have fun. It was my introduction to CDG and I think it will always be one of my favorites.
1 
 Thumb up
 tip
 Thumb up
  • Posted Sat Feb 17, 2007 5:48 am
    • Choose your Dice
      • Roll
      • Comment (Optional)
    • Reply
    •  
    • Quote
Steve M
United States
Lubbock
Texas
flag msg tools
Avatar
mbmbmbmbmb
The tension in this game is absolutely amazing. As someone else said in another PoG thread, this is the only game that has kept me awake as I lay in bed thinking about possible moves, what cards they're probably holding, etc. Awesome.
1 
 Thumb up
 tip
 Thumb up
  • Posted Sat Feb 17, 2007 7:09 am
    • Choose your Dice
      • Roll
      • Comment (Optional)
    • Reply
    •  
    • Quote
Phil McDonald
England
Staffordshire
UK
Avatar
mbmbmbmbmb
PoG is the only game I rate a 10. I could never imagine not wanting to play it. I have enjoyed every game more than the last, win or lose.

I love the thematically rich play of the cards.

BtB is great fun too, but this is the DADDY of CDG P2P games for me.
 
 Thumb up
 tip
 Thumb up
  • Posted Thu Aug 13, 2009 10:40 am
    • Choose your Dice
      • Roll
      • Comment (Optional)
    • Reply
    •  
    • Quote
6. Board Game: Shifting Sands [Average Rating:7.35 Overall Rank:692]
Brian Morris
United States
Raytown
Missouri
flag msg tools
2nd, 6th & 7th Wisconsin, 19th Indiana, 24th Michigan
badge
24th Michigan monument at Gettysburg Pa.
Avatar
mbmbmbmbmb
One of the newer CDGs. This one uses a system very simular to Paths of Glory and Barbarossa to Berlin. I think this is the first card driven game from MMP. They did a fantastic job on it. The art on the back of the cards is fantastic and the linen cards was a nice touch of quality. If you like Paths of Glory then you likely will like this one too.

4 
 Thumb up
 tip
 Thumb up
  • 13 comments [Hide]
James Blair
United Kingdom
Tadworth
Surrey
Avatar
mbmbmbmbmb
The PoG/BtB system used in this really suits the scale of this game.

Very tense.
1 
 Thumb up
 tip
 Thumb up
  • Posted Wed Feb 14, 2007 12:05 pm
    • Choose your Dice
      • Roll
      • Comment (Optional)
    • Reply
    •  
    • Quote
Mike Bruington
United States

California
mbmb
Quote:
I see nothing in the way of a "glitch" in the US in the game. Certainly the category is not "well-known".


I think he is referring to the Americans writing the game rather than the Americans in the game.
1 
 Thumb up
 tip
 Thumb up
  • Posted Sun Feb 18, 2007 10:49 am
    • Choose your Dice
      • Roll
      • Comment (Optional)
    • Reply
    •  
    • Quote
Michael Rinella
United States

New York
flag msg tools
designer
Avatar
mbmbmbmbmb
I stand by the game's handling of Malta, and it's importance to the Axis, including the Germans. It was based on research I conducted over more than a decade, and is supported by many sources, including those included in the game's suggested reading. For example Ansel (1972), Greene and Massignani (1998), and Forty (2003).

Michael Rinella
Designer, Shifting Sands
2 
 Thumb up
 tip
 Thumb up
  • Posted Mon Feb 19, 2007 3:29 am
    • Choose your Dice
      • Roll
      • Comment (Optional)
    • Reply
    •  
    • Quote
James Blair
United Kingdom
Tadworth
Surrey
Avatar
mbmbmbmbmb
Michael Rinella wrote:
The sequel covering Italy and Western Europe from 1943 to 1945 is already in motion.


Fantastic news!
 
 Thumb up
 tip
 Thumb up
  • Posted Wed Apr 16, 2008 3:20 pm
    • Choose your Dice
      • Roll
      • Comment (Optional)
    • Reply
    •  
    • Quote
Michael Rinella
United States

New York
flag msg tools
designer
Avatar
mbmbmbmbmb
The sequel to Shifting Sands went through a complete redesign in 2010. While it will be instantly familiar to players I have stream-lined many aspects of the system found in PoT, B2B, Sands, and some others.

I did about a dozen full-game solo playtests in the fall of 2010. After some delays it is now officially under contract with Worthington Games, who has already publicly announced a 2011 publication date. I have playtest teams lined up and ready to go. There will be no "pre-order" wait, no 18 month lag finishing artwork, etc. We will playtest, and then it's off to the printer.
 
 Thumb up
 tip
 Thumb up
  • Posted Fri Mar 18, 2011 5:59 pm
    • Choose your Dice
      • Roll
      • Comment (Optional)
    • Reply
    •  
    • Quote
7. Board Game: World War II: Barbarossa to Berlin [Average Rating:7.24 Overall Rank:507]
Brian Morris
United States
Raytown
Missouri
flag msg tools
2nd, 6th & 7th Wisconsin, 19th Indiana, 24th Michigan
badge
24th Michigan monument at Gettysburg Pa.
Avatar
mbmbmbmbmb
Sharing the same system as Paths of Glory and Shifting Sands. Haven't played this one yet and I am in the process of trying to trade for a copy of the second edition if I ca.

5 
 Thumb up
 tip
 Thumb up
Michael Rinella
United States

New York
flag msg tools
designer
Avatar
mbmbmbmbmb
Better than PoG if you ask me. I like that there aren't fifteen fronts to manage and no insanely ahistorical player strategies.
1 
 Thumb up
 tip
 Thumb up
  • Posted Thu Feb 15, 2007 2:52 am
    • Choose your Dice
      • Roll
      • Comment (Optional)
    • Reply
    •  
    • Quote
Philip Thomas
United Kingdom
London
London
Avatar
mbmbmbmbmb
out of interest Andy, is there a wargame you haven't torn apart for its utterly obvious fatal flaws?
4 
 Thumb up
 tip
 Thumb up
  • Posted Sun Feb 18, 2007 12:08 pm
    • Choose your Dice
      • Roll
      • Comment (Optional)
    • Reply
    •  
    • Quote
Andy Daglish
United Kingdom
Cheadle
Cheshire
Avatar
mbmbmbmbmb
yes, the last test failure.
1 
 Thumb up
 tip
 Thumb up
  • Posted Sun Feb 18, 2007 4:30 pm
    • Choose your Dice
      • Roll
      • Comment (Optional)
    • Reply
    •  
    • Quote
Mark Bigney
United States
Cambridge
Massachusetts
Avatar
mbmbmbmbmb
The dissonance is amusing. I hear Eric Cartman in my head engaging in highly detailed analysis of historical events.
9 
 Thumb up
 tip
 Thumb up
  • Posted Fri Apr 6, 2007 5:10 pm
    • Choose your Dice
      • Roll
      • Comment (Optional)
    • Reply
    •  
    • Quote
James Blair
United Kingdom
Tadworth
Surrey
Avatar
mbmbmbmbmb
aforandy wrote:
The panzer groups overwintering in Chelyabinsk


Hmmm... I'm either a crap German player, or my opponent is an ace Allied player.

I've always found this game to be quite a tense conquest... even the game where I did take Moscow, the Russians made a great come-back and I only won by a single VP- which was the Breslau space!

Barbarossa to Breslau!
1 
 Thumb up
 tip
 Thumb up
  • Posted Wed Apr 16, 2008 3:25 pm
    • Choose your Dice
      • Roll
      • Comment (Optional)
    • Reply
    •  
    • Quote
8. Board Game: Pursuit of Glory [Average Rating:8.00 Overall Rank:696]
Brian Morris
United States
Raytown
Missouri
flag msg tools
2nd, 6th & 7th Wisconsin, 19th Indiana, 24th Michigan
badge
24th Michigan monument at Gettysburg Pa.
Avatar
mbmbmbmbmb
Coming to a GMT P500 list soon. Using the same system of Paths of Glory and taking place in WW I as well but this time covering just the Ottoman Empire and Middle East.
7 
 Thumb up
 tip
 Thumb up
Michael G
United States
Pembroke Pines
Florida
Avatar
mbmbmbmbmb
I'm playtesting this one. It has some very interesting features. One thing that happens is that the countryside catches the Jihad fire. Armies are generally smaller than Paths of Glory. Resources are strapped. It's a nice situation. The Tsar is like an alarm clock. Allies have to hurry here.

