GrogHeads Forum

So I thought I would start a thread where we could all show off our latest wargame purchases.  I know I for one always like seeing what other people are buying, although it then just tempts me to go out and buy the same thing.  8)   I guess we can think of this as a helping to stimulate the economy thread.   ;D

I'll get the thread started with one.  I came home yesterday and found this box sitting outside my front door....  ;D

(https://www.grogheads.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi1187.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fz397%2FSoccerDJ04%2FLnLBandofHeroes.jpg&hash=80809d8de081e62a7b25f8db10c5c543714dccbd)


I just wish I had more time to read the rules and sit down to learn the game this weekend.

'Second Edition' eh? I wonder what's different from the version I bought in 2007 or thereabouts. I don't see an option to buy just the rulebook at the L&L site. ???

Quote from: Staggerwing on September 15, 2012, 09:51:07 PM
'Second Edition' eh? I wonder what's different from the version I bought in 2007 or thereabouts. I don't see an option to buy just the rulebook at the L&L site. ???

Well...a quick visit to the site:


    NEW, HALOLESS maps.
    NEW, Version 3 Lock 'n Load rules.
    Counters and errata corrected.

Full product page: http://www.locknloadgame.com/Section_Cat_Content_Detail.asp?SCAT=83&SID=33&ID=49

I know. I read all that. There's just not anything about the new rules (v3) there. Guess I'll have to putz around the BGG and Consim boards to find out since Mark Walker closed down the L&L forums.

Quote from: Staggerwing on September 15, 2012, 10:01:21 PM
I know. I read all that. There's just not anything about the new rules (v3) there. Guess I'll have to putz around the BGG and Consim boards to find out since Mark Walker closed down the L&L forums.

There's no changes... or very minor... I can send you a PDF if you'd like. There's also a PDF somewhere on BGG... in the Heroes of the Gap forum I think.

Quote from: TheCommandTent on September 15, 2012, 09:32:53 PM
I'll get the thread started with one.  I came home yesterday and found this box sitting outside my front door....  ;D

(https://www.grogheads.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi1187.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fz397%2FSoccerDJ04%2FLnLBandofHeroes.jpg&hash=80809d8de081e62a7b25f8db10c5c543714dccbd)


I just wish I had more time to read the rules and sit down to learn the game this weekend.

Enjoy it. It's a great, fun, fast playing game.

Quote from: Barthheart on September 15, 2012, 11:39:43 PM

Quote from: Staggerwing on September 15, 2012, 10:01:21 PM
I know. I read all that. There's just not anything about the new rules (v3) there. Guess I'll have to putz around the BGG and Consim boards to find out since Mark Walker closed down the L&L forums.

There's no changes... or very minor... I can send you a PDF if you'd like. There's also a PDF somewhere on BGG... in the Heroes of the Gap forum I think.

Thanks, that'd be terrific! Is it possible to attach files in Grogheads PMs?

very minor rules changes, but a rearrangement of the rulebook to organize it a bit better.  That was the primary criticism I had in my review in 2005.

Thanks Brant. I've been thinking of trying a pbem VASSAL game against someone this Fall and I'd need to read up on the rules again. When I ordered I also got the post war Bundeswehr counter set as a freebie. I'll have to see if it's part of the VASSAL artwork.

Quote from: Staggerwing on September 16, 2012, 07:57:56 AM
Thanks Brant. I've been thinking of trying a pbem VASSAL game against someone this Fall and I'd need to read up on the rules again. When I ordered I also got the post war Bundeswehr counter set as a freebie. I'll have to see if it's part of the VASSAL artwork.

Yes it is.  8)

The rules pdf I have, preliminary and b&w,  is over 500 kb and too big to attach to a message here .... the BGG one is a scan of an actual rulebook and is massive.
Send yer email in a pm and I'll send my copy if you want.

Will do!

Sent.  8)

Just for completeness here's the BGG linky:

http://www.boardgamegeek.com/filepage/71967/heroes-of-the-gap-rules-scan

Thx again!

Apparently this game is a hit with you guys.  I am looking forward to playing it.  I've just got to find the time.

I heard that it is also solo friendly, is this the case?

You could definitely play it solo. I think the best way to learn how to play is to read through the rules once, and then have an experienced player teach you. You'll have enough familiarity by reading the rules that it won't be a total chore for your opponent and you'll pick it up a lot faster than trying to muddle through on your own. That's how I did it and it worked great. I joined the LnL Vassal players FB group and met a tutor there.

Here's the link https://www.facebook.com/groups/LnLVAssal/ (https://www.facebook.com/groups/LnLVAssal/), since it's just plain rude to recommend that someone check something out on the web and then not link to it!

I learned with the Carentan scenario, though I've heard that Vierville is pretty good, too. Carentan is just infantry so it's a great way to get the basics down.

Quote from: TheCommandTent on September 16, 2012, 09:10:43 AM
Apparently this game is a hit with you guys.  I am looking forward to playing it.  I've just got to find the time.

I heard that it is also solo friendly, is this the case?

Very solo friendly. The game is played in alternating impulses where one side can move a single unit or stack then the other side does the same, you can just play the best you can for each side in each impulse.

The game plays very quickly once you know the rules. Combat is smooth and second nature after a while... soon you don't even need the casualty table to work out the results.

If you are on facebook there is a thriving group of players to play VASSAL with/against.
http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100001335821494#!/groups/LnLVAssal/

Somebody didn't read the whole thread before posting.  ;D

Quote from: Ubercat on September 16, 2012, 12:51:54 PM
Somebody didn't read the whole thread before posting.  ;D

Ha! Ya my bad.... too excited to see another LnL player!  8)

I picked up some Red Devils to use with my soon to arrive Bolt Actions rules.

(https://www.grogheads.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi1245.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fgg600%2Fmcyeatman%2Fcebfaa40.jpg&hash=380eefd373104486837d7ecd26af466efbe4bfcb)
(https://www.grogheads.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi1245.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fgg600%2Fmcyeatman%2Febda1788.jpg&hash=16430f253aa8a60d2f8353d5a0060c97568d64e0)

Nice looking figs DV8, be interesting to see how it plays once you've had chance to give it a run-through.

^
^
Do I see Maj Frost amongst the lads? Tell him to hold out just one more day!

Better to tell Guards Armoured to put the pedal to the metal........

I broke down and popped for this. My LGS has been having problems getting their hands on the rules and DV8 already has them anyway. I figured I'll get the minis and work on the rules later. Next problem: how to carry them....

(https://www.grogheads.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi1081.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fj349%2Flongblade%2Fstarfleetromulanfleetbox.jpg&hash=cf91b0e6ce2d05b38ac936bf3f30906518ad7e24)

Quote from: LongBlade on September 16, 2012, 04:08:23 PM
I broke down and popped for this. My LGS has been having problems getting their hands on the rules and DV8 already has them anyway. I figured I'll get the minis and work on the rules later. Next problem: how to carry them....

(https://www.grogheads.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi1081.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fj349%2Flongblade%2Fstarfleetromulanfleetbox.jpg&hash=cf91b0e6ce2d05b38ac936bf3f30906518ad7e24)

Now my chits are going to look like sh@$ next to those figs.   :P

Quote from: DV8 on September 16, 2012, 04:17:39 PM
Now my chits are going to look like sh@$ next to those figs.   :P

Not to worry. I'm planning on picking up some Federation ships at some point, too. And eventually Klingons to round out the set. I'm too much of a Star Trek geek not to have a full house. Moving on the Romulans first unlocks some Klingon and Romulan models, so with my Constellation class cruiser we should be able to play all three of the major sides as soon as it arrives. Now I've just got to get my painting skills back up to snuff so I can do their feather pattern some justice.

Quote from: Barthheart on September 16, 2012, 08:38:55 AM
Sent.  8)

Just for completeness here's the BGG linky:

http://www.boardgamegeek.com/filepage/71967/heroes-of-the-gap-rules-scan

Do all the games with the "Lock N Load" in their title share the same rules system?

Such as:
Lock 'n Load: Dark July
Lock 'n Load: Not One Step Back
Lock 'n Load: Heroes of the Blitzkrieg
Lock 'n Load: Day of Heroes
Lock 'n Load: Heroes of the Gap

Yes, that's correct - same basic system for those games.

Quote from: DV8 on September 16, 2012, 03:45:11 PM
I picked up some Red Devils to use with my soon to arrive Bolt Actions rules.

(https://www.grogheads.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi1245.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fgg600%2Fmcyeatman%2Fcebfaa40.jpg&hash=380eefd373104486837d7ecd26af466efbe4bfcb)

Nice stuff DV8. I am really looking forward to getting the rules myself.  Actually tonight I got an email from Amazon that my set of the rules is ready to ship tomorrow!

Quote from: DV8 on September 16, 2012, 04:37:03 PMDo all the games with the "Lock N Load" in their title share the same rules system?

Such as:
Lock 'n Load: Dark July
Lock 'n Load: Not One Step Back
Lock 'n Load: Heroes of the Blitzkrieg
Lock 'n Load: Day of Heroes
Lock 'n Load: Heroes of the Gap

Within the LnL series, if the game has "heroes" in the title - Heroes of the Gap, Forgotten Heroes, Day of Heroes, etc - then it's a standalone game.  If it doesn't, it's an expansion of some sort.

Quote from: Barthheart on September 16, 2012, 12:26:05 PM

Quote from: TheCommandTent on September 16, 2012, 09:10:43 AM
Apparently this game is a hit with you guys.  I am looking forward to playing it.  I've just got to find the time.

I heard that it is also solo friendly, is this the case?

Very solo friendly. The game is played in alternating impulses where one side can move a single unit or stack then the other side does the same, you can just play the best you can for each side in each impulse.

The game plays very quickly once you know the rules. Combat is smooth and second nature after a while... soon you don't even need the casualty table to work out the results.

If you are on facebook there is a thriving group of players to play VASSAL with/against.
http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100001335821494#!/groups/LnLVAssal/

Quote from: Ubercat on September 16, 2012, 09:23:55 AM
You could definitely play it solo. I think the best way to learn how to play is to read through the rules once, and then have an experienced player teach you. You'll have enough familiarity by reading the rules that it won't be a total chore for your opponent and you'll pick it up a lot faster than trying to muddle through on your own. That's how I did it and it worked great. I joined the LnL Vassal players FB group and met a tutor there.

Here's the link https://www.facebook.com/groups/LnLVAssal/ (https://www.facebook.com/groups/LnLVAssal/), since it's just plain rude to recommend that someone check something out on the web and then not link to it!

I learned with the Carentan scenario, though I've heard that Vierville is pretty good, too. Carentan is just infantry so it's a great way to get the basics down.

So I guess it is time I start to figure out this VASSAL thing huh?

Quote from: LongBlade on September 16, 2012, 04:08:23 PM
I broke down and popped for this. My LGS has been having problems getting their hands on the rules and DV8 already has them anyway. I figured I'll get the minis and work on the rules later. Next problem: how to carry them....

Those look pretty cool.  Now how to carry them, thats always an interesting problem to solve.  Transporting your minis safely almost turns into an investment in itself.

Quote from: bayonetbrant on September 16, 2012, 09:32:56 PM

Quote from: DV8 on September 16, 2012, 04:37:03 PMDo all the games with the "Lock N Load" in their title share the same rules system?

Such as:
Lock 'n Load: Dark July
Lock 'n Load: Not One Step Back
Lock 'n Load: Heroes of the Blitzkrieg
Lock 'n Load: Day of Heroes
Lock 'n Load: Heroes of the Gap

Within the LnL series, if the game has "heroes" in the title - Heroes of the Gap, Forgotten Heroes, Day of Heroes, etc - then it's a standalone game.  If it doesn't, it's an expansion of some sort.

Does anyone have experience with the LnL's World at War series?  They look pretty interesting.  Since I don't have any experience with either system, what are the major differences between WaW and LnL - Heroes?

World at War is platoon-level, LnL is squad-level.
(think PanzerBlitz vs Squad Leader)

I've played a lot of both.

The other thing is that W@W is an internally-consistent storyline of an alt-history WWIII.  The wargames are a part of a larger story that all ties together.  The Lock'n'Load squad-level games are spread all over - Falklands, Somalia, WWII, Vietnam, etc.  There is even a squad-level game in the W@W 'universe' (Heroes of the Gap).

Quote from: bayonetbrant on September 17, 2012, 06:51:47 AM
World at War is platoon-level, LnL is squad-level.
(think PanzerBlitz vs Squad Leader)

I've played a lot of both.

The other thing is that W@W is an internally-consistent storyline of an alt-history WWIII.  The wargames are a part of a larger story that all ties together.  The Lock'n'Load squad-level games are spread all over - Falklands, Somalia, WWII, Vietnam, etc.  There is even a squad-level game in the W@W 'universe' (Heroes of the Gap).

Thanks.  Which will give a much different feel compared to ASL?  Both in rules and game play.

Quote from: DV8 on September 17, 2012, 07:07:28 AM

Quote from: bayonetbrant on September 17, 2012, 06:51:47 AM
World at War is platoon-level, LnL is squad-level.
(think PanzerBlitz vs Squad Leader)

I've played a lot of both.

The other thing is that W@W is an internally-consistent storyline of an alt-history WWIII.  The wargames are a part of a larger story that all ties together.  The Lock'n'Load squad-level games are spread all over - Falklands, Somalia, WWII, Vietnam, etc.  There is even a squad-level game in the W@W 'universe' (Heroes of the Gap).

Thanks.  Which will give a much different feel compared to ASL?  Both in rules and game play.

The LnL series, Band of Heroes etc., is squad level same as ASL. But it is far less rules heavy, plays faster and is impulse driven rather than I move all - you move all play. Playing BoH gives a very good narative to the game and a very movie like feel while yer playing. I played Squad Leader back in the day and never made the switch to ASL because of the rules overhead.
BoH is fun to play, not work.

The WaW series plays much like Panzer Blitz/Panzer Leader. But again it's chit activation rather than all me - all you. It's also a fast playing game. There is also the WWII version called Nations at War, NaW, that has one module so far, White Star Rising and it's expansion Cobra, and a second module coming  - Desert Heat.

Quote from: LongBlade on September 16, 2012, 04:08:23 PM
I broke down and popped for this. My LGS has been having problems getting their hands on the rules and DV8 already has them anyway. I figured I'll get the minis and work on the rules later. Next problem: how to carry them....

(https://www.grogheads.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi1081.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fj349%2Flongblade%2Fstarfleetromulanfleetbox.jpg&hash=cf91b0e6ce2d05b38ac936bf3f30906518ad7e24)

Nice acquisition, LB.

Quote from: mirth on September 17, 2012, 10:09:09 AM

Quote from: LongBlade on September 16, 2012, 04:08:23 PM
I broke down and popped for this. My LGS has been having problems getting their hands on the rules and DV8 already has them anyway. I figured I'll get the minis and work on the rules later. Next problem: how to carry them....

(https://www.grogheads.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi1081.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fj349%2Flongblade%2Fstarfleetromulanfleetbox.jpg&hash=cf91b0e6ce2d05b38ac936bf3f30906518ad7e24)

Nice acquisition, LB.

Seconded!  That's hot. 

Got home from a crappy day at work to find this waiting for me at the door.  Talk about instantly making your day better.  :)

(https://www.grogheads.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi1187.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fz397%2FSoccerDJ04%2Fbolt%2520action%2520rules_zps6cb0e386.jpg&hash=3546d723631a6cf4d88ce5c7ab63f22a0342c97f)

Mine is at home waiting for me to come back from this shitty business trip.  :'(  Weep for me.

Quote from: DV8 on September 18, 2012, 09:35:09 PM
Mine is at home waiting for me to come back from this shitty business trip.  :'(  Weep for me.

I just noticed your new avatar. You've greyed a bit on this trip. And I don't mean the 50 shades kind.

Quote from: DV8 on September 18, 2012, 09:35:09 PM
Mine is at home waiting for me to come back from this shitty business trip.  :'(  Weep for me.

That sucks.  I could post more pictures just to make you jealous :)

aaaah this is the game im ordering some figures for - ill never play the game but the British Paras look great - first ever painting project

Quote from: undercovergeek on September 19, 2012, 03:35:20 AM
aaaah this is the game im ordering some figures for - ill never play the game but the British Paras look great - first ever painting project

You are a bad man...

lol, for not playing? or loving the minis? the paras look great, i only hope i can do them justice

Quote from: undercovergeek on September 19, 2012, 06:04:12 AM
lol, for not playing? or loving the minis? the paras look great, i only hope i can do them justice

Looking forward to seeing your figures painted up.

Quote from: DV8 on September 18, 2012, 09:35:09 PM
Mine is at home waiting for me to come back from this shitty business trip.  :'(  Weep for me.

Total bliss now...  ;D

(https://www.grogheads.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi1245.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fgg600%2Fmcyeatman%2F651329DB-AF11-42B2-8A24-1B57D5AFB364-4276-0000072E157494B2_zpsa5a0aefd.jpg&hash=163c094c0bbbfcac8128303c99563a002e46800f)
(https://www.grogheads.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi1245.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fgg600%2Fmcyeatman%2F3EA7FD6D-6AA8-4CF1-B435-7966CA354F4C-4276-0000072E46BB2BEB_zpsb4e8db4a.jpg&hash=de6fe9d4292b931373f34631c40379962c28067e)
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Glad you got it!  Those are some great looking figures.  I am assuming you painted them all?  Who makes those figures?

Quote from: TheCommandTent on September 21, 2012, 04:30:41 PM
Glad you got it!  Those are some great looking figures.  I am assuming you painted them all?  Who makes those figures?

Actually I bought them of some Brit so I'm not sure who made them.

My Romulans arrived today. Expect an assault on the Federation shortly...

Quote from: LongBlade on September 21, 2012, 07:25:42 PM
My Romulans arrived today. Expect an assault on the Federation shortly...

Can you say "drones"?  ;). Fun game today.

Quote from: DV8 on September 21, 2012, 07:55:51 PM

Quote from: LongBlade on September 21, 2012, 07:25:42 PM
My Romulans arrived today. Expect an assault on the Federation shortly...

Can you say "drones"?  ;). Fun game today.

I have some shuttlecraft which may substitute for some drones. But I'm not sure I want to see many more of those for a while.

Yeah, it was fun. Can't wait to start working on them.

Quote from: TheCommandTent on September 21, 2012, 04:30:41 PM
Glad you got it!  Those are some great looking figures.  I am assuming you painted them all?  Who makes those figures?

http://www.warlordgames.com/store/bolt-action/british-airborne/british-airborne-close-quarter-fighters.html

think i may have been spoiled by GW's models - im a bit disappointed in the models, in particular the face and hands - paint jobs are great though

Quote from: undercovergeek on September 22, 2012, 07:57:33 AM
think i may have been spoiled by GW's models - im a bit disappointed in the models, in particular the face and hands - paint jobs are great though

I agree.  Very low detail.

Over the years I have painted hundreds of GW figures, both plastic and metal. Expensive they may be, but I very rarely had any issues over the quality of the figures.

Quote from: bob48 on September 22, 2012, 08:01:14 AM
Over the years I have painted hundreds of GW figures, both plastic and metal. Expensive they may be, but I very rarely had any issues over the quality of the figures.

I would agree on all accounts except the new Fine Cast models.  The details is better with FC but the castings can really be out of shape requiring some creative assembly.

boooooo - was really looking forward to ordering some paras

back to GW - ill post the figures i bought shortly

I am not the best painter to as a result I am not good at detail painting.  So I am going to be mostly likely sticking with 1/72 or 20mm for Bolt Action, although I have considered individually basing 15mm figures but I am not sure about that.

I think you may find that 15mm is a bit on the fiddly side for playing with individual figures, although 20mm is not too bad. For painting, there is not a lot a difference between the 2 scales, although you can get a bit of extra detail in the 20mm stuff.
In addition, I found (having played both 15 and 20mm) that there is no real appreciable difference in the space needed to play with those 2 scales.

I guess its really down to your own preferences. For me, with older, clumsier fingers, I prefer 30mm + for skirmish games that use individual figures.

I just received my C4 Chit Cutter and I'm not impressed.  It does cut about 10 chits at time but it's not the best cut.

Does anyone suggest another batch chit cutter?  I've got to start punching my Beyond Valor for ASL.  :(

Quote from: DV8 on September 22, 2012, 04:55:17 PM
I've got to start punching my Beyond Valor for ASL.  :(

Good luck with that. The job of punching BV seemed endless. I can't imagine clippings all those thousands of counters.

I've never heard of a batch cutter other than the C4. There's just no way that fiddling with a batch cutter could be faster than buzzing through them individually with a jig and clipper IMHO. I also like the nice beveled finish you tend to get on the edges when using a nail cutter.

Quote from: Rekim on September 22, 2012, 05:20:28 PM

Quote from: DV8 on September 22, 2012, 04:55:17 PM
I've got to start punching my Beyond Valor for ASL.  :(

Good luck with that. The job of punching BV seemed endless. I can't imagine clippings all those thousands of counters.

I've never heard of a batch cutter other than the C4. There's just no way that fiddling with a batch cutter could be faster than buzzing through them individually with a jig and clipper IMHO. I also like the nice beveled finish you tend to get on the edges when using a nail cutter.

This is my first time using BV and we are playing scenario 1 so I might just punch and clip as I go.  I'll stop by Walgreen's on the way in.  Is there a size of nail clipper that looks the best?

http://boardgamegeek.com/article/10089648#10089648

My modified version:
http://forums.gamesquad.com/showthread.php?107697-What-counters-are-you-punching-out-now&p=1519991&viewfull=1#post1519991

I'll save you all of that reading and summarize that I really like the results that I get from my 2mm cutter.  I didn't at fist, but that was before I practices using the thing.  I'd like to get a 3mm for the 5/8" and larger counters as well.

