Wargames 2008. A look at what's out and what's coming.
Brian Morris
United States
Raytown
Missouri
2nd, 6th & 7th Wisconsin, 19th Indiana, 24th Michigan
24th Michigan monument at Gettysburg Pa.
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Well we just finished with the Charles S. Roberts awards for 2007 and were some great games in 2007 and some well deserving winners. Over all however I think it was a slightly off year. In part I think because GMT's slow production in the first half of last year. This year things are looking different. GMT is on a pace to double the amount of releases from last year. Meanwhile MMP who at one time relied upon ASL and the releases of Dean Essig is now producing a greater variety of top notch wargames aside from Dean's excellent work. Toss in Columbia, Worthington plus a few others and 2008 is looking to be the strongest year in recent memory.
So with that in mind I thought a list was in order to take a look at what's come out so far and what's on the horizon. I think this year is especially strong in the pre-WW II area. In most years the WW II games tend to dominate but this year it's looking like the Medieval and Ancient era games are unusually strong in terms of the number of high profile games coming out.
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Leo Zappa
United States
Aliquippa
Pennsylvania
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Supposed to be released in October. This has been generating quite a bit of buzz, with the addition of Italy, the expansion of China, new rules for bombing of industrial complexes, and improved technology rules. All that and the sheer size of the game and the enormous number of bits make this a remarkable game which I can't wait to get into my hands and from there onto the gaming table!
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Kent Reuber
United States
San Mateo
California
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After about a decade of being out of print, one of my favorite big battle miniatures rules set is finally being reprinted. I placed my order the other day but have yet to receive it. The scenarios included with the new rules set are all from the Napoleonic era, but rules for the entire black power era (1700-1900 or so) are included.
http://testofbattle.com/store/index.php?act=viewProd&product...
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Kent Reuber
United States
San Mateo
California
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Just received my pre-order of Hold the Line and the French & Indian War expansion. While the game includes scenarios not included with its predecessor, "Clash for a Continent", the game play is almost exactly the same. The components in HtL are much better than "Clash"--the new components are heavy "Memoir '44" style terrain tiles rather than simple cardstock.
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Charlie Sheppard
United States
Seattle
Washington
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A late comer to the "medium weight" WWII strategic Pacific offerings but it looks like this one might be the one to beat. A lot of novel concepts and a bit more detail than the other offerings. For example, Japanese pilots are modeled separately from aircraft, giving the Japanese player the option of withholding his best pilots until the late war aircraft are available.
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Charlie Sheppard
United States
Seattle
Washington
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The game I'm most looking forward to from the IGS line. This one is much more detailed than the reworked magazine games that have characterized the IGS line so far. 20 years in the making, this game covers the entire CBI form 1937 until 1945.
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Will DeMorris
United States
El Paso
Texas
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I'm suprised no one has added this yet. So far I've only played the first two scenarios (I've got way too many games in the "to play" pile) and I like it a lot. The rulebook was excellent, the components top-notch and the gameplay felt intuitive and most importantly, fun. It's not complex at all and at the same time it's not over simplified.
I really want to play this title more. Eventually I could see this scratching my WW2 itch like C&C:Ancients scratches my ancients itch. It could possibly be *that* good.
-Will
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Lance McMillan
United States
Lakebay
Washington
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Victory Point Games (VPG) has several additions to their "Napoleonic-20" series planned for release this year. Currently available are "Waterloo-20" (pictured), "Jena-20," and "Albion-20" (the latter being about a hypothetical French invasion of England). VPG anticipates that "Borodino-20" will be out sometime in September, "Bussaco-20" (a battle in the Peninsular campaign, pitting Wellington against Massena) possibly in late October/early November, and hopefully "Austerlitz-20" will be available by Christmas. And even more games to follow in '09!
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Mark Ernst
United States
Morrison
Illinois
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I just received my copy today in the mail. I'm ready to sit down and simulate the Wars of Latin American Independence!... but I have to go out of town for a family get together.
I guess I can wait another few days. Stupid holidays...
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Glen Oberhauser
United States
Golden
Colorado
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Oft-overlooked Columbia says they are close with this one.
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Glen Oberhauser
United States
Golden
Colorado
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And maybe this will make it before the year is out.
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Mr. B @ Rockin' B
United States
Batavia
Ohio
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Very excited when this shipped?
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Iain K
United States
Arvada
Colorado
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I've not played this title, and it's completely unplayable solitaire, but I respect the family (IGS) and hear good things.