2 
 Thumb up
 tip
 Thumb up
  • Posted Wed Feb 14, 2007 12:32 am
    • Choose your Dice
      • Roll
      • Comment (Optional)
    • Reply
    •  
    • Quote
Brian Morris
United States
Raytown
Missouri
flag msg tools
2nd, 6th & 7th Wisconsin, 19th Indiana, 24th Michigan
badge
24th Michigan monument at Gettysburg Pa.
Avatar
mbmbmbmbmb
That's a pretty cool looking playtest map too. I'd love it if the final map had that much color and contrast to it.
2 
 Thumb up
 tip
 Thumb up
  • Posted Wed Feb 14, 2007 6:14 am
    • Choose your Dice
      • Roll
      • Comment (Optional)
    • Reply
    •  
    • Quote
Michael Rinella
United States

New York
flag msg tools
designer
Avatar
mbmbmbmbmb
No prisoners! devil
1 
 Thumb up
 tip
 Thumb up
  • Posted Thu Feb 15, 2007 2:53 am
    • Choose your Dice
      • Roll
      • Comment (Optional)
    • Reply
    •  
    • Quote
Ahmet Ilpars
Turkey
Istanbul
mbmbmb
This is a very good well balanced game with no unhistorical happenings.
1 
 Thumb up
 tip
 Thumb up
  • Posted Wed Jan 26, 2011 8:32 am
    • Choose your Dice
      • Roll
      • Comment (Optional)
    • Reply
    •  
    • Quote
9. Board Game: The Halls of Montezuma [Average Rating:6.66 Overall Rank:2632]
Brian Morris
United States
Raytown
Missouri
flag msg tools
2nd, 6th & 7th Wisconsin, 19th Indiana, 24th Michigan
badge
24th Michigan monument at Gettysburg Pa.
Avatar
mbmbmbmbmb
Another in the works title. This time the Mexican American War. I pre-ordered this one on the GMT P500 list.
3 
 Thumb up
 tip
 Thumb up
Donald Wilbur III
United States
Sacramento
California
Avatar
mbmbmbmbmb
I'm very excited about this. Both the political situation and the actual conflict are pretty obscure (at least in the US where it earned about one paragraph in our history books). If nothing else it'll give me a good excuse to do some reading on the topic.
 
 Thumb up
 tip
 Thumb up
  • Posted Wed Feb 14, 2007 1:46 am
    • Choose your Dice
      • Roll
      • Comment (Optional)
    • Reply
    •  
    • Quote
Brian Morris
United States
Raytown
Missouri
flag msg tools
2nd, 6th & 7th Wisconsin, 19th Indiana, 24th Michigan
badge
24th Michigan monument at Gettysburg Pa.
Avatar
mbmbmbmbmb
My interest in this conflict comes out of my interest in the civil war. So many of the commanders from the Civil war fought in Mexico. Grant, Lee, McClellan, Jackson, Hunt, Longstreet, Picket and Meade to name a few.

On my last GMT P500 list someone wrote how this conflict was nothing more than the US rolling over Mexico with superior numbers. Actually the reverse was true. Winfield Hancock landed at Veracruz with only 15,000 men. After Yellow Fever spread like wildfire his forces were down to 8,500 as he drove inland and took on 12,000 Mexicans under Santa Anna at Cerro Gordo. The Mexican army was not this defenseless push over that people think they were.
 
 Thumb up
 tip
 Thumb up
  • Posted Wed Feb 14, 2007 6:28 am
    • Choose your Dice
      • Roll
      • Comment (Optional)
    • Reply
    •  
    • Quote
Chris R.
United States
Unspecified
Missouri
flag msg tools
admin
Avatar
mbmbmbmbmb
This is my only pre-order right now. I liked For the People so much that I thought the prequel made sense. (Learn about Robert E. Lee/George McClellan back when he was they were still known as Anakin Skywalker...) Any other strategic games for this conflict? If GMT were smart they would hire a cheap translator, so they could market it to Latin America.
 
 Thumb up
 tip
 Thumb up
  • Posted Wed Feb 14, 2007 8:26 am
    • Choose your Dice
      • Roll
      • Comment (Optional)
    • Reply
    •  
    • Quote
Antonio Chavez
United States
Laredo
Texas
Avatar
mbmbmbmbmb
Heck, I'd translate it for free. (I'm probably gonna do it anyway).
 
 Thumb up
 tip
 Thumb up
  • Posted Wed Feb 14, 2007 4:04 pm
    • Choose your Dice
      • Roll
      • Comment (Optional)
    • Reply
    •  
    • Quote
Jeff Yeackle
United States
San Luis Obispo
California
Avatar
mbmbmbmbmb
This one is my gateway game to the ACW. While I've studied up on the ACW a fair bit (not enough to call myself anything close to an ACW buff though, that was my dad's territory), it was really researching these conflicts in Mexico including the French invasion that have really pulled me into looking deeper into the ACW.

I'm sure I'll dig this one and will probably end up getting Gringo as a result to get into the meatier simulations which will then lead me to financial ruin.
 
 Thumb up
 tip
 Thumb up
  • Posted Wed Feb 14, 2007 7:54 pm
    • Choose your Dice
      • Roll
      • Comment (Optional)
    • Reply
    •  
    • Quote
10. Board Game: Sword of Rome [Average Rating:7.30 Overall Rank:406]
Brian Morris
United States
Raytown
Missouri
flag msg tools
2nd, 6th & 7th Wisconsin, 19th Indiana, 24th Michigan
badge
24th Michigan monument at Gettysburg Pa.
Avatar
mbmbmbmbmb
Another great 4 player game. I like the fact that each player has their own card deck. I didn't pick up the 5th player exansion as it's already a long game and thought that a 5th player might be a tad to much.

6 
 Thumb up
 tip
 Thumb up
  • 14 comments [Hide]
Michael G
United States
Pembroke Pines
Florida
Avatar
mbmbmbmbmb
Hopefully my 5 player expansion is in the mail soon. Sword of Rome is a great game. It is best played over two nights though.
 
 Thumb up
 tip
 Thumb up
  • Posted Wed Feb 14, 2007 12:33 am
    • Choose your Dice
      • Roll
      • Comment (Optional)
    • Reply
    •  
    • Quote
Ben Smith
Australia
Derrimut
Victoria
Avatar
mbmbmb
I've played a few times, it's great fun but in my view it shouldn't be considered a competitive game, there is way too much bash the leader and card randomness. Some cards are incredibly powerful and if all players decide, one player, usually the leader, can be put out of the running terminally if the others players decide.

Having said that, I'll always play this for a laugh!
 
 Thumb up
 tip
 Thumb up
  • Posted Thu Feb 15, 2007 3:00 am
    • Choose your Dice
      • Roll
      • Comment (Optional)
    • Reply
    •  
    • Quote
Jeff Yeackle
United States
San Luis Obispo
California
Avatar
mbmbmbmbmb
Quote:
Well I've just been convinced to get the 5th player expansion now. I felt foolish ordering the expansion and not owning the game, but if GMT states it will be printed this year then I'll take it now. Might as well order the Path of Glory players guide too, and heck, I guess I should order PoG while I'm at it, hmm, this is getting crazy!


Michael, it looks like we're in the same boat on this one! PoG has been in my Thoughhammer cart for awhile and the guide is on my P500 list too. It's not pure madness. I've done this with movie sequels and book sequels when I've found them for a good price and already knew I was going to like them.
 
 Thumb up
 tip
 Thumb up
  • Posted Thu Feb 15, 2007 6:11 am
    • Choose your Dice
      • Roll
      • Comment (Optional)
    • Reply
    •  
    • Quote
Michael G
United States
Pembroke Pines
Florida
Avatar
mbmbmbmbmb
Says Ben:

Quote:
it's great fun but in my view it shouldn't be considered a competitive game, there is way too much bash the leader and card randomness. Some cards are incredibly powerful and if all players decide, one player, usually the leader, can be put out of the running terminally if the others players decide.


That would be a major failing of your diplomacy. If the players are all trying to win, the scores are generally very close. I've found less leader bashing in this game than Successors, for example (for obvious reasons). Also, the powerful cards all come with a caveat of having several uses. If you play them all for events, you quickly weaken your future draws and you can't move your leaders. Card randomness? Well you have a lot of cards though and the distribution for each side is even. In other words, these may be your experiences, but I don't think they would be very common.

With respect to the 3 player question before, it does play with 3 and it's an interesting game, but the 4 player game is better.

In short, I think this is a very solid option for a multiplayer CDG.
 
 Thumb up
 tip
 Thumb up
  • Posted Thu Feb 15, 2007 2:34 pm
    • Choose your Dice
      • Roll
      • Comment (Optional)
    • Reply
    •  
    • Quote
Ben Smith
Australia
Derrimut
Victoria
Avatar
mbmbmb
I'll have to play again soon Michael. My group has found it quite chaotic. In our last game poor old Gaul had played really well and had amassed a handy lead. When Rome saw this she went in and pretty much cleaned Gaul up, the rest of us had no choice but to let this happen lest Gaul run away with the lead. Of course this led to Rome winning.
Worth another look, people seem to think there's more here than I can see. I should be more trusting
 
 Thumb up
 tip
 Thumb up
  • Posted Thu Feb 15, 2007 3:48 pm
    • Choose your Dice
      • Roll
      • Comment (Optional)
    • Reply
    •  
    • Quote
11. Board Game: Wilderness War [Average Rating:7.75 Overall Rank:208]
Brian Morris
United States
Raytown
Missouri
flag msg tools
2nd, 6th & 7th Wisconsin, 19th Indiana, 24th Michigan
badge
24th Michigan monument at Gettysburg Pa.
Avatar
mbmbmbmbmb
One of the easier and more popular CDG titles but one I didn't care much for.