Thanks GJK!

So I think I might have some time tomorrow to break out Lock n Load: Band of Heroes.  I've read the rule book thoroughly and will set up the examples of play tomorrow.  If everything makes sense from there I would like to try my hand at a solo scenario.  Any suggestions/recommendations on which scenario would be best to start with to help me learn the game?

Quote from: DV8 on September 22, 2012, 05:41:16 PM
Thanks GJK!

Curious to know if you picked one of these Oregon Laminations radial cutters up and if so, what you thought.  Here's the link to purchase in case you missed it:


http://www.amazon.com/Radius-Corner-Rounder-Cutter-Heavy/dp/B008CG7D1S

I went to CVS and bought a nail clipper. Works fine.

Quote from: DV8 on October 03, 2012, 05:08:22 AM
I went to CVS and bought a nail clipper. Works fine.

Much cheaper too!
I've been clipping a lot of counters recently and I now get 99% great corners from the radial cutter; it really puts a nice finish on the counters.


My 2nd choice would be the nail clipper.  I clipped many a counters with a nail clipper and had very good, though sometimes inconsistent results with it. 


I didn't care for the C4.  Cramps in fingers trying to hold stacks on that small sled and it cuts way too much off and with a straight angle.  The top of the stack gets it more than the bottom of the stack so it's very inconsistent with its cut.  It was a good idea and many folks like using it, but its not for me.

Quote from: GJK on October 02, 2012, 10:29:30 PM
Curious to know if you picked one of these Oregon Laminations radial cutters up and if so, what you thought.  Here's the link to purchase in case you missed it:

http://www.amazon.com/Radius-Corner-Rounder-Cutter-Heavy/dp/B008CG7D1S (http://www.amazon.com/Radius-Corner-Rounder-Cutter-Heavy/dp/B008CG7D1S)

Always told myself I was never going to be one of those counter clipping types but having picked up the 2mm version a few weeks ago just to see how it work. Have to admin I'm now hooked. Started out testing on one of my smaller solitaire games, and they turned out great. Next I'll start on my ASL/SASL collection.

Quote from: Double Deuce on October 03, 2012, 10:54:59 AM
Always told myself I was never going to be one of those counter clipping types but having picked up the 2mm version a few weeks ago just to see how it work. Have to admin I'm now hooked. Started out testing on one of my smaller solitaire games, and they turned out great. Next I'll start on my ASL/SASL collection.

I have clipped ~50% of my wargames (nail clippers + CD case jig). Depending how careful I am while punching I find that some games don't need it, or do better with some cleaning up of the corners with a hobby knife. The 1/2 inch ASL counters for example are too small for clipping IMHO, although the majority of ASL players I know have done it, I've yet to see this done to my liking. In my experience, the bigger the counter the better suited they are for clipping. For example, new edition of Hornet Leader has extra thick 5/8 counters and are a thing of beauty when clipped.

Just arrived: 

GMT's Alesia
GMT's Bloody April, Air War Over Arras 1917
Critical Hit's Santa Maria Infante (ATS based tactical combat)

All look pretty good, are all grog type games so should keep me busy for a while.

Incoming:
GMT's Case Yellow 1940
Critical Hit's Stonne 1940 expansion for ASL

Quote from: ArizonaTank on October 15, 2012, 10:55:27 AM
Just arrived: 

GMT's Alesia
GMT's Bloody April, Air War Over Arras 1917
Critical Hit's Santa Maria Infante (ATS based tactical combat)

All look pretty good, are all grog type games so should keep me busy for a while.

Incoming:
GMT's Case Yellow 1940
Critical Hit's Stonne 1940 expansion for ASL

You are out of control.  Love it!

Quote from: ArizonaTank on October 15, 2012, 10:55:27 AM
Just arrived: 

GMT's Alesia
GMT's Bloody April, Air War Over Arras 1917
Critical Hit's Santa Maria Infante (ATS based tactical combat)

All look pretty good, are all grog type games so should keep me busy for a while.

Incoming:
GMT's Case Yellow 1940
Critical Hit's Stonne 1940 expansion for ASL

Really interested in Bloody April. Almost picked it up but as I'll probably end up playing solo mostly I'm woried it won't get much table time.

I'd like to know what you think of the game when you get a chance to play it.

Quote from: ArizonaTank on October 15, 2012, 10:55:27 AM
Just arrived: 

GMT's Alesia
GMT's Bloody April, Air War Over Arras 1917
Critical Hit's Santa Maria Infante (ATS based tactical combat)

All look pretty good, are all grog type games so should keep me busy for a while.

Incoming:
GMT's Case Yellow 1940
Critical Hit's Stonne 1940 expansion for ASL

Wow!  Sounds like good stuff.  Here's my summary:

Recently arrived:
Where Eagles Dare
Elusive Victory
Bir Hakeim

Coming soon:
Cataphract
Attila
Flying Colors (2nd ed and my 3rd copy)

Quote from: ArizonaTank on October 15, 2012, 10:55:27 AM
Just arrived: 

GMT's Alesia

I've had my eye on that for a while. I am attracted by both the history and the setting but just haven't pulled the trigger.

Quote from: Barthheart on October 15, 2012, 11:01:22 AM

Quote from: ArizonaTank on October 15, 2012, 10:55:27 AM
Just arrived: 

GMT's Alesia
GMT's Bloody April, Air War Over Arras 1917
Critical Hit's Santa Maria Infante (ATS based tactical combat)

All look pretty good, are all grog type games so should keep me busy for a while.

Incoming:
GMT's Case Yellow 1940
Critical Hit's Stonne 1940 expansion for ASL

Really interested in Bloody April. Almost picked it up but as I'll probably end up playing solo mostly I'm woried it won't get much table time.

I'd like to know what you think of the game when you get a chance to play it.

+1 Same here.  I was looking at the game at my FLGS over the weekend; a big, heavy box with some sweet looking graphics on the back of the box.  I'd be curious to read some more AAR's (I've read a few online already).

Quote from: GJK on October 15, 2012, 05:39:41 PM

Quote from: Barthheart on October 15, 2012, 11:01:22 AM

Really interested in Bloody April. Almost picked it up but as I'll probably end up playing solo mostly I'm woried it won't get much table time.

I'd like to know what you think of the game when you get a chance to play it.

+1 Same here.  I was looking at the game at my FLGS over the weekend; a big, heavy box with some sweet looking graphics on the back of the box.  I'd be curious to read some more AAR's (I've read a few online already).

I got from NWS for the sweet price of $31.00.  I haven't played yet, but on the quality of the components alone, the game is wonderful.  Love the heavy box...like the Command and Colors series.  The counter art is wonderful, and the rules are printed on high quality polished paper.  There is a very nice playbook with historical information, and some great pics and art.  The board is not mounted, but is on stiff cardboard like the MMP ASL boards.  Some very colorful, nicely done player aids, as well as two decks of aircraft data cards, not for playing, but for recording the specifications of each aircraft type.  GMT always has great quality components, but this game raises the bar.

The rules seem pretty extensive, and the rulebook is a good 40 pages long.  Although it uses a pretty big font, and in typical GMT fashion, plenty of illustrations and examples of play. 

The board game geek page has a nice AAR of one of the patrols done with the vassal module.  Also some vids to explain the rules.

I am looking forward to some PBEM play on this with vassal.

Hopefully, I'll get to take it for a test run this weekend....will let you know how it works

I just picked this up about 30 minutes ago.  Now I'm off to read the rules.  This is my second LnL game and I'm very impressed with the quality.

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There is a whole load of gaming fun in that there box, DV8 - Excellent stuff indeed.

Looking forward to seeing what you think DV8.  I've have been slowly learning LnL Band of Heroes and really enjoying it so it would be nice to see what another of their games is like.

^WaW and NaW series games are excellent - I'm sooo looking forwards to NaW Desert Heat.

^ I'm looking forward to your "secret" NAW project.... getter done!  ;)

Quote from: Barthheart on October 17, 2012, 02:40:27 PM
^ I'm looking forward to your "secret" NAW project.... getter done!  ;)

lol - several projects now in fact - and spurred on by your Cobra mod for vassal. Expect a call-to-arms for some testing soon I think :-)

Quote from: bob48 on October 17, 2012, 03:00:53 PM

Quote from: Barthheart on October 17, 2012, 02:40:27 PM
^ I'm looking forward to your "secret" NAW project.... getter done!  ;)

lol - several projects now in fact - and spurred on by your Cobra mod for vassal. Expect a call-to-arms for some testing soon I think :-)

Ready and waiting...  8)

Lots of praise for that game over at the Geek; summed up as an easy to learn, quick to play game with beautiful components.  I'm not much into the hypothetical WW3 or platoon size games, but I can appreciate what Mark Walker has done here.  Now if I could make heads or tails of his LnL rules, then I'd finally be able to add "Day of Heroes" to my "have played" list!

Quote from: LongBlade on October 15, 2012, 11:30:54 AM

Quote from: ArizonaTank on October 15, 2012, 10:55:27 AM
Just arrived: 

GMT's Alesia

I've had my eye on that for a while. I am attracted by both the history and the setting but just haven't pulled the trigger.

Just arrived:  Cataphract

Coming soon:  Men of Iron and Infidel!

Found an unpunched copy of 3Ws Lawrence of Arabia ('93 reprint) on ebay for $1.

It has just arrived....looks interesting 

If you enjoy the 3W issue games, the very best of all time was Campaigns of Marlboro.
Still utterly surprised no one has tried to republish, or do something with it.

Quote from: besilarius on November 10, 2012, 02:00:07 PM
If you enjoy the 3W issue games, the very best of all time was Campaigns of Marlboro.
Still utterly surprised no one has tried to republish, or do something with it.

Wow, just looked it up on eBay....must be popular....magazine versions selling for $50 or more

Quote from: ArizonaTank on November 10, 2012, 11:46:17 AM
Found an unpunched copy of 3Ws Lawrence of Arabia ('93 reprint) on ebay for $1.

It has just arrived....looks interesting

Sweet!

I should hang on ebay more often. I love getting deals like that.

Quote from: LongBlade on November 10, 2012, 06:12:10 PM

Quote from: ArizonaTank on November 10, 2012, 11:46:17 AM
Found an unpunched copy of 3Ws Lawrence of Arabia ('93 reprint) on ebay for $1.

It has just arrived....looks interesting

Sweet!

I should hang on ebay more often. I love getting deals like that.

That is a dangerous notion to your wallet :)

Quote from: MengJiao on October 26, 2012, 11:06:21 AM

Quote from: LongBlade on October 15, 2012, 11:30:54 AM

Quote from: ArizonaTank on October 15, 2012, 10:55:27 AM
Just arrived: 

GMT's Alesia

I've had my eye on that for a while. I am attracted by both the history and the setting but just haven't pulled the trigger.

Just arrived:  Cataphract

Coming soon:  Men of Iron and Infidel!

Those were fun.  Now there's a ATS craze and I've ordered Stonne Heights.

Quote from: MengJiao on November 13, 2012, 11:35:35 AM

Quote from: MengJiao on October 26, 2012, 11:06:21 AM

Quote from: LongBlade on October 15, 2012, 11:30:54 AM

Quote from: ArizonaTank on October 15, 2012, 10:55:27 AM
Just arrived: 

GMT's Alesia

I've had my eye on that for a while. I am attracted by both the history and the setting but just haven't pulled the trigger.

Just arrived:  Cataphract

Coming soon:  Men of Iron and Infidel!

Those were fun.  Now there's a ATS craze and I've ordered Stonne Heights.

Didn't know that ATS is the "thing" now.  But that explains why it is very hard to find a copy of the base game.  Fairly rare on ebay these days.  Seeing only a few copies put up for sale every month...

Quote from: ArizonaTank on November 13, 2012, 11:47:09 AM

Quote from: MengJiao on November 13, 2012, 11:35:35 AM

Quote from: MengJiao on October 26, 2012, 11:06:21 AM

Quote from: LongBlade on October 15, 2012, 11:30:54 AM

Quote from: ArizonaTank on October 15, 2012, 10:55:27 AM
Just arrived: 

GMT's Alesia

I've had my eye on that for a while. I am attracted by both the history and the setting but just haven't pulled the trigger.

Just arrived:  Cataphract

Coming soon:  Men of Iron and Infidel!

Those were fun.  Now there's a ATS craze and I've ordered Stonne Heights.

Didn't know that ATS is the "thing" now.  But that explains why it is very hard to find a copy of the base game.  Fairly rare on ebay these days.  Seeing only a few copies put up for sale every month...

I was unintentionally obscure.  I mean my personal ATS craze.  I dug all of the ATS stuff I could find out of the hayloft.  I think I got it all.  It had been in the hayloft for over two years.  In hopes of getting the latest edition of the rules ( I have editions 2 and 3) as well as
some French Tanks, I ordered Stonne Heights.

I'm not sure what a good base game for the series is out there.  Presumably you could start with any game that has the markers (the famous half-inch markers) and the rules and tables, but you have to go through a lot of stuff on their site to find out anything and then
negotiate with Maureen about what they will actually send you.  I think I'm getting Stonne Heights without a game box and 10 dollars off the list price (yippeee).

If that all works out, I'll try the TT (table top) games.  The TTs seem to be scaled down ATS games (ie without the 1-inch counters).  But who knows?  ATS has always been a messy adventure at best.

Came in the mail yesterday



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Good stuff, BBoyer. Let us know what you think of it.

I like the counters. Looking forwards to hear how good the game is.

Wargaming buddy sent me this as an early Christmas present.  Reviews are excellent on the geek.  Rules are easy and the components are top notch.  This will be hitting the table over the long weekend!

Quote from: GJK on November 20, 2012, 10:14:05 AM
Wargaming buddy sent me this as an early Christmas present.  Reviews are excellent on the geek.  Rules are easy and the components are top notch.  This will be hitting the table over the long weekend!

I've been considering picking that up. I have the first game by the same designer (Hell of Stalingrad) and it's decent. Let me know how you end up finding this one.

One of those...is mine  :D

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I just plunked down my money tonight. The publisher is located in Italy, so it may take a while to arrive. I'll post some pics when I get it to the table as it is one sweet looking game.

Last three purchases:

Somme 1918, from Nuts Publishing

The Battle of Fontenoy, from Clash of Arms

Saints in Armor, from GMT Games.

Quote from: gattopardo on December 03, 2012, 03:32:29 PM
Last three purchases:

Somme 1918, from Nuts Publishing

The Battle of Fontenoy, from Clash of Arms

Saints in Armor, from GMT Games.

Wow!  Those sound great.  Well I have Fontenoy, a marvelous game.  I'll probably get Saints in Armor.  Where else will one
ever see those battles?

Meanwhile, I just ordered a punched and damaged 1978-1980 AH Bismarck.  Might be fun.  at least it was cheap.

I don't want to quote an image, but to bboyer I really want to know what you think of Next War: Korea.

In fact, I was going to post a thread on the subject.  Does it make any sense to buy a boardgame that you know you have almost no chance of playing?

I ask that because Next War: Korea has been on my want list since it was announced a few years ago.  In fact, I still can't believe I haven't bought it.  It's not expensive.  But, the thing is, I know there is almost no chance I will get around to playing it.  There just isn't.  Yet, I really want it for some reason I can't fathom.  It doesn't make sense to buy a boardgame you probably won't play, does it?

Picked up in the discount bin at the local HobbyTown.  I couldn't help myself, now I just really need to get painting.

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Received my copy of Hold the Line by Worthington and have been playing it against my son the past couple of nights.  Simple game along the lines of Memoir and Commands and Colors et al but without cards and dice with little symbols on them (thankfully in this case).  Fun game!  We've been enjoying an hour of The Revolutionary War History Channel series before play and feel that the game really captures the feel of the style of combat employed at that time.  My son - the wargame whiz - put a pounding on me in our first play of the Long Island scenario but this go around I wised up and have my Americans pulling back into defensive positions while protecting the flimsy miltia (who I lost too quickly and gave up VP's for in the first game).  The game was $15 on sale from Worthington - well worth the purchase as it's a very nice looking game with excellent components.

Quote from: GJK on December 05, 2012, 09:54:09 PM
Received my copy of Hold the Line by Worthington and have been playing it against my son the past couple of nights.  Simple game along the lines of Memoir and Commands and Colors et al but without cards and dice with little symbols on them (thankfully in this case).  Fun game!  We've been enjoying an hour of The Revolutionary War History Channel series before play and feel that the game really captures the feel of the style of combat employed at that time.  My son - the wargame whiz - put a pounding on me in our first play of the Long Island scenario but this go around I wised up and have my Americans pulling back into defensive positions while protecting the flimsy miltia (who I lost too quickly and gave up VP's for in the first game).  The game was $15 on sale from Worthington - well worth the purchase as it's a very nice looking game with excellent components.

It is a fun game, glad you are liking it.

I might finally break down and get a copy at Gamer's Armory for me to play with Bayonet Jr

Quote from: bayonetbrant on December 06, 2012, 06:51:05 AM
I might finally break down and get a copy at Gamer's Armory for me to play with Bayonet Jr

You should its not to complicated to learn.  I even talked my wife into play one time and she almost beat me, and I only helped her out a little.  :o

I'll admit, I am enjoying HTL and I'm not a fan of Memoir'44 (it's ok for what it is).  HTL seems similar in some ways but it plays very differently though it is a resource management gamet.  You have a variable number of Action Points that you can spend each turn and it's never enough for what you want to get accomplished.  Memoir does that by use of the cards that you have in your hand and whom you can activate.  In HTL, the choice is yours on who to activate and then with what you will do with them.  I think the big appeal for my son is it plays fast - very fast - and that's huge when most kids attention spans are almost non-existent.  My son has played ASL with me and he likes it but I can almost sense the tedium that he forsees that he will endure while playing.  In HTL, the turns play so quickly that it's his turn again almost as soon as his previous turn ended.  Up Front is like that and he enjoys that game as well.  So I think HTL is a perfect game to introduce non-wargamers to or to play with someone that otherwise wouldn't normally play a strategy game.
I've yet to play Commands and Colors and I understand that this system is similar.  For you C&C players, is game play quite rapid as well or is there more to each turn than moving or firing a few pieces at a time?

GJK,

A wargaming buddy and I played the heck out of C&C: Napoleonics earlier this year. I think we played it for four or five weeks straight. If you ever played the Battlelore game, the C&C system is a very close cousin. I have not played Memoir '44, but from what I hear, the system is also similar to C&C's. The C&C rules are easy and straightforward, so it will take no time to learn and have the sequence of play down pat. After that, of course, player turns go quickly. By the time my buddy and I played the last scenario in the C&C: Napoleonics game--Waterloo--we had the rules and sequence of play pretty much memorized. We played the Waterloo scenario five or six times in one evening--trading sides each time. Hope that helps.

Now I'm intrigued to buy a copy of HTL!

Groggy

The guy I share an office with is super heavy into boardgaming and he took me to one of the FLGSs here on Oahu yesterday. Oh man, you guys simply would not believe it.  This was, without doubt, the best game/hobby store I have ever personally visited in my adult life.  Seriously, I didn't know stores like this still existed.

The first notable thing about the store is that it is a complete disaster on the inside.  Just a mess.  It kind of looks like horders or one of those pickers shows where they scrounge through garages for toys and antiques.  Obviously that can be a turn-off, but I found that I absolutely loved it.

You go it the front and are immediately faced with just tons of various minis and paints, books, etc.  Stuff like HeroClix and a few games I don't really play.  You go into a room a bit further back and this guy has just got more model airplanes, ships, etc than you can imagine.  Wall to wall, stacked to the ceiling, and in many cases two or three deep.  Amazing.  Then you go back even further and enter another room and it is all of the minis you can even think of.  I mean a whole wall of Flames of War, but then another wall with tons of obscure minis, fantasy stuff, medieval, whatever.  I look up at the top of this shelf and he has this whole huge box on it that just says "Harpoon"...another bunch of boxes have various ships, planes, vehicles in all sorts of scales.  On the table I see a game called Federation Commander which I think LB played not too long ago, an open box stuffed full of all sorts of Star Trek space ships, a huge Hobbit boardgame box that I'd never even heard of...just stuff everywhere.

At this point I'm feeling a bit overwhelmed. I'm thinking I've seen everything, but we go back into yet another room (how far back are we now in this store?) and it's the board game room.  Stacks and stacks and stacks of boardgames.  So I get on my hands and knees and start pawing through these piles of games.  A lot of stuff I've been looking for for a while now like a boardgame called Silver Bayonet, but I don't want to go crazy.  Anyway, I found a sealed copy of a game called Norsemen by Simulations Canada that sounded interesting, and buried under about 50 other games an unpunched copy of a game called Dark Emperor by AH.  I love the old AH bookcase games so I had to get it. 

There was a final room even further back that was about every RPG system you can think of, shelves and shelves of books, modules, minis, maps, boards, gosh who even knows what else. 

So, my acquisitions actually came out light due to Xmas being right around the corner with two games, but if I'd had $1,000 I could have spent it without even trying.

I loved the unorganized aspect of the store.  It just made the whole experience like a big garage sale because you never knew what was going to be behind the next box.  I can't wait to go back!

Oh, and I also got Chainmail in the mail today.  Really nice components and I'm looking forward to giving it a go soon.

See ya,
Toonces

^Sounds like a great experience Toonces!

I got Chainmail as well in the mail yesterday but my wife is wrapping it and putting it under the tree.  She won't let me open it until Christmas.    :'(

Quote from: Toonces on December 07, 2012, 11:20:21 PM
The guy I share an office with is super heavy into boardgaming and he took me to one of the FLGSs here on Oahu yesterday. Oh man, you guys simply would not believe it.  This was, without doubt, the best game/hobby store I have ever personally visited in my adult life.  Seriously, I didn't know stores like this still existed.

