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The Games of Kevin Zucker
Sean Chick
United States
Hammond
Louisiana
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For my final geeklist on wargame designers I have selected Kevin Zucker. He can safely be called the master of Napoleonic simulations. With one exception all of his designs have covered the career of Napoleon Bonaparte from the brilliant victories in Italy to the bloody humiliation of Waterloo. Zucker has made done tactical and strategic games, but mostly he has made operational games, which is only right, since Napoleon was the master of operational maneuver.
This is an earlier list doing the same thing:
http://www.boardgamegeek.com/geeklist/12891/kevin-zucker-gam...
These lists categorize his games according to system:
http://www.boardgamegeek.com/geeklist/21994
http://www.boardgamegeek.com/geeklist/21997
http://boardgamegeek.com/geeklist/21998/item/440156#item4401...
http://www.boardgamegeek.com/geeklist/22049
http://www.boardgamegeek.com/geeklist/22050
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Sean Chick
United States
Hammond
Louisiana
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Zucker's first game wasn't even a Napoleonic simulation. It was part of Island War: Four Pacific Battles. Not one of the more popular SPI Quads, but I enjoyed Zucker's entry and the other games included.
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Sean Chick
United States
Hammond
Louisiana
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Zucker's next game was his first Napoleonic one and his biggest hit. Covering Ligny, Quatre Bras, Waterloo, and Wavre, Napooleon's Last Battles (NLB) built upon Napoleon at Waterloo. While a classic, enjoyed for its simplicity and command rules, it has its critics, who mostly dislike the CRT. This would become a running theme in criticism of Zucker's games. Nevertheless, NLB has been issued by three companies, and can still be bought today. That is an impressive feat.
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Sean Chick
United States
Hammond
Louisiana
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While NLB launched its system, Zucker's next would also provide the framework for many games. Covering Napoleon's 1814 defense of France, Napoleon at Bay was the first in the campaigns of Napoleon System (CNS) which remains Zucker's signature series. Attrition and command control are keys to this operational system. Eventually this was published by Zucker's company: Operational Studies Group (OSG).
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Sean Chick
United States
Hammond
Louisiana
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The next CNS game was also a hit, and has also remained in print, although later editions did not include the 1800 Italian Campaign. All editions were made by OSG.
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Sean Chick
United States
Hammond
Louisiana
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Intended as an introduction to CNS, this covers the key Battle of Arcola. While not a hit, it apparently does exactly what it was made for.
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Sean Chick
United States
Hammond
Louisiana
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NLB comes to the colossal battle that doomed Napoleon: Leipzig. This title was almost as well received as the parent game. Originally published by OSG, Clash of Arms made a graphically superb version in the 1990s.
OSG is plannng to reissue this game using the system from Four Lost Battles.
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Sean Chick
United States
Hammond
Louisiana
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The next CNS was a monster in scope: the 1813 German campaign from Napoleon's victory at Bautzen to the cataclysmic defeat at Leipzig. Not exactly a flop, it was not a hit, being too long and featuring an overly brutal rate of attrition.
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Sean Chick
United States
Hammond
Louisiana
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Another CNS introductory game, this one covers Waterloo, but is not as popular was either NLB or Arcola.
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Sean Chick
United States
Hammond
Louisiana
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Zucker's sole title from Victory Games was an entry in CNS. Generally not popular due to the graphics and espcially the seeming inability of the Austrians to win.
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Sean Chick
United States
Hammond
Louisiana
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Zucker moved his next CNS entry Clash of Arms. This game covers the 1807 Polish Campaign. Once again, the scale appears to be too vast, but this title is considered to be balanced.
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Sean Chick
United States
Hammond
Louisiana
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With this title, CNS returned to popular form. What makes this one unique is the options available to the French, who can attack Wellington and Blucher from several approaches. Thus, some say the decisions are made more or less in the game's opening movies, but I'd love to play this one. It also has a great cover.
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Sean Chick
United States
Hammond
Louisiana
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The deluxe edition of the original, it features a bigger campaign game with better graphics. While well received, the original is still considered the classic.
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Sean Chick
United States
Hammond
Louisiana
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Possibly the ugliest offering from OSG, this is Zucker's stab at a strategic Napoleonic game. All agree that the second edition fixed the game, but it never quite caught on.
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Sean Chick
United States
Hammond
Louisiana
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After games in the CNS and NLB systems, Zucker devised the DAYS system. It gives players the chance to play an operational game without the fuss of constant attrition because it concentrates upon a shorter period of time. The focus of these games seems to be Napoleon's more brilliant engagements, in this case the six days battles which stalled the Coalition invasion of France. This game was published by Clash of Arms and features great components. Essentially, the DAYS games are larger versions of Arcola.
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Sean Chick
United States
Hammond
Louisiana
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The next DAYS game came from OSG. Covering Jena, it was not as popular as the first, but I have a lot of respect for this game. making Jena playable and interesting is challenge in of itself.
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Sean Chick
United States
Hammond
Louisiana
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Another DAYS entry from OSG, covering Waterloo again. The main complaints are reserved for the CRT and the map is certainly an acquired taste, but movement chits are a welcomed addition.
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Sean Chick
United States
Hammond
Louisiana
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As far as I know Zucker did not work on this NLB style game, covering the battles of Friedland and Borodino, published in Strategy and Tactics, but his name was in credits so here he is. There are perhaps too many special rules in the disorganized rulebook.
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Sean Chick
United States
Hammond
Louisiana
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CNS comes to the monster Russian campaign, the game was well received but the massive scale probably makes this one of the least played games. This was the first to simulate 5 day turns. Previous CNS games covered only 1 day per turn.
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Sean Chick
United States
Hammond
Louisiana
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CNS finally comes to Austerlitz. It is amazing that it took Zucker this long to simulate Napoleon's greatest victory. Regardless, this one was a sucess. I am interested in playing this one.
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Sean Chick
United States
Hammond
Louisiana
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The next OSG title was a DAYS game on the Landshut maneuver. Currently the most popular in the series, it fixed rules problems in the earlier games.
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Sean Chick
United States
Hammond
Louisiana
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This is a tactical game on the four battles that negated Napoleon's great victory at Dresden. Along with Alessandro Fontana, Zucker married NLB to an innovative card system, which allows for the chaos of events, including improved staff work, alternate reinforcements, and Napoleon's arrival. I love this game and I have successfully used the cards in the other NLB games. In addition, the CRT is much improved over its forefathers.
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Sean Chick
United States
Hammond
Louisiana
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CNS returns to the 1813 German Campaign, although this time it is divided into 3 day turns and only the final phase of the campaign is covered. The game looks beautiful and has received many accolades. My interest in the campaign makes me really want to give this one a go.
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Sean Chick
United States
Hammond
Louisiana
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Zucker returns to the 1807 Polish Campaign, marrying CNS to a card system with the aid of Mark Herman. I found the game to be too much, but CNS veterans seem to love it.
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Sean Chick
United States
Hammond
Louisiana
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From the Italian magazine No Turkeys comes this print and play NLB styled simulation of Napoleon's first defeat. Zucker was not the main designer, but he did assist. The game was panned, with many disliking the garish graphics and limited play options.
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Sean Chick
United States
Hammond
Louisiana
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At long last Four Lost Battles gets the sequel it deserves. Covers the battles of Jena-Auerstadt, Pultusk, Eylau, and Friedland.
UPDATE: Expensive, but highly rated at this point.
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