6 
 Thumb up
 tip
 Thumb up
  • 17 comments [Hide]
Brian Bankler
United States
San Antonio
Texas
flag msg tools
"I'm a soldier, I've killed people." "You are a doctor." "I've had bad days."
Avatar
mbmbmbmbmb
Well, the rules for this are easier, but I always have trouble with the units and map. Paths of Glory seems to have a lot more rules, but feels easier. It may just be that I can 'visualize' WWI (and WWII) better than this ...
2 
 Thumb up
 tip
 Thumb up
  • Posted Wed Feb 14, 2007 2:47 am
    • Choose your Dice
      • Roll
      • Comment (Optional)
    • Reply
    •  
    • Quote
Andy Daglish
United Kingdom
Cheadle
Cheshire
Avatar
mbmbmbmbmb
Quote:
Has anyone played and won with the French in a campaign game?


The French only need a couple of victories under Montcalm, a fort or two [demolished or taken], some raids and Albany [recall the Surrender card] and they've won. Its just possible off three hands of cards. Four is more comfortable. In order to avoid this its necessary for the British to display the necessary level of cowardice [= abject], but new players may play them bravely.
 
 Thumb up
 tip
 Thumb up
  • Posted Mon Feb 19, 2007 1:20 pm
    • Choose your Dice
      • Roll
      • Comment (Optional)
    • Reply
    •  
    • Quote
Mike Silbey
United States
St. Louis
Missouri
Avatar
mbmbmbmbmb
I tend to view this game as resting complexity-wise halfway between Hannibal and Paths of Glory. As such, it has great value.
 
 Thumb up
 tip
 Thumb up
  • Posted Thu May 24, 2007 9:48 pm
    • Choose your Dice
      • Roll
      • Comment (Optional)
    • Reply
    •  
    • Quote
Adam Deverell
Australia
Melbourne
Victoria
Avatar
mbmbmbmbmb
Quote:
I've had the game a number of years and played 15+ games - but never the campaign game. I don't intend too either.


I'll have to eat my words. I eventually got around to playing a campaign game and have to admit it worked a lot better than I thought. I played the FR. Very open map, lots of raiding and, unlike the AM scenario, the FR can really push hard at the BR offensively, especially if the BR reinforcements take their time in showing up.

Quote:
Personally, unless the French have a VERY good early/middle game and have one or more VP at the end of 1760 and thus receive an auto victory - I can't see how they'd win this one.


Andy is right - auto victory is a distinct possibility if the FR are canny and aggressive enough and win a few key battles with some decent raiding. I won in the second last turn as the FR. Also found it far more satisfying as a historical simulation - although I could imagine games falling to the BR if the BR player is patient enough.

My opponent didn't like the scenario at all - too long for what is a mid-level game. The strategies don't change much compared to the EW scenario, it's just stretched out a lot longer. Doubt I'll find too many opponents willing to go the distance again.

The clincher for me is the FR pushing for an auto victory - makes the game tense.
2 
 Thumb up
 tip
 Thumb up
  • Posted Sun Dec 16, 2007 9:59 am
    • Choose your Dice
      • Roll
      • Comment (Optional)
    • Reply
    •  
    • Quote
James Blair
United Kingdom
Tadworth
Surrey
Avatar
mbmbmbmbmb
Rob Doupe wrote:

I just never had such a bad experience with a game in terms of card draws dramatically influencing the outcome. I've since learned that nobody plays the campaign game for this reason, and the Annum Mirabalis scenario is the real game. Wish someone would have told me that before I traded the game away.



Interesting. I only play the campaign game, and have palyed enough times that the luck of the draw is mitigated.

That said, I lost a game where I had good cards due to some excellent play by the French player, and a great degree of over-confidence on my part due to good cards.


The campaign game seems balanced... at first glance the French appear to have no chance, but as pointed out, the British have to totally crush them (not easy) - and the French only need to do a few raids.

In fact, I've seen some good French play where they dance around their interior lines, making god use of auxilieries... very frustraing as the British player as I had killer stacks but was far too inflexible in my play to spread out and try and get the French.

I've had some great games of these - and can't really say I've found it to be skewed by luck. But that's just my opinion... tournament play holds no interest with me.
 
 Thumb up
 tip
 Thumb up
  • Edited Wed Apr 16, 2008 3:39 pm
  • Posted Wed Apr 16, 2008 3:34 pm
    • Choose your Dice
      • Roll
      • Comment (Optional)
    • Reply
    •  
    • Quote
12. Board Game: Wellington [Average Rating:6.96 Overall Rank:971]
Brian Morris
United States
Raytown
Missouri
flag msg tools
2nd, 6th & 7th Wisconsin, 19th Indiana, 24th Michigan
badge
24th Michigan monument at Gettysburg Pa.
Avatar
mbmbmbmbmb
One of the not so popular titles with some. I liked it myself. Much lighter than most CDGs with a larger variance in the numbers for OPS than other games which I think is what some didn't care for.
1 
 Thumb up
 tip
 Thumb up
Adam Deverell
Australia
Melbourne
Victoria
Avatar
mbmbmbmbmb
Perhaps it's just too much fun for cranky grognards?

I've played it twice and looking forward to another game. Seriously chaotic with the number of combat and response cards flying around the table at times, but it sure is fun.

This is my choice for a multi-player CDW, as it is over and done with in several hours. Sword of Rome is just too long.
 
 Thumb up
 tip
 Thumb up
  • Posted Wed Feb 14, 2007 6:02 am
    • Choose your Dice
      • Roll
      • Comment (Optional)
    • Reply
    •  
    • Quote
Michael G
United States
Pembroke Pines
Florida
Avatar
mbmbmbmbmb
I am also a fan of Wellington. I like playing the Spanish, even though the other sides have better leaders. It's easy to go unnoticed.
 
 Thumb up
 tip
 Thumb up
  • Posted Wed Feb 14, 2007 6:19 am
    • Choose your Dice
      • Roll
      • Comment (Optional)
    • Reply
    •  
    • Quote
Paul Glenn
United States
Wheaton
Maryland
Avatar
mbmbmbmbmb
I think that at least some of the people who don't like this are huge Napoleonic Wars fans, and feel that Wellington messes with the TNW system. But I'm not sure--I've heard that criticism from some TNW fans, but I don't know how many are like that.
 
 Thumb up
 tip
 Thumb up
  • Posted Wed Feb 14, 2007 6:27 pm
    • Choose your Dice
      • Roll
      • Comment (Optional)
    • Reply
    •  
    • Quote
Brian Morris
United States
Raytown
Missouri
flag msg tools
2nd, 6th & 7th Wisconsin, 19th Indiana, 24th Michigan
badge
24th Michigan monument at Gettysburg Pa.
Avatar
mbmbmbmbmb
I think one problem is Wellington doesn't drip with theme as much as many other CDGs. You play Paths of Glory, Shifting Sands or For The People and you get a ton of theme. Wellington is more of a tactical chess match comparatively. Then again maybe that's just my impression as I'm not a huge Napoleonic history person so I don't pay as much attention to it in the game.
 
 Thumb up
 tip
 Thumb up
  • Posted Wed Feb 14, 2007 8:03 pm
    • Choose your Dice
      • Roll
      • Comment (Optional)
    • Reply
    •  
    • Quote
Ben Smith
Australia
Derrimut
Victoria
Avatar
mbmbmb
Shared decks don't bother me but your comment "barely put a dent in" does. I think there's much better scope for strategy and planning when you can cycle through the entire deck at least once (Hannibal and TS nailed it).
I've never played Wellington, does it work with this system?
 
 Thumb up
 tip
 Thumb up
  • Posted Thu Feb 15, 2007 2:14 pm
    • Choose your Dice
      • Roll
      • Comment (Optional)
    • Reply
    •  
    • Quote
13. Board Game: Kutuzov [Average Rating:7.08 Overall Rank:2025]
Brian Morris
United States
Raytown
Missouri
flag msg tools
2nd, 6th & 7th Wisconsin, 19th Indiana, 24th Michigan
badge
24th Michigan monument at Gettysburg Pa.
Avatar
mbmbmbmbmb
Uses the same system as Wellington but this one covering Napoleon's invasion of Russia.
1 
 Thumb up
 tip
 Thumb up
Michael Lawson
United States
Cincinnati
Ohio
mbmbmbmbmb
One thing that is interesting is that in the two player game each player takes one Russian and one French command.
 
 Thumb up
 tip
 Thumb up
  • Posted Wed Feb 14, 2007 5:46 pm
    • Choose your Dice
      • Roll
      • Comment (Optional)
    • Reply
    •  
    • Quote
Doug Cooley
United States
Wilsonville
Oregon
Me rocking out with my band, which you can hear at www.raindriver.com
Avatar
mbmbmbmbmb
Actually, that's just an option. You can either play each player takes one side or each player takes one faction from each side. Makes for a very different game.