The first notable thing about the store is that it is a complete disaster on the inside.  Just a mess.  It kind of looks like horders or one of those pickers shows where they scrounge through garages for toys and antiques.  Obviously that can be a turn-off, but I found that I absolutely loved it.

You go it the front and are immediately faced with just tons of various minis and paints, books, etc.  Stuff like HeroClix and a few games I don't really play.  You go into a room a bit further back and this guy has just got more model airplanes, ships, etc than you can imagine.  Wall to wall, stacked to the ceiling, and in many cases two or three deep.  Amazing.  Then you go back even further and enter another room and it is all of the minis you can even think of.  I mean a whole wall of Flames of War, but then another wall with tons of obscure minis, fantasy stuff, medieval, whatever.  I look up at the top of this shelf and he has this whole huge box on it that just says "Harpoon"...another bunch of boxes have various ships, planes, vehicles in all sorts of scales.  On the table I see a game called Federation Commander which I think LB played not too long ago, an open box stuffed full of all sorts of Star Trek space ships, a huge Hobbit boardgame box that I'd never even heard of...just stuff everywhere.

At this point I'm feeling a bit overwhelmed. I'm thinking I've seen everything, but we go back into yet another room (how far back are we now in this store?) and it's the board game room.  Stacks and stacks and stacks of boardgames.  So I get on my hands and knees and start pawing through these piles of games.  A lot of stuff I've been looking for for a while now like a boardgame called Silver Bayonet, but I don't want to go crazy.  Anyway, I found a sealed copy of a game called Norsemen by Simulations Canada that sounded interesting, and buried under about 50 other games an unpunched copy of a game called Dark Emperor by AH.  I love the old AH bookcase games so I had to get it. 

There was a final room even further back that was about every RPG system you can think of, shelves and shelves of books, modules, minis, maps, boards, gosh who even knows what else. 

So, my acquisitions actually came out light due to Xmas being right around the corner with two games, but if I'd had $1,000 I could have spent it without even trying.

I loved the unorganized aspect of the store.  It just made the whole experience like a big garage sale because you never knew what was going to be behind the next box.  I can't wait to go back!

Oh, and I also got Chainmail in the mail today.  Really nice components and I'm looking forward to giving it a go soon.

See ya,
Toonces

Wow!  Perfect.  I ordered Saints in Armor.  Will do Fleurus 1622 first.   Save Bergen-op-Zoom!  The Mad Halberstadter ist Mad!  As well as being the Secular Bishop of Paderborn!

I meant der Tolle Halberstadter ist Tolle!

Early Christmas presents to me!  8)

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^^ You suck.  I'd love one of the solo air combat games, but stuck in that "just started a new job and lots of bills to catch up on first" world.

Wowsers. Nice loot, Barth!

Bloody April has some absolutely beautiful components.

The rules, though...oh man, what a bear.  I haven't played it yet.

Quote from: Toonces on December 20, 2012, 04:29:44 PM
Bloody April has some absolutely beautiful components.

The rules, though...oh man, what a bear.  I haven't played it yet.

Was just looking at it. The "moderate complexity" rating caused me to hesitate. I assume they would consider the decomissioning of a nuke plant to be slightly more difficult.

Quote from: bayonetbrant on December 20, 2012, 09:23:03 AM
^^ You suck.  I'd love one of the solo air combat games, but stuck in that "just started a new job and lots of bills to catch up on first" world.

All ordered from NWS at a fraction of the original sites price. Plus sent to friends in FLA that we visited on our way to the Keys to save on shipping and Canada Customs. Total cost about $180 and still missing the minis expansion fer TAL... Hope it shows up before we drive home....

Bloody April is not for the faint of heart but it doesn't look that bad.... so far... haven't actually played yet just first read of the rules...

Just finished my first campaign of Thunderbolt-Apache Leader! Great fun in Iraq (intro campaign).

Met the campaign conditions of destroying at least 2 enemy battalions each of the first 2 days.

Third day I got a bit cocky and tried to go for an Outstanding result. First 2 missions that day went pretty well with both battalions being destroyed for only light dame on my aircraft and 1 really stressed pilot as he went bingo 10+ fuel getting the last kill needed.

Last mission of the day saw my A-10A taking on an AAA battalion solo... Not a good plan.... 4 kills first turn, pylon and a structure damage taken then killed 2 more units including a pop-up enemy helo. Then start of third turn my pilot got nailed by 2 AAA and 2 SAM heavy hits resulting him being wounded, engine damage, canon damaged and forced to low altitude. He couldn't attack anymore since he was wounded so he just flew off the map, only scoring half kill on the battalion.

Very happy with this purchase. If you have any interest in this type of game, get it! Order from NWS for a really good price.

Man alive did I get the hook diggity up for Xmas this year.

I got: Next War: Korea, Last Night on Earth, Wrath of Ashardalon (completing my D&D trilogy!). 

Additionally, I bought a mint copy of Onward, Christian Soldiers for myself for my birthday, and finally, a game I have really wanted for a while, a copy of Cry Havoc bundled with Siege.

Whew!  I think I'm good to go on the boardgaming front for a while...  8)

Well I scored a copy of Wings of Glory at the LGS.

Quote from: Bison on December 29, 2012, 03:38:40 PM
Well I scored a copy of Wings of Glory at the LGS.

WWI or WWII?

Quote from: Toonces on December 26, 2012, 03:14:18 PMWrath of Ashardalon (completing my D&D trilogy!). 

how do those play?

I've only played Ravenloft so far, but they're great to play with the kids.

Out of the box they're ok.  You basically move, place a new tile, draw a new monster card, fight, get loot, rinse and repeat.  The monster cards have directions on how the monsters move, so you can play it solo as well.

There are some really neat looking campaign rules on BGG and user-made scenarios that add a lot of beef to the stock games.  Also, you can combine some of them into monster dungeon crawls.  They have tons of plastic and the contents are top notch. 

I give all of them a firm thumbs up and recommend picking them up before they go out of print. 

Quote from: Barthheart on December 29, 2012, 04:03:16 PM

Quote from: Bison on December 29, 2012, 03:38:40 PM
Well I scored a copy of Wings of Glory at the LGS.

WWI or WWII?

(https://www.grogheads.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2F3.bp.blogspot.com%2F-FiUF5NO-DH0%2FT6m7VD8ouzI%2FAAAAAAAAEaA%2FHT2dIhcSz8o%2Fs1600%2Fw1.jpg&hash=047a92d77d06486fc1ea3b990f9683eb42b0d3f4)  Not my photo but this is what I got.  It was on sale so it worked out well for me.  I really would have preferred the WW1 version but all in due time.  To be honest it was a hard choice I had to make.  I told Household 6 I'd be responsible in my spending so that was a limiting factor.  It was between Wings of Glory, Axis & Allies Angels 20, or a different board game.   I was overwhelmed by the different board games (they didn't have any real hex and counter stuff other than GMT's Korea game but that didn't really interest me).  In the end,  Wings of Glory won out because I've looked at it about a 100 times on NWS and other sites.   I'm pretty stoked to break it out on the kitchen table tonight.

OK.   I read the basic rules.  Seem simple enough and played with the minis for a few minutes.  Thank God for a wife who always me to indulge my inner geek.

I have the original Wings of War WWI version and it's a blast to play with a group. We usually play with 6, 3 per side. Have never used the altitude rules.... have never seen the need. It's a great game to play while drinking lots of beer.
Haven't tried the WWII version.

I've been tempted by the Wings of War games on numerous occasions but have held off.  Let us know what you think when you can spend time with it Bison.

Just purchased on eBay for $43:
(https://www.grogheads.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fcf.geekdo-images.com%2Fimages%2Fpic360048_md.jpg&hash=fe10a92ca4c734cb48bb73fb3c053dc5c91646d0)
Punched but like new, or so the add says. Supposed to be one of the better solitaire wargames.

A little late but I thought I would show off my Christmas haul.

First up on the miniature front:

(https://www.grogheads.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi1187.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fz397%2FSoccerDJ04%2FChristmas1_zps6c9784f0.jpg&hash=0ea9ebb2263683aa162b0aa3d80da470f3bbe2dd)


I'll be using this for game Bolt Action in 15mm.



Next the boardgame haul:

(https://www.grogheads.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi1187.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fz397%2FSoccerDJ04%2FChristmas2_zps1480e297.jpg&hash=b4df909489a6195afa1b49c5b71c4ee9a5fb8e8e)

Memoir '44 and Combat Commander were Christmas presents from my wife.  (I know I am a lucky man)  Chainmail I got from Worthington Games during their Black Friday sale.  Twilight Struggle I purchased off of GMT's P500 earlier this year.  All in all its quite a good haul, now I just need to find time to play all of these.

Nice take!  You must of been a good kid last year  ;)

LOL! Great avatar pic DV8!

Nice haul there Tent!

Nice score, Rekim.  I've been eyeballing Tokyo Express for a couple of years now.

Newest addition to my LnL addiction...  8)

(https://www.grogheads.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimageshack.us%2Fa%2Fimg41%2F6053%2Fimageuvhz.jpg&hash=50fa5e10125363732ce21981c864629bda0a337d)

A signed copy! Nice :)

That's awesome Barthheart!

ENVY!!!! although I do have a signed copy of 'Cobra'

Well I was only going to get a copy of Lords of the Rings The Card Game, but I ended up leaving the store with that and a copy of Wrath of Ashardalon too.  It was actually pretty amazing the number of stores I went to and called before I found a copy of LotR at a Barnes and Nobles.  Next time I'm just going with Amazon, especially if the game draws me in and I decide to get some of the expansion packs.

My newest addition is a shrink-wrapped copy of Hold the Line - thanks to TCT :)

I hope Bayonet Jr and I get a chance to play soon. We were soccering all weekend.

Quote from: bayonetbrant on February 03, 2013, 06:50:22 PM
My newest addition is a shrink-wrapped copy of Hold the Line - thanks to TCT :)

I hope Bayonet Jr and I get a chance to play soon. We were soccering all weekend.

Glad it arrived.  Hope you and your son have fun with it.

I hope so - thanks again!

Quote from: bayonetbrant on February 03, 2013, 06:50:22 PM
My newest addition is a shrink-wrapped copy of Hold the Line - thanks to TCT :)

I hope Bayonet Jr and I get a chance to play soon. We were soccering all weekend.

We'll need an AAR or review, Brant ;)

Sorry, fellas, this isn't the greatest picture angle (webcam with my netbook.) of my newly acquired wargames that arrived a few days ago. After a search for a copy of Band of Heroes, I finally found one through Noble Knight Games, I purchased Germantown from Miniature Market, and the other three games I purchased from CoolStuffInc.  Finally, not included in this picture, I purchased a copy of Hold the Line and the French & Indian War expansion which arrived a couple of weeks ago.

I think I'm good for awhile. :D

(https://www.grogheads.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi1257.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fii503%2FGroggyGrognard%2FPicture001.jpg&hash=8796fcb215eb33ad9f7b8571f274a1cd58182f6e)

Very nice haul there!

I have Victory Point Game's new edition of Zulus on the Ramparts! coming tomorrow. I am very excited for their Second Edition of Dawn of the Zeds, so excited that I had to grab Zulus to learn the State of Siege system. Everyone says Zulus is very good!

I am planning to do videos for Clash of Cultures, a very very good Civilization-style game and I am still messing with the Space Empires 4X expansion Close Encounters.

Quote from: son_of_montfort on February 07, 2013, 11:55:44 PM
I have Victory Point Game's new edition of Zulus on the Ramparts! coming tomorrow. I am very excited for their Second Edition of Dawn of the Zeds, so excited that I had to grab Zulus to learn the State of Siege system. Everyone says Zulus is very good!

I am planning to do videos for Clash of Cultures, a very very good Civilization-style game and I am still messing with the Space Empires 4X expansion Close Encounters.

Zulus looks fun. Been thinking about that myself.

Thanks to my fellow Canuk, Arctic Blast, I now have a new addition....

(https://www.grogheads.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimg191.imageshack.us%2Fimg191%2F5990%2Fimg0892d.jpg&hash=774a3e36ee2e0a92b835eb52c948e7aaa45e4dab)


Gonna start learning to play tonight so I can teach my group next month at our annual winter Guyz Weekend.  8)

Sweet!

That looks awesome.  We of course expect lots of pictures when you get a chance to play.

Quote from: TheCommandTent on February 20, 2013, 07:04:08 PM
That looks awesome.  We of course expect lots of pictures when you get a chance to play.

You bet!

I'm kind of stunned it got there in 4 and a half days (including a weekend). Hope you enjoy it, BH!

Learn with the smaller scenarios, then just jump to the big ones in the Carentan book. And if you've got any questions, I can probably answer them.

Quote from: Toonces on December 07, 2012, 11:20:21 PM
The guy I share an office with is super heavy into boardgaming and he took me to one of the FLGSs here on Oahu yesterday. Oh man, you guys simply would not believe it.  This was, without doubt, the best game/hobby store I have ever personally visited in my adult life.  Seriously, I didn't know stores like this still existed.

The first notable thing about the store is that it is a complete disaster on the inside.  Just a mess.  It kind of looks like horders or one of those pickers shows where they scrounge through garages for toys and antiques.  Obviously that can be a turn-off, but I found that I absolutely loved it.

You go it the front and are immediately faced with just tons of various minis and paints, books, etc.  Stuff like HeroClix and a few games I don't really play.  You go into a room a bit further back and this guy has just got more model airplanes, ships, etc than you can imagine.  Wall to wall, stacked to the ceiling, and in many cases two or three deep.  Amazing.  Then you go back even further and enter another room and it is all of the minis you can even think of.  I mean a whole wall of Flames of War, but then another wall with tons of obscure minis, fantasy stuff, medieval, whatever.  I look up at the top of this shelf and he has this whole huge box on it that just says "Harpoon"...another bunch of boxes have various ships, planes, vehicles in all sorts of scales.  On the table I see a game called Federation Commander which I think LB played not too long ago, an open box stuffed full of all sorts of Star Trek space ships, a huge Hobbit boardgame box that I'd never even heard of...just stuff everywhere.

At this point I'm feeling a bit overwhelmed. I'm thinking I've seen everything, but we go back into yet another room (how far back are we now in this store?) and it's the board game room.  Stacks and stacks and stacks of boardgames.  So I get on my hands and knees and start pawing through these piles of games.  A lot of stuff I've been looking for for a while now like a boardgame called Silver Bayonet, but I don't want to go crazy.  Anyway, I found a sealed copy of a game called Norsemen by Simulations Canada that sounded interesting, and buried under about 50 other games an unpunched copy of a game called Dark Emperor by AH.  I love the old AH bookcase games so I had to get it. 

There was a final room even further back that was about every RPG system you can think of, shelves and shelves of books, modules, minis, maps, boards, gosh who even knows what else. 

So, my acquisitions actually came out light due to Xmas being right around the corner with two games, but if I'd had $1,000 I could have spent it without even trying.

I loved the unorganized aspect of the store.  It just made the whole experience like a big garage sale because you never knew what was going to be behind the next box.  I can't wait to go back!

Oh, and I also got Chainmail in the mail today.  Really nice components and I'm looking forward to giving it a go soon.

See ya,
Toonces

So I followed the bounding ball on another thread and found this picture from the game store I was discussing above.  This is just one tiny little glimpse of a part of one wall, but if you can imagine a whole house-sized store that looks like this, you get the idea.  Just boxes and boxes and boxes of stuff to pick through.  Everytime I go there I find a new corner full of just awesomeness to paw through.

(https://www.grogheads.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fthearmchairadventurer.webs.com%2Fphotos%2FYe-Olde-Storefront%2FP1030452.JPG&hash=cf5f52947c433bf14cd711c2ab2c1365b04fd074)

OK - if I get to Hawaii before you leave, you're totally taking me over there

I picked up panzer leader and panzer blitz for $10 each!

Quote from: Bison on February 23, 2013, 04:23:00 PM
I picked up panzer leader and panzer blitz for $10 each!

Did you get Up Front?

Here's my loot (though I'll reuse this in my article).

Kaiser Max has blitzed my chair and occupied my games.

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@Toonces - That looks like it holds the potential for a lot of fun.  Do they have a regular gaming group you can join?


@LB and Bison sounds like you guys made at well.

LB - I see your spending continued on day two.  ;)

I picked up Hold the Line at Prezcon.

http://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/35342/hold-the-line

I'm still debating up front.   I also got a deal on an open copy of south mountain which is part of mmps civil war regiment series.    Tomorrow I get my cheap copy of aslsk 1.

LB - What's the game between Spartacus and Darkest Night?

I am very late to the Combat Commander party...but just got my copy of CC Europe via NWSOnline.net  Now just have to find somebody to play it with.

Also had some great luck with boardgamegeek auctions in the last week.  Inbound are:

AH Tobruk
AH Airforce
Yaquinto Murfreesboro
Lock n Loads Flintlock
AH Struggle of Nations

That Kaiser's Pirates game looks intriguing. Can it be played solo? I'll have to look for more info.

Quote from: DV8 on February 23, 2013, 05:17:45 PM
LB - I see your spending continued on day two.  ;)

I picked up Hold the Line at Prezcon.

http://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/35342/hold-the-line

Yes. I suck.

Quote from: Arctic Blast on February 23, 2013, 05:31:59 PM
LB - What's the game between Spartacus and Darkest Night?

Submarine. Original issue; punched.

http://www.boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/3083/submarine

Sorry - that is between Darkest Night and Kaiser's Pirates.

Between Spartacus is Naval War of 1812 by Worthington Games. Bison and I broke it out tonight. I should have a review of it soon.

Quote from: Staggerwing on February 23, 2013, 08:16:46 PM
That Kaiser's Pirates game looks intriguing. Can it be played solo? I'll have to look for more info.

Yes, though some players I chatted with advised that it is difficult to win as a single-player game. They were playing as a trio and indicated it is quite good as a three player game.

Quote from: LongBlade on February 23, 2013, 04:28:26 PM
(https://www.grogheads.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi1081.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fj349%2Flongblade%2FKaiserMax_zps05b9b00b.jpg&hash=b5e7204a17ef906dcccd2431f20f708b074f16a3)

Darkest Night looks really fun and I almost tossed it in with my Dawn of the Zeds order. But I have a lot of soloable co-ops like this, so I figured that I did not need one more, despite the cool idea and art.

Quote from: DV8 on February 23, 2013, 05:17:45 PM
LB - I see your spending continued on day two.  ;)

I picked up Hold the Line at Prezcon.

http://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/35342/hold-the-line

I received my copy of HtL and the French & Indian expansion a few weeks ago. Currently playing the first scenario with the girlfriend.




Nice loot pile, LongBlade!
Was interested in Naval War of 1812 myself.

Groggy

Quote from: LongBlade on February 23, 2013, 11:17:47 PM

Quote from: Arctic Blast on February 23, 2013, 05:31:59 PM
LB - What's the game between Spartacus and Darkest Night?

Submarine. Original issue; punched.

http://www.boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/3083/submarine

Sorry - that is between Darkest Night and Kaiser's Pirates.

Between Spartacus is Naval War of 1812 by Worthington Games. Bison and I broke it out tonight. I should have a review of it soon.

Nice! I've been curious about that one. Looking forward to the review.

I've got a photo post later.  Prezcon haul:

Combat Commander Pacific
Combat Commander Europe (Ordered and Shipping via NWS.  Ok technically I didn't buy it there but I did by it at the same time.)
South Mountain - MMP ACW Regimental Series
Command and Colors Ancients
Advanced Squad Leader Starter Kit 1 (Used, great condition, and cheap)
Panzer Leader (Used, decent condition, cheap)
Panzer Blitz (Used, decent condition, cheap)
10 GMT Counter Trays

Panzer Blitz and Panzer Leader were my first Wargames, along with Von Richthofen's War. Finding them among some stuff I'd left behind at my folks' place was what got me interested in Boardgaming again after almost 20 years of other pursuits.

Quote from: bayonetbrant on February 23, 2013, 02:46:47 PM
OK - if I get to Hawaii before you leave, you're totally taking me over there

Ok, so this is way cool.  I'm going to drag my son up to this store today so I googled it to find out when it's open and I found this link.

So you click on this (if it works) and if you click the little double arrow at the top to go into the store you can take a virtual tour.  Very neat!

https://maps.google.com/maps?q=&layer=c&z=17&sll=21.321368,-157.876751&cid=2261915092171412251&panoid=We67TSeXdMKY9KmIyI9Xtg&cbp=13,237.13424486672869,,0,0&hl=en&gl=US&ved=0CBAQ2wU&sa=X&ei=WGwqUdSuCIThiAKR9YEw

I'd be curious to see how long it takes you guys to find the boardgame room.  I know where it is and it still took me 5 minutes to navigate to it!

Quote from: Staggerwing on February 24, 2013, 02:30:24 PM
Panzer Blitz and Panzer Leader were my first Wargames, along with Von Richthofen's War. Finding them among some stuff I'd left behind at my folks' place was what got me interested in Boardgaming again after almost 20 years of other pursuits.

LB walked out this morning with a copy of Von Richtofen's War if I'm not mistaken.  That's the WW1 air combat game correct?

Quote from: Bison on February 24, 2013, 03:02:43 PM

Quote from: Staggerwing on February 24, 2013, 02:30:24 PM
Panzer Blitz and Panzer Leader were my first Wargames, along with Von Richthofen's War. Finding them among some stuff I'd left behind at my folks' place was what got me interested in Boardgaming again after almost 20 years of other pursuits.

LB walked out this morning with a copy of Von Richtofen's War if I'm not mistaken.  That's the WW1 air combat game correct?

Yes, WWI air combat. One of my first games as well. Still my favourite WWI air combat game.... but GMT's Bloody April is now a close second.

