I really could do with an EF game, but not one of the 'monsters' (been there, done that, etc).
My preference would be corps / army level, with 1 or, at most, 2 maps. I know there are a few out there, such as 'War Without Mercy' and 'Stalin's War'
Any recommendations?
A Victory Lost or A Victory Denied
I can't stand Eastern Front Games, but I like both of them and I think they will fit your bill nicely
Try Eastern Front Solitaire by Omega Games. I believe they're still in print.
Very simple design and pretty fun to play.
http://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/8756/eastern-front-solitaire
No Retreat: Eastern Front (http://www.gmtgames.com/p-444-no-retreat-the-russian-front-deluxe-ed-reprint.aspx) is exactly what you're looking for. Easy to learn, covers the whole shebang. It's on P500 for a reprint but there's a number of copies for sale on Boardgamegeek (http://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/68264/no-retreat-russian-front) if you can't wait.
Whatever you do, don't get *anything* from Lou Coatney. If his games were half as good as he thinks they are, that's all any of us would ever play. I'm not sure there's a more self-absorbed game designer in the history of game design going back to the brontasaurus-vs-triceratops game of boulder-checkers. The games are OK, but not worth throwing any support at someone that annoying.
Thanks for the answers, chaps. I'll have a look at those.
I second Gary's recommendation for No Retreat! The Russian Front
My personal favorite is Eastfront from Columbia Games (1st or 2nd edition....little difference). Sure wish I could find a local opponent for this one.
(https://www.grogheads.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fcf.geekdo-images.com%2Fimages%2Fpic291046_md.jpg&hash=a56029a02d37010f3f846f8b63b680d80fe36178)
Quote from: bayonetbrant on August 12, 2014, 07:17:22 AM
A Victory Lost or A Victory Denied
I can't stand Eastern Front Games, but I like both of them and I think they will fit your bill nicely
I agree, both great games, easy to learn, low counter density, and a great deal of fun. The only problem I have with "A Victory Lost" is it is out of print, and is still popular. So it will have crazy pricing...if you can even find a copy. "A Victory Denied" is easy to find however, and has great pricing....I think I saw it on CoolStuff for about $30 recently.
You might also want to look at GMT's "The Dark Valley", but with three counter sheets and 20 mile hexes....it borders on "mini-monster." But I recommend you go to the GMT site, look at the rules and check out the board and counters on the vassal module. The game has been out for about a year, but you can still find plenty of copies at retailers.
IMHO AH's old Russian Campaign still holds it's own as well.... You could probably pick up a copy of the 3rd edition on ebay for $10 - $20 bucks. Also, I had no problem finding players for it.
Thanks again guys - I also now have a chance of a good used copy of L2's 'Russia Besieged' which I've always liked the look of. Its the 2nd edition with the large 1 piece map.
Its a shame, and one of the curses of the hobby, that many games are currently out of print.
Quote from: bayonetbrant on August 12, 2014, 09:36:38 AM
Whatever you do, don't get *anything* from Lou Coatney. If his games were half as good as he thinks they are, that's all any of us would ever play. I'm not sure there's a more self-absorbed game designer in the history of game design going back to the brontasaurus-vs-triceratops game of boulder-checkers. The games are OK, but not worth throwing any support at someone that annoying.
What do you think of Perry Moore games? Lots of titles on Chechnya and such. I've always wondered where he gets his data.
Michael
I have valor and vengeance in the back of the car right now. I will be doing a review of it in the next few weeks and can tell you something then. I haven't played a whole lot of his games up until now. I haven't played a lot of lou's games either. his online presence just drives me nuts because of how self absorbed he is
Quote from: bob48 on August 13, 2014, 01:20:36 PM
Thanks again guys - I also now have a chance of a good used copy of L2's 'Russia Besieged' which I've always liked the look of. Its the 2nd edition with the large 1 piece map.
Its a shame, and one of the curses of the hobby, that many games are currently out of print.
I recommend grabbing it. The game is hard to find now.