And one player *always* wins, never two. Makes every configuration of players feel a little different.

Major differences between this and Welly are the huge focus on morale and Imperial attrition. I've not played yet, but the rules seem pretty tight and while there's room for people throwing cards around the table, smart players choose when to do so because a lost battle (even with loot and attrition and morale losses) is often preferable to giving your opponent operational control because you run out of cards first.
 
 Thumb up
 tip
 Thumb up
  • Posted Sat Aug 16, 2008 6:58 am
    • Choose your Dice
      • Roll
      • Comment (Optional)
    • Reply
    •  
    • Quote
14. Board Game: Twilight Struggle [Average Rating:8.34 Overall Rank:1]
Brian Morris
United States
Raytown
Missouri
flag msg tools
2nd, 6th & 7th Wisconsin, 19th Indiana, 24th Michigan
badge
24th Michigan monument at Gettysburg Pa.
Avatar
mbmbmbmbmb
Remember when I said up above that Paths of Glory use to be the highest rated CDG on BGG? This is why it isn't anymore. Very popular title and a good introduction to the system as it's one of the easier one to pick up. However like most great games it may be easy to pick up but it's hard to master as the strategies are so wide open.

10 
 Thumb up
 tip
 Thumb up
  • 15 comments [Hide]
Donald Wilbur III
United States
Sacramento
California
Avatar
mbmbmbmbmb
I probably like PoG just a little better, but this has the advantage of being more accessible. You can play it in an evening and the level of complexity is much lower.

A VERY tightly designed game, well worth the hype. I'm probably in the minority here, but I feel this has some strong similarities to H:RvC.
 
 Thumb up
 tip
 Thumb up
  • Posted Wed Feb 14, 2007 1:51 am
    • Choose your Dice
      • Roll
      • Comment (Optional)
    • Reply
    •  
    • Quote
Philip Thomas
United Kingdom
London
London
Avatar
mbmbmbmbmb
Lone Gunman is the only one I can think of. There are other Soviet cards that lower Defcon, of course (or maybe just the one card (WWBY) now Korean War is defanged).
 
 Thumb up
 tip
 Thumb up
  • Posted Thu Feb 15, 2007 9:01 pm
    • Choose your Dice
      • Roll
      • Comment (Optional)
    • Reply
    •  
    • Quote
Brad Metz
United States
College Station
Texas
Avatar
mbmbmbmbmb
Quote:
It is hardly an introductory game for anything; such is its success and popularity, surely it stands as its own game?


TS is probably my favorite game of all time (as of today: though I just whooped down the pinko's last night so I am a touch manic). The relative scoring, the constant hard choices with hand/deck management and strategery options, and finally the ambitious scope of trying to synthesize in game form 50+y of foreign policy makes this game stand alone.


I do take issue with the whole "gateway game" concept: if a game appeals to a wide audience, illustrates a game mechanic/concept/theme well with a certain simplicity and finesse that makes it a better game: 2000pp rulebooks do not a great game make.


 
 Thumb up
 tip
 Thumb up
  • Posted Thu Jun 28, 2007 10:28 pm
    • Choose your Dice
      • Roll
      • Comment (Optional)
    • Reply
    •  
    • Quote
Dan Daly
United States
Perryopolis
Pennsylvania
Avatar
Just played this for the first time over the weekend. While having a better knowledge of the cards than your opponent would certainly be a huge advantage, relying on certain cards coming up as part of your strategy- like the Soviets leaving Romania open because they know they'll get it anyway- is certainly a risky proposition for a couple reasons.

1. Your opponent could send the card to the space race. Sure it will come back, but they could always space race it again or make you pay for leaving Romania wide open in the meantime.

2. There is at least one card (UN Intervention if I recall correctly) that lets an card be played without the event going into effect. Again, the card will come back into the deck later, but in the meantime Romania would be defenseless.

So in my novice opinion, basing your strategy on the hopes of future events happening as you forsee, is certainly a viable tactic, but not one without risk.
 
 Thumb up
 tip
 Thumb up
  • Posted Mon Aug 6, 2007 12:58 pm
    • Choose your Dice
      • Roll
      • Comment (Optional)
    • Reply
    •  
    • Quote
Chris Martin
England
London
Avatar
mbmbmbmbmb
prizziap wrote:
in the meantime Romania would be defenseless.
Oh NOOOOO! Not Romania! Romania is, like, the whole linchpin of the Soviet strategy? If the Americans went there ... ZOMG!!!

Sorry, but did you really find Romania to be a vital battleground? Despite not actually being a battleground? Despite there being many other more important countries across Europe, let alone the world? I can't say that I'd ever feel too upset as a Soviet player about not crushing Romania under my heel. Sure, the abdication is nice, but I wouldn't sit around worrying that it might never show.
2 
 Thumb up
 tip
 Thumb up
  • Posted Tue Dec 4, 2007 6:13 pm
    • Choose your Dice
      • Roll
      • Comment (Optional)
    • Reply
    •  
    • Quote
15. Board Game: Empire of the Sun [Average Rating:7.55 Overall Rank:562]
Brian Morris
United States
Raytown
Missouri
flag msg tools
2nd, 6th & 7th Wisconsin, 19th Indiana, 24th Michigan
badge
24th Michigan monument at Gettysburg Pa.
Avatar
mbmbmbmbmb
One of the few CDGs with a hex map. Definitely one of the more complex games in the list. I have a copy but haven't played it yet. I plan to remedy that situation however and I have heard great things from a few folks who have played it.

5 
 Thumb up
 tip
 Thumb up
Alan Richbourg
United States
Arlington
Texas
I seez u be makin ur beeg move
Avatar
mbmbmbmbmb
You haven't played it yet, lol. Explains a lot!
 
 Thumb up
 tip
 Thumb up
  • Posted Wed Feb 14, 2007 2:02 am
    • Choose your Dice
      • Roll
      • Comment (Optional)
    • Reply
    •  
    • Quote
Brian Morris
United States
Raytown
Missouri
flag msg tools
2nd, 6th & 7th Wisconsin, 19th Indiana, 24th Michigan
badge
24th Michigan monument at Gettysburg Pa.
Avatar
mbmbmbmbmb
LOL. I do know that the game has gone through a number of rule revisions and that the earlier rules had some difficulties. As it stands now they look to be on the high level of complexity in terms of CDGs.
 
 Thumb up
 tip
 Thumb up
  • Posted Wed Feb 14, 2007 5:55 am
    • Choose your Dice
      • Roll
      • Comment (Optional)
    • Reply
    •  
    • Quote
Jeroen van der Valk
Netherlands
Gouda
Zuid Holland
flag msg tools
Avatar
mbmbmbmbmb
I have this one waiting in the wings to play too. It looks to be a great game, and probably plays smoother than the weight the rules at first reading may convey.
 
 Thumb up
 tip
 Thumb up
  • Posted Wed Feb 14, 2007 9:30 pm
    • Choose your Dice
      • Roll
      • Comment (Optional)
    • Reply
    •  
    • Quote
Michael Lawson
United States
Cincinnati
Ohio
mbmbmbmbmb
Was this the game that Mark Herman talked about in his interview on the Point2Point podcast? If so, this game sounded extremely interesting; Mark was emphasizing that he wanted to make sure that the combatants were looking at the game from a MacArthur or Yamamoto level.
 
 Thumb up
 tip
 Thumb up
  • Posted Thu Feb 15, 2007 3:34 am
    • Choose your Dice
      • Roll
      • Comment (Optional)
    • Reply
    •  
    • Quote
Mike Bruington
United States

California
mbmb
I know someone who has this and really wants to play it. We haven't played it yet partly because of scheduling but largely because of the rules complexity (or at least apparent rules complexity). He has to explain it to me since I don't have it and he hasn't figured it out enough yet.
 
 Thumb up
 tip
 Thumb up
  • Posted Sun Feb 18, 2007 11:25 am
    • Choose your Dice
      • Roll
      • Comment (Optional)
    • Reply
    •  
    • Quote
Mark Herman
United States
Unspecified
Unspecified
designer
Avatar
mbmbmbmbmb
A recent review to add to the mix.

http://www.boardgamegeek.com/thread/301013


Mark
 
 Thumb up
 tip
 Thumb up
  • Posted Tue Mar 18, 2008 12:40 pm
    • Choose your Dice
      • Roll
      • Comment (Optional)
    • Reply
    •  
    • Quote
16. Board Game: Unhappy King Charles! [Average Rating:7.70 Overall Rank:533]
Brian Morris
United States
Raytown
Missouri
flag msg tools
2nd, 6th & 7th Wisconsin, 19th Indiana, 24th Michigan
badge
24th Michigan monument at Gettysburg Pa.
Avatar
mbmbmbmbmb
There are a lot of CDGs on the GMT P500 list. An example of just how popular the system has become.
3 
 Thumb up
 tip
 Thumb up
Donald Wilbur III
United States
Sacramento
California
Avatar
mbmbmbmbmb
I can't wait for this. I've been very interested in the English Civil War ever since I read "The Cousins' War". The long range impact of this conflict is still felt today.
 