Quote from: Toonces on February 24, 2013, 02:49:33 PM
I'd be curious to see how long it takes you guys to find the boardgame room.  I know where it is and it still took me 5 minutes to navigate to it!

I would die in that place. I'd spend days just wandering around and eventually they'd find my corpse after I succumbed to dehydration.

Quote from: Arctic Blast on February 24, 2013, 05:34:37 PM

Quote from: Toonces on February 24, 2013, 02:49:33 PM
I'd be curious to see how long it takes you guys to find the boardgame room.  I know where it is and it still took me 5 minutes to navigate to it!

I would die in that place. I'd spend days just wandering around and eventually they'd find my corpse after I succumbed to dehydration.

Im sure there is a stash of caffeinated drinks, junk food and stale pizza to sustain you hidden amongst the piles. :)

Quote from: Barthheart on February 24, 2013, 03:19:24 PM

Quote from: Bison on February 24, 2013, 03:02:43 PM

Quote from: Staggerwing on February 24, 2013, 02:30:24 PM
Panzer Blitz and Panzer Leader were my first Wargames, along with Von Richthofen's War. Finding them among some stuff I'd left behind at my folks' place was what got me interested in Boardgaming again after almost 20 years of other pursuits.

LB walked out this morning with a copy of Von Richtofen's War if I'm not mistaken.  That's the WW1 air combat game correct?

Yes, WWI air combat. One of my first games as well. Still my favourite WWI air combat game.... but GMT's Bloody April is now a close second.

You're correct. I now own Richthofen's War 2nd Ed.

And a family portrait of me flying with the Red Baron.

Quote from: Toonces on February 24, 2013, 02:49:33 PM
I'd be curious to see how long it takes you guys to find the boardgame room.  I know where it is and it still took me 5 minutes to navigate to it!

10 minutes at least and I knew it was there somewhere.

Woke up this morning to see that a package had arrived for me yesterday and was waiting for me by my desk.

Combat Commander Europe
10 GMT Counter Trays

Thanks to Chris and NWS for prompt service!

w00t! That's cool.

LB I should have picked up the Mediterranean expansion at Prezcon. 

Quote from: Bison on March 05, 2013, 10:08:22 AM
LB I should have picked up the Mediterranean expansion at Prezcon.

You loving it that much?

I don't mind going back and checking under the tables for a copy that may have fallen off, but by now I figure housekeeping has already listed it on Ebay.

My tax return will be in the bank next Monday!

Late next week I'm heading down to High River to visit, since my nieces are in a skating carnival.

The Sentry Box is in Calgary, on the way to High River...

Sorry, bank account.  ;D

Question: What do you do when your flight home is cancelled due to a snow storm and you are stuck in Boise, ID for about 18 hours?

Answer: You find a local game store and buy a game that is supposedly good solitaire that you have been eyeing for a while.

(https://www.grogheads.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi1245.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fgg600%2Fmcyeatman%2F05326C2F-D2DB-4242-9038-3A663B738E3B-1679-0000030BE8A15AD3_zps0d97a029.jpg&hash=7f53d95aca7ba98324bd9382ff2470090955b2ec)
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That sucks you're stuck. The weather has lifted here. I have been thinking about you. Can't remember any trees too close to the house, but I wanted to ask how you were doing.

All good.  The family only lost power for about 12 hours.  Thanks for asking.

Glad to hear it.

DV8 that is a fine example of making the best of a situation.

Let me know what you think of Laby once you try it.  I have a copy of it and Twilight Struggle but have yet to get it on my table.  I've watched games of each played so I have a good idea of how it goes.  I've also played it via wargameroom.com but it's not the same. 

Let me get this straight.  DV7 is stuck in a snowstorm in the middle of Idaho and is able to walk into a LGS and purchase an actual GMT game off the shelf?   Meanwhile I've been to at least a dozen LGS in the greater Richmond/Washington DC corridor and have seen exactly ONE GMT game.  What the hell?

More people in Virginia appreciate GMT and keep their games flying off the shelves.

The backwoods rubes of Boise, ID are too busy trying to swim in their blue football field to appreciate the elegance and class of GMT tabletop wargaming.





or maybe not...?

I'd rather live in Idaho.

Quote from: Bison on March 07, 2013, 01:38:11 AM
Let me get this straight.  DV7 is stuck in a snowstorm in the middle of Idaho and is able to walk into a LGS and purchase an actual GMT game off the shelf?   Meanwhile I've been to at least a dozen LGS in the greater Richmond/Washington DC corridor and have seen exactly ONE GMT game.  What the hell?

DV8 is cool like that. He's kinda like MacGyver, but with kick ass games: when nobody knows WTF is going on, he'll appear and be like, "Hey, I've got this cool new game!"

Quote from: Bison on March 07, 2013, 11:02:59 AM
I'd rather live in Idaho.

There is that.

Quote from: Bison on March 07, 2013, 01:38:11 AM
Let me get this straight.  DV7 is stuck in a snowstorm in the middle of Idaho and is able to walk into a LGS and purchase an actual GMT game off the shelf?   Meanwhile I've been to at least a dozen LGS in the greater Richmond/Washington DC corridor and have seen exactly ONE GMT game.  What the hell?

Just to clarify.  The snowstorm was at home in VA.  It was 60 degrees in Boise (Boy-C as I was corrected about the pronunciation).  This was an interesting store, they focus just on board games and MTG.  No miniatures games at all!

Quote from: DV8 on March 07, 2013, 08:07:51 PM

Quote from: Bison on March 07, 2013, 01:38:11 AM
Let me get this straight.  DV7 is stuck in a snowstorm in the middle of Idaho and is able to walk into a LGS and purchase an actual GMT game off the shelf?   Meanwhile I've been to at least a dozen LGS in the greater Richmond/Washington DC corridor and have seen exactly ONE GMT game.  What the hell?

Just to clarify.  The snowstorm was at home in VA.  It was 60 degrees in Boise (Boy-C as I was corrected about the pronunciation).  This was an interesting store, they focus just on board games and MTG.  No miniatures games at all!

Where are you in VA?  I am in Springfield.

The home of TJ. Charlottesville.

^^ that's also the home of LB for the next few weeks

Quote from: DV8 on March 07, 2013, 09:56:10 PM
The home of TJ. Charlottesville.

Cool....maybe we'll bump into each other at a gaming event.

Quote from: bayonetbrant on March 08, 2013, 06:56:29 AM
^^ that's also the home of LB for the next few weeks

Next to TJ he's almost as famous. We have adopted him.

Quote from: ArizonaTank on March 08, 2013, 07:17:01 PM

Quote from: DV8 on March 07, 2013, 09:56:10 PM
The home of TJ. Charlottesville.

Cool....maybe we'll bump into each other at a gaming event.

Historicon will probably be the next event for me.  Let me know if you are going.

Quote from: DV8 on March 08, 2013, 10:11:08 PM

Quote from: ArizonaTank on March 08, 2013, 07:17:01 PM

Quote from: DV8 on March 07, 2013, 09:56:10 PM
The home of TJ. Charlottesville.

Cool....maybe we'll bump into each other at a gaming event.

Historicon will probably be the next event for me.  Let me know if you are going.

Great, I think there has been some talk of a Grogheads meet up at Historicon.

Quote from: GJK on March 06, 2013, 11:02:32 PM
Let me know what you think of Laby once you try it.  I have a copy of it and Twilight Struggle but have yet to get it on my table.  I've watched games of each played so I have a good idea of how it goes.  I've also played it via wargameroom.com but it's not the same.

I did't get to try this while I was tuck in the hotel in Boise since the Glenfiddich 12 was making me lazy.  I started reading the rules and watched a video on solo game play while trying to play alone the other night.  I felt like I was programming in FORTRAN again, "if not than".  So many flow charts.  As a whole the game was very good and an excellent solo game.  The workload will be a lighter for 2 people since you only have to read the flow charts for your side.

Quote from: ArizonaTank on March 10, 2013, 01:22:27 PM

Quote from: DV8 on March 08, 2013, 10:11:08 PM

Quote from: ArizonaTank on March 08, 2013, 07:17:01 PM

Quote from: DV8 on March 07, 2013, 09:56:10 PM
The home of TJ. Charlottesville.

Cool....maybe we'll bump into each other at a gaming event.

Historicon will probably be the next event for me.  Let me know if you are going.

Great, I think there has been some talk of a Grogheads meet up at Historicon.

Excellent!  Are any good Cons coming to the DC area?

Just ordered Boots on the Ground.

http://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/68876/boots-on-the-ground

Quote from: DV8 on March 10, 2013, 05:37:08 PM
Just ordered Boots on the Ground.

http://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/68876/boots-on-the-ground

I'm going pretty arctic:

Just ordered PQ-17

http://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/26459/pq-17-arctic-naval-operations-1941-43

and Red Winter:

http://boardgamegeek.com/images/boardgame/38786/red-winter-the-soviet-attack-at-tolvajarvi-finland

PQ-17 looks very cool. I just don't know when I'd play it or even sit down to read the rules.

LMK how you like it and how complex it is.

I talked with Sterrett about PQ17 one time, as he'd played it and I was thinking about getting it.

I'll be curious to hear what others say here and if it jives with his opinions.

Quote from: LongBlade on March 14, 2013, 01:59:01 PM
PQ-17 looks very cool. I just don't know when I'd play it or even sit down to read the rules.

LMK how you like it and how complex it is.

   Apparently PQ-17 is widely acknowledged to have some problems in rules presentation.  As an added apparent horror, I will be trying
to play a block game with all kinds of limited intelligence -- solitaire.  How will this be possible?  First, I will make a virtue of my many
conscious or unconscious biases in favor of the RN.  I will simply assume no matter how I stack the odds against the RN, they will have a
pretty good chance.  Second, the game has some random objectives to keep everybody guessing -- the poor RN will get none of these since there will be no KM player to do any guessing.  The KM will have 3 or 4 and the assumption that they are not spotted even as dummies until
some random number of turns into the game.  That should be scary.  Third, the KM will have no Hitler-restrictions, so the KM will be able to engage willy-nilly with everything from the Tirpitz to the KitchenSink (that's Der KitchenSink, miene leiblings farber).  Fourth, the KM will get the GrafZeppelin CV and even the carrier planes (Sea-109s, Sea-Stukas, Sea-Figr186s!).  I suppose this might overload the KM command points, but we will assume that this simulates Hitler throwing one of his raving tantrum, slobbering and beating his head on the floor fits about something or other while Raeder waits patiently to declare his absolute faith in the Fuerher principle (or Prinzeep?) and thanks for raising the Hitler-restrictions and so on.

AND, maybe if this is too complicated, I will assume Ultra is working very well and let the KM conduct itself with fewer perks -- after all in the game -- even if you have complete intelligence about an at-sea force, you still have to spot it to attack it.

Been hitting BGG auctions pretty hard....

Picked up:

Aprils Harvest - The Gamers
Barbarossa to Berlin - GMT
Napoleon at Austerlitz, 2nd Ed - 3W
Frederick the Great - 3W
Panzer - GMT

As well a decent group of non-wargames for playing with the fam.

The main game is Agricola...I can pick up ASL, and I haven't met the wargame yet that I can't understand.  But Agricola has me flummoxed

I enjoy the CWBS games (The Gamers, particularly your copy of April's Harvest).  I recently started a game of ITQFII (Antietam) with my son but it just was not his cup of tea....too much work, especially with the unit charting.   The series works really well on VASSAL (I did the VASSAL mods for a number of those games).  Let me know what you think of it once you get it on the table.

our gaming group was a little overhelmed with Agricola, even though we played with the family rules...

Im not a big fan of Agricola either.  There just seems to be to many things to do with not enough time to do it.  It feels like by the time you think you know what you are trying to do in a game it is over.  I still am trying to figure out why it has received such high praise on BGG.

I did indeed stop at Sentry Box on my way back through Calgary today. ended up with :

-Noville : Bastogne's Outpost and Battle Pack Bravo for Band of Heroes. I could have sworn I already had Noville, but I checked before leaving and apparently not. Now I've got it AND a battle pack with about a dozen scenarios for the base game and Noville.
-Star Wars : Edge of the Empire Beginner Box. This is the first release material for the fantasy Flight SW universe RPG.
-A used demo copy of Monsters Menace America. It's out of print and it was $30.
-The Apocalypse expansion for Conquest of Planet Earth. Such a fun game...and now there's more of it! The only drawback is that Flying Frog continues to release games with cards that stick together and feel like they're coated in a layer of candle wax.
-The 1880 Smith & Robards Catalog for Deadlands Reloaded. Crazy devices that can literally blow up in a user's face in a wonderfully messed up RPG world? Sweet.

Noville is a great expansion. The map is really nice, giving you that cold sloppy wet messy they fought in.
The scenarios are fun too. Lots of different stuff. Even one that use dummy counters so you don't know what exactly is coming at you!

Some more auction goodness...but really need to lay off new purchases for a while, too many games..too little time.

Advanced Tobruk - Critical Hit
Not One Step Back - LnL
Storm over Stalingrad - MMP
Bastogne - MMP
Leuthen - Victory Point Games
Wings of War (WWII) - Nexos

Inbound is Fighting Formations, Gross Deutschland Div - GMT

Storm over Stalingrad is a great little game.

Quote from: bob48 on March 25, 2013, 05:31:40 PM
Storm over Stalingrad is a great little game.

Good to hear! 

The guy I bought it from said he was selling because it was "unrealistic"  not certain what he meant.  But the "low" complexity, "high" solitaire suitability sold me, plus it has a pretty good rating on BGG. 

It seems very simplistic at first, but you soon appreciate that is has quite a lot of depth to it. I've played it H2H a couple of times, and its a very easy game to teach / learn. My buddies who I played it with really enjoyed it, and its pretty playable solo as well.

I hope that MMP do eventually get sufficient orders to print two further games using the same system; 'Storm over Normandy' and 'Storm over Dien Bien Phu', a game I definitely would buy.

Our local gaming group ( http://www.meetup.com/Charlottesville-Gaming-Group/ ) has everyone fill out their collection on BGG so I thought I would share mine with the group.

http://boardgamegeek.com/collection/user/DV8rocs

Recent purchases for me are:
- Settlers of Catan
- Mice and Mystics
- Ticket to Ride

Cool.  Here's mine:  http://boardgamegeek.com/collection/user/garyjk
Most of my games are listed.  Most recent was "Blue vs Gray".

Quote from: GJK on March 28, 2013, 01:07:48 PM
Cool.  Here's mine:  http://boardgamegeek.com/collection/user/garyjk
Most of my games are listed.  Most recent was "Blue vs Gray".

Where do you store all those games!

Good stuff, boys. I'll throw in as well : http://boardgamegeek.com/collection/user/AB76

Quote from: DV8 on March 28, 2013, 11:24:06 AM
Our local gaming group ( http://www.meetup.com/Charlottesville-Gaming-Group/ ) has everyone fill out their collection on BGG so I thought I would share mine with the group.

http://boardgamegeek.com/collection/user/DV8rocs

Recent purchases for me are:
- Settlers of Catan
- Mice and Mystics
- Ticket to Ride

Neat idea...I guess I will have to put mine in. 

How many of these %-wise have you guys played?

I just updated my list...now I feel like a hoarder... :o

http://www.boardgamegeek.com/collection/user/Number_41

I usually only play about one game a week...so I guess I am more of a collector...

I think we have a sickness. Some more than others...

nowhere close to accurate on # of plays; pretty sure there's games that still need to be added, too.  but this is close

http://boardgamegeek.com/collection/user/bayonetbrant

Quote from: DV8 on March 28, 2013, 05:57:00 PM
How many of these %-wise have you guys played?

There are a few recent acquisitions that I haven't gotten to the table yet. Aside from that, there are some expansion bits that haven't yet seen play. But I've played a good majority of my collection.

I sit and fondle mine a lot but they rarely get action any more these days.
Oh, and I've played about half of my games.  Perhaps I should adjust a bit?   :P

Sickness beyond measure, gentlemen...

Then again, I took my son to a train expo last year.  Milwaukee, for whatever it's worth, hosts the largest model train expo in the Midwest right 'round November.  In any event, a friend of my wife's was part of one display of HO-scale trains set up in one corner of a very large convention hall.  His one train, on one of eight tracks, boasted eighty -- not a typo -- eighty coal cars.  When I asked him how much each one was and was told $25, my wife gave me a look that said eloquently:  "this still does not make your game-thing reasonable."

I must disagree.

And, this week, I laid hold of the Star Wars spaceship combat game from Fantasy Flight (my boy loves it) and the Talisman conversion Relic.  With respect to the latter, it's Talisman in the world of the 41st Century, it had me at hello...

Best,

Jim
"Cyrano"
:/7)

Sale about to happen at my usual online game store. Oh dear.  :D

Quote from: Arctic Blast on March 31, 2013, 05:42:47 PM
Sale about to happen at my usual online game store. Oh dear.  :D

Which store?!? Come on man, don't hold out on us... Linky?  :P

Quote from: Barthheart on March 31, 2013, 08:07:31 PM

Quote from: Arctic Blast on March 31, 2013, 05:42:47 PM
Sale about to happen at my usual online game store. Oh dear.  :D

Which store?!? Come on man, don't hold out on us... Linky?  :P

That sir, is a dangerous thing to ask for.  ::)

Quote from: Barthheart on March 31, 2013, 08:07:31 PM

Quote from: Arctic Blast on March 31, 2013, 05:42:47 PM
Sale about to happen at my usual online game store. Oh dear.  :D

Which store?!? Come on man, don't hold out on us... Linky?  :P

Of course! Just as soon as I've had a chance to order what I want...

;D

http://www.starlitcitadel.com/games/deals/board-games-special-sales.html

There are currently 852 items on that list.

For anyone even slightly interested in Pathfinder (and in Canada), there are the equivalent of at least 2 pages of stuff (and that's with it set to show 64 items per page).

Oooooo... there's a few things on there that caught my eye....

Their prices are good even when not on sale...

Must resist.... I'm gonna be in Vancouver next week too!  :P

Quote from: Barthheart on April 01, 2013, 05:57:16 AM
Oooooo... there's a few things on there that caught my eye....

Their prices are good even when not on sale...

Must resist.... I'm gonna be in Vancouver next week too!  :P

BWAHAHAHAHA!  ;D

Got my order in. I forced myself to maintain some level of restraint. It wasn't easy.  ::) ;)

(https://www.grogheads.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi1187.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fz397%2FSoccerDJ04%2Fb-dayhaul_zpsd57dc495.jpg&hash=2035a7d08e7ffed69f008c879b161d2812690c9c)


My birthday haul from yesterday.  My wife spoiled me. :)  I got a 'cool to the touch' natural light lamp for painting minis.  Wings of Glory WWI duel pack (which the wife actually played with me.  Lots of fun even when she beat me).  And thanks to Arctic Blast's pictures and descriptions in the 'pics of recent games' thread she bought me Wilderness after I showed her the thread. (It was just as much fun as AB said it would be.  Oh yeah and she bought me On War by Clausewitz as well.   ;D

Sweet.  I'm going to be picking up the Wings of Glory WW1 set myself in the near future.

not a wargame, but more adventure / strategy

review coming soon-ish

(https://www.grogheads.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Ffarm9.staticflickr.com%2F8245%2F8650819930_278349c0d3_b.jpg&hash=3b24d02204bddf090dd7c747a9387840eeaf9727)

Quote from: Bison on April 14, 2013, 07:57:01 PM
Sweet.  I'm going to be picking up the Wings of Glory WW1 set myself in the near future.

I enjoyed it so much I already spent most of my b-day gifts cards on some of the expansions.   ;D

Nice! Happy birthday :)

Quote from: TheCommandTent on April 14, 2013, 07:46:21 PM
(https://www.grogheads.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi1187.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fz397%2FSoccerDJ04%2Fb-dayhaul_zpsd57dc495.jpg&hash=2035a7d08e7ffed69f008c879b161d2812690c9c)


My birthday haul from yesterday.  My wife spoiled me. :)  I got a 'cool to the touch' natural light lamp for painting minis.  Wings of Glory WWI duel pack (which the wife actually played with me.  Lots of fun even when she beat me).  And thanks to Arctic Blast's pictures and descriptions in the 'pics of recent games' thread she bought me Wilderness after I showed her the thread. (It was just as much fun as AB said it would be.  Oh yeah and she bought me On War by Clausewitz as well.   ;D

Sweet! Glad you guys enjoyed Wilderness.  ;D

Brant : Is that the game based on the Spirit of the Century RPG system?

Quote from: Arctic Blast on April 15, 2013, 05:51:33 PMBrant : Is that the game based on the Spirit of the Century RPG system?

pretty sure - it's the same publisher, and its full title is "Race to Adventure: The Spirit of the Century Exploration Game"

Well, I've gained these when I was still in treatment and my wife wanted to cheer me up...

And she succeeded... :)

(https://www.grogheads.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fcf.geekdo-images.com%2Fimages%2Fpic960573_md.jpg&hash=a5b8ad2b947dd99354087172a92f30ab44ab7192) (https://www.grogheads.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fcf.geekdo-images.com%2Fimages%2Fpic1137532_md.jpg&hash=0362d410714e01c7326ae3b4bb0a66e927969389)

Well I've looked at those games.  If you have learned the rules to them, that's pretty awesome feat on it's own.

It´s not that hard... There is a bunch of rules, but if you start to play it, you'll see they are pretty straight forward...

I already have the Case Blue from this series, my only problem is the lack of opponents, so I´ve started to make tutorials to "convert" people to the cause...  ;)

And I also have a dream, a play of grand campaign of Guderian´s Blitzkrieg/Case Blue together... but probably I´ll need to wait retirement to do this...  :o

Quote from: wargamerbrasil on April 20, 2013, 11:03:19 AM

And I also have a dream, a play of grand campaign of Guderian´s Blitzkrieg/Case Blue together... but probably I´ll need to wait retirement to do this...  :o

A wargaming friend of mine has the same dream, lovingly hanging on to his own copies for retirement. We played the first couple of intro scenarios of GB many moons ago. OCS is a great system once you learn it.


