Ugo Lbt
Canada
Montréal
Québec
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Not only is AFAOS a great game, the theme is well researched, like in most Wallace’s games.
We often blame games for having fake themes gilded on innovative mechanisms; to make the game more marketable.  Now, Wallace shrewdly applies a game system (from Dominion).  The game is able to capture the essence of the historical events roughly occurring between 1690 and 1760 in North America; events that were the echoes of the European rivalries at that time. And it remains a Eurogame (meaning: it doesn’t last forever!).
Since the release of AFAOS, I’ve done a bit of reading about the period. I actually dusted out books too. I also read Wikipedia to refresh my mind. 
One, I learned things, and not just dates or events. This is what is great about games: you can simulate an event, and not just read and forget. And when you read history, you better understand the present nature of things.
Second, when I read history, I’m always amazed by how history repeats itself. Over and over again. In other words, humankind does not learn. We keep making the same decisions nowadays and we refuse to acknowledge that these decisions will lead to the same results history can teach us. Well, that concludes the editorial section. 
Third, knowing more about history let you better appreciate the game. For example, in AFOAS, New France, despite outnumbered, was able put up a fight against Britain because of the great alliance between France and most of the Native Americans (and the cement that held that coalition together was the network of fur traders, voyageurs, and missionaries).
New France encircled the English colonies with trading posts, forts and “their” Native allies. It was important for the French colonial administration to build a good rapport with the Native allies. Britain had another strategy: Natives were employed as auxiliaries. They were financed and armed to disrupt the French commercial networks. This explains France’s 2 Priests cards vs. Britain’s Native Leader card (who were mostly allied with the Iroquois Confederation, the Mohawks and other minor nations around the English colonies). In addition, France starts with one Native card and the French militia cards are immune to ambushes and Indian warfare (not the case with the British militia).
On the other hand, British colonies were economically more mature: with diversified commercial activities (also more populous, richer, and more developed). British can raise money mixing the specific location cards (with an "coin" symbol on major cities) with ship cards. New France was a resource colony for the most part. The territories were sparsely populated and managed by a military regime. The French can raise money mixing location cards (outposts with a fur symbol) and trader cards. It is more difficult for the French to raise money otherwise: mixing major city cards and ship cards, since New France's economic activities were limited (shipbuilding, fisheries, raw goods). New France depended on France. The British colonies were economically more diversified and self-reliant, but they also included fur trading in their activities (you can raise money the way the French do; not very profitable for the British). And finally, privateers in the Gulf of St. Lawrence plundered the Bristish colonies from Newfoundland to the Massachussets Bay Colony (the Louisbourg location card mixed with a ship card).
You also learn about the people and characters. For example, during the Seven Year’s War, both Montcalm (F) and Wolfe (B) are described by historians as “weak” commanders in chief. Wolfe was arrogant, snobbish, but unable to make decisions and second-guessing himself. Montcalm was haughty towards the colonials, ponderous, and mostly defeatist. This is depicted on the General cards (look at their faces!). But it could depict other characters at other times.
You can also see the ambition of the New England and the New York governors to crush New France (as depicted), the calm and levelheadedness of French governor Vaudreuil, the determination of the French-Canadian militia to fight for its homeland or the carelessness of the Bitish-American militiamen who had better things to do (like going back to their farms).
Home Support depicts William Pitt’s willingness to fight and the French aristocracy’s loftiness. The Kingdom of France was powerful, yet decadent, ill-managed, and almost bankrupted (since Louis the XIV, France had got bankrupted over and over... the Revolution was looming ahead). Why this loftiness? After all, France's North American empire was just about a few acres of snow… 
British colonies vs New France, in the twilight years, before the Treaty of Paris in 1763 (full extent of the possessions, explorations, trading network, and alliances).
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Rob Duarte
United States
Largo
Florida
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Not to be a nitpicker, and I do appreciate this perspective, but I wouldn't really consider this a review.
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James Ryan
United States
Whittier
California
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I have family in Maine. They were disappointed that the Kennebec card was completely useless. Any idea if there are historical reasons why this is so?
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Jason Webster
United States
Connecticut
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I did some research and have to disagree. The starting locations are wrong any time after 1664 would have England starting with Albany. If after 1677 then Deerfield would also be settled. I think Albany is an oversight and no deerfield settlement puts the game starting around 1670 However, Louisbourg wasn't even settled until 1713! There is no way France should start with Louisbourg of England doesn't start with Albany and Deerfield.
This game has Early North American colonial Theme but is not historically accurate.
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Martin Plourde
Canada
Sherbrooke
Quebec
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williamj35 wrote: I have family in Maine. They were disappointed that the Kennebec card was completely useless. Any idea if there are historical reasons why this is so?
This location card hit the french deck very hard, there should at least have a connection to Permaquid. Maybe it was a balance issue in the first play testing. I wonder what would happen if we made this card different now
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Ugo Lbt
Canada
Montréal
Québec
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I review the theme, the material, the mechanisms. It's not just a nice boardgame with an existing system and a nice little theme to make it more marketable. It's a workable system that fits well with the theme or the historical events. That's the spirit.
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J
United States
San Diego
California
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Moved to General
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Posted Tue Feb 7, 2012 6:26 pm