 Thumb up
 tip
 Thumb up
  • Posted Thu Feb 15, 2007 4:59 am
    • Choose your Dice
      • Roll
      • Comment (Optional)
    • Reply
    •  
    • Quote
Adam Deverell
Australia
Melbourne
Victoria
Avatar
mbmbmbmbmb
This should be great - good theme, low/mid complexity...but I've heard it uses the combat cards as seen in We the People. Is this true? I like my combat over quickly; this could be turn off for me.
 
 Thumb up
 tip
 Thumb up
  • Posted Thu Feb 15, 2007 5:42 am
    • Choose your Dice
      • Roll
      • Comment (Optional)
    • Reply
    •  
    • Quote
Philip Thomas
United Kingdom
London
London
Avatar
mbmbmbmbmb
If you can't wait for it, I counsel you to think again. This one has been a while in the pipeline. I remember ordering it thinking it would out before last summerlaugh

 
 Thumb up
 tip
 Thumb up
  • Posted Thu Feb 15, 2007 8:57 pm
    • Choose your Dice
      • Roll
      • Comment (Optional)
    • Reply
    •  
    • Quote
Paul Glenn
United States
Wheaton
Maryland
Avatar
mbmbmbmbmb
If there weren't so many other good games on pre-order, I'd pre-order this one. Cool topic, sounds like a fun game. Anyone want to subsidize my gaming habit?
 
 Thumb up
 tip
 Thumb up
  • Posted Sat Feb 17, 2007 5:32 pm
    • Choose your Dice
      • Roll
      • Comment (Optional)
    • Reply
    •  
    • Quote
Charles Vasey
Scotland
Mortlake, London
flag msg tools
designer
Avatar
mbmbmbmbmb
Quote:
This should be great - good theme, low/mid complexity...but I've heard it uses the combat cards as seen in We the People. Is this true? I like my combat over quickly; this could be turn off for me.


Not true, I can't win with those damned Battle Cards and then people laugh at me and pull my ears. There are some combat cards that modify a single battle, but otherwise its dice combat.
1 
 Thumb up
 tip
 Thumb up
  • Posted Wed Feb 28, 2007 1:05 pm
    • Choose your Dice
      • Roll
      • Comment (Optional)
    • Reply
    •  
    • Quote
17. Board Game: Triumph of Chaos [Average Rating:7.71 Overall Rank:846]
Brian Morris
United States
Raytown
Missouri
flag msg tools
2nd, 6th & 7th Wisconsin, 19th Indiana, 24th Michigan
badge
24th Michigan monument at Gettysburg Pa.
Avatar
mbmbmbmbmb
Not one of my favorites and yet a game I really tried to like. The game looks really good but the game plays very slow.

3 
 Thumb up
 tip
 Thumb up
Michael G
United States
Pembroke Pines
Florida
Avatar
mbmbmbmbmb
I'm wondering why this is slower for you than Paths of Glory and why you don't care for it. The Diplomacy track for the factions is a lot like The Napoleonic Wars which you like. The situation is a lot more dangerous with forces changing sides and no fixed lines really. For me, it's Paths of Glory set in a more interesting (and less explored) situation. Hmmm... It doesn't play slower for us. Were you playing it face-to-face or Vassal?

 
 Thumb up
 tip
 Thumb up
  • Posted Wed Feb 14, 2007 12:38 am
    • Choose your Dice
      • Roll
      • Comment (Optional)
    • Reply
    •  
    • Quote
Brian Morris
United States
Raytown
Missouri
flag msg tools
2nd, 6th & 7th Wisconsin, 19th Indiana, 24th Michigan
badge
24th Michigan monument at Gettysburg Pa.
Avatar
mbmbmbmbmb
Face to face. Played it twice and finally traded it away.
 
 Thumb up
 tip
 Thumb up
  • Posted Wed Feb 14, 2007 5:45 am
    • Choose your Dice
      • Roll
      • Comment (Optional)
    • Reply
    •  
    • Quote
P. Al Williams
United States
Northampton
Massachusetts
Avatar
mbmbmbmbmb
Does anyone know if there will be another print run for this?
 
 Thumb up
 tip
 Thumb up
  • Posted Thu Feb 15, 2007 4:52 pm
    • Choose your Dice
      • Roll
      • Comment (Optional)
    • Reply
    •  
    • Quote
David Dockter
United States

Minnesota
designer
Avatar
mbmbmbmbmb
Not sure about another print run. You can still get a copy at www.clashofarms.com while they last. And, the 80 page players guide to the game has now been published.
 
 Thumb up
 tip
 Thumb up
  • Edited Sun Dec 16, 2007 10:22 am
  • Posted Thu Feb 15, 2007 11:37 pm
    • Choose your Dice
      • Roll
      • Comment (Optional)
    • Reply
    •  
    • Quote
Nando Ferrari
Italy
Verona
Unspecified
mbmbmb
For me this is a GREAT game, one the best card driven, with Napoleonic Wars, Paths of Glory and Twilight Struggle. Maybe it's the most complex and the most long to play (the new Clash of Monarchs seems to be longer), but every play is a new emotion...
 
 Thumb up
 tip
 Thumb up
  • Posted Tue Oct 28, 2008 4:47 pm
    • Choose your Dice
      • Roll
      • Comment (Optional)
    • Reply
    •  
    • Quote
18. Board Game: The Napoleonic Wars [Average Rating:7.08 Overall Rank:735]
Brian Morris
United States
Raytown
Missouri
flag msg tools
2nd, 6th & 7th Wisconsin, 19th Indiana, 24th Michigan
badge
24th Michigan monument at Gettysburg Pa.
Avatar
mbmbmbmbmb
Everybody's favorite Corsican. I have not played this one but it would likely take someone 5 seconds to talk me into it...ok maybe 4.


2 
 Thumb up
 tip
 Thumb up
Michael Lawson
United States
Cincinnati
Ohio
mbmbmbmbmb
At the rate the P500 is going, I expect Nappy to make it out by the end of the year.
 
 Thumb up
 tip
 Thumb up
  • Posted Wed Feb 14, 2007 5:50 pm
    • Choose your Dice
      • Roll
      • Comment (Optional)
    • Reply
    •  
    • Quote
Paul Glenn
United States
Wheaton
Maryland
Avatar
mbmbmbmbmb
I hope it comes out soon--I'm excited about it. Heard great things, and I like strategic level Nappy games.
 
 Thumb up
 tip
 Thumb up
  • Posted Wed Feb 14, 2007 6:31 pm
    • Choose your Dice
      • Roll
      • Comment (Optional)
    • Reply
    •  
    • Quote
David Heldt
United States
Unspecified
Unspecified
flag msg tools
Avatar
mbmbmbmbmb
I played it once and could not get over the fact that, as Austria, I did more damage to France after I was conquered--
1 
 Thumb up
 tip
 Thumb up
  • Posted Thu Feb 15, 2007 1:17 am
    • Choose your Dice
      • Roll
      • Comment (Optional)
    • Reply
    •  
    • Quote
D Hansey
Canada
Winnipeg
Manitoba
mbmbmb
Its a great game.
 
 Thumb up
 tip
 Thumb up
  • Posted Tue Oct 2, 2007 1:19 am
    • Choose your Dice
      • Roll
      • Comment (Optional)
    • Reply
    •  
    • Quote
19. Board Game: Here I Stand [Average Rating:8.10 Overall Rank:36]
Brian Morris
United States
Raytown
Missouri
flag msg tools
2nd, 6th & 7th Wisconsin, 19th Indiana, 24th Michigan
badge
24th Michigan monument at Gettysburg Pa.
Avatar
mbmbmbmbmb
First time I played this game I was the Papacy. I opened up my first turn by excommunicating the King of France. I was hooked. How many games are there out there where as part of your game turn you can literally tell another player to go to hell.

Definitely will be a Charles Roberts Award nominee and could very well be a winner.

12 
 Thumb up
 tip
 Thumb up
  • 14 comments [Hide]
Donald Wilbur III
United States
Sacramento
California
Avatar
mbmbmbmbmb
I have avoided this since it's multiplayer. But I recently heard it works well solo, so I'm giving it a closer look. (Maybe after a few of my P500s get printed and played?)
 
 Thumb up
 tip
 Thumb up
  • Posted Wed Feb 14, 2007 1:54 am
    • Choose your Dice
      • Roll
      • Comment (Optional)
    • Reply
    •  
    • Quote
Mark Beyak
United States
Santa Rosa
California
Combat Commander gets your blood flowing.
Avatar
mbmbmbmbmb
Quote:
This is indeed an excellent game which, for me, has a fatal flaw... downtime.