Groggy

I watched the guys at CABS playtest the France '40 game for about 2 years while I was living in Columbus.

Just bought a used copy of GMT's Three Days at Gettysburg....what a monster!!!   Unfortunately, I will probably never play...just open it every once in while and day dream about playing it...

Commands and Colors: Ancients + Expansion pack #5 arrived just before I left for N. Carolina last week.  Spent the night stickering, sorting and storing the pieces.  Laminated the charts and the overlays and cut them out.  I need to get the right sized card sleeves.  My son is the one that was really wanting this game as he's all into ancient warfare at the moment but as I was reading the rules, I got really pumped up to give this one a try.  I was afraid that it was going to be a Memoir '44 beer and pretzels game but it is much, much deeper than that.  Unfortunately, my son left the day after I got back on his summer vacation so I won't be able to play until late July (except solo I suppose). 

I see that somebody is selling "Epic Ancients II" on CSW as well.  I'm reading reviews for it and I like the idea of double the map size for more manuever.  It sounds like you need (or should have) the early expansions though in order to play Epic Ancients.  Not sure if I should pick this one up since it's out of print or not (will it get played "epically"?).  What's your thoughts you CC:A fans-

Quote from: ArizonaTank on June 10, 2013, 09:01:39 PM
Just bought a used copy of GMT's Three Days at Gettysburg....what a monster!!!   Unfortunately, I will probably never play...just open it every once in while and day dream about playing it...

That one does look to be quite the monster.  I've often looked at that one and wondered how it played compared to The Gamer's CWBS/CWR series.  I hear that Richard Berg's rules can be a "monster" of a chore to get through as well.  Is there a VASSAL module for this one?  That would be the way to go - maybe you can sit in on some games and learn enough to pick it up.  Then you can set it up on the table at home and invite the neighborhood kids over to watch a history lesson.  :)

Quote from: wargamerbrasil on April 20, 2013, 11:03:19 AM
It´s not that hard... There is a bunch of rules, but if you start to play it, you'll see they are pretty straight forward...

I already have the Case Blue from this series, my only problem is the lack of opponents, so I´ve started to make tutorials to "convert" people to the cause...  ;)

And I also have a dream, a play of grand campaign of Guderian´s Blitzkrieg/Case Blue together... but probably I´ll need to wait retirement to do this...  :o

You CAN play the combined games on Vassal. All the scenarios are already setup for you in the module. http://www.vassalengine.org/wiki/Module:Case_Blue_/_Guderian%27s_Blitzkrieg_II (http://www.vassalengine.org/wiki/Module:Case_Blue_/_Guderian%27s_Blitzkrieg_II) I have a Vassal opponent that I've been playing a scenario with.

Quote from: GJK on June 11, 2013, 06:32:25 AM
Commands and Colors: Ancients + Expansion pack #5 arrived just before I left for N. Carolina last week.  Spent the night stickering, sorting and storing the pieces.  Laminated the charts and the overlays and cut them out.  I need to get the right sized card sleeves.  My son is the one that was really wanting this game as he's all into ancient warfare at the moment but as I was reading the rules, I got really pumped up to give this one a try.  I was afraid that it was going to be a Memoir '44 beer and pretzels game but it is much, much deeper than that.  Unfortunately, my son left the day after I got back on his summer vacation so I won't be able to play until late July (except solo I suppose). 

I see that somebody is selling "Epic Ancients II" on CSW as well.  I'm reading reviews for it and I like the idea of double the map size for more manuever.  It sounds like you need (or should have) the early expansions though in order to play Epic Ancients.  Not sure if I should pick this one up since it's out of print or not (will it get played "epically"?).  What's your thoughts you CC:A fans-

I'm not a beer and pretzels guy, so I was really happy to see that this game plays quickly, but is pretty deep.  The very flexible rule set goes from Marathon to the late Roman Empire with ease.  The different periods, unit types play differently so there is quite a bit of replay value.  I also like that I can usually play a large battle in 2 - 3 hours...just right for a weeknight. 

Each module has something unique to offer, and they are all worth the time and effort to find and acquire.  I think 2 & 3 are being republished as a combo pack soon...I would recommend that.  No. 1 is being republished later this year...another recommend.

I haven't played any Epic games yet, but planning on doing that soon.  Still, I do fine just playing the standard scenarios.

Headed to the game store at lunch and picked up:

La Vallee de la Mort
Iron Cross
Pegasus Bridge
Toyota Wars

This guy pulled out boxes and boxes and BOXES of old, unpunched S&T, Command, etc. games.  I swear, that store is just like the biggest flea market you've ever seen. 

He had an unpunched copy of Kingmaker there, too, and I'm kicking myself for not jumping on that.  When I go back I'm going to get it.  Oh, and he had a punched copy of another game I really want...maybe I'll wait till I get it to surprise you guys.

Quote from: Toonces on June 11, 2013, 10:20:16 PM
This guy pulled out boxes and boxes and BOXES of old, unpunched S&T, Command, etc. games.  I swear, that store is just like the biggest flea market you've ever seen. 

See if he's got
Donau Front ( http://www.boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/6003/donau-front )  or
North German Plain ( http://www.boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/8720/north-german-plain )  or
Balkan Wars ( http://www.boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/10269/balkan-wars )  <--lower priority
and let me know!

My wife will be over there end of next week and you can get them to her to bring back and save some postage! :)

He does have Donau Front; I noticed that one when I was pawing through the games.  I already have it.

Let me know how you want to set this up and I'll pick it up for you.

I'll check on the other ones.

Edit- I live practically across the street from the Arizona, so if she's headed to see it that's probably the easiest way to hook up.  I don't mind heading down to Kailua either if she's not heading down my way.

Quote from: Toonces on June 12, 2013, 12:55:27 AM
Edit- I live practically across the street from the Arizona, so if she's headed to see it that's probably the easiest way to hook up.  I don't mind heading down to Kailua either if she's not heading down my way.

I'll PM you, but since she's traveling w/ a 2-year-old that won't remember/appreciate the Arizona, it's unlikely she'd be over that way.

Quote from: Toonces on June 11, 2013, 10:20:16 PM
Headed to the game store at lunch and picked up:

Pegasus Bridge

The ASL module? or the 3W game?

It's the 3W game, not the ASL module.

I'm very tempted by La Vallee de la Mort, so I'll be interested to see what you think of it.

Brant,
I'm probably heading over to the game store on Tuesday.  Let me know if you want to commit to Donau Front.  Also, he has a lot of old magazine games- Command, etc.- lying around and occasionally some obscure wargames; I think I saw a copy of Boots and Saddles still there last time I was in.  So if you have anything else other than what you already mentioned, let me know.

For our anniversary my wife got me Combat Commander: Volume II Mediterranean and the CC: Battle Pack #2 Stalingrad.    ;D

Quote from: Toonces on June 17, 2013, 12:45:25 AM
Brant,
I'm probably heading over to the game store on Tuesday.  Let me know if you want to commit to Donau Front. 

crap - just saw this.

yes, I wanted to, and I need to get info to you about how to get it to my wife over in Kailua.  Sending email shortly.

I recently purchased the Star Wars X-Wing Core Set and was breaking open the box last night while watching the USMST clobber the Cubans. 

(https://www.grogheads.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi1245.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fgg600%2Fmcyeatman%2FIMG_20130713_200937_0_zpsfbe6552a.jpg&hash=79b4b6e6a9a356270cde6c4ddd37ecd9ec5deda7) (http://s1245.photobucket.com/user/mcyeatman/media/IMG_20130713_200937_0_zpsfbe6552a.jpg.html)

I just played a starter rule game with my 9 year old and he loved it!

Quote from: DV8 on July 14, 2013, 09:20:06 AM
I recently purchased the Star Wars X-Wing Core Set and was breaking open the box last night while watching the USMST clobber the Cubans. 

(https://www.grogheads.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi1245.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fgg600%2Fmcyeatman%2FIMG_20130713_200937_0_zpsfbe6552a.jpg&hash=79b4b6e6a9a356270cde6c4ddd37ecd9ec5deda7) (http://s1245.photobucket.com/user/mcyeatman/media/IMG_20130713_200937_0_zpsfbe6552a.jpg.html)

I just played a starter rule game with my 9 year old and he loved it!

I've heard good things about that. Glad to know you're enjoying it :)

I might could get my 10-year-old to play with me, but that backlog is really building up.

Wizkids is coming out with a Star Trek version that uses the same gaming system.

Quote from: bayonetbrant on July 16, 2013, 08:58:41 AM
I might could get my 10-year-old to play with me, but that backlog is really building up.

I subscribe to the buy 2 play 1 philosophy so I'm still ahead according to my math.

Quote from: DV8 on July 16, 2013, 09:32:57 AM
Wizkids is coming out with a Star Trek version that uses the same gaming system.

Now that is something that I could get in to.

Newest additions were waiting for me when I got home!

(https://www.grogheads.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimageshack.us%2Fa%2Fimg818%2F1461%2Fdyxl.jpg&hash=25d51cf8305753d3e36d2d22da955843a58419ee)

^ARGH!

You got your copy of DH!!!!

Still waiting for mine :(

Quote from: bob48 on September 06, 2013, 01:43:42 PM
^ARGH!

You got your copy of DH!!!!

Still waiting for mine :(

I'm several thousand miles closer than you are....  8)

Stop trying to cheer me up!

Well, have you opened it yet?

Quote from: bob48 on September 06, 2013, 01:46:49 PM
Stop trying to cheer me up!

Well, have you opened it yet?

Just about too....

 :P

It's NICE! The linen effect on the counters is nice... though it might make some of the exponents hard to see in some lighting.
Boards are nice and bleak... just what you'd expect of the desert.

Full colour rule book, scenarios and charts.

Will try to squeeze in a game this weekend.

8)

Drool.

I have my copy of Eisenbach Gap Deluxe as well. The maps are on hardboard- the thickest I've seen in a long time! Barth, I agree about the board and counter texture. It looks nice but a bit odd. Depending on the angle of lighting the surface appears to shimmer a bit. BTW, I actually got 2 copies. I forgot that I opted for the Pre-order two-pack deal and I can't remember why I did. Maybe I was thinking the game would increase in value so a sealed copy would be good to have.

I'm bumming since I haven't seen copies and I worked on both of them.  :'(  Alas, I'm too busy on Red Storm right now to enjoy them anyway. All things in good time.

I'm waiting on a package to arrive in the mail.  I'm very excited for it to arrive.

^  Tease. 

Quote from: Martok on September 12, 2013, 05:11:33 PM
^  Tease.

It's the wargaming purchase equivalent of just the tip.

ASL something or other, I bet.

Quote from: ArizonaTank on June 10, 2013, 09:01:39 PM
Just bought a used copy of GMT's Three Days at Gettysburg....what a monster!!!   Unfortunately, I will probably never play...just open it every once in while and day dream about playing it...

  I got that a while ago.  I played a day1 scenario.

  BUT these days I'm trying to get a solitaire-friendly Close Action mod working.  The thing is that if you look at 18th-century sea battles -- they are nearly-impossible to simulate except in the rather lose way that Flying Colors does it -- I think.  So I'm reducing things down to something much simpler for Close Action: some smaller -- pivotal moment with maybe 3-5 ships at fairly close range with simplified gunnery and damage.

Might work.  I ran a small battle (2 Spanish 64s against 1 Spanish 80).  Significant sail damage happened in about 7-8 game minutes at around 3-400 yards.  So that's a lot of damage happening pretty fast in Close Action so I'm wondering how to simplify it in the direction of Flying Colors.

Or maybe I'll just complexify the Flying Colors sailing rules (which sortof implies changing the scale slightly so maybe not)

I'm pretty pumped about what the FedEx man delivered to me today.
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I've been eyeing Panzer from GMT for about 8 or 9 months now and finally decided to order the game.  All day I was excited to get home and open up the game.  First off, I'm still excited about the game.  However I'm a little pissed about the condition that the game came in from the distributor Roundtree Games.  The game was advertised as "New", but apparently new means the game's cellophane wrap is removed prior to purchase and the box has significant damage.  The entire corner of one side of the box was not only damage, but completely ripped.
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I'll be calling Roundtree tomorrow and directing them to look here to see the damage first hand and how easily their company can get a bad name.  Anyway tonight I'll watch a couple of unboxing youtube videos just to verify that I have all the components.  It looked like it did on first glance but the condition it was obviously shipped in to a customer really pisses me off.  I'm just glad that I ordered the expansions from Chris at NWS.  I really wish he still had a copy of the base game that I could have ordered too.

Components:  (sorry about the poor image quality. iPhones do have limitations I guess. :D)

Counters and this image really does not due the counters justice.  They are very beautiful counters.
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Map.  I'm a little disappointed that the map is paper and not a card stock, which is how the maps in the expansions are printed.  It's still nice and seems like it will be very functional, but I don't believe it will play into expansion scenarios and limits the board selections for user made battles.
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Player aid cards.  I love me some tables and reference cards.
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Tank and unit data cards.  These babies are printed on some serious card stock, which just amplifies the deficiency of the map material selection.
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Rulebook and scenario playbook.  Nice and thick rule books with full color illustrations.
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Really looking forward to reading the rules, punching counters, and setting up a scenario to play some good east front tank battles.

I'll be waiting in anticipation to hear your thoughts on Panzer, B.  I P500'd the game and still have my copy in shrink ( :o ).  I ordered it based off of the original Panzer and '88 that I owned as a teenager.  I remember the detail in the "To Hit" and hit location tables.  I only solo'd the original a few times.  I also have the Excaliber version but it is unpunched and obviously never played.  They went with side view silhoutes for the tanks and that really killed it for me.  The data and maps that it contains are good though and those maps (mounted?  Don't recall) would work for the new Panzer.  So...why the hell is my still in shrink you ask (or maybe not).  Well, when Panzer arrived, I had just groked the AFV rules for ASL and I didn't dare want to confuse my little brain with AFV rules from another gaming system.  I would like to give Panzer a try some day though and I'd really like to try the game system with miniatures because that was the roots of the original game and I think that the latest version would work great with mini's as well.  That way you wouldn't need worry about the flimsy paper map either.  ;)

So, do work up an AAR or a mini-review once you get to that first scenario.

Well fortunately for me, I'm still wrapping my limited brain wave capacity around ASLSK infantry rules.  So the new armor rules here won't confuse anything I learned from ASL.  :D

Sweet pickup. Sorry to hear about the box.

Quote from: LongBlade on September 17, 2013, 09:15:08 PM
Sweet pickup. Sorry to hear about the box.

I'm going to need to list out the Tanks and other pieces so you can help me do some research on minis.  I think GJK has the right of it that the system is could easily be played with minis instead of counters.

Quote from: Bison on September 17, 2013, 09:24:43 PM

Quote from: LongBlade on September 17, 2013, 09:15:08 PM
Sweet pickup. Sorry to hear about the box.

I'm going to need to list out the Tanks and other pieces so you can help me do some research on minis.  I think GJK has the right of it that the system is could easily be played with minis instead of counters.

Two big issues with minis is: cost and time.

Minis can be expensive. There are some cheaper alternatives, but in general they're not cheap. The other issue is time. It takes time to paint them.

What scale are you looking at? If you do the micro armor it's cheap, but tanks are about the size of a dime.

At this point, I have only ruled out life sized replicas.

Bison, that really sucks about the box damage and the fact the game is obviously not "new". I'll be curious as to how you make out with the seller. I've bought boardgames from many different sellers over the years and I'm always curious to hear about CS experiences that others have. How did you find Roundtree Games? Was this an order through their Amazon Store? Please let us know how you make out with the damaged product.

I did order through amazon.  I didn't realize the vendor selection until after I received the game.  When I ordered it listed a different vendor so I'm not sure how amazon directed the order to them.   So far I cannot find a phone number only a vendor customer service email form on amazon.

Quote from: Bison on September 18, 2013, 11:39:37 AM
At this point, I have only ruled out life sized replicas.

That will help on the cost issue.

You're going to need to decide on a scale.

1:72 is very satisfying but they're big. I've seen guys mix scale with 1:72mm tanks and 15mm crunchies. Tanks look cool, but LOS can bet a bit wonky.

Micro Armor is tiny, but cheap and lots of it. Or you could go with the Flames of War scale, 15mm.

What would I recommend? I need to know how much you want to paint. If you don't care how they look then you still need to tell me how big you want them. For the least emphasis on looks and least effort on painting, micro armor is probably the way to go.

Best looks and detail is going to be 28mm/1:72.

I was thinking micro-armor:

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Yeah that looks awesome G.

Looks perfect.

Bison, here's where you can find it: http://www.ghqmodels.com/

Well I shot off an email and attached photo through the only means to reach Roundtree Games; the amazon customer/seller email system.  I'm a little annoyed I cannot find a phone number to directly contact them.  So now it's just a waiting game to see what they come back with as far as how to make up for this issue.  Sending it back isn't really an option at this point, since it's out of print and becoming increasingly hard to come by at a reasonable price.  Also it was listed as "only 1 left in stock."

Quote from: Bison on September 18, 2013, 11:48:58 AM
I did order through amazon.  I didn't realize the vendor selection until after I received the game.  When I ordered it listed a different vendor so I'm not sure how amazon directed the order to them.   So far I cannot find a phone number only a vendor customer service email form on amazon.

I've had the vendor change on me before with Amazon orders. Frustrating.

Quote from: mirth on September 18, 2013, 07:34:56 PM

Quote from: Bison on September 18, 2013, 11:48:58 AM
I did order through amazon.  I didn't realize the vendor selection until after I received the game.  When I ordered it listed a different vendor so I'm not sure how amazon directed the order to them.   So far I cannot find a phone number only a vendor customer service email form on amazon.

I've had the vendor change on me before with Amazon orders. Frustrating.

What really gets me is not so much the vendor change that I just don't understand, but the fact there is apparently no way to speak with a real person.  I'd much rather deal with a LFGS and pay a slightly higher premium, because at least you can see the product and talk to the person selling it to you.  NWS is about as good as an online distributer as you can find in this regard, beyond ordering directly from a company.  What I really need to do is P500 my favorite game series from GMT or pre-order from Multi-man publishing in order to get a discount on the purchase and use a site like NWS for post-release purchases.  The issue is games out of production that have limited sources to buy the game, which is what happen in this particular case with Panzer.  I waited to long to purchase it and as a result I had to go to a vendor that I had never dealt with before on a prior purchase.  Now Roundtree has very good reviews on Amazon, so maybe my experience was an exception and not the rule.  I don't know, but I do know I'll think twice before purchasing a game with them as a vendor if they don't take my complaint seriously.  I guess only people who purchase games can really appreciate how much the box really means in terms beyond just the practical matter of storing it, but the collector aesthetic of owning and displaying it on the shelf not to mention a down the road sale or exchange of the game.

Quote from: Bison on September 18, 2013, 08:35:47 PMNWS is about as good as an online distributer as you can find in this regard, beyond ordering directly from a company. 

Scott's pretty good over at Gamer's Armory, and if you ever need a hand I can always walk over there and talk to someone for you :)

Quote from: bayonetbrant on September 18, 2013, 09:08:51 PM

Quote from: Bison on September 18, 2013, 08:35:47 PMNWS is about as good as an online distributer as you can find in this regard, beyond ordering directly from a company. 

Scott's pretty good over at Gamer's Armory, and if you ever need a hand I can always walk over there and talk to someone for you :)

Yeah I didn't even think to look there.  Grrrrr...........

I've subscribed to the CSW Marketplace folder and have purchased several (most) games from there over the past number of years.  I know the frequent sellers and I've never been burned.  Almost all listings are detailed about the condition of the game and I've always gotten prompt replies from anybody that I contacted in regards to a game that they have for sale.  You can find some really good deals there.  And it's ok to advertise your wants.  Many times somebody will have a game on the shelf that they didn't think about selling but when they see a willing buyer advert for a game, many times you'll get what you're looking for. 

I was looking for SPI/TSR ETO (2nd edition) in unpunched condition.  Never thought I'd find it.  I had 3 people email me with their offer and I picked up one copy and it was as advertised.  I did the same for WiF 4th edition (didn't want the 5th/FE, I already have that).  Found a copy that way too. 

I think that the people selling there are in the mindset of being a wargamer like us.  They aren't looking for jacked up ebay prices (else they would of gone that route) and they know what it's like to get burned as a fellow wargamer.  99% of them just want to move out old and unplayed games and get what they can for them.

I haven't used BGG listings, there's just too many people on there that I only know on BGG. 

Thanks for the tip GJK.

Pfft...I got the "response" from Roundtree.  I swear it was a form letter.  Basically feel free to return it to amazon.   We had nothing to do with it, but we can assure you we sent it to amazon in new condition to their magical freaking warehouse of storage that magically pulls your order out of it ass and ships it to you.  It was somewhere in this magical warehouse that the damage or exchange for a non-new game must have happened.  Bah.  I'm too tired to deal with this asinine crap this evening.  On the plus side I should be really happy that it qualified for free shipping, so says the email!  GAH! 

Quote from: Bison on September 18, 2013, 10:45:13 PM
Pfft...I got the "response" from Roundtree.  I swear it was a form letter.  Basically feel free to return it to amazon.   We had nothing to do with it, but we can assure you we sent it to amazon in new condition to their magical freaking warehouse of storage that magically pulls your order out of it ass and ships it to you.  It was somewhere in this magical warehouse that the damage or exchange for a non-new game must have happened.  Bah.  I'm too tired to deal with this asinine crap this evening.  On the plus side I should be really happy that it qualified for free shipping, so says the email!  GAH! 

