I have tons of them....but I am still searching for the perfect game.
I have pretty much everything DVG sells..all the leader series. I have all the old school solitaire games...Ambush!, QotS, Raid on St. Nazaire, London's Burning, Carriers!, Tokyo Express, etc.
I don't mind complexity..and I was looking the Omaha D-Day game. How is the replayability there?
I like sub games, and own several..but wouldn't mind another.
Let me know your thoughts please.
Have you looked at RAF?
https://www.boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/40209/raf-battle-britain-1940
Contains 2 solitaire games RAF: Lion and RAF: Eagle and a 2 player game. Really good operational level air combat game of the Battle of Britain.
I haven't got D-Day at Omaha.... yet....
For sub games there's the Compass Games Silent War or Steel Wolves that are solo.
http://compassgames.com/index.php/military-simulations/silentwar.html
http://compassgames.com/index.php/military-simulations/steel-wolves.html
Quite expensive but I hear good things about them. Rekim here plays Steel Wolves.
Barth and his digs...lol
I second RAF. Either first or second edition; the 2nd Ed is the one out now but the 1st is just as good IMO. Just in case you find either somewhere, it's a great system and a lot of fun.
I do have D-Day at Omaha and D-Day at Tarawa (hush, Barth), but I've not played either yet. I've read the rules though and there is a lot of replayability. First glance at either of these games will make you choke probably, but once you read the rules, the map makes perfect sense. I've heard nothing but good things about both of these games.
I'd recommend a lot of the product over at Victory Point Games - go check them out and use their Search filter to find their solitaire games. I have Ottoman Sunset (completed an AAR in the forums here), Hapsburg Eclipse (also have an AAR on this, though I'm far behind on it now), Swing States (a great solitaire sim for running for President, if you like political games), Cruel Necessity (a really fun game), and Darkest Night. Check them all out. I have other VPG games, but they're multi-player.
Legion Wargames makes some pretty entertaining stuff, too. I did a review of Picket Duty here for GrogHeads...a solitaire game where you command a destroyer during the Battle of Okinawa and fight off Japanese Kamikazes. They also do a solitaire B-29 Superfortress game and an expansion for it called Hell Over Korea. The B-29 game isn't incredibly fun...it's kind of fidgety when it comes to navigating long distances. The Hell Over Korea expansion is a lot more fun.
Finally, check out Flying Frog. They're a company that make Shadows of Brimstone, which is a solitaire and co-op game (you can play alone or play with multiple folks) with horror elements. Also, they make Fortune and Glory, a terrific game that can also be played solitaire or with multiple players.
Forgot to mention Silent War by Compass Games. I haven't played it yet because it will take a major time commitment (not to mention space) on my part, and I just haven't had a chance to do it yet. You said you own several sub games; if this is not one of them, take a closer look at it, too.
And two others, one of which is a little different...Omega Games makes one called Eastern Front Solitaire which is fairly simple and large-scale, but a lot of fun to play. They also make one called Ranger, which is very interesting and nothing like I've played solitaire before.
Yeah, sorry, just couldn't let it slide by. :D
Fortune and Glory does look like a lot of fun. Do you have all the add ons?
No, only the base set. Add-ons are something I'd like eventually. I need to play the heck out of the base game before I think about dropping another fifty or so bucks on an expansion.
Rise of the Crimson Hand doesn't look all that good, to be honest. The others, though (Sands of Cairo, Danger Pack 1, and Treasure Hunters) all look good. I could be wrong about Crimson Hand; there's just something not very threatening about dudes in capes, hoods, and long-nosed masks that doesn't scream "evil" (more like, "orgy" or "stag film").
I reached out to Flying Frog after we published my unboxing article on the game, giving them the link, but they never replied. Their FanG web page has links to 2012 conventions but the other parts of the site look up to date, so I don't know what's up. Would have been nice to get a relationship going with them insofar as covering their product and it kind of sucks when developers ignore you, especially when you've given them free press. Oh well.
I'm going to offer a counter-point on Fortune & Glory, because I really didn't like it all that much. I have a particular annoyance for games in unnecessarily large boxes, and there is no reason at all that game comes in a coffin box. It could have come in a standard game box if they'd simply re-done the folds in the board. Beyond that, it dragged out for what it is. I have no problem with games that take hours to play. But when that game is as simple as this one is, it overstayed it's welcome. Finally (if you play with multiple players), you'll have one poor bastard who finishes his turn in 30 seconds thanks to some poor rolling. He then gets stuck waiting 15 minutes to play again while everyone else goes on fantastic adventures...only to again be done in 30 seconds.
Had it been in a more reasonable box (and therefore at a more reasonable price) and with the same time frame to play as some of FFG's other games, I'd probably still have it. But it didn't, so it's gone.
As for Flying Frog as a whole, communication has never been a strong point. They're on every social media outlet in existence, but they don't update anything. I'm not sure why they bother pretending.
Any of the States of Seige games from VPG are pretty good.
The Hunters from ConSim Press won out readers choice award a few years back as a solo sub game. Tough to find tho...