I've got a card in my hand that I want to play next turn, it's going to take me an entire 2 seconds to play it. I need to wait 5+ minutes for the other 5 powers to take their turn, then wait another 5+ minutes for my next turn.
I've literally had to stand up and go for a walk between turns, this game just crawls. Unplayable.
And if you have 6 players at the table the chances that one of them has an AP problem is large. One player with AP makes this game unbearable.
Woe and behold the poor player who gets to play the Protestants!


Well, this was not the experience we had with 6 players. The game played very well and no one complained about downtime. I did not percieve any downtime. I guess I was just too busy thinking about my options and enjoying the company and trash talk.

Very playable!
1 
 Thumb up
 tip
 Thumb up
  • Posted Thu Feb 15, 2007 9:24 pm
    • Choose your Dice
      • Roll
      • Comment (Optional)
    • Reply
    •  
    • Quote
Simon Haldon
United Kingdom
London
mbmbmbmb
You can play this 3-player and it works really well (2 powers per player, following historical natural alliances). However, you then lose a chunk of the diplomacy element which in my opinion makes this one of the best games around. The options for diplomacy are immense and diplomacy can be used to completely change the game around.
 
 Thumb up
 tip
 Thumb up
  • Posted Tue Mar 27, 2007 1:55 pm
    • Choose your Dice
      • Roll
      • Comment (Optional)
    • Reply
    •  
    • Quote
James Blair
United Kingdom
Tadworth
Surrey
Avatar
mbmbmbmbmb
Beyak wrote:
Well, this was not the experience we had with 6 players. The game played very well and no one complained about downtime. I did not percieve any downtime. I guess I was just too busy thinking about my options and enjoying the company and trash talk.
Very playable!


Same here - the six player game of this was probably one of my most enjoyable wargaming moments.

The only critiscm I have with the game is that it doesn't ship with 5 people who know the rules and can play it every weekend!

I don't remember there being down-time - I was writing messages to other people. Popping out of the room to make deals... watching what other people were doing. Sweating if I thought a certain card was going to be played against me.

The magic of the game is the fact the 6 powers are all very different... the fact that some players have to capture ground, others like the Pope don't need to control territory - just make sure it's catholic.

It's pure genious... France and the Hapsurgs are fighting over a space for political control, which the Prots and Pope are fighting for the exact same space but for religious control - neither caring whether the French or Hapsburgs control the space as it only really matters what religion it is.


Frankly I could write paragraphs and paragraphs on why this is one of the best multi-player CGDs out there - if not one of the best multi-player games full stop.

It's a crime I've not played it nearly enough.
5 
 Thumb up
 tip
 Thumb up
  • Posted Wed Apr 16, 2008 3:46 pm
    • Choose your Dice
      • Roll
      • Comment (Optional)
    • Reply
    •  
    • Quote
Rich Hart
England
Cheltenham
Gloucestershire
Avatar
mbmbmbmbmb
A superb games with theme to spare, highly recommended!
 
 Thumb up
 tip
 Thumb up
  • Posted Wed Feb 4, 2009 11:42 am
    • Choose your Dice
      • Roll
      • Comment (Optional)
    • Reply
    •  
    • Quote
20. Board Game: Thirty Years War: Europe in Agony, 1618-1648 [Average Rating:6.73 Overall Rank:1249]
Brian Morris
United States
Raytown
Missouri
flag msg tools
2nd, 6th & 7th Wisconsin, 19th Indiana, 24th Michigan
badge
24th Michigan monument at Gettysburg Pa.
Avatar
mbmbmbmbmb
A game I haven't played but one that also gets compared to Paths of Glory a great deal. Saw it played once. Thought the map was a bit bland while the counters looked very sharp.

4 
 Thumb up
 tip
 Thumb up
James Blair
United Kingdom
Tadworth
Surrey
Avatar
mbmbmbmbmb
I'm a big fan of this game.

Love the topic, and love the complexity that comes with having no front line and armies all over the place.

The leader casualty rules are deadly, and combat is therefore not undertaken lightly.
 
 Thumb up
 tip
 Thumb up
  • Posted Wed Feb 14, 2007 12:18 pm
    • Choose your Dice
      • Roll
      • Comment (Optional)
    • Reply
    •  
    • Quote
Chris Storzillo
United States
Wayne
New Jersey
Avatar
mbmbmbmbmb
I think this game is highly underrated. I've played it a couple of times now and it's a real hoot! Very different than some of the other CDG's in that there is no interception, armies fly all around the board leaving devastation in their wake. I think the period of the game is part of the reason for it's low popularity. Not too many people are interested in this era. If you get a chance, give this game a try, it's good.
 
 Thumb up
 tip
 Thumb up
  • Posted Wed Feb 14, 2007 7:16 pm
    • Choose your Dice
      • Roll
      • Comment (Optional)
    • Reply
    •  
    • Quote
Donald Wilbur III
United States
Sacramento
California
Avatar
mbmbmbmbmb
From what I understand, the original rules had some serious problems. But I have also heard that these problems have been fixed since. But once it got the bad buzz it was hard to get people to give it a serious look.
 
 Thumb up
 tip
 Thumb up
  • Posted Wed Feb 14, 2007 8:46 pm
    • Choose your Dice
      • Roll
      • Comment (Optional)
    • Reply
    •  
    • Quote
Nicholas Jost
United States
Fresno
California
Avatar
mbmbmbmbmb
I have played twice with the new rules and was disappointed (didn't play the old set). Here's why:
* No ability to interupt movement. This allows you to almost always stay ahead of your opponent.
* Because of the cost of activation (card) and very little in the way of serious stacking caps (you have more leadership ability than you'll usually need) the game deginerates into mega-armies that don't get blocked swapping cities.

This is boring.
 
 Thumb up
 tip
 Thumb up
  • Posted Wed Feb 14, 2007 11:49 pm
    • Choose your Dice
      • Roll
      • Comment (Optional)
    • Reply
    •  
    • Quote
Jesse Smit
Australia
Sydney
NSW
Avatar
mb
I think the whole "the original rule set had serious problems" comment that seems to get thrown around in regards to this game is a total myth. The original rules that game with the game were actually very clear and easy to follow, a lot better than your average wargame even. The errata is almost entirely classifications that really drill in the obvious with only a few minor corrections.

TYW is a good and underrated game in my opinion. The only complaint I really understand in that the early war cards do get cycled a lot of times but I need to play it more to determine if thats actually a problem or not.
 
 Thumb up
 tip
 Thumb up
  • Posted Mon Oct 15, 2007 1:10 am
    • Choose your Dice
      • Roll
      • Comment (Optional)
    • Reply
    •  
    • Quote
21. Board Game: Clash of Monarchs [Average Rating:7.19 Overall Rank:1427]
Brian Morris
United States
Raytown
Missouri
flag msg tools
2nd, 6th & 7th Wisconsin, 19th Indiana, 24th Michigan
badge
24th Michigan monument at Gettysburg Pa.
Avatar
mbmbmbmbmb
One of the latest to be added to the GMT P500 list. 4 player game featuring the Seven Years War.
1 
 Thumb up
 tip
 Thumb up
Rich Hart
England
Cheltenham
Gloucestershire
Avatar
mbmbmbmbmb
This is a good game, marred slightly by weak rules and a very ugly map. I have an eyesight issue and I found the map nearly impossible to use.

The game, however, is really good and a lot of fun. It models the style of warfare very accurately and the Kliener Kreig rules help slow down/stop the Prussian player in the early war.
 
 Thumb up
 tip
 Thumb up
  • Posted Wed Feb 4, 2009 11:44 am
    • Choose your Dice
      • Roll
      • Comment (Optional)
    • Reply
    •  
    • Quote
22. Board Game: Assyrian Wars [Average Rating:6.41 Overall Rank:4242]
Steffan O'Sullivan
United States
Plymouth
NH
flag msg tools
A black cat crossing your path signifies that the animal is going somewhere. -- Groucho Marx
Avatar
mbmbmbmbmb
This one definitely qualifies - it's based on TNW, but, alas, made more complicated than I like and it doesn't work with two players very well.
 
 Thumb up
 tip
 Thumb up
Philip Thomas
United Kingdom
London
London
Avatar
mbmbmbmbmb
To judge from the experience of the other table at my boardgaming club back in January, it also takes ages. They started at 10 and at 5 they hadn't finished the first turn. Granted there are only 5 turns, but thats still quite a long game if your main CDG experience is Twilight struggle.
 
 Thumb up
 tip
 Thumb up
  • Posted Wed Feb 14, 2007 5:59 pm
    • Choose your Dice
      • Roll
      • Comment (Optional)
    • Reply
    •  
    • Quote
Jim Scheiderich
United States
Liverpool
New York
Avatar
mbmbmbmbmb
The time would likely come down with play. Having said that you face the problem of getting the same few people to invest that much time. Personally did not get past one full turn with 3 of us playing.

The rule book was such a mess I actually put a bookmarked PowerPoint presentation together so I could refer to rule sections as needed. I know Udo put out "living rules" but have not been back to the game.