PITA. One downside to dealing with Amazon is that you will never talk to an actual human if something goes wrong. The upside is that if your order was filled by Amazon instead of the vendor, and it sounds like it was, then they should replace the damaged merch no questions asked.

Quote from: mirth on September 19, 2013, 08:00:00 AM
PITA. One downside to dealing with Amazon is that you will never talk to an actual human if something goes wrong. The upside is that if your order was filled by Amazon instead of the vendor, and it sounds like it was, then they should replace the damaged merch no questions asked.

I need to contact them but my only concern is the whole "Only 1 let in stock" statement when I ordered it.  In the end, I'll most likely just accept it and move on with enjoying the game.  Lesson learned I guess regardless of how annoying the damage is.

FWIW, I think Scott has them in stock if you wanted to return to Amazon adn get your money back.  But I'd call Scott first to confirm.

You could see if Stephen still has his copy (plus both expansions) for sale:
http://talk.consimworld.com/WebX?14@@.ee7011b/66097

Or Robert:
http://talk.consimworld.com/WebX?14@@.ee7011b/66034

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Unsurprisingly NWS sent me my purchased games with cellophane still covering undamaged boxes. 

That's quite a collection there!  Have you started the rules yet?

Quote from: GJK on September 21, 2013, 11:28:30 PM
That's quite a collection there!  Have you started the rules yet?

I've gotten through the basic rules.  Looking to punch counters tomorrow and get in a battle if I have time.

Grrr...just discovered one of the expansion boxes has a torn corner like the on I got off Amazon.  Fortunately I've got an entire roll of packing tape to fix game boxes.

Uh oh, he's even changed his avatart to a Panzer counter!  :) 

Let me know what you think about it.  I'm |   | that close to going ahead and removing the shrink on my copy and having a poke at it myself.

By the way, have you seen the VASSAL module for Panzer?  It looks *really* good!

http://www.vassalengine.org/wiki/Module:Panzer

Quote from: GJK on September 22, 2013, 12:09:23 AM
By the way, have you seen the VASSAL module for Panzer?  It looks *really* good!

http://www.vassalengine.org/wiki/Module:Panzer

I have and it looks great.  Not sure if I installed the extensions correctly though...:(

Quote from: GJK on September 22, 2013, 12:06:38 AM
Uh oh, he's even changed his avatart to a Panzer counter!  :)  .

This is actually a counter sample from Expansion #3, which I'm P500 this time.  Maybe I can get an undamaged box this time.

Bison if Amazon/Roundtree doesn't resolve things to your satisifaction, make sure you note your displeasure  in the seller comments on Amazon.

Quote from: mirth on September 23, 2013, 08:27:43 AM
Bison if Amazon/Roundtree doesn't resolve things to your satisifaction, make sure you note your displeasure  in the seller comments on Amazon.

That's the plan.  Just need to set aside some time to write a logical response to form my displeasure about the condition of the game I received.  The key is to be not too tired to form rational sentences.

Score!

The discussion about the new chariot racing game from Matrix piqued my interest so I hit Ebay and looked around for Circus Maximus. Tonight I snagged it. Only bidder.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/300993928495

Nice LB.

I did better, though.  Today I went to the FLGS with my buddy, the one that looks like it's from an episode of Pickers.

Anyway, I did a once-through of the boardgame section, fondled some minis, looked at a few models.  Then I did a once more through the boardgame section just in case.  Under a copy of some other used boardgame there was this ziplock bag full of stuff.  Pulled it out and it is a well-used copy of Magic Realm, one of my grail games.  So I did an inventory of the tiles and player cards, tons of chits, so I gave the guy $20 for it.

Not sure it's complete, but it should be complete enough for a game or two!

Awesome. Nothing like a grail game!

Went on a spending spree the last couple weeks.  Picked up:

Thunderbolt Apache Leader
Last Night On Earth
Rune Wars
Silent War
Birds Of Prey

..and these are yet to arrive:

Check Your 6! Jet Age
CY6! Star & Pyramid expansion
The Kaiser's Pirates
Boots On The Ground
Labyrinth: War On Terror
Republic Of Rome
Wings Of Glory starter
The American Aces (meant to get the Aces High version but chose the wrong one by accident.  They're inexpensive so I'll eventually get it along with Excalibre's Ironclads sometime in the future. )

There are quite a few in there that are solitaire capable, but not all.

Damn.. that list is larger than I originally thought.  :o   I'd like to hear any praises or warnings you guys may have about specific ones.  I've played some TAL and just laid out Silent War in preparation this weekend.  Just finished reading the Rune Wars manual and will be on to the Birds of Prey Quick Start manual for my evening reading habit.  Dunno when I'll get a group game going for those, however, so it'll mostly be familiarization runs with the group-oriented stuff.  I'm really looking forward to checking out some of the other air combat games and The Kaiser's Pirates, when they show up.

^ What - no World in Flames Nefaro?  :P

I've been toying with getting Phantom Leader Deluxe.

Quote from: JudgeDredd on October 26, 2013, 10:31:09 AM
^ What - no World in Flames Nefaro?  :P

I've been toying with getting Phantom Leader Deluxe.

As have I.

That's a great list, Nefaro. Last Night on Earth nails that Zombie B-movie vibe. If you do end up really liking it and want more, Growing Hunger is a terrific expansion, and Timber Peak is a nice standalone expansion. However, I would avoid Survival of the Fittest. It adds a bunch of overly fiddly nonsense to a basic game that struggles for it.

TA Leader is really good, but I simply wasn't playing it so I decided to trade it on.

Runewars is outstanding. The only problem at all with that game is that it's a very big item (I have the original coffin box edition) for something with a 4 player max. It manages to actually be a fairly simple game from turn to turn once people get the hang of it, though.

Boots on the Ground is an interesting little game. I had it for a while, then traded it on after playing it many times. The components have a...'different' look to them (the board in particular), but the game works. The box it comes in is a flimsy piece of crap, though.

Let us know what you end up thinking of Republic of Rome. I've been tempted previously. Some positive words here will probably push me over the edge.  ;D

I looked at Boots on the Ground very closely but the reviews on BGG swayed me against it.  I'd like to try it though some day.  It may be one of those games that you play a few times and then move it along as AB did.  Another one that is similar that I keep meaning to pick up is Phantom Fury (does quick double check to make sure that one isn't in your list of "my 100 games I bought the other day" list)  ;D .  PF info: http://www.boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/91010/phantom-fury

I also picked up the Wings of Glory starter kit and a few planes not too long ago.  We just haven't gotten that one to the table yet.  It's a light game, easy to learn and should be quite fun especially if you have some kids that you're trying to break in to wargaming.  I was reading your all's posts about CY6! and that's one that I'll have to look in to some more.  I have the planes now for it.  :)

No personal experience with the rest but TaL interests me.  I'll be curious to hear how easy it was for you to pick up and whether you think that it has the replayability in it to go back on to your table after several plays.

I think I did an AAR on Thunderbolt Apache Leader - on here somewhere I think

yep - here
http://grogheads.com/forums/index.php?topic=4287.15

I don't know if that will help you.

It was different to Phantom Leader and Hornet Leader in that there was a more tactical element to it. You had to plan your route to maximise your destruction and try and keep in cover and avoid hill hexsides.

I really liked it - but my favourite is Phantom Leader still.

Cool JD, I'll go have a read!

Quote from: GJK on October 26, 2013, 03:44:34 PM

No personal experience with the rest but TaL interests me.  I'll be curious to hear how easy it was for you to pick up and whether you think that it has the replayability in it to go back on to your table after several plays.

I've been happy with it.  As JD mentioned, it has more of a 'tactical element' than most of the "Leader" games since you have to not only account for AA cover and the higher value targets when flying but also use/avoid terrain as needed.  It livens up the aircraft movement quite a bit.

I don't think I'll enjoy any of the other "Leader" games as much, now that I've played TAL with it's randomized hex terrain setup.  It livened that up quite a bit and since Dan mentioned that Tiger Leader has similar use of terrain hex tiles, I'll be thinking hard on adding that one to my slowly growing collection.

Quote from: Arctic Blast on October 26, 2013, 02:20:01 PM

Let us know what you end up thinking of Republic of Rome. I've been tempted previously. Some positive words here will probably push me over the edge.  ;D

Will do. 

It may be awhile until I fire that one up.  I wanted an intrigue & backstabbery sorta game in this buying spree and this one seemed to be a bit unusual in that it also forces you to work together (to beat foreign invasion) despite playing against each other.  Sounds like a fun mix, but the same situation just screams for as many players as possible and I doubt a full experience can be had with only two or three players.   Rounding up more than that, at the same time, may be a chore.

Quote from: Staggerwing on September 16, 2012, 08:51:54 AM
Thx again!

  I acquired Bouvines 1214 a few weeks ago.  Here I have deployed the French Army:

Quote from: MengJiao on October 29, 2013, 04:27:32 PM

Quote from: Staggerwing on September 16, 2012, 08:51:54 AM
Thx again!

  I acquired Bouvines 1214 a few weeks ago.  Here I have deployed the French Army:

Cool. Can you give us some background on the battle. I'm not familiar with it.

Quote from: LongBlade on October 31, 2013, 04:05:35 PM

Quote from: MengJiao on October 29, 2013, 04:27:32 PM

Quote from: Staggerwing on September 16, 2012, 08:51:54 AM
Thx again!

  I acquired Bouvines 1214 a few weeks ago.  Here I have deployed the French Army:

Cool. Can you give us some background on the battle. I'm not familiar with it.

  Bouvines was the result of King John of England's sneaky plan to defeat Phillip II of France.  John was Richard the Lionheart's younger brother and he inherited a war with France over the Angevin holdings in France.  John had been losing the war for 10 years and in 1214 he had a plan to lure Phillip's main army south with his own troops while everybody else from the Portuguese to an English force under William Longsword attacked from the low countries (then part of the HRE).  By July, John had been thwarted and the main French army set out to knock out the big northern force before it could complete its assembly – BUT – SURPRISE – when the main French Army arrived to attack, they found the forces that the Holy Roman Emperor Otto IV had assembled were too big and/or formidable (having lots of good pikemen for example) and the French retreated and Otto pursued.  Then on Sunday, July 27, 1214, the French suddenly turned and deployed on a restricted front that favored their smaller (or at least less formidable) force allowing their somewhat shaky militia infantry to deploy in two lines for example.
Otto deployed somewhat hastily and attacked pretty crudely.  Things began to go wrong for Otto and company, though they nearly killed Phillip and probably did kill his horse.  Segments of Otto's force were successively isolated and routed and Otto's followers did him the favor of hauling him off the battlefield.  In the end, after pulling themselves together a few times and renewing their attacks, the French won a resounding victory and captured most of their noble foes (over a hundred) and killing almost 200 lesser knights and thousands of their retainers and pikemen.   As a result of all this – among other things – John ended up signing the Magna Carta.

Wowsers.

That's a fine battle to play, I'd say. Thanks for the history lesson!

Decision Games reprint of RAF Battle of Britain.

Just heard it's been dispatched  ;D

http://www.iguk.co.uk/products/raf-the-battle-of-britain-1940-8571.aspx

Quote from: JudgeDredd on November 05, 2013, 08:02:17 AM
Decision Games reprint of RAF Battle of Britain.

Just heard it's been dispatched  ;D

http://www.iguk.co.uk/products/raf-the-battle-of-britain-1940-8571.aspx

Whew!  They're proud of that one!

What do you mean Nefaro?

Quote from: JudgeDredd on November 05, 2013, 02:18:52 PM
What do you mean Nefaro?

Fifty three pounds?  Isn't that like eighty-five or ninety dollars, american?  :o  So the regular Sixty pound price is around a hundred?

Ah - yeah....about that.

I don't mind paying those prices for board games though. And I've been wanting a Battle of Britain one for some time.

I'll try and not let It interfere with my LnL Blood and Bridges AAR which I hope to be starting properly soon (still reading the rules)

Only 2 left and it looks like they won't ship outside of Europe. The USA isn't even on the drop down list for destinations.  :(

Quote from: Staggerwing on November 05, 2013, 07:42:28 PM
Only 2 left and it looks like they won't ship outside of Europe. The USA isn't even on the drop down list for destinations.  :(

Decision Games printed it in the U.S., so check them out. Here, NWS has it : http://yhst-12000246778232.stores.yahoo.net/rafdeluxe.html

Noble Knight has it, too : http://www.nobleknight.com/ProductDetail.asp_Q_ProductID_E_2147530352_A_InventoryID_E_2148017380_A_ProductLineID_E_403_A_ManufacturerID_E_118_A_CategoryID_E_16_A_GenreID_E_

Quote from: Arctic Blast on November 05, 2013, 09:48:59 PM

Quote from: Staggerwing on November 05, 2013, 07:42:28 PM
Only 2 left and it looks like they won't ship outside of Europe. The USA isn't even on the drop down list for destinations.  :(

Decision Games printed it in the U.S., so check them out. Here, NWS has it : http://yhst-12000246778232.stores.yahoo.net/rafdeluxe.html

Noble Knight has it, too : http://www.nobleknight.com/ProductDetail.asp_Q_ProductID_E_2147530352_A_InventoryID_E_2148017380_A_ProductLineID_E_403_A_ManufacturerID_E_118_A_CategoryID_E_16_A_GenreID_E_

Hot damn! Thanks AB- Just $47 at NWS to boot! Is this the same updated version?

I made the call and bought the game. Hope it was the right one...

lol

Nice one SW.

So - let me get this right - you paid $47 and I paid, wait for it, $86? That's some markup! I love the UK  ::)

Judge,

If it makes you feel any better the game was priced around $69 at AB's second link. And I did have to pay shipping so my cost was about $60. Also, I don't know if Chris at NWS actually has the game in stock or if he will be drop-shipping it so theres no way to tell when I'll actually have it.

Whaddaya know? I just got an email with a tracking number.  :)

lol - I'm glad you got it so cheap SW. Things in the UK are ridiculously expensive at the moment - have been for sometime and seem to be getting worse.

Well...I've just received mine - a few things stood out just on opening the box
1. Maps not mounted
I've been spoilt with mounted maps. It wouldn't have been a deal breaker for me as I wanted a good solo BoB game - but it was still a surprise to see no mounted maps.
2. Counters
Not many given the scale of the game...but like I said, this is just looking at it out the box
3. Rules
Look pretty complex!
4. Mistake!
There is a photo in a little document booklet that seems to be a kind of historical info booklet...and it has an image on it with the caption "Air Defences:Spitfires" and the picture is of Defiants! I kind of think that's a bit unforgivable.

In terms of quality of print, not great. I can only base that on games I've purchased from other companies. The info chart sheets just look like rather cheap card. The chits are fine and the player cards look good quality. Also, the maps, though not mounted, do look like decent quality in print and substance.

Plenty of rule books - one for the solitaire RAF player, one for the solitaire Axis player and one for two player. There are also two maps - one for solitaire and one for two player.

All in all, for the price, I'd have expected a bit better. I've certainly had better for a similar and lower price.

Just saying  ;)

Thanks for the mini-review Judge. I'll see how my copy looks and give you my impression as well.

AFA the miss-identified Defiant goes, in the beginning of the War sometimes Luftwaffe pilots would also mistake the Defiants for Spitfires and, especially, Hurricanes. Thus the LW would approach from the rear.

Not a good idea...

Aaaah - never knew that

Well - my enthusiasm hasn't wained given the contents. It looks like it will be a very good solitaire experience. So don't let me put a dampener on it for you

No worries- I'll unbox it with an open mind. ;)

Now I'm off to work...

Some photos - enjoy

Front
(https://www.grogheads.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi1160.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fq499%2Fwmar1967%2FBoard%2520Games%2FRAF%2520Battle%2520of%2520Britain%2F20131106_201002_zpsf6292770.jpg&hash=6cb38798ab7ee4dfcd388cddbb5ece5d4cd80606)
Back
(https://www.grogheads.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi1160.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fq499%2Fwmar1967%2FBoard%2520Games%2FRAF%2520Battle%2520of%2520Britain%2F20131106_201701_zps9a65c104.jpg&hash=e8074df02e23044ea1d9b75cfad348e6c93835c4)
RAF Cards (Front)
(https://www.grogheads.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi1160.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fq499%2Fwmar1967%2FBoard%2520Games%2FRAF%2520Battle%2520of%2520Britain%2F20131106_201030_zpsff8d61e2.jpg&hash=495f00f35dbe598e3183fae0687058f08586c589)
RAF Cards (Rear)
(https://www.grogheads.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi1160.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fq499%2Fwmar1967%2FBoard%2520Games%2FRAF%2520Battle%2520of%2520Britain%2F20131106_201022_zps340a706a.jpg&hash=5ffd809ce6e458510d720c7840eeacf5f6da458e)
Other RAF Cards
(https://www.grogheads.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi1160.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fq499%2Fwmar1967%2FBoard%2520Games%2FRAF%2520Battle%2520of%2520Britain%2F20131106_201037_zps26e3c5f6.jpg&hash=30916e6472d079efab85d7d12d09f36dc3b8481a)

Solitaire Kit
RAF Campaign Solitaire Rule Book
(https://www.grogheads.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi1160.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fq499%2Fwmar1967%2FBoard%2520Games%2FRAF%2520Battle%2520of%2520Britain%2F20131106_201055_zpsb4a0e204.jpg&hash=cd6578c11c39ecc24f4341b70efb1a73982a6234)
AXIS Campaign Solitaire Rule Book
(https://www.grogheads.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi1160.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fq499%2Fwmar1967%2FBoard%2520Games%2FRAF%2520Battle%2520of%2520Britain%2F20131106_201318_zps2c0d2eef.jpg&hash=9013083afcddb5e2b1862ba1dbc3b969df7e6b68)
Solitaire Campaign Map
(https://www.grogheads.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi1160.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fq499%2Fwmar1967%2FBoard%2520Games%2FRAF%2520Battle%2520of%2520Britain%2F20131106_201145_zps734e1b06.jpg&hash=45011a4f9d4902018407711a98a4bcb4e248d79b)
Sequence of Play (RAF and Axis Campaign)
(https://www.grogheads.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi1160.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fq499%2Fwmar1967%2FBoard%2520Games%2FRAF%2520Battle%2520of%2520Britain%2F20131106_201608_zpsf8c75a11.jpg&hash=0d128a213b2e3cfb6e50347e43bd27de4d90128c) (http://s1160.photobucket.com/user/wmar1967/media/Board%20Games/RAF%20Battle%20of%20Britain/20131106_201608_zpsf8c75a11.jpg.html)
Player Aid Cards
(https://www.grogheads.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi1160.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fq499%2Fwmar1967%2FBoard%2520Games%2FRAF%2520Battle%2520of%2520Britain%2F20131106_201212_zpsc894b396.jpg&hash=ee7d3b27f2810667aaee3e08bd12cde3944ef6cf)
(https://www.grogheads.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi1160.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fq499%2Fwmar1967%2FBoard%2520Games%2FRAF%2520Battle%2520of%2520Britain%2F20131106_201220_zps88d25efd.jpg&hash=f11a466309b5058cd8907353560775636d63007c)
(https://www.grogheads.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi1160.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fq499%2Fwmar1967%2FBoard%2520Games%2FRAF%2520Battle%2520of%2520Britain%2F20131106_201232_zpsf9f51736.jpg&hash=d20e7e43df28a086976247d6357005845e34e189)
(https://www.grogheads.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi1160.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fq499%2Fwmar1967%2FBoard%2520Games%2FRAF%2520Battle%2520of%2520Britain%2F20131106_201241_zps21b10f2a.jpg&hash=4217caee9684f786b22b8ca4ed52780aefce90ab)
(https://www.grogheads.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi1160.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fq499%2Fwmar1967%2FBoard%2520Games%2FRAF%2520Battle%2520of%2520Britain%2F20131106_201257_zps5902611e.jpg&hash=a8667eac61bf277c19669a0928cbd862344bc60a)
(https://www.grogheads.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi1160.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fq499%2Fwmar1967%2FBoard%2520Games%2FRAF%2520Battle%2520of%2520Britain%2F20131106_201305_zps7fcf832c.jpg&hash=0e014f4e271cbfc0d40702d69e966d6cbc0940eb)
The "history" Book
(https://www.grogheads.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi1160.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fq499%2Fwmar1967%2FBoard%2520Games%2FRAF%2520Battle%2520of%2520Britain%2F20131106_201331_zps8fbfa934.jpg&hash=0af5fd262b3f4ecd62a4786393ed4e81a4862569)
And the glaring error
(https://www.grogheads.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi1160.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fq499%2Fwmar1967%2FBoard%2520Games%2FRAF%2520Battle%2520of%2520Britain%2F20131106_201347_zps2f32a702.jpg&hash=4024b9aa5cc65e665bbfef57034f278e858552d5)
Counter Sheet Front
(https://www.grogheads.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi1160.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fq499%2Fwmar1967%2FBoard%2520Games%2FRAF%2520Battle%2520of%2520Britain%2F20131106_201402_zpsd0d85d23.jpg&hash=caf1ed48423bf22861724acebf8a52c456aa8d85)
Counter Sheet Rear
(https://www.grogheads.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi1160.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fq499%2Fwmar1967%2FBoard%2520Games%2FRAF%2520Battle%2520of%2520Britain%2F20131106_201412_zps8d9138b1.jpg&hash=6fa92403d0ee25ef07ff72e02659329a73e3837d)

Two Player Specials
Two Player Rule Book
(https://www.grogheads.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi1160.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fq499%2Fwmar1967%2FBoard%2520Games%2FRAF%2520Battle%2520of%2520Britain%2F20131106_201425_zps23f5fcea.jpg&hash=4ec2988a686f7b4b16070043d87f76f6a102e6ea)
Two Player Planning Board
(https://www.grogheads.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi1160.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fq499%2Fwmar1967%2FBoard%2520Games%2FRAF%2520Battle%2520of%2520Britain%2F20131106_201446_zps6622d407.jpg&hash=084f1efffeacfcec0d7c1ed827825dd91ac18539)
Two Player Campaign Map
(https://www.grogheads.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi1160.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fq499%2Fwmar1967%2FBoard%2520Games%2FRAF%2520Battle%2520of%2520Britain%2F20131106_201523_zpsb3e04bbd.jpg&hash=2c5811632e65957c85d4b067fe58788f9627073b)
Two Player Sequence of Play
(https://www.grogheads.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi1160.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fq499%2Fwmar1967%2FBoard%2520Games%2FRAF%2520Battle%2520of%2520Britain%2F20131106_201600_zpsbe18f614.jpg&hash=da239aef42c2cae0d95ce2ae4c891b07fbf57622)

I think it was good they produced 3 different rule books as opposed to one big fat one with sections being split to explain if you are playing RAF Solitaire, Axis Solitaire or Two player.