I would stay away from the COIN games as solo games, even tho the "bots" make it theoretically possible to play that way. Much of the real dynamics of the COIN games - especially the Afghan one - is the interpersonal negotiation and dynamics during the turns. Tough to negotiate in a solo game
Quote from: Banzai_Cat on November 24, 2015, 12:09:31 PM
Rise of the Crimson Hand doesn't look all that good, to be honest. The others, though (Sands of Cairo, Danger Pack 1, and Treasure Hunters) all look good. I could be wrong about Crimson Hand; there's just something not very threatening about dudes in capes, hoods, and long-nosed masks that doesn't scream "evil" (more like, "orgy" or "stag film").
They're supposed to be the supernatural/demonic cultist baddies in Flying Frog's games. I first noticed mention of them in
A Touch Of Evil, which is more fitting, being an 18th century gothic horror-mystery type setting.
However, I would much rather have them as an option than one of the two in the base set - the Mafia. The Nazi bad guys is quite appropriate since
Fortune & Glory is practically Indiana Jones The Co-Operative Game. But having the Mafia run around the world, delving deep into peril-ridden ancient temples to retrieve The Ghost Ring Of Odin or The Enchanted Axe Of Power, seemed to be a much worse thematic mix than the cultist nutter group.
One thing I never liked about the FF games were the live action actors in place of what is typically artwork on the cards. The props & such in those pics are too obvious as being just that, and the wardrobes can be iffy too. I'd much rather have art.
The FF games certainly provide some adventure narrative solitaire play.
Quote from: DennisS on November 24, 2015, 08:37:53 AM
I have tons of them....but I am still searching for the perfect game.
I have pretty much everything DVG sells..all the leader series. I have all the old school solitaire games...Ambush!, QotS, Raid on St. Nazaire, London's Burning, Carriers!, Tokyo Express, etc.
I don't mind complexity..and I was looking the Omaha D-Day game. How is the replayability there?
I like sub games, and own several..but wouldn't mind another.
Let me know your thoughts please.
My most-played solitaire games are
Darkest Night (Necromancer bundle edition - light & quick but still has plenty decision making to do),
Sentinels Of The Multiverse (PC & tablet versions available now too), and the
Mage Knight Board Game (very popular solitaire game, even with the hardest Hex Grogs).
You already have
Thunderbolt Apache Leader, judging by your post, so I didn't list it amongst those.
I've also wanted to check out the D-Day solitaire stuff. The system seems to be related to that in
RAF (fun but can get a bit repetitive after awhile), which puts it firmly on my wishlist. I hear that the same publisher/printer creates those as the latest RAF, however, and punching the counters for my RAF was a damn nightmare. I HAD to cut them out with a hobby knife since the die-cutting was so lousy they were getting easily tore up when I first started. Makes me a bit hesitant.
I played a little
Silent War (the Pacific sub campaign game) but the time investment on all but the smallest scenarios is just huge. Still something I want to play again, for a longer stretch. On the other end of the spectrum, I thought
The Hunters was a bit too thin with too few details & choices to be made. It's quick & fairly easy but I feel there was some missed game mechanic opportunities in the attacks. Wish there was something in between the two for submarine solitaire board gaming.
There are other good solo ones out there such as
Eldritch Horror and
Robinson Crusoe but they can be extremely brutal. There are also some solitaire capable "deck-builders" if you want a lighter, but still varied, themed card game experience. Not sure which themes you're okay with, or whether you'd prefer to stay with certain historical periods...
I found DVG's U-boat Leader to be good fun as well.... and probably between The Hunters and Steel Wolves.
Quote from: Nefaro on November 24, 2015, 03:22:14 PM
But having the Mafia run around the world, delving deep into peril-ridden ancient temples to retrieve The Ghost Ring Of Odin or The Enchanted Axe Of Power, seemed to be a much worse thematic mix than the cultist nutter group.
Excellent point, I'll give you that. The Mafia/Mob doesn't feel right in the game. Cultists with dick-nose masks, though... ;D
Quote from: Barthheart on November 24, 2015, 03:34:43 PM
I found DVG's U-boat Leader to be good fun as well.... and probably between The Hunters and Steel Wolves.
It was sold out by the time I looked for it about a year (or less) after it's release. Didn't find any used copies for resale at the time, either.
Happens all too often these days. Especially with solitaire/co-op games.
I'll pick up the
Gato Leader sequel when it comes out, instead. And the reprint of the original, maybe.
I've P500'd the upcoming Pacific version of
The Hunters in the hope that it's evolved a bit more. The Hunters isn't bad.. just needs more to it IMO.
Quote from: Banzai_Cat on November 24, 2015, 03:35:27 PM
Quote from: Nefaro on November 24, 2015, 03:22:14 PM
But having the Mafia run around the world, delving deep into peril-ridden ancient temples to retrieve The Ghost Ring Of Odin or The Enchanted Axe Of Power, seemed to be a much worse thematic mix than the cultist nutter group.