Another aspect is simply, if you are not Assyria, what are you supposed to be doing? I think the answer was coming around to use of the influence track on the various nation-states to pull together against the 800# gorilla.
 
 Thumb up
 tip
 Thumb up
  • Posted Fri Feb 29, 2008 5:07 am
    • Choose your Dice
      • Roll
      • Comment (Optional)
    • Reply
    •  
    • Quote
Robert Schelchshorn
Germany
Schlüsselfeld
Avatar
mbmbmbmbmb
the first game I gave up to learn due to horrible rules...
1 
 Thumb up
 tip
 Thumb up
  • Posted Sat Apr 5, 2008 11:50 am
    • Choose your Dice
      • Roll
      • Comment (Optional)
    • Reply
    •  
    • Quote
Jim Scheiderich
United States
Liverpool
New York
Avatar
mbmbmbmbmb
JohnnyReb wrote:
the first game I gave up to learn due to horrible rules...


Take a look at the files I posted - they may help.
1 
 Thumb up
 tip
 Thumb up
  • Posted Sun Mar 8, 2009 9:37 pm
    • Choose your Dice
      • Roll
      • Comment (Optional)
    • Reply
    •  
    • Quote
23. Board Game: Free At Last [Average Rating:6.96 Unranked]
Steffan O'Sullivan
United States
Plymouth
NH
flag msg tools
A black cat crossing your path signifies that the animal is going somewhere. -- Groucho Marx
Avatar
mbmbmbmbmb
This one definitely qualifies as "card driven" - it's very close to Twilight Struggle in its feel. There may be some debate about it being a "wargame," though. I think it is, but I'm old enough to remember many of the events depicted in this game.
2 
 Thumb up
 tip
 Thumb up
  • 10 comments [Hide]
Donald Wilbur III
United States
Sacramento
California
Avatar
mbmbmbmbmb
I'd say this is as much as wargame as Twilight Struggle! This looks facinating.
 
 Thumb up
 tip
 Thumb up
  • Posted Wed Feb 14, 2007 1:58 am
    • Choose your Dice
      • Roll
      • Comment (Optional)
    • Reply
    •  
    • Quote
G D
United States

Minnesota
Avatar
mbmbmbmbmb
Excuse my printing ignorance- but is there somewhere you can send a file like Mark Mahaffey's map for this game and have them print on cardstock- like other cdg's- for a reasonable price?

 
 Thumb up
 tip
 Thumb up
  • Posted Thu Feb 15, 2007 2:30 am
    • Choose your Dice
      • Roll
      • Comment (Optional)
    • Reply
    •  
    • Quote
Ed
United States
Oakland
California
flag msg tools
Wankel engine
Avatar
mb
Wow, I gotta get this. Any tips on creating the components?
 
 Thumb up
 tip
 Thumb up
  • Posted Thu Feb 15, 2007 6:05 am
    • Choose your Dice
      • Roll
      • Comment (Optional)
    • Reply
    •  
    • Quote
Mike Chase
United States
Fremont
California
mb
I gave this game the full treatment component-wise by enlarging/tiling (four "tiles")/laminating the map gameboard, and printing the counters onto label paper and sticking them onto 1" square glass tiles. The cards were of course printed onto nametag label paper and stuck onto regular playing cards. The election candidates and leaders were stuck onto wooden tiles.

Great idea for a game. I've told Ted I'm hoping he will do a CDG on the struggle against apartheid in South Africa.
 
 Thumb up
 tip
 Thumb up
  • Posted Fri Feb 16, 2007 7:57 pm
    • Choose your Dice
      • Roll
      • Comment (Optional)
    • Reply
    •  
    • Quote
nicola caroli
Italy

mbmb
Free at Last Spamming Campaign !

Want to try out this nice game but are daunted by the hassle of printing it ? Save a tree with the VASSAL module ! Well, procrastinate killing a tree, because the game is so good you will want to own it after one play !

Check out the VASSAL module either here on BGG

http://www.boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/23312

or on VASSAL

http://vassalengine.org/community/index.php?option=com_vassa...

Any feedback is welcome !
Farewell
1 
 Thumb up
 tip
 Thumb up
  • Posted Thu Nov 13, 2008 1:42 pm
    • Choose your Dice
      • Roll
      • Comment (Optional)
    • Reply
    •  
    • Quote
24. Board Game: Spartacus [Average Rating:6.84 Overall Rank:2716]
Steffan O'Sullivan
United States
Plymouth
NH
flag msg tools
A black cat crossing your path signifies that the animal is going somewhere. -- Groucho Marx
Avatar
mbmbmbmbmb
This one's still in the playtest phase, but looks very promising. Similar to Hannibal in feel!
 
 Thumb up
 tip
 Thumb up
Doug Cooley
United States
Wilsonville
Oregon
Me rocking out with my band, which you can hear at www.raindriver.com
Avatar
mbmbmbmbmb
Out since March 2009.

My initial plays of the game show that there are really three or four different conflicts that gradually get introduced to the game. The first is the Sentorian War, with Sentorius fighting what is essentially a guerilla war in Spain with huge numbers of light troops running around and making it hard for the Republicans to hold territory.

The second conflict is when the Pontines under Mithradates finally join the fight. This generally happens about halfway into the game, although the Sentorian player can elect to literally roll the dice and see if they can get an earlier entry at the cost of perhaps never seeing them come in at all.

The third conflict is the slave revolt, the namesake of the game. Oddly, this only happens close to the end of the game, and the main thrust is to run as many Servile units north to Gaul and freedom as possible. As with the Pontines, there is the option to bring the revolt in earlier.

The fourth conflict, which could happen at just about any point in the game, involves Laepidus (who is one of the potential Republican consuls), who can run around Etruria for a bit, then get pulled out and sets up for Perpena to reenter and cause problems in the same region (sorry if I'm screwing up the names). Since this literally can happen at any time, but the follow-on event where Perpena returns is based on an event card and stands a decent chance of never happening.

The result is a game that evolves over time in a way that Hannibal doesn't. Some might call it "scripted," although there is no requirement to start the slave revolt or even the alliance with Mithradates. Some clever mechanisms (the resource cards each side holds from the start of the game is very smart, as is the Crisis Track which forces the Republican player to be as wary of their military as the Roman Republic itself was), marred only by a handful of production issues (control markers disguise the space type, Province control markers are the same shape as control markers and many are effectively one-sided, some rules/text wackiness, a few dumb choices regarding player aids).

There are also four scenarios (one relatively untested) that allow you to vary the game length from 8 hours down to 2. The rules are generally very short and moderately clean (ex-military guys always seem to love the verbosity in rules at the expense of clarity). However, it doesn't feel much like Hannibal, which has a much greater focus on leaders and not as much on individual units.
 
 Thumb up
 tip
 Thumb up
  • Posted Fri Apr 17, 2009 9:44 pm
    • Choose your Dice
      • Roll
      • Comment (Optional)
    • Reply
    •  
    • Quote
25. Board Game: Unpublished Prototype [Average Rating:7.06 Overall Rank:1092]
Peter Martin
United States
Oceanside
California
flag msg tools
Avatar
mbmbmbmbmb
Working title - "Paths of Darkness - The Great War in Africa"

Excuse the shilling, but....

I'm currently working on this game for publication. It will be a CDG on the Campaigns of Lettow-Vorbeck in German East Africa in WWI. The cards will represent events that happened both in German East Africa and elsewhere in Africa that profoundly influenced the campaign. It will have elements of Paths of Glory, Twilight Struggle and Wilderness War combined with some unique concepts as well.

For example, the German player will set his own objectives each turn and the riskier the objectives, the more victory points he will get. If he is too risky, he'll risk losing the whole war by getting the tiny German army destroyed by the much bigger Allied army. If he is too conservative, he risked getting boxed in by the bigger Allied army and won't get enough VP's to win.

The Allies have their own issues as well. They have a big enough army to destroy Lettow-Vorbeck, but getting the army where they need to go to accomplish this will be a big challenge. With disease, uprisings in other parts of the continent, incompetent commanders and squabbling among the "Allies", it will take a skillful commander to lead the Allies to victory.

I'm looking at a time committment of two to three hours to play to completion. [End advertisement here]
2 
 Thumb up
 tip
 Thumb up
Philip Thomas
United Kingdom
London
London
Avatar
mbmbmbmbmb
mmm, so we could play this game to resolve the "War in Africa' event in Paths of Glory?
 
 Thumb up
 tip
 Thumb up
  • Posted Wed Feb 14, 2007 7:54 pm
    • Choose your Dice
      • Roll
      • Comment (Optional)
    • Reply
    •  
    • Quote
Peter Martin
United States
Oceanside
California
flag msg tools
Avatar
mbmbmbmbmb
I never thought of it but that would be kind of cool, wouldn't it?
 