Wow.  I almost get a stiffy just looking at all that gaming goodness! 

lol - too much info  :D

Thanks for those pix Judge. Now I'm going to keep refreshing the USPS tracking page on my phone all day long until it gets here...  :D

Quote from: JudgeDredd on November 06, 2013, 02:42:34 AM
lol

Nice one SW.

So - let me get this right - you paid $47 and I paid, wait for it, $86? That's some markup! I love the UK  ::)

At least your country actually contains wargames for sale. Slim pickings up here, generally speaking. Sentry Box in Calgary is awesome, but that's a 5 hour round trip (not counting browsing time).

Anyway, hopefully you both enjoy RAF...and let me know how it is, since I've considered picking it up as well.  :D

That actually looks pretty good Judge.  Man I'm hoping to get an email from GMT one of these weeks letting me know one of my P500s has been shipped.  Unfortunately I think the first will be shipped no earlier than December, but most likely some point after the new year.  /sigh/

Thanks for the pics JD.

My copy is in the mail  8)

I bought it on eBay for $52. It's shipping from Canada so was the cheapest option for me. I saw it on sale at NWS for $46. Great deal!

Yeah - it doesn't look too bad.

I'm just comparing it to what I've had before. I don't have a huge boardgame collection so I'm basing it on LnL Blood and Bridges, DVG Hornet Leader, DVG Phantom Leader, Conflict of Heroes, LnL Band of Heroes and DVG Thunderbolt Apache Leader - and those are VERY high production games at a similar price.

But I'm very much looking forward to the game...though it's on hold at the moment because I'm busy chugging through the rules for Blood and Bridges

You know I was looking at that map and I have to agree Judge.  I just don't get why of all the components companies seem to go cheap on the map.  The map and counters should be the highest quality materials in a board game.  For example I don't overly mind the card stock maps used in ASL, but why the hell would GMT use a cheap paper map for Ancients C&C?  Seriously use at least a card stock although I'd prefer a mounted map.

You Evil Flithy Bastards persuaded me to also pick up RAF.   >:(  While buying that, I then tossed in B-29 for some of that extra solitaire B-17 style gameplay too.  :P

But my big mongo-splurge is the more than $120 I paid for the newer 3rd Edition DungeonQuest sets.  Since Fantasy Flight evidentally doesn't plan to make another print run anytime soon, and brand-spanking-new copies look to be rather rare right now, I wanted to grab one while I could.  Oddly enough, I still have my old Games Workshop version from ~1985 but the latest edition just look sooo much improved, to include the usual quality parts in FF's games.  Despite it's brutality, I always loved the way that game played out.  I should've jumped on it back when there will still plenty of copies left - alas I didn't know they did so until recently.  I have yet to find a randomized dungeon crawler tabletop game that quite compares to it's style and rate of variation on each playthrough.

This brings me to a point I wanna make.  I recall, back in the 80s, that picking up tabletop wargames & such was fairly easy.  I don't recall any "out of print" problems when I was looking for something back then.  Perhaps because there was so much variety at the time?  I dunno.. but I'm finding myself buying a few tabletop games that I don't have time to play right now, just because I fear that they will be out of print - possibly forever.  I certainly don't want to be caught having to pay and addition 50-100% over the old regular price if I put off purchasing a title I definitely want for a half-year.  But that seems to be how things are right now.  Buy it soon, or possibly get stuck with the 'Out Of Print' high prices and searching.  :-\

Do today's game companies skimp on quantities for print runs as much as possible?  It seems like many of them run out rather quickly.

Well GMT's latest newsletter left me disappointed yet again.  I will continue to wait for one of my P500 orders to be charged and shipped.

Just got notice today that "The Hunters" was charged and will be shipping soon.  Some of the AAR's lately on CSW have it hyped up pretty well so I'm anxious to go out on my first patrol.  Some of the AAR's for it start around here and are a good read if you like u-boat action:  http://talk.consimworld.com/WebX?14@@.1dd59bc8/722

lol Nefaro.

I Haven't even read the rules yet and put up any impressions!

It does look good and what I read about it it seems like an excellent single player game.

I wanted to ask...I was going to buy some cardboard to mount the map...what's the best way to stick it down? Just at the edges with celotape? Using paste or glue on the back? covering in a clear sticky protector? Or just leaving? At least just leaving means I can put it in the box again rather than leave it out and risk damage.

Judge, please please please do an AAR on your solitaire play of RAF  :)

Will do. But I think that's maybe a month or two away.

I have Blood and Bridges to do (just reading the rules for a second time). Two things are slowing me up with Blood and Bridges
1. A new cat!
2. Rugby. I like a wee drink when I watch the rugby and unfortunately there's been games on for the last couple of weeks and for the next two weeks, so weekends are not usable at the moment

I think I'll strike it up during the week and put it under the sofa to stop the cat getting at it (it's a mental wee kitten - the most dangerous sort!)

Quote from: JudgeDredd on November 15, 2013, 04:09:50 AM
....and put it under the sofa to stop the cat getting at it (it's a mental wee kitten - the most dangerous sort!)

will there be a cat-safe  ;) VASSAL-module released too?

Quote from: MikeGER on November 15, 2013, 04:32:11 AM

Quote from: JudgeDredd on November 15, 2013, 04:09:50 AM
....and put it under the sofa to stop the cat getting at it (it's a mental wee kitten - the most dangerous sort!)

will there be a cat-safe  ;) VASSAL-module released too?

There is a cat safe VASSAL module of Blood and Bridges here:
http://lnlpublishing.com/community-menu/lnl-on-vassal

JD: if playing your physical copy of the game, never use tape, glue or stickytac to secure the mapsheets down to the table.
Two options. 
1) Buy a piece of thin plexiglass from your local hardware store and use that to place over your mapsheet.

2) Buy a poster frame to place the mapsheet in to (ex: http://www.displays2go.com/P-4662/Cheap-Poster-Frames-Hold-24-x-36-Prints?gclid=CNyV6Jri5roCFS8S7AodkXAA1Q)

Remember, your boardgame collection has to last FOREVER.  Do take care of it!

;) ;D

Quote from: Barthheart on November 15, 2013, 07:03:25 AM

Quote from: MikeGER on November 15, 2013, 04:32:11 AM

Quote from: JudgeDredd on November 15, 2013, 04:09:50 AM
....and put it under the sofa to stop the cat getting at it (it's a mental wee kitten - the most dangerous sort!)

will there be a cat-safe  ;) VASSAL-module released too?

There is a cat safe VASSAL module of Blood and Bridges here:
http://lnlpublishing.com/community-menu/lnl-on-vassal

Whilst I don't mind Vassal (and I think I have the module for Blood and Bridges) - for me the whole point - the whole feeling - of a boardgame is handling the counters and the map and the cards and rolling the dice. It really is (to borrow a Matrix/Slitherine phrase) all about the physical product for me. To play it on Vassal removes that special feeling.

Vassal is obviously excellent for playing against opponents - but then I don't buy solitaire boardgames to play with other people  ;D

Quote from: GJK on November 15, 2013, 07:16:39 AM
JD: if playing your physical copy of the game, never use tape, glue or stickytac to secure the mapsheets down to the table.
Two options. 
1) Buy a piece of thin plexiglass from your local hardware store and use that to place over your mapsheet.

2) Buy a poster frame to place the mapsheet in to (ex: http://www.displays2go.com/P-4662/Cheap-Poster-Frames-Hold-24-x-36-Prints?gclid=CNyV6Jri5roCFS8S7AodkXAA1Q)

Remember, your boardgame collection has to last FOREVER.  Do take care of it!

;) ;D

Excellent advice GJK. I did think if I don't do anything with the map then it's likely to get ruined anyway, what with folding it all the time.

I'll have a look about locally for the poster frames...hope they do them in the size required. Thanks.  ;)

In the US, you can usually find a lot of poster frame cheap in late August / early September when all the back-to-school sales are happening, especially if you have a college campus nearby and lots of people sticking things for dorm rooms.  I picked up a bunch of 24x36 plastic frames at $5 each one year.  They're normally $20-$30 each.

Quote from: GJK on November 14, 2013, 09:49:58 PM
Just got notice today that "The Hunters" was charged and will be shipping soon.  Some of the AAR's lately on CSW have it hyped up pretty well so I'm anxious to go out on my first patrol.  Some of the AAR's for it start around here and are a good read if you like u-boat action:  http://talk.consimworld.com/WebX?14@@.1dd59bc8/722

Hrmm..  I haven't received a notice yet.  Of course, I didn't pre-order until last month. 

The newsletter mentioned it not shipping until after the 23rd of November.  Or "10 days after the other titles" which were starting on the 13th.  ???


Edit:  Doah!  Did the smart thing and checked my bank transactions.  It was just charged today.   Must be a missing email notification. 

My turn to "Squee!"

Quote from: JudgeDredd on November 15, 2013, 07:21:45 AM

Quote from: Barthheart on November 15, 2013, 07:03:25 AM

Quote from: MikeGER on November 15, 2013, 04:32:11 AM

Quote from: JudgeDredd on November 15, 2013, 04:09:50 AM
....and put it under the sofa to stop the cat getting at it (it's a mental wee kitten - the most dangerous sort!)

will there be a cat-safe  ;) VASSAL-module released too?

There is a cat safe VASSAL module of Blood and Bridges here:
http://lnlpublishing.com/community-menu/lnl-on-vassal

Whilst I don't mind Vassal (and I think I have the module for Blood and Bridges) - for me the whole point - the whole feeling - of a boardgame is handling the counters and the map and the cards and rolling the dice. It really is (to borrow a Matrix/Slitherine phrase) all about the physical product for me. To play it on Vassal removes that special feeling.

Vassal is obviously excellent for playing against opponents - but then I don't buy solitaire boardgames to play with other people  ;D

Absolutely agree with you regarding the physical aspect of board games, and I'm also suffering from inquisitive kitten syndrome at the moment. She can hear the most carefully rolled dice no matter where in the house she is, and will be there, paws at the ready, before the last dice has stopped rolling.

Have you considered just having her take over dice-rolling duty?

Jackson Galaxy (http://jacksongalaxy.com/my-cat-from-hell/) could probably help.

Quote from: Staggerwing on November 16, 2013, 07:59:33 AM
Have you considered just having her take over dice-rolling duty?

Problem is, she does not know when to stop rolling 'em, and is not happy until they are off the table and on the floor, at which point, the counters are next. She really likes those nice big CoH counters.

I have concluded that the best method of ensuring a cat does not disturb your boardgaming is to either:

A) Do not boardgame

or

B) Do not have a cat

The game table awaits my opponent (son) to get ready.  The world awaits its Twilight Struggle!

(https://www.grogheads.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.garykrockover.com%2Fuploads%2FTS_pregame.jpg&hash=aaf8f158e1b5e1f3c61803d49027b4588868bbcd)

...and lurking underneath is a destructive force much worse than the nuclear missiles that the game represents!!

(https://www.grogheads.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.garykrockover.com%2Fuploads%2FTS_booboo.jpg&hash=ddc02a745edd96d7ebb11f1ad15d1169c0bfa7e0)

Singularly Assured Destruction!

Quote from: GJK on November 15, 2013, 07:16:39 AM
JD: if playing your physical copy of the game, never use tape, glue or stickytac to secure the mapsheets down to the table.
Two options. 
1) Buy a piece of thin plexiglass from your local hardware store and use that to place over your mapsheet.

2) Buy a poster frame to place the mapsheet in to (ex: http://www.displays2go.com/P-4662/Cheap-Poster-Frames-Hold-24-x-36-Prints?gclid=CNyV6Jri5roCFS8S7AodkXAA1Q)

Remember, your boardgame collection has to last FOREVER.  Do take care of it!

;) ;D

Thx GJK for the great tip. I would never have thought of putting them in poster frames. I was actually (can you believe) thinking I could cover them in that sticky film!! The horror!!

These may be a bit OTT (£27 for both) but it was a local shop and I could get them today  ;D

(https://www.grogheads.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi1160.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fq499%2Fwmar1967%2FBoard%2520Games%2FRAF%2520Battle%2520of%2520Britain%2F20131116_182747_zps264155be.jpg&hash=ed147f1724a707941ca56c1907a2524045e31aa6)

Those are the nicer looking and sturdier frames and probably well worth the extra $$.  I need to pick up a couple of those myself actually.

Just after I got home from work, the doorbell rang.  My son answered the door and had a quick exchange with the man that had come to pay us a little visit.  Next, the door shut and my son exclaims "somebody got a new game!".  I knew immediately what it was:

(https://www.grogheads.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.garykrockover.com%2Fuploads%2FRising_Sun.jpg&hash=5cb272d5110c2cf0d9a8bc5728258bd831732fe1)
An ASL Core Module that was just (re)released.  Actually, it combines two of the original Core Modules in to one box along with a mini-HASL.  I think the pre-order price was $95.00.  It retails for $164.00 now and once it goes out of print - in about a year - ebay will fetch $300+ for it without a doubt.  My goal is to some day play the Pacific in ASL.  I've heard how exciting it is either leading a banzai charge or how nerve racking it is facing one.  If I should never get to play it though, then this along with the rest of my ASL collection is my kids college fund, so there.   8)

Is that stand-alone?

Nope - nothing in ASL is.  Requires ownership of the rules and probably the "Yanks" too for the Americans.  Some of the scenarios may/probably require maps from other modules too.  Only the Starter Kits are each self-contained.  That would be great if they moved to the PTO with the SK's.

Quote from: GJK on November 21, 2013, 08:09:58 AM
Just after I got home from work, the doorbell rang.  My son answered the door and had a quick exchange with the man that had come to pay us a little visit.  Next, the door shut and my son exclaims "somebody got a new game!".  I knew immediately what it was:

(https://www.grogheads.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.garykrockover.com%2Fuploads%2FRising_Sun.jpg&hash=5cb272d5110c2cf0d9a8bc5728258bd831732fe1)
An ASL Core Module that was just (re)released.  Actually, it combines two of the original Core Modules in to one box along with a mini-HASL.  I think the pre-order price was $95.00.  It retails for $164.00 now and once it goes out of print - in about a year - ebay will fetch $300+ for it without a doubt.  My goal is to some day play the Pacific in ASL.  I've heard how exciting it is either leading a banzai charge or how nerve racking it is facing one.  If I should never get to play it though, then this along with the rest of my ASL collection is my kids college fund, so there.   8)

NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I forgot to add. I expect to see photos tomorrow of all the counters punched, clipped, and organized. 

Oh man, I can't swing $167 for an expansion to a game that's already well over $100 to buy.  That's just too much for one game.

Quote from: Bison on November 21, 2013, 07:39:25 PM
I forgot to add. I expect to see photos tomorrow of all the counters punched, clipped, and organized.

1,892 total counters.  Should have those lacquered, punched, clipped and sorted in....hmmm, what year is this? 

Quote from: GJK on November 21, 2013, 09:09:18 PM

Quote from: Bison on November 21, 2013, 07:39:25 PM
I forgot to add. I expect to see photos tomorrow of all the counters punched, clipped, and organized.

1,892 total counters.  Should have those lacquered, punched, clipped and sorted in....hmmm, what year is this?

Tomorrow or you're not as hardcore as I thought you were man!

Quote from: Toonces on November 21, 2013, 08:18:08 PM
Oh man, I can't swing $167 for an expansion to a game that's already well over $100 to buy.  That's just too much for one game.

Gotta get in on those pre-orders.  $95 was what it P500'd for and I see a copy on ebay already for $192.41.

The SK-HASL "Decision at Elst" would be a great one to pre-order. $48, it's a stand alone product and has a campaign game:  http://www.multimanpublishing.com/Products/tabid/58/ProductID/258/Default.aspx (http://www.multimanpublishing.com/Products/tabid/58/ProductID/258/Default.aspx)

You can pick it up from NWS for $105 plus s/h.

Quote from: Bison on November 21, 2013, 09:12:06 PM

Quote from: GJK on November 21, 2013, 09:09:18 PM

Quote from: Bison on November 21, 2013, 07:39:25 PM
I forgot to add. I expect to see photos tomorrow of all the counters punched, clipped, and organized.

1,892 total counters.  Should have those lacquered, punched, clipped and sorted in....hmmm, what year is this?

Tomorrow or you're not as hardcore as I thought you were man!

Yes, I do feel a scratchy throat coming on.  Hello boss....

Quote from: Bison on November 21, 2013, 09:14:23 PM
You can pick it up from NWS for $105 plus s/h.

I don't know how Chris makes his money, he sells them for near what the pre-order prices were.  That's a great deal if you've been needing the Code of Bushido/Gung Ho modules for ASL (Rising Sun replaces both of those plus adds more).

Quote from: GJK on November 21, 2013, 09:16:50 PM

Quote from: Bison on November 21, 2013, 09:14:23 PM
You can pick it up from NWS for $105 plus s/h.

I don't know how Chris makes his money, he sells them for near what the pre-order prices were.  That's a great deal if you've been needing the Code of Bushido/Gung Ho modules for ASL (Rising Sun replaces both of those plus adds more).

I'm sure he orders pre-order in bulk with some sort of discount.  He cannot have a huge profit margin, but then again NWS never really struck me as being about profit so much as about the hobby and bringing it to people at affordable rates.

My panty raid on the FFG website's super sale has arrived.

Fortress America, Horus Heresy, and Letter of Marque showed up this afternoon. All for less than the full retail cost of Horus Heresy by itself. w00t!

Quote from: bob48 on November 16, 2013, 06:42:59 AM
Absolutely agree with you regarding the physical aspect of board games, and I'm also suffering from inquisitive kitten syndrome at the moment. She can hear the most carefully rolled dice no matter where in the house she is, and will be there, paws at the ready, before the last dice has stopped rolling.

I love it!!  I hear exactly what you're saying.  Does your kitty also love to jump into the empty game box as well after you've set up the game?

GMT is mocking me with there release schedule.  Looks like CC: Mediterranean got bumped back to January. 

My orders from Cult of the New might actually get here today! Eldritch Horror, Fresco, King of Tokyo : Halloween expansion and a couple of Zombicide zombie packs, all grabbed during crazy weekend sales.  :D

I've been given a copy of Critical Hit's 'Advanced Tobruk' system base game. Not had chance to look at it yet, but there is a lot of stuff in the box.

I have the ATS D-Day Rangers standalone game. I've had it for a long time but I find ATS as confusing as ASL. I did scoop up a strategy guide a few months ago during Thoughthammer's going out of business sale but have not had a chance to read it.

Just been looking through the rules, and it does seem quite involved. It does feel kinda ASL ish to me. As far as I remember, its based on an earlier AH game as well.

There is a simplified training game with it, so I might muck about with that. One thing that's putting me off is the number of 1/2" marker counters involved. I can see that bigger unit stacks may start to get messy.

These days, I find that games such as WaW, NaR and CoH tickle my tactical glands very well and don't involve a raft of rules that have to be absorbed. Anyway, I still have a few Desert Heat scenario's to play.

Star Wars Card Game and some expansion decks.

Its been very uneventful on the gaming front lately but for Christmas I scored Academy Games' 1775 Rebellion!


http://academygames.com/games/birth-of-america/1775-rebellion

...  and your review will arrive in how many days?  ;)

Quote from: bayonetbrant on December 28, 2013, 09:06:26 AM
...  and your review will arrive in how many days?  ;)

You may want to measure that time period in weeks or months.....  :P

Quote from: TheCommandTent on December 28, 2013, 09:20:56 AM

Quote from: bayonetbrant on December 28, 2013, 09:06:26 AM
...  and your review will arrive in how many days?  ;)

You may want to measure that time period in weeks or months.....  :P

It's a period of time referred to as the Star Time Paradigm.

Quote from: Bison on December 28, 2013, 09:24:52 AM

Quote from: TheCommandTent on December 28, 2013, 09:20:56 AM

Quote from: bayonetbrant on December 28, 2013, 09:06:26 AM
...  and your review will arrive in how many days?  ;)

You may want to measure that time period in weeks or months.....  :P

It's a period of time referred to as the Star Time Paradigm.

That joke.  :)

Quote from: Bison on December 28, 2013, 09:24:52 AM

Quote from: TheCommandTent on December 28, 2013, 09:20:56 AM

Quote from: bayonetbrant on December 28, 2013, 09:06:26 AM
...  and your review will arrive in how many days?  ;)

You may want to measure that time period in weeks or months.....  :P

It's a period of time referred to as the Star Time Paradigm.

Actually, wouldn't that be "never"? 

Well I just received a P500 I ordered last year following Prezcon.  My Combat Commander collection is growing closer to complete.  I have 2 of the 6 modules on P500, which should also be arriving soon.

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Complete impulse purchases this past weekend at my local (1 hour away) gaming store.  I've heard good things about the Civ game and my wife said she thought it looks interesting and would give it a try.

