Just purchased the WargameVault reprint. Never played it before and it being so well thought of and being a tactical wargame nut I knew I had to get it. Trouble is I have no one to play against..so have been checking out the Solo rules on BGG.
Anyone have the game? What are your thoughts on it?
Up Front is one of my all time favorite wargames, perfect playability, tense situations, great simulation of skirmish level combat (not tactical...).
There's a Vassal mod out there which is pretty nice so that may be something to check out for ya.
Happy gaming!
folks chatting about it here http://grogheads.com/forums/index.php?topic=13423.0
and here
http://grogheads.com/forums/index.php?topic=3659.0
Among the crowd here, Barthheart, Cyrano, and GJK are big players. IIRC, either Nefaro or Arctic Blast were pretty into it, too
Some of the obscene after-market cost of the game -- and the truly sad business of the KS -- can be attributed to myth and hype, but not all of it. It's one of the best thought-out, most re-playable, and (if it's the sort of thing you're into), one of the most fun card game you'll ever play.
Funny story, I got my first copy at the GenCon auction 100 years ago because I thought -- I can't quite say why I thought this, but I did -- it was a second copy of Squad Leader on offer. I was furious with myself (after all, it cost something like $10 college-student money), but, after trying it out with some pals, honestly never played Squad Leader again.
I still wish somebody -- GMT -- would sneak into Hasbro and steal the engraving plates, but I'm glad the game is at least available.
Enjoy!!
Best,
Jim
"Cyrano"
:/7)
I had eyed getting a copy of Up Front awhile back but still haven't got one.
If I were to do so, I'd still probably order the custom cards from the card printing company GJK (and others?) kindly linked. They look so much better than the original ones, so I'd be willing to splurge a bit extra for the quality.
My hang-up is that I have no wargamer buddies nearby to play with so I tend to spend more on co-op & solitaire friendly stuff.
Quote from: Cyrano on May 08, 2015, 08:35:24 AM
I still wish somebody -- GMT -- would sneak into Hasbro and steal the engraving plates, but I'm glad the game is at least available.
I've often wondered why somebody just doesn't do an UpFront "inspired" game, changed just enough to keep the lawyers out of it....
Those good looking cards I think have been taken down due to copyright issues..
Quote from: Nefaro on May 08, 2015, 03:28:14 PM
I had eyed getting a copy of Up Front awhile back but still haven't got one.
If I were to do so, I'd still probably order the custom cards from the card printing company GJK (and others?) kindly linked. They look so much better than the original ones, so I'd be willing to splurge a bit extra for the quality.
My hang-up is that I have no wargamer buddies nearby to play with so I tend to spend more on co-op & solitaire friendly stuff.
There are plenty of reasons why UF is one of my all time favorites boardgames. The fact that it is the ONLY wargame in my collection which can be played, to completion, in 90 minutes or less (including setup) is certainly one.
I'm up for some UpFront play via vassal if anyone is interested. Any experience level. I'm working this weekend, but next week I should be available most evenings (EDT)
I'm interested in trying it at some point...hopefully...
Quote from: TacticalWargames on May 08, 2015, 08:11:55 PM
Those good looking cards I think have been taken down due to copyright issues..
The Wargame Vault version is not legal as they did not obtain permission for Rodger MacGowan for use of his artwork. MacGowan has publicly stated that the original arrangement with Avalon Hill was for a one-time use of his artwork, and that he still has the signed contracts stating such.
https://www.facebook.com/groups/53048888874/permalink/10153302844523875/?comment_id=10153303471628875
Good for Rodger.
Another game I played a LOT. Saving a wire card for when you opponent decides to cross a stream is just ... brutal!
Quote from: Michael Dorosh on May 10, 2015, 09:31:00 AM
Quote from: TacticalWargames on May 08, 2015, 08:11:55 PM
Those good looking cards I think have been taken down due to copyright issues..