Just received the tracking number for a new copy of Russia Besieged that was posted to me this afternoon :)
I have a several games in my collection which are unplayed at the moment and make a point of restricting new purchases until I get the backlog of unplayed titles down to 1 or 2. I've been drooling over Russia Besieged since this discussion started...and ArizonaTank's last note was the final straw (honorable mention also going to the fine looking Vassal module available for RB). I've long wanted to try the Russian Campaign and RB appears to be the best way of scratching that particular itch at the moment.
I did quite a bit of searching and suspect I grabbed one of the last copies left sitting on a store shelf here in Canada. I found a few more options in the US. Given the current state of the L2 DESIGN GROUP it is likely to be a very long time before is back in print...if ever.
I've put my offer in on a copy, so hopefully I'll get to know soon.
Arrived today - 2nd Ed Russia Besieged. O0
My copy of RB arrived on Friday. Turned out to be a 1st edition copy :-X
I'm trying to figure out if it is possible to use the 2nd edition rules with first edition components. I may pawn it off and pick up a 2nd edition if not. Apparently, the game is MUCH improved by the 2nd edition rules.
The real kicker is, L2 was sold out of RB when I placed my order a couple of weeks ago. Since that time L2 announced they will be reprinting RB in Oct '14....with an upgrade package.
^That's a bummer. I gather that, apart from a some significant rules and map update, there are some significant changes to the counter-mix in 2nd Ed as well. I have look for the expansion pack but that seems to be non existent as of now.
According to the L2 guys (on CSW), all copies of the 2nd game, the expansion, and update pack for 1st ed have all been sold out. I'm not as to the status of L2DG or if they are still operating.
Also, I see that Compass Games now publish L2's 'Bitter Woods' Ardennes games, so maybe they have acquired the publishing rights to some L2 games, so maybe they will do RB at some point?
I just noticed that information on the RB reprint I mentioned finding on the L2 website is dated 2012. Guess I'll just have to work with what I have.
In fact, you may be able to help me get things up to spec Bob (for use with V2 rules that is). From reading through the RB forums on BGG it sounds like it is almost feasible to use V1 product with V2 rules. Users have asked more than once whether it will work...and the experts always answered that it is doable. However, later in these same threads it has been pointed out that while all of the V2 charts are available for download the V2 Order of Battle is not. Strangely, no one has ever acknowledged these remarks. I'm left with the impression that the new OB chart is the only ingredient missing. I understand that the counter mix is not identical either, but is only a matter of adding a half dozen new counters to the V1 mix. The Vassal module will allow me to fix that in short order.
Check out the CSW thread for some downloadable stuff, but yes, if I can be of any help, just let me know.
Quote from: ArizonaTank on August 13, 2014, 04:51:02 AM
IMHO AH's old Russian Campaign still holds it's own as well.... You could probably pick up a copy of the 3rd edition on ebay for $10 - $20 bucks. Also, I had no problem finding players for it.
Where do you find your opponents? Do you use Vassal? One reason I don't play board games much is the difficulty of finding opponents locally. >:(
I'm lucky insofar as I do have a couple of buddies with whom I've wargamed for 30-odd years, although we're not able to get together as often as we used to. Most of my board gaming tends to be solo, and although that's not as enjoyable as F2F gaming, it can still be rewarding if you are able to just play the best game you can for each side. I also like exploring game systems and various 'what-if' situations, and, if it comes to that, just learning new systems.
I've been playing board war games since the late 1960's, and I think I have just got used to playing in a 'left-hand-against-right-hand' environment, so it has never put me off. Despite the fact that there are plenty of good PC games, I still enjoy the actual physical component aspect of a map and counter game.
Whilst I do have Vassal, and several modules for games I own, I don't somehow ever seem to be able to play games very well using it. It may well be that I just don't try hard enough to master using Vassal.
I have a tough time finding FtF opponents for any wargames, with the exception of ASL. Most of my tabletop purchases these days are solitaire games for this reason. There is little chance I will find a local opponent for Russia Besieged. If it didn't already have Vassal support I probably wouldn't have made the purchase.
Vassal is just as good as FtF in my books.