The Gettysburg game I bought just on "judging a book by its cover."  I love the look of the game map and the way the forces are portrayed during game play.


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Looked up the Gettysburg game on BBG.  It looks interesting. 

Quote from: Bison on February 21, 2014, 06:17:51 AM
Looked up the Gettysburg game on BBG.  It looks interesting.

I haven't had time to really dig into the rules but again I was completely suckered in by pretty pictures of the game and this marketing line on the back of the box, "Units in the game are represented by linear blocks rather than the traditional hex and counters, giving the game an appearance that evokes 19th-century battlemaps."

Dark Valley just arrived....  Looks very good.

Quote from: TheCommandTent on February 21, 2014, 06:39:42 AM

Quote from: Bison on February 21, 2014, 06:17:51 AM
Looked up the Gettysburg game on BBG.  It looks interesting.

I haven't had time to really dig into the rules but again I was completely suckered in by pretty pictures of the game and this marketing line on the back of the box, "Units in the game are represented by linear blocks rather than the traditional hex and counters, giving the game an appearance that evokes 19th-century battlemaps."

Yeah the block look is really cool.

Quote from: Bison on February 23, 2014, 06:02:11 PM

Quote from: TheCommandTent on February 21, 2014, 06:39:42 AM

Quote from: Bison on February 21, 2014, 06:17:51 AM
Looked up the Gettysburg game on BBG.  It looks interesting.

I haven't had time to really dig into the rules but again I was completely suckered in by pretty pictures of the game and this marketing line on the back of the box, "Units in the game are represented by linear blocks rather than the traditional hex and counters, giving the game an appearance that evokes 19th-century battlemaps."

Yeah the block look is really cool.

Except I have to put stickers on all of them.  But then again its not nearly as bad as Command and Colors Ancients.  ::)

Quote from: Bison on February 11, 2014, 08:17:22 PM
Well I just received a P500 I ordered last year following Prezcon.  My Combat Commander collection is growing closer to complete.  I have 2 of the 6 modules on P500, which should also be arriving soon.

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I just got the last one I was missing. The Resistance game. I don't have the Sea Lion battle pack but I don't want it.

If you want to play on Vassal let me know. I'm doing some scenario creation work with this series of games and can use another playtester if you are interested. To convert my CM scenarios will take awhile.... :o

Good Hunting.

MR

I need to pick up the Resistance too.  Mostly for the random battle generator and to work on completing my collection. 

Quote from: TheCommandTent on February 21, 2014, 06:39:42 AM

Quote from: Bison on February 21, 2014, 06:17:51 AM
Looked up the Gettysburg game on BBG.  It looks interesting.

I haven't had time to really dig into the rules but again I was completely suckered in by pretty pictures of the game and this marketing line on the back of the box, "Units in the game are represented by linear blocks rather than the traditional hex and counters, giving the game an appearance that evokes 19th-century battlemaps."

Bowen Simmons did Napoleon's Triumph which is a fantastic game. I didn't realize he had finished Guns of Gettysburg. It was a long time in development and I lost track of it.

I think you'll be very happy with your purchase. Simmons makes elegant, innovative games.

So then, you don't play? You just collect?

Good Hunting.

MR

I've really just started to read the rules on Combat Commander.  It's been on my stack of games, but Panzer and ASLSK were the last two games I spent time setting up and playing.  I'd be up for some Vassal, if I can figure out when a good time to do so would be.

Quote from: Bison on February 26, 2014, 07:56:06 PM
I've really just started to read the rules on Combat Commander.  It's been on my stack of games, but Panzer and ASLSK were the last two games I spent time setting up and playing.  I'd be up for some Vassal, if I can figure out when a good time to do so would be.

Email me if you decide if you want to give it a try.

Good Hunting.

MR

Here's my latest beauty, 'Winter War', the first part of the new operational level wargame series 'The Finnish Trilogy' by swedish indie developer Mikugames.

(https://www.grogheads.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fs13.postimg.org%2F7imk4elc6%2FWP_20140301_005.jpg&hash=20fc18ce2630ba2dba182f76d08f2fca4b5d12cd)

More info and better quality pics can be found here:

http://www.mikugames.com/ (http://www.mikugames.com/)

http://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/32477/the-finnish-trilogy-1939-1945-winter-war-1939-1940 (http://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/32477/the-finnish-trilogy-1939-1945-winter-war-1939-1940)

Sounds like an interesting game tinker.

I just won an ebay aution for Hunt for Red October.  I've been wanting it for a while.  It looks like a fairly lite naval wargame, which is about all I can handle lately.

Quote from: Toonces on March 02, 2014, 04:42:21 PM
I just won an ebay aution for Hunt for Red October.  I've been wanting it for a while.  It looks like a fairly lite naval wargame, which is about all I can handle lately.

I recall enjoying it a bit when I was younger.  I was a devoted Harpoon disciple at the time so it definitely seemed pretty light and therefore didn't get much play time. 

I had seen a copy or two on Ebay awhile back and debated getting one.  Then I started thinking that if I were to get a 'light' naval game I would probably give Dan Verssen's Modern Naval Battles series a try instead.

Quote from: Toonces on March 02, 2014, 04:42:21 PM<br>I just won an ebay aution for <strong>Hunt for Red October</strong>. &nbsp;I've been wanting it for a while. &nbsp;It looks like a fairly lite naval wargame, which is about all I can handle lately.<br>

<br>I used to own that and the Red Storm Rising game. I wish I had hung on to them. I probably sold them at a yard sale for a buck each :-(

Quote from: Toonces on March 02, 2014, 04:42:21 PM
I just won an ebay aution for Hunt for Red October.  I've been wanting it for a while.  It looks like a fairly lite naval wargame, which is about all I can handle lately.

Nice! That was one of the first board strategy games I ever played. If you can find Red Storm Rising, the two can be played together as well. I recall enjoying them, but it has been awhile.

I actually got Red Storm Rising about 8 years ago.  So, I'm pretty set now.

[quote author=Toonces link=topic=2913.msg239850#msg239850 date=1393804379&lt;br&gt;I actually got Red Storm Rising about 8 years ago. &amp;nbsp;So, I'm pretty set now.&lt;br&gt; So you're the guy I sold it to for a buck! :/

Here's the nice surprise I came home to today after a long day at work.

(https://www.grogheads.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi830.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fzz227%2FBison36%2Fphoto_zps5f65ee3b.jpg&hash=8214df365a117f2651f2d37642b0054d3fa29aab)

Battle Packs #1 and #2 for Combat Commander.  I've been reading the rules and planning on clipping counters and setting up a game or two this weekend.

^ Nice!!  I've got Battle Pack #2 but I still need to get #1 plus some more counter trays from GMT.

I've been looking through the scenario cards for the battle packs...some really good stuff in there. So far, I've only played the stock CC:E scenarios, though.

I need CC : Med...more for the damn box than anything else! I can't fit everything into the stupid CC:E box.

^Nice acquisitions. I bought battle pack #2 myself a few months ago along with battle pack #3 (Normandy) and the Med expansion. I almost went with the Paratrooper pack when I was trying to decide between it or the Normandy pack.

Groggy

Got a great deal on Blackbeard via a BGG auction.  Spent last night clipping counters and sleeving cards.  Hope to get a game in this weekend.

Quote from: ArizonaTank on March 06, 2014, 07:14:05 AM
Got a great deal on Blackbeard via a BGG auction.  Spent last night clipping counters and sleeving cards.  Hope to get a game in this weekend.

Is that the old AH one?

I recall having that long ago.. dunno where the hell it went.   Been seeing the occasional one pop up for sale but with my backlog, it's not a priority.

Quote from: Nefaro on March 06, 2014, 09:46:24 AM

Quote from: ArizonaTank on March 06, 2014, 07:14:05 AM
Got a great deal on Blackbeard via a BGG auction.  Spent last night clipping counters and sleeving cards.  Hope to get a game in this weekend.

Is that the old AH one?

I recall having that long ago.. dunno where the hell it went.   Been seeing the occasional one pop up for sale but with my backlog, it's not a priority.

No, not the AH one.  Richard Berg did a complete overhaul, including a fine-tuning and streamlining of the old AH rules.  GMT published the revision in 2008 and now has been reprinted.  I haven't played the original, but I've read that the GMT / Berg version eliminates downtime, and is more what today's gamer's expect. 

The game supports solitaire play, so trying that out this weekend.

This being the anniversary year for WWI, I've been moving from my usual WWII fare to games of that earlier time.

Using my tax refund, I decided to do something I've never done, and get a monster.  So I took the plunge and bought the entire SPW Der Weltkrieg series, with the "Grand Campaign" module.  What really pulled me over was the availability of the vassal module.  I will never have the space to lay out the entire map, and leave it there for long periods, but vassal does it nicely. 

Also, for a monster, the base rules are pretty straight forward...only 20 pages or so.
 
So for my gaming project this year, I want to get through at least 1914 of the Grand Campaign.  Four days per game turn...20Km / hex....5600 counters...  Gonna take me a while.

I am also toying with the idea of moderating / playing a "living" vassal game...if there is interest.  Letting players come and go... Commanding entire fronts or just armies...and leaving when they want.  Kind of like the old "living games" of Europa Universalis they used to have, where one player would play a ruler, when that ruler died, then pass the game to the next player.

I nominate one of the OCS games, such as Case Blue (http://www.boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/29285/case-blue)! Oh, and I also volunteer to participate.

Quote from: ArizonaTank on March 07, 2014, 05:47:38 AM
This being the anniversary year for WWI, I've been moving from my usual WWII fare to games of that earlier time.

Using my tax refund, I decided to do something I've never done, and get a monster.  So I took the plunge and bought the entire SPW Der Weltkrieg series, with the "Grand Campaign" module. 

What really pulled me over was the availability of the vassal module.  I will never have the space to lay out the entire map, and leave it there for long periods, but vassal does it nicely.  Without a vassal module, I would not have even tried this game.

Another reason I decided to pull the trigger is that base rules are pretty straight forward...only 20 pages or so.  I can handle the logistics of a large game, if I can easily keep the rules straight in my head.
 
So for my gaming project this year, I want to get through at least 1914 of the Grand Campaign.  Four days per game turn...20Km / hex....5600 counters...  Gonna take me a while.

I am also toying with the idea of moderating / playing a "living" vassal game...if there is interest.  Letting players come and go... Commanding entire fronts or just armies...and leaving when they want.  Kind of like the old "living games" of Europa Universalis they used to have, where one player would play a ruler, when that ruler died, then pass the game to the next player.

SPW publishes their base rules on the web if anyone wants to see what they are like.
http://www.spwgame.com/rules/Sterling_Standard_2013.pdf

Quote from: ArizonaTank on March 07, 2014, 04:46:25 AM

Quote from: Nefaro on March 06, 2014, 09:46:24 AM

Quote from: ArizonaTank on March 06, 2014, 07:14:05 AM
Got a great deal on Blackbeard via a BGG auction.  Spent last night clipping counters and sleeving cards.  Hope to get a game in this weekend.

Is that the old AH one?

I recall having that long ago.. dunno where the hell it went.   Been seeing the occasional one pop up for sale but with my backlog, it's not a priority.

No, not the AH one.  Richard Berg did a complete overhaul, including a fine-tuning and streamlining of the old AH rules.  GMT published the revision in 2008 and now has been reprinted.  I haven't played the original, but I've read that the GMT / Berg version eliminates downtime, and is more what today's gamer's expect. 

The game supports solitaire play, so trying that out this weekend.

Oh WOW!

I didn't know it was revised and reprinted!  ;D   8)

It'll probably all be sold and out of print again before I get enough pocket change to purchase.  :-\

These are a little on the light side.  Not too crunchy.

(https://www.grogheads.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi1245.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fgg600%2Fmcyeatman%2F9BE3A0B1-7D7F-4344-99F3-BD7BF7BB0E23_zpswqiq35vf.jpg&hash=be6616886f2be3c3f99991dfef2fce5766169cc3) (http://s1245.photobucket.com/user/mcyeatman/media/9BE3A0B1-7D7F-4344-99F3-BD7BF7BB0E23_zpswqiq35vf.jpg.html)

I enjoyed playing Memoir 44 last year at Prezcon and the Field Commander series is something I still need to get into.

All I can tell you right now is D-Day Dice in hard solitaire.  It's kicking my a$$.

Showed up just in time for my birthday!

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Wow, Bart.  You weren't messing around!  :D

Actually they are payment for work I'm doing for LnLP. I like getting games better than money from game companies because I'd never be able to use the money to buy actual games... too many bills need to come first. This way my wife doesn't get bent out of shape... I'm not buying games, I'm earning them.  ;)

sounds like a good trade

that said, given the history of NW'68, I just don't know that I'd ever support it, even though Mark has brought it "in house"

NW'68 is a good,fun game. I know it's start as NW'78 was a bit iffy to say the least but Mark saw past it and is now making money from it.

It plays faster than WaW even.

One of the local game clubs just had their annual charity auction / sale for wounded warriors.  Picked up Liberty Roads with Operation Roundhead expansion.  White Dog's Duel of Eagles and We Shall Fight them on the Marne.  An old copy of AH's Submarine (in excellent shape...looks brand new) and COA's Landships!.  Compass Games' Storming the Reich.  Topped off with L2's Grand Fleet and Avalanche's Great War at Sea, Russo-Japanese War.  All in all some great games, at great prices for a good cause.

Sounds awesome!

Want to give us a mini-review of Duel of the Eagles when get a play-through?  Would love to run one on the front page :)

Quote from: bayonetbrant on March 25, 2014, 03:42:17 PM
sounds like a good trade

that said, given the history of NW'68, I just don't know that I'd ever support it, even though Mark has brought it "in house"

What's the backstory?

Quote from: Staggerwing on March 26, 2014, 06:33:37 AM

Quote from: bayonetbrant on March 25, 2014, 03:42:17 PM
sounds like a good trade

that said, given the history of NW'68, I just don't know that I'd ever support it, even though Mark has brought it "in house"

What's the backstory?

Short version:

They guy who created NW'78 blatantly ripped off Mark Walker's World at War system and tried to market it. Instead of suing the guy's ass off Mark convinced him to redesign it and sell it from LnLP as NW'68.

That's actually a nice story.  Seems to have worked out okay without getting lawyers involved.

I recently picked up the latest edition of The Sword of Rome.  I wanted a grand strat set in the period, but without a terribly large amount of counters or heavy rules.  Each faction having somewhat different styles and cards seemed just the thing.

It sounds well-liked.  Obviously so if GMT decided to reprint it with a fancy mounted map and expansion rolled into one.


Another grand strat CDG I've been eyeing is The God Kings from Compass Games.  Looks like the same style of point-to-point and CDG mix but it's obviously heavier all-round.  The rules are also supposedly a bit too vague about some things but there is probably some updated FAQs and such.  My main interest is due to the ancient bronze age setting.  It will probably lose out to A Most Dangerous Time (Sengoku Jidai) because the latter looks pretty bitchin' and reviews tend towards a big thumbs-up.

Quote from: Barthheart on March 26, 2014, 07:04:26 AM

Quote from: Staggerwing on March 26, 2014, 06:33:37 AM

Quote from: bayonetbrant on March 25, 2014, 03:42:17 PM
sounds like a good trade

that said, given the history of NW'68, I just don't know that I'd ever support it, even though Mark has brought it "in house"

What's the backstory?

Short version:

They guy who created NW'78 blatantly ripped off Mark Walker's World at War system and tried to market it. Instead of suing the guy's ass off Mark convinced him to redesign it and sell it from LnLP as NW'68.

Great outcome!

If the game system is that flexible has Mark though about expanding it to other genres such as ancients or hard scifi or even classic fantasy?

Quote from: Staggerwing on March 27, 2014, 05:24:17 AM

Great outcome!

If the game system is that flexible has Mark though about expanding it to other genres such as ancients or hard scifi or even classic fantasy?

I thought they already offer some sci-fi stuff, along with the flavor of the decade zombie setting?

Quote from: Nefaro on March 27, 2014, 02:18:12 PM

Quote from: Staggerwing on March 27, 2014, 05:24:17 AM

Great outcome!

If the game system is that flexible has Mark though about expanding it to other genres such as ancients or hard scifi or even classic fantasy?

I thought they already offer some sci-fi stuff, along with the flavor of the decade zombie setting?

yes, but not using the W@W system.

All Things Zombie is a man-level skirmish game, and Space Infantry is a sci-fi solo game.

Quote from: bayonetbrant on March 27, 2014, 02:24:04 PM

Quote from: Nefaro on March 27, 2014, 02:18:12 PM

I thought they already offer some sci-fi stuff, along with the flavor of the decade zombie setting?

yes, but not using the W@W system.

All Things Zombie is a man-level skirmish game, and Space Infantry is a sci-fi solo game.

I see.

Hrmm.  I'm not sure how popular such things would be since the fairly tradition hex & counter wargames are mostly popular for the historic period and weapons used.  I mean.. that's why I enjoy playing them - for the historic connection I can envision while playing. 

I've been searching for an operational level game which has depth but is yet playable. A lot of great things has been said about A Victory Lost (which is now sold out), so I decided to go with the sequel, A Victory Denied. I'm really anxious to get that on the table.

Quote from: GroggyGrognard on March 05, 2014, 05:42:04 PM
^Nice acquisitions. I bought battle pack #2 myself a few months ago along with battle pack #3 (Normandy) and the Med expansion. I almost went with the Paratrooper pack when I was trying to decide between it or the Normandy pack.

Groggy

  I bought some Combat Commander.  What a swell game system!  But now on to other things:

a Modified battles of the Age of Reason to unreasonably cover the Sambre-et-Meuse of late 1794 (using Lobositz...will get photos)

Bought a small pile of GMT air games (Elusive Victory, Burning Blue and Nightfighter) so some of that will be appearing in some form around here soon.

I toyed with the idea of picking up Elusive Victory but it would probably be one in which I read the whole manual and never quite get it to the table.

Quote from: Nefaro on April 29, 2014, 04:31:20 PM
I toyed with the idea of picking up Elusive Victory but it would probably be one in which I read the whole manual and never quite get it to the table.

   I usually sort of scan the manual and then set up a small solitaire battle (the one I recall from my first go at Elusive Victory was an attempt to bomb an Egyptian Patrol boat).  Then the rules turn out to be more or less surprising when the details start coming out.

   So, yes, this would be my second or third copy of Elusive Victory, but the real score was a "used" Burning Blue for under 40 bucks (package deal on ebay).  In general I prefer to buy used games because they are often packed with unexpected goodies (clipped counters!  Storage boxes!  Photocopied rules versions etc. etc.).  But we will see.  In theory used games could be a bit disappointing -- though this has not happened to me yet in the case of used games printed in the last few years.

Band of Brothers - Ghost Panzer just arrived today.  BoB Screaming Eagles might be my favorite tactical WWII game so I'm sure I'm going to love this version!  Hope to get me first play in over the next week or so.  Only problem with the game is that it's not that popular so finding opponents is difficult.

(https://www.grogheads.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi1245.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fgg600%2Fmcyeatman%2Fphoto12_zps32999505.jpg&hash=15d43cc5d9017061af1e9cbcf9ce8bfbe219f054) (http://s1245.photobucket.com/user/mcyeatman/media/photo12_zps32999505.jpg.html)

Setting up a new monster, MMP's The Devil's Cauldron, at our gaming club today:

(https://www.grogheads.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fs9.postimg.org%2Fxfzy4y4pa%2FOMGsetup.jpg&hash=df1bb7c7a63a4cbd80407c065eba939621d9ffa4)

The lucky bastard behind the camera somehow managed to get his hands on this rarity before it got sold out..:)

^Awesome.

Just showed up at my door..... need it to rain now so I don't have to do any more yard work!  :P

(https://www.grogheads.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi1294.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fb613%2Fbarthheart%2FIMG_1048_zps38b8567d.jpg&hash=141ca1f70968303f08ae3f69d30ad7bfe13eb731)

I'm really interested to hear your thoughts on the game.  Looks like a good PBEM candidate once the VASSAL module is made or rainy weekend game.

I'm interested as well.  IIRC, the game deals heavily with the political aspects of WW2 Europe which would could be a much more manageable game than WiF+Days of Decision.

@ DV8 - I'm going to rush this one to the table so I hope to post some thoughts as soon as I can just need time.... :buck2:

@GJK - I think you might be thinking of Supreme Commander. USE is pretty light on the politics, at least as far as I seen so far, though it isn't scripted so you can get some surprising results.

That does look like an interesting game.

DV8, I believe they got rid of leaders in Ghost Panzer? Is this correct? Shame if they have.

I'm also interested in hearing what your thoughts about Unconditional Surrender are.  I've seen some youtube reviews and unboxings but I'd rather hear what a fellow groghead has to say on the matter.

Quote from: TacticalWargames on May 24, 2014, 07:21:14 PM
DV8, I believe they got rid of leaders in Ghost Panzer? Is this correct? Shame if they have.

I have not played it beyond the first scenario so I'm not 100% sure but I don't think the system ever had heroes.  SE does not.

Just ordered Ghost Panzers and have started messing with it via VASSAL. The game system seems very easy and understandable so far. I'm eager to get my actual boxed copy.

^Its an excellent system.

Quote from: Barthheart on May 23, 2014, 11:51:24 AM
Just showed up at my door..... need it to rain now so I don't have to do any more yard work!  :P

Did your Rain Dance work, Bart?

I think you sent some my way for a whole day after you said that.  Maybe your aim was off?

Quote from: Nefaro on May 25, 2014, 08:08:08 PM

Quote from: Barthheart on May 23, 2014, 11:51:24 AM
Just showed up at my door..... need it to rain now so I don't have to do any more yard work!  :P

Did your Rain Dance work, Bart?

I think you sent some my way for a whole day after you said that.  Maybe your aim was off?

That's where it went!  :knuppel2:

No