Excellent point, I'll give you that. The Mafia/Mob doesn't feel right in the game. Cultists with dick-nose masks, though... ;D
Sounds like your problem with the Cultists is the same I have with many of the FF games... the poor looking Live Action pics of goofy costumes & props on their cards. Not necessarily the idea of a crazy cult in a cliffhanger setting full of mythical artifacts.
I mean.. the second Indiana Jones movie literally had a crazy sacrificial cult in it. The problem is the screwy looking pics on the cards.
When they include actual artwork, such as in
Shadows Of Brimstone or
Conquest Of Planet Earth, it looks great and doesn't look F'd up.
True. I have Shadows of Brimstone too, though to an extent, I do like the live pictures of actors for FanG. It's very cheesy but that's what pulp action is like - cheesy. At least it is to me. The cultists fit into that well, even if you want to ::) a lot while in it.
Hell, I was watching Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade last night again for the first time in probably 10 years (seen it many times before that, including when it premiered in theaters; it's just been a while since I've seen it). I couldn't help but make some comparisons to this board game. Not many, but some.
Here is an AAR I did on D-Day a while back. May help you decide.
http://grogheads.com/forums/index.php?topic=9310.msg236057#msg236057
Quote from: Banzai_Cat on November 24, 2015, 03:48:36 PM
True. I have Shadows of Brimstone too, though to an extent, I do like the live pictures of actors for FanG. It's very cheesy but that's what pulp action is like - cheesy. At least it is to me. The cultists fit into that well, even if you want to ::) a lot while in it.
Hell, I was watching Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade last night again for the first time in probably 10 years (seen it many times before that, including when it premiered in theaters; it's just been a while since I've seen it). I couldn't help but make some comparisons to this board game. Not many, but some.
FF obviously got inspiration for many of it's games from movies.
A Touch Of Evil has a lot of Tim Burton's
Sleepy Hollow theme to it, along with other older horror-mystery monster flicks.
Conquest Of Planet Earth has the
Mars Attacks and older Pulp Martian movie influences. You can tell they enjoyed the old B-movie sci-fi & horror genres.
Shadows Of Brimstone was a marked change in habit for them. Instead of the game being based on moving around and finding clues/treasures in order to win, it's heavily focused on combat and light RPG-style level-ups. Obviously inspired by the
Deadlands Horror-Western RPG and the old
Warhammer Quest adventure game. I wonder if they'll continue to step outside their movie genre themes for future Co-Ops, or return to it.
I'm not as big of a fan of those FF cooperative/solo games as others. I think the themes are what gets me to play them. For game mechanics & strategic decision making, I think there are better options for solitaire out there. That doesn't mean they're not fun, though.
On a side note, I see Tragic has been doing another YT Let's Play series on the
Mage Knight Board Game (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9LB8lgSlkH0&index=1&list=PLyyQgJXgN4c4ZzOsBkSKwUKQN0gloiOtr). I've been avoiding watching it because I'll be forced to break it out and do a solo conquest scenario after doing so. Got stuff in line for the table before doing that.
Hi!
Maybe it's time to reconsider getting CoH Awakening the Bear...?
The Solo expansion is shipping and Academy Games did great job on this one, too!
It's so 'Solo'... you'll forget that it's only you and the game!
OK, it's a little on the expensive side if you don't own CoH AtB yet... but I'd recommend it nevertheless!
Cheers!
chem!
Quote from: Barthheart on November 24, 2015, 09:08:33 AM
Have you looked at RAF?
https://www.boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/40209/raf-battle-britain-1940
Contains 2 solitaire games RAF: Lion and RAF: Eagle and a 2 player game. Really good operational level air combat game of the Battle of Britain.
I haven't got D-Day at Omaha.... yet....
For sub games there's the Compass Games Silent War or Steel Wolves that are solo.
http://compassgames.com/index.php/military-simulations/silentwar.html
http://compassgames.com/index.php/military-simulations/steel-wolves.html
Quite expensive but I hear good things about them. Rekim here plays Steel Wolves.
I own RAF, love it. Own Silent war. Love it too! Don't have Steel Wolves...kinda scared off by the price.
Thanks for playing!! O0
Quote from: Banzai_Cat on November 24, 2015, 11:06:47 AM
Barth and his digs...lol
I second RAF. Either first or second edition; the 2nd Ed is the one out now but the 1st is just as good IMO. Just in case you find either somewhere, it's a great system and a lot of fun.
I do have D-Day at Omaha and D-Day at Tarawa (hush, Barth), but I've not played either yet. I've read the rules though and there is a lot of replayability. First glance at either of these games will make you choke probably, but once you read the rules, the map makes perfect sense. I've heard nothing but good things about both of these games.
I'd recommend a lot of the product over at Victory Point Games - go check them out and use their Search filter to find their solitaire games. I have Ottoman Sunset (completed an AAR in the forums here), Hapsburg Eclipse (also have an AAR on this, though I'm far behind on it now), Swing States (a great solitaire sim for running for President, if you like political games), Cruel Necessity (a really fun game), and Darkest Night. Check them all out. I have other VPG games, but they're multi-player.