 Thumb up
 tip
 Thumb up
  • Posted Wed Feb 14, 2007 8:10 pm
    • Choose your Dice
      • Roll
      • Comment (Optional)
    • Reply
    •  
    • Quote
Nate Merchant
United States
New York
New York
Avatar
mbmbmbmbmb
This sounds great! Keep up the shilling, Peter!meeple
 
 Thumb up
 tip
 Thumb up
  • Posted Thu Feb 15, 2007 5:17 pm
    • Choose your Dice
      • Roll
      • Comment (Optional)
    • Reply
    •  
    • Quote
Peter Martin
United States
Oceanside
California
flag msg tools
Avatar
mbmbmbmbmb
Thanks Nate. I got sick of complaining about the lack of a good game on this very interesting (albeit little-known) campaign and decided to try designing my own. The CDG concept is perfect for simulating the outside factors that influenced this theater so much. I considered including area outside of German East Africa in the game and Dennis Bishop (who is kind of the acknowledged expert on this campaign) wisely advised against it since it would make the map twice as big for little benefit. Jason Matthews (designer of Twilight Struggle), Nathan Kilgore (designer of Iron Tide) and Brad Stock (designer of the upcoming Paths of Glory II: Ottomans Front) have graciously contributed great ideas to this design as well (Thanks again, Guys!)

To me, games like Wilderness War and Twilight Struggle have shown me the future of CDG's. Both games are tense, well-balanced games that can be played to completion in an evening. I'm striving to make Paths of Darkness the same way. If it takes you longer than three hours to play Paths of Darkness to completion, either you or your opponent is playing too slowly!

We are currently putting together a playtest copy for local game play here in San Diego. After we put it through its paces (four to six months, I suspect), we will start blind-playtesting (and hopefully have a publisher by then). Stay tuned.
1 
 Thumb up
 tip
 Thumb up
  • Posted Fri Feb 16, 2007 12:01 am
    • Choose your Dice
      • Roll
      • Comment (Optional)
    • Reply
    •  
    • Quote
Charles F.
Germany
Berlin
Avatar
mbmbmbmbmb
Is this game project defunct? It seems the Consimworld folder is no more...
 
 Thumb up
 tip
 Thumb up
  • Posted Wed Jul 2, 2008 1:38 am
    • Choose your Dice
      • Roll
      • Comment (Optional)
    • Reply
    •  
    • Quote
1 , 2  Next »   | 
56 comments [Hide]
Post Comment
Dan Poole
United States
Goldsboro
North Carolina
flag msg tools
Ph'nglui Mglw'nafh Cthulhu R'lyeh wgah'nagl fhtagn!!
badge
We're charging our battery. And now we're full of energy. We are the robots. We're functioning automatik. And we are dancing mechanik. We are the robots
Avatar
mbmbmbmbmb
As a CDG fan, a list like this wants me to buy them all up!! Too many games and not enough time!!

By the way, I would add Combat Commander to the list. Though the cards don't have Op Points, they are certainly multi-purpose.

 
 Thumb up
 tip
 Thumb up
  • Posted Tue Feb 13, 2007 11:07 pm
    • Choose your Dice
      • Roll
      • Comment (Optional)
    • Reply
    •  
    • Quote
Troy Adlington
Australia
Dallas
Texas
flag msg tools
Avatar
mbmbmbmbmb
rri1 wrote:
Quote:
Just because two games are about war and use cards does not mean they use the same card driven system anymore than all wargames that use wooden blocks for pieces are block games.


Two games? Up Front, Attack Sub, Dixie, Nuts!, Kingmaker, Age of Napoleon, Waterloo (Phalanx), Atlantic Storm, Naval War, Enemy in Sight, Modern Naval Battles, Rise of the Luftwffe, 8th Air Force, Zero!, Corsairs and Hellcats, Combat Commader, Totaler Krieg!, etc.

That's without even trying!

There are certainly more wargames driven by cards that are not "Card Driven Games" than are!

We the People, great game though it is, was not the first wargame driven by cards, by more than 20 years!

And even sillier, by this definition Up Front isn't a card driven wargame. WTF! It has more card driven goodness than ANY so called "Card Driven Wargame"!

As for "block games", C&C Ancients is not considered one. In fact, blocks are not a part of the original design, but a substitute from plastic figurines, and later, cardboard standups.

And block games have A LOT more commonality than just they use blocks or even blocks that standup hiding their identity: rotation for steps losses, hit-based combat systems (i.e. no CRT).

The difference is the term "Card Driven Wargames" manages to exclude far more wargames that are actually card driven than "Block Wargames" excludes wargames that happen to use blocks.


My friend...I think you missed the point.

CDGs cover a very specific subset of games that use cards to derive interesting game-theory choices for the player.

Something like Upfront doesn't do that. Although it is the very defintion of CARD-DRIVEn...if you get me?
3 
 Thumb up
 tip
 Thumb up
  • Posted Fri Nov 28, 2008 5:48 pm
    • Choose your Dice
      • Roll
      • Comment (Optional)
    • Reply
    •  
    • Quote
Francisco
Canada
Woodbridge
Ontario
Avatar
mbmbmbmbmb
mrbeankc wrote:
Well at least one person is still confused it looks like.


Not to be a pain but according to your own link on the definition of a CDW "Hammer of the Scots" IS a CDW (it is mentioned as part of the definition).

As for Age of Napoleon I feel it definitely qualifies as it's an area based wargame with counters representing corps and cards for events/operations. You even have leaders with their own value judging their effectiveness in commanding large armies.

Just because the cards in the deck don't have an OPS number doesn't in any way disqualify the game; you could just consider each card to have a single OPS and the special campaign card to be worth 3 OPS.

There are also one time events that are recorded with counters when played: afterwards they are recycled into the deck but the event has been played now. Granted it's not removed but that's because it's not necessary.

1 
 Thumb up
 tip
 Thumb up
  • Edited Wed Dec 3, 2008 3:56 pm
  • Posted Wed Dec 3, 2008 3:38 pm
    • Choose your Dice
      • Roll
      • Comment (Optional)
    • Reply
    •  
    • Quote
Rob Bottos
Canada
Coquitlam
British Columbia
Avatar
mbmbmbmbmb
[ImageID=Combat Commander: Europe]

While i like the idea of your list I have to disagree with you when you state that Combat Commander is noit a card driven game. The cards are the driving engine of Combat Commander and without them all you have is a map and a bunch of pretty counters. By your definition a card must have multiple uses. Well let's look at how the cards in Combat Commander can be used.

1. Each card has an order - this is the equivalent of your Ops. There are numerous orders that can be played in many combinations and permutations.

2. Each card also can be played as an action to either modify your orders or react to your opponents actions. In essence this is an interupt card. Once again each action can be played in many different combinations.

3. Each card can also be played as an event. Granted the events are not played from the players hand, thye are generated by the play of cards from the players hand, albeit in a different manner.

4. Each card also contains a die roll that is once again generated as a result of cards played from a players hand.

Without cards all you have is half of a game, and a poorer half at that.
 
 Thumb up
 tip
 Thumb up
  • Edited Thu Mar 26, 2009 1:22 am
  • Posted Thu Mar 26, 2009 1:21 am
    • Choose your Dice
      • Roll
      • Comment (Optional)
    • Reply
    •  
    • Quote
skippen
United States
Greeley
Colorado
flag msg tools
admin
Avatar
mbmbmbmbmb
BobRoberts wrote:
[ImageID=Combat Commander: Europe]

While i like the idea of your list I have to disagree with you when you state that Combat Commander is noit a card driven game. The cards are the driving engine of Combat Commander and without them all you have is a map and a bunch of pretty counters. By your definition a card must have multiple uses. Well let's look at how the cards in Combat Commander can be used.

1. Each card has an order - this is the equivalent of your Ops. There are numerous orders that can be played in many combinations and permutations.

2. Each card also can be played as an action to either modify your orders or react to your opponents actions. In essence this is an interupt card. Once again each action can be played in many different combinations.

3. Each card can also be played as an event. Granted the events are not played from the players hand, thye are generated by the play of cards from the players hand, albeit in a different manner.

4. Each card also contains a die roll that is once again generated as a result of cards played from a players hand.

Without cards all you have is half of a game, and a poorer half at that.


Some people still do not get it. Look at his definition of the CDG. He is using the system as designed by Mark Herman and refined/changed by Ted Racier. The system he is using is the OPs/Evetns cards. Combat Commander, although a fine game, DOES NOT use this system. Hence, it is not a CDG as per his definition.

Yes it uses cards, but not in the same way as all these others.
2 
 Thumb up
 tip
 Thumb up
  • Posted Fri Sep 25, 2009 3:34 pm
    • Choose your Dice
      • Roll
      • Comment (Optional)
    • Reply
    •  
    • Quote
1 , 2  Next »   | 
Front Page | Welcome | Contact | Privacy Policy | Terms of Service | Advertise | Support BGG | Feeds RSS
Geekdo, BoardGameGeek, the Geekdo logo, and the BoardGameGeek logo are trademarks of BoardGameGeek, LLC.