It amazes me that someone designed a good game about the terrible conflict on Iwo Jima, that a Japanese designer managed to do it - that doesn't surprise me at all.
I'll add this one to my list of ... I'd love to play your copy.
Included in the Special Operations #1 magazine.
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Adam Starkweather
United States
New York City
New York
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Hope you don't mind my adding one of my own but this game is my personal favorite of the Japanese games. Rich in history and play, I adore this game. Should be out at the end of the year.
Where Eagles Dare isn't here but I will leave it to others to add that one. That game gets plenty of attention.
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Adam Starkweather
United States
New York City
New York
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I will also add my good friend Nick Richardson's game, No Question of Surrender. Nick's work as developer on TDC has become the gold standard and I think he has done a great job with this one. Deserves a mention I think. A smaller and less expensive way to enter the Grand Tactical Series of games. A lot of fun to play as well.
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Paul Franklin
United States
Fargo
North Dakota
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No images for this one yet. Another iteration of a classic starter wargame. I have this on preorder.
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Chris Hansen
United States
Midvale
Utah
See my Favorite Contribution Microbadges (Purple Dot) for my collection of reviews from the 2011 Solitaire Print and Play Contest and (Purple Square) for the 2012 Solitaire Print and Play Contest
You are now reading my Avatar Overtext
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Guess I'll take on the job of adding this one. The sequel to The Devil's Cauldron: The Battles for Arnhem and Nijmegen. Eagerly anticipated to say the least.
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Brian Morris
United States
Raytown
Missouri
2nd, 6th & 7th Wisconsin, 19th Indiana, 24th Michigan
24th Michigan monument at Gettysburg Pa.
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By BGGs own László Koller. This is a self published wargame only available via cyberboard at the moment but is suppose to be rather good. There aren't a lot of First Bull Run games out there so I might actually try this out if I can figure out how to play a game via cyberboard. I never have played a PBEM game but would love to one day.
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"B-17 Queen of the Skies" in the pacific with added realism for weather, navigation, etc.
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Mark Mahaffey
United States
Columbia
South Carolina
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Spartacus is set for a December release...
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Bill Gates
United States
Baltimore
Maryland
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The Battles from the Age of Reason series returns to the American War for Independence. Released earlier this summer. Great-looking map and counters (of course, other opinions may vary), and a well-tested system.
I have friends who re-enact with the 5th Maryland and the Maryland Loyalists, and take part in the Battle of Monmouth re-enactments. I haven't had the opportunity to shoot up either unit while playing this game, but I will.
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Bill Gates
United States
Baltimore
Maryland
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A more playable game in the Civil War Regimental Sub-Series that started with The Gamers and is now published by MMP, using only one map, a small number of opposing units and can conceivably be finished in an evening (Not that I have any problem with the huge Gettysburg, Shiloh and Chickamauga-sized games in this series, but I understand not everyone has the space and time. And good luck getting a copy of This Hallowed Ground is you don't already have it). Also released earlier this summer.
Battlefield is a reasonable drive (90 minutes to two hours) from where I live in Baltimore.
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Alan Kaiser
United States
Aurora
Colorado
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A WWII version of the Worlds at War: Eisenbach Gap system. Take the simple rules, smooth play, short playing time, company level conflict and move it to WWII. Should be making a lot of 'New to Wargames' lists. Supposedly due out by the end of this year.
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Alan Kaiser
United States
Aurora
Colorado
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One of the upcoming add-ons to the World at War system that started with Eisenbach Gap. The premise is that it's 1985. The Soviets have smashed through the Americans (Eisenbach Gap), the Germans (Death of the 1st Panzer) and now it's up to the British to stop them. This expansion adds British units but it is a stand alone game with updated rules. Two additions to watch are the inclusion of a 'battlefield chaos' element and airpower. Seems odd to have a company level wargame with airpower units included (A10s, Tornados and Su-25s). I'm a bit wary of this so I'm hesitant. This one will be a wait and see game for me even though I like the base game and 1st expansion.
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Brian Morris
United States
Raytown
Missouri
2nd, 6th & 7th Wisconsin, 19th Indiana, 24th Michigan
24th Michigan monument at Gettysburg Pa.
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New WW II game that got demo time at Gencon and is set for release this month. Features more Mark Mahaffey artwork.
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Andy
United Kingdom
Norwich
Norfolk
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Latest in the SCS games.
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