Legion Wargames makes some pretty entertaining stuff, too. I did a review of Picket Duty here for GrogHeads...a solitaire game where you command a destroyer during the Battle of Okinawa and fight off Japanese Kamikazes. They also do a solitaire B-29 Superfortress game and an expansion for it called Hell Over Korea. The B-29 game isn't incredibly fun...it's kind of fidgety when it comes to navigating long distances. The Hell Over Korea expansion is a lot more fun.
Finally, check out Flying Frog. They're a company that make Shadows of Brimstone, which is a solitaire and co-op game (you can play alone or play with multiple folks) with horror elements. Also, they make Fortune and Glory, a terrific game that can also be played solitaire or with multiple players.
Cruel Necessity has always looked interesting. I should have remembered this as an option. Ricky Royal has an excellent let's play on youtube.
I will look at Flying Frog. No experience with them. Good stuff!
Picket Duty seems too one dimensional for me..and I wasn't impressed with what I read on the B-24 game, that it was like B-17: QotS, but LESS.
Quote from: Banzai_Cat on November 24, 2015, 11:09:44 AM
Forgot to mention Silent War by Compass Games. I haven't played it yet because it will take a major time commitment (not to mention space) on my part, and I just haven't had a chance to do it yet. You said you own several sub games; if this is not one of them, take a closer look at it, too.
And two others, one of which is a little different...Omega Games makes one called Eastern Front Solitaire which is fairly simple and large-scale, but a lot of fun to play. They also make one called Ranger, which is very interesting and nothing like I've played solitaire before.
I have owned all three of these. Ranger had the very interesting mechanic of plotting movement and combat using grease pencils..never seen it before or since. This game was lost during one of my military moves, decades ago.
Quote from: bayonetbrant on November 24, 2015, 03:20:17 PM
Any of the States of Seige games from VPG are pretty good.
The Hunters from ConSim Press won out readers choice award a few years back as a solo sub game. Tough to find tho...
I would stay away from the COIN games as solo games, even tho the "bots" make it theoretically possible to play that way. Much of the real dynamics of the COIN games - especially the Afghan one - is the interpersonal negotiation and dynamics during the turns. Tough to negotiate in a solo game
I have personally been searching for the Hunters for a long time. I just cannot justify the E-Bay price when it does show up.
The COIN games look good, but very fiddly. Not enough fun for me there.
Quote from: Nefaro on November 24, 2015, 03:22:14 PM
Quote from: Banzai_Cat on November 24, 2015, 12:09:31 PM
Rise of the Crimson Hand doesn't look all that good, to be honest. The others, though (Sands of Cairo, Danger Pack 1, and Treasure Hunters) all look good. I could be wrong about Crimson Hand; there's just something not very threatening about dudes in capes, hoods, and long-nosed masks that doesn't scream "evil" (more like, "orgy" or "stag film").
They're supposed to be the supernatural/demonic cultist baddies in Flying Frog's games. I first noticed mention of them in A Touch Of Evil, which is more fitting, being an 18th century gothic horror-mystery type setting.
However, I would much rather have them as an option than one of the two in the base set - the Mafia. The Nazi bad guys is quite appropriate since Fortune & Glory is practically Indiana Jones The Co-Operative Game. But having the Mafia run around the world, delving deep into peril-ridden ancient temples to retrieve The Ghost Ring Of Odin or The Enchanted Axe Of Power, seemed to be a much worse thematic mix than the cultist nutter group.
One thing I never liked about the FF games were the live action actors in place of what is typically artwork on the cards. The props & such in those pics are too obvious as being just that, and the wardrobes can be iffy too. I'd much rather have art.
The FF games certainly provide some adventure narrative solitaire play.
Quote from: DennisS on November 24, 2015, 08:37:53 AM
I have tons of them....but I am still searching for the perfect game.
I have pretty much everything DVG sells..all the leader series. I have all the old school solitaire games...Ambush!, QotS, Raid on St. Nazaire, London's Burning, Carriers!, Tokyo Express, etc.
I don't mind complexity..and I was looking the Omaha D-Day game. How is the replayability there?
I like sub games, and own several..but wouldn't mind another.
Let me know your thoughts please.
My most-played solitaire games are Darkest Night (Necromancer bundle edition - light & quick but still has plenty decision making to do), Sentinels Of The Multiverse (PC & tablet versions available now too), and the Mage Knight Board Game (very popular solitaire game, even with the hardest Hex Grogs).
You already have Thunderbolt Apache Leader, judging by your post, so I didn't list it amongst those.
I've also wanted to check out the D-Day solitaire stuff. The system seems to be related to that in RAF (fun but can get a bit repetitive after awhile), which puts it firmly on my wishlist. I hear that the same publisher/printer creates those as the latest RAF, however, and punching the counters for my RAF was a damn nightmare. I HAD to cut them out with a hobby knife since the die-cutting was so lousy they were getting easily tore up when I first started. Makes me a bit hesitant.