The Wargame Vault version is not legal as they did not obtain permission for Rodger MacGowan for use of his artwork. MacGowan has publicly stated that the original arrangement with Avalon Hill was for a one-time use of his artwork, and that he still has the signed contracts stating such.
https://www.facebook.com/groups/53048888874/permalink/10153302844523875/?comment_id=10153303471628875 (https://www.facebook.com/groups/53048888874/permalink/10153302844523875/?comment_id=10153303471628875)
Good for Rodger.
My assumption is that they reached some sort of agreement with Rodger because shortly after he raised the issue, they removed the reprint from their site but it is now back up. Pure speculation however. Hopefully he is getting some fair compenstation. I brought up the question about Courtney Allen and Charlie Kibler as well and I suppose all of that goes back to exactly who signed away what when Hasbro took over the AH product catalog.
Game's just cursed is what it is.
So very well respected by so many yet it gets dragged through the KS nonsense, somebody in IP at Hasbro is having a sandwich when this re-issue is bruted, and, as was observed on BGG, this is exactly how re-issues don't occur.
Sad, really...
Best,
Jim
"Cyrano"
:/7)
Quote from: Michael Dorosh on May 10, 2015, 09:31:00 AM
Quote from: TacticalWargames on May 08, 2015, 08:11:55 PM
Those good looking cards I think have been taken down due to copyright issues..
The Wargame Vault version is not legal as they did not obtain permission for Rodger MacGowan for use of his artwork. MacGowan has publicly stated that the original arrangement with Avalon Hill was for a one-time use of his artwork, and that he still has the signed contracts stating such.
https://www.facebook.com/groups/53048888874/permalink/10153302844523875/?comment_id=10153303471628875
Good for Rodger.
That's not the copy he was talking about. There is a fan made version on ArtsCow. It's still there but is hard to find on the site now.
I have never played it so I purchased the re-print of the original... the complete game bundle O0
PE
Quote from: PanzersEast on May 11, 2015, 07:53:52 AM
I have never played it so I purchased the re-print of the original... the complete game bundle O0
PE
Lets us know how it looks!
Vance, if you read down the thread linked, you'll see Rodger specifically address WotC/Hasbro and, by indirection, the WV.
Now, he's extremely reasonably -- as you'd expect a well-regarded veteran of this industry to be -- but it seems clear to me that he wanted this issue raised regarding the WV re-issue.
Jim
Quote from: Cyrano on May 11, 2015, 08:16:47 AM
Vance, if you read down the thread linked, you'll see Rodger specifically address WotC/Hasbro and, by indirection, the WV.
Now, he's extremely reasonably -- as you'd expect a well-regarded veteran of this industry to be -- but it seems clear to me that he wanted this issue raised regarding the WV re-issue.
Jim
Oh I know about the Roger stuff.... but TW was talking about the ArtsCow version of UF, not the WV reprint.
Gotcha...roger that...no pun intended...
Best,
Jim
"Cyrano"
:/7)
Even though I'm a long time fan of UpFront I did not buy into the Kickstarter. The example artwork looked fantastic, however, the price for entry was just too high for a game that I already owned (..and don't play enough).
I was also disappointed by the fact that the rules for the KS version were going to fork off from the originals. The original rulebook (v1 & 2) certainly could benefit from rewrite...but didn't see the need for changing the mechanics.
This development with the WGV reprint is the best possible outcome IMHO. Now the folks who yearned for a copy, can, without being raped on eBay. People who buy the reprint will be compatible with all of the existing expansions/player aids/Vassal module - and old players like myself.
I hope that WGV gets around to reprinting the expansions as well. I only own the base game, plus the third-party action card deck, which is functionally the same as the original.
Here is a link to the errata for the game components from BGG
http://boardgamegeek.com/filepage/35183/card-errata
the change to the Marsh terrain card ( -1/+1 --> -1/-1) being the most significant
UPFront arrived to day. I hope my scissor skills are upto the job on the counter sheet!!