I played a little Silent War (the Pacific sub campaign game) but the time investment on all but the smallest scenarios is just huge. Still something I want to play again, for a longer stretch. On the other end of the spectrum, I thought The Hunters was a bit too thin with too few details & choices to be made. It's quick & fairly easy but I feel there was some missed game mechanic opportunities in the attacks. Wish there was something in between the two for submarine solitaire board gaming.
There are other good solo ones out there such as Eldritch Horror and Robinson Crusoe but they can be extremely brutal. There are also some solitaire capable "deck-builders" if you want a lighter, but still varied, themed card game experience. Not sure which themes you're okay with, or whether you'd prefer to stay with certain historical periods...
I have Eldritch Horror, and Elder Signs, and Arkham Horror. All great games. Robinson Crusoe looks very hard.
I have TAL, it may be my second current favorite solitaire game, besides Mage Knight (and the expansion) Terrific concept, but I need to relearn how to play every time I open the box.
Quote from: Barthheart on November 24, 2015, 03:34:43 PM
I found DVG's U-boat Leader to be good fun as well.... and probably between The Hunters and Steel Wolves.
Have U-Boat Leader..and and considering the other two strongly.
This is the guy that took the old SSI game Submarine!, and played the solitaire variant in the General magazine for several years. Yes..I had a subscription to the AH magazine for its entire run.
Quote from: ArizonaTank on November 25, 2015, 05:44:32 AM
Here is an AAR I did on D-Day a while back. May help you decide.
http://grogheads.com/forums/index.php?topic=9310.msg236057#msg236057
I read this. Great writeup. My biggest concern here is the same one I had with Ambush! Step on that hex, and A, B, and C happens automatically. I appreciate that the Gods of the RNG kick in at that point...but why would you step there if you trigger a massive attack? Why didn't then land at Calais instead? :idiot2:
Quote from: chemkid on November 25, 2015, 10:53:28 AM
Hi!
Maybe it's time to reconsider getting CoH Awakening the Bear...?
The Solo expansion is shipping and Academy Games did great job on this one, too!
It's so 'Solo'... you'll forget that it's only you and the game!
OK, it's a little on the expensive side if you don't own CoH AtB yet... but I'd recommend it nevertheless!
Cheers!
chem!
I will research this. Thank you.
OK..researching BGG, I ran across Beserker Games, and their print and play games. Seem very cheap...a GOOD thing. I don't care about graphics...but how's the gameplay? :)
Quote from: DennisS on November 25, 2015, 12:50:32 PM
OK..researching BGG, I ran across Beserker Games, and their print and play games. Seem very cheap...a GOOD thing. I don't care about graphics...but how's the gameplay? :)
I picked up their
Thud Ridge game, and printed the materials. Just haven't cut them all out, but I did give the rules a once-through.
It seems like a lighter Hornet/Phantom Leader style game, albeit with player controlled hex map movement for ingress/egress. Much of the rest isn't as detailed, however, such as weapon selection (just basic AtA & Bombs values IIRC). From what I gather, his other air squadron solitaire stuff all use a modified version of the same basic system.
The WWI version is still one I'd like to check out too, although I still have yet to try GMT's
Bloody April official solo variant (along with actually playing Thud Ridge). So not in a big hurry.
I can't speak for his special forces, ground campaigns, or adventure game stuff. They all look to have potential with some refinement and better graphical presentation. They're the type of games that should probably get the Victory Point Games indie ziplock bag game treatment.
Speaking of Victory Point Games.. they have some stuff worth checking out for solitaire, as mentioned previously in this thread. While I have their
Darkest Night,
Cruel Necessity, and
Dawn of the Zeds solo/co-op games, which are great, I'm also impatiently waiting on their deluxe version of
Nemo's War to be released or KS'd.
Quote from: Nefaro on November 25, 2015, 01:32:16 PM
I picked up their Thud Ridge game, and printed the materials. Just haven't cut them all out, but I did give the rules a once-through.
PanzersEast did a re-work of the Thud Ridge counters a while back
http://grogheads.com/forums/index.php?topic=12101.0
Enemy Coast Ahead is a fun solitaire game about the Dambusters.
http://www.gmtgames.com/p-439-enemy-coast-ahead-the-dambuster-raid.aspx (http://www.gmtgames.com/p-439-enemy-coast-ahead-the-dambuster-raid.aspx)
GMT is releasing a sequel that will cover the Doolittle raid on Japan. It's looking pretty good.
http://www.gmtgames.com/p-567-enemy-coast-ahead-the-doolittle-raid.aspx (http://www.gmtgames.com/p-567-enemy-coast-ahead-the-doolittle-raid.aspx)
I believe that I am going to go with Cruel Necessity, and five different PnP games from Beserker..Aces of Valor, B17- Bomber Squadron, Hunters over Korea, Thud Ridge, and Tradition of Glory.
10-15 dollar games work for me, solitaire works for me, and having a missus who's an Art Department chair works even better. She has access to cardstock, cutting tools, and a true artist's flair for mixed media.
Thanks for the inputs!!! The missus and I are building what will be our retirement home, and a very large space in our walkout will be my gaming room. I will have 2-3 table areas for my board games, 'cause one just isn't enough!
Quote from: DennisS on November 25, 2015, 12:43:23 PM
I have TAL, it may be my second current favorite solitaire game, besides Mage Knight (and the expansion) Terrific concept, but I need to relearn how to play every time I open the box.
Not needing to relearn the rules every time you set a solitaire game up would be a sure sign your collection is too small >:D
I'm setting up a TAL campaign at the moment (show of force - Iran 2014). One of my favorite features of the Leader games is that they are amongst the easiest to get back up to speed with.
If I had to pick just one, I'd say that
Steel Wolves is my favorite solitaire...so far.
Quote from: Rekim on November 26, 2015, 03:21:28 PM
Quote from: DennisS on November 25, 2015, 12:43:23 PM
I have TAL, it may be my second current favorite solitaire game, besides Mage Knight (and the expansion) Terrific concept, but I need to relearn how to play every time I open the box.
Not needing to relearn the rules every time you set a solitaire game up would be a sure sign your collection is too small >:D
I'm setting up a TAL campaign at the moment (show of force - Iran 2014). One of my favorite features of the Leader games is that they are amongst the easiest to get back up to speed with.
If I had to pick just one, I'd say that Steel Wolves is my favorite solitaire...so far.
You may be right. When I break out Carriers!, I need to spend the better part of four hours reviewing the mammoth rule book!
A few others, like Patton's Best, or B17: Queen of the Skies, I can pick up and play immediately.
Tal and the leader series are no brainers for me...my biggest issue is sorting out the hundreds and hundreds of counters. I really do need to invests in about a thousand small plastic bags!
Quote from: DennisS on November 26, 2015, 03:50:50 PM
Tal and the leader series are no brainers for me...my biggest issue is sorting out the hundreds and hundreds of counters. I really do need to invests in about a thousand small plastic bags!
Buy counter trays. Or hobby "bead boxes" at a local crafts store, if those can fit in the box. DVG sell their own "deep dish" counter trays, which I tend to use for games that have larger than average counters/tokens. Otherwise, sometimes it's better to just use a pair of the thinner GMT ones.
They may cost about $2-$3 apiece, and may require a pair in the case of the regular-sized counter trays, but it's so much easier to pop the lid and get going after sorting/storing with them.
For games with larger non-bookcase sized boxes, I try to use the larger bead boxes, especially since the cardboard pieces are often large & those have larger spaces. With solo games like Mage Knight and Darkest Night, which require drawing tokens, sometimes at random, I can just leave them in the open box (after shuffling in random case) and draw straight from there while playing. No need to pull them out beforehand and dig. O0
Bead boxes is a nice call out. I will look into this. One pain in the ass is when the boxes won't fit into the game boxes. This is not good.
The first thing I do with any game is to throw out the filler...if I don't need the cardboard to play the game, out it goes.
Source of the Nile is another thought. Dated, but still a fun solitaire game. Between boardgame geek and vassal, there is enough for you to try without buying. Good copies on ebay for $29.
Quote from: ArizonaTank on November 26, 2015, 06:51:28 PM
Source of the Nile is another thought. Dated, but still a fun solitaire game. Between boardgame geek and vassal, there is enough for you to try without buying. Good copies on ebay for $29.
Got it. Or rather, had it for 20+ years. It, along with almost 100 other games were unceremoniously dumped into a dumpster when I retired in 1994. Yep...in Alaska, overweight by several thousand pounds, and couldn't ship them back to the lower 48. If I told you the complete roster of the games I just threw away, many of you would get a little emotional. Avalon Hill, Victory Games, SPI, Flying Buffalo, GMT, you name it. In particular, I owned almost the entire catalog of AH and Victory games. :(
The Source of the Nile was one of my favorites, along with Blackbeard, and Gunslinger! All great games.
Oh the horror!
Quote from: DennisS on November 26, 2015, 07:39:47 PM
Quote from: ArizonaTank on November 26, 2015, 06:51:28 PM
Source of the Nile is another thought. Dated, but still a fun solitaire game. Between boardgame geek and vassal, there is enough for you to try without buying. Good copies on ebay for $29.
Got it. Or rather, had it for 20+ years. It, along with almost 100 other games were unceremoniously dumped into a dumpster when I retired in 1994. Yep...in Alaska, overweight by several thousand pounds, and couldn't ship them back to the lower 48. If I told you the complete roster of the games I just threw away, many of you would get a little emotional. Avalon Hill, Victory Games, SPI, Flying Buffalo, GMT, you name it. In particular, I owned almost the entire catalog of AH and Victory games. :(
The Source of the Nile was one of my favorites, along with Blackbeard, and Gunslinger! All great games.
I dumped all my games one point in my life as well. I got a job in Japan, and just could not take them with me. Happily, I have since restored my collection...and then some... :) Including another copy of Source of the Nile.
I don't think anyone has mentioned Enemy Action: Ardennes
https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/68820/enemy-action-ardennes
It's new, it's a Butterfield, and has many glowing player reviews for it up on the Geek. I really enjoyed RAF and expect Enemy Action will be considered one of the classics before long too.
OK..next question. It appears that Beserker Games will only take PayPal. I have never had a PayPal account. What needs to be done here?
Should I use a throwaway debit card for purchases, or is PayPal secure enough for my personal Mastercard?
PayPal is secure enough. I've used them for years and had one problems.
You don't even need a full account as I believe they can still just process yer card through PP without creating one.
Quote from: Barthheart on November 27, 2015, 02:32:28 PM
PayPal is secure enough. I've used them for years and had one problems.
You don't even need a full account as I believe they can still just process yer card through PP without creating one.
Outstanding!!! I just went over to the Beserker Games site, and you're quite correct. I can use a "guest" account, and it will work just fine!
I can share with you all, that it is just a matter of time now before I purchase most of their solitaire games! I have a problem, you see..... :uglystupid2:
Quote from: Barthheart on November 27, 2015, 02:32:28 PM
PayPal is secure enough. I've used them for years and had one problems.
You don't even need a full account as I believe they can still just process yer card through PP without creating one.
+1 on paypal.
Quote from: DennisS on November 27, 2015, 04:53:12 PM
Outstanding!!! I just went over to the Beserker Games site, and you're quite correct. I can use a "guest" account, and it will work just fine!
I can share with you all, that it is just a matter of time now before I purchase most of their solitaire games! I have a problem, you see..... :uglystupid2:
Looking forward to hearing how these games play.
Quote from: ArizonaTank on November 28, 2015, 08:23:54 AM
Quote from: Barthheart on November 27, 2015, 02:32:28 PM
PayPal is secure enough. I've used them for years and had one problems.
You don't even need a full account as I believe they can still just process yer card through PP without creating one.
+1 on paypal.
I generally prefer to use PayPal than direct CC transactions over the web. Just adds another layer of digital paper trail if anything doesn't stack up. Plus you don't have to type all your CC info in every time.
OK..I just downloaded Aces of Valor, Beserker games solitaire game of World War 1 aerial combat.
Here are my initial impressions. Note that I have only printed out the manual, and reference sheet. The counters and other game materials will have to wait til tomorrow, when I can get to a high quality color printer, 100 pound card stock, and a laminating machine. Gotta love a wife that is an Art Department chair!
Rule book: Clear and concise. I read them through once, and the level of complexity seems just about right. I can see some house rules breing made up, to increase the historical accuracy, and to add an element of role playing here..but in general, I am very pleased at the layout and presentation of the rules.
Reference sheets: 5 pages, with an abbreviated sequence of play, and of the mechanics of air and ground targets.
One general note..the target generation and randomization of opponents, mission types, and locations is very well done. I can see very high replayability here.
I am quite pleased with my little $15 purchase. I have spend a hell of a lot more on a game, that doesn't appear to be anywhere near this good. I will follow up, over this next week (on vacation, yay!!) with a more solid AAR.
A quick update on Aces of Valor, by Beserker Games.
All downloaded, printed, rules read, re-read, and re-written from 14 pages down to a single page.
All graphs, game aids and tables also placed onto a single page, for ease of use.
The original 10 aircraft that came with the game (ahistorical, in a big way) have been increased to the 43 aircraft in WWI with the highest number produced. A timeline for the campaign has been developed, with a percentage chance for upgrading your squadron, based on time, and frequency of production. Not many Gotha's were produced!!
I don't see any major revisions needed in the actual gameplay..which appears to be both well-considered, and passing the common sense test.
Now that I have invested perhaps 20 hours or so...I am close to actually start playing the game!
Pics! O0
I didn't realize Conflict of Heroes had a solitaire system available until I saw this thread. Watched a few videos about it, and couldn't resist. I'm going to get the firefight generator probably also, once I've run through the scenarios in the solo system a few time. Looks awesome!
Ostfront: squad scale, solo, Print and Play wargame has been released.
Looks interesting.
"The battle begins!
Now available...
OSTFRONT is an eastern front battle simulator/generator that depicts tactical situations circa 1941. You are a German platoon leader who must outwit the Soviet AI as you and your squads push deeper and deeper into the Soviet Union. The "game" consists of a highly detailed viewfinder that allows you to record in game information and ultimately frames the field of battle. Each scenario presents a unique tactical puzzle that you must solve. Succefully doing so translates into victory points which can be used to upgrade squad stats and accumulate awards. The linear progression of each campaign is threaded with a narrative of campaign plot points and random events. Additionally, the idiosyncracies of your squads can be enhanced with individual squad characteristics.
Not just a game...
Ostfront is much more than a subgroup of prearranged historical circumstances that you simply play through then toss on the shelf. It is a tool kit that allows you to construct and fine tune your own scenarios such that essentially you can become the designer of your own game!
Disclaimer...
This fourth installment from H&S GAMES is unrelated to the Platoon Leader series and due to the level of detail is not recommended for the novice wargamer. "
http://hexesandsoldiers.wix.com/hsgames#!ostfront/cyqi (http://hexesandsoldiers.wix.com/hsgames#!ostfront/cyqi)
Received my Conflict of Heroes ATB + Solo expansion, ran through the solo rules, and have played the first scenario twice. First time I kicked the AIs butt, but probably got a little lucky. The 2nd game, I got slaughtered... captured the victory space after losing a unit, and then got wiped out completely. So far, it's a helluva lot of fun with the solo expansion. Best of all, it doesn't feel like I'm playing against a system, but against a fairly devious opponent (at least compared to my skill level).
Atm, that academy games solo ai is my favorite opponent!
BTW, I finished blinging the OSTFRONT components, the game (solo, too) now looks worth a play through, IMHO!
Have fun!
chem!
I've been delving into Fields of Fire after viewing a few videos on it. You can play a "demo" by downloading the living rules from GMT and the Vassal modules for it. There's one each for WWII, Korea, and Vietnam. All I can say about it is, this game is incredible. So much thought has gone into it to make it feel like you're an actual company commander. Needless to say, I've pre-ordered the upcoming 2nd Edition and I'm seriously considering pre-ordering volume 2 as well.
Quote from: Pinetree on January 14, 2016, 06:05:53 PM
I've been delving into Fields of Fire after viewing a few videos on it. You can play a "demo" by downloading the living rules from GMT and the Vassal modules for it. There's one each for WWII, Korea, and Vietnam. All I can say about it is, this game is incredible. So much thought has gone into it to make it feel like you're an actual company commander. Needless to say, I've pre-ordered the upcoming 2nd Edition and I'm seriously considering pre-ordering volume 2 as well.
I've been sorely tempted to get that as well... I was eyeing Enemy Action: Ardennes earlier since it just today came back in stock at CoolStuffInc. Just checked a bit ago, and both copies are gone. Oh well. I've been hopelessly bitten by the solitaire game bug lately... Ordered waaaaay more than I should have, but my wife has given her approval, so I'm going to stock up. ;-)
Recently have played Legion of Darkness, Conflicts of Heroes, LOTR Card Game... and have several others lined up. It's a great time to be a solo gamer, since more and more solitaire games or rules systems are coming out.
Quote from: smittyohio on January 14, 2016, 06:20:21 PM
Quote from: Pinetree on January 14, 2016, 06:05:53 PM
I've been delving into Fields of Fire after viewing a few videos on it. You can play a "demo" by downloading the living rules from GMT and the Vassal modules for it. There's one each for WWII, Korea, and Vietnam. All I can say about it is, this game is incredible. So much thought has gone into it to make it feel like you're an actual company commander. Needless to say, I've pre-ordered the upcoming 2nd Edition and I'm seriously considering pre-ordering volume 2 as well.
I've been sorely tempted to get that as well... I was eyeing Enemy Action: Ardennes earlier since it just today came back in stock at CoolStuffInc. Just checked a bit ago, and both copies are gone. Oh well. I've been hopelessly bitten by the solitaire game bug lately... Ordered waaaaay more than I should have, but my wife has given her approval, so I'm going to stock up. ;-)
Recently have played Legion of Darkness, Conflicts of Heroes, LOTR Card Game... and have several others lined up. It's a great time to be a solo gamer, since more and more solitaire games or rules systems are coming out.
I like the look of Enemy Action: Ardennes, the price puts it out of my league though. US$190 incl. shipping converts to NZ$292!
I bought the first edition second hand a couple of months ago. It is a superb game and the 2d edition rules are much better.
Quote from: Pinetree on January 14, 2016, 06:05:53 PM
I've been delving into Fields of Fire after viewing a few videos on it. You can play a "demo" by downloading the living rules from GMT and the Vassal modules for it. There's one each for WWII, Korea, and Vietnam. All I can say about it is, this game is incredible. So much thought has gone into it to make it feel like you're an actual company commander. Needless to say, I've pre-ordered the upcoming 2nd Edition and I'm seriously considering pre-ordering volume 2 as well.
Btw, here's a list of the Top 100 Solitaire Boardgames for 2015 per voting on BGG:
https://www.boardgamegeek.com/geeklist/200265/2015-peoples-choice-top-100-solo-games?titlesonly=1
Note that it's in reverse order, so the #1 game is #100 in the list. Also, 101 and 102 are not really in the list.
Quote from: smittyohio on January 19, 2016, 10:48:40 AM
Btw, here's a list of the Top 100 Solitaire Boardgames for 2015 per voting on BGG:
https://www.boardgamegeek.com/geeklist/200265/2015-peoples-choice-top-100-solo-games?titlesonly=1
Note that it's in reverse order, so the #1 game is #100 in the list. Also, 101 and 102 are not really in the list.
Sooo
Mage Knight Board Game got #1?
Not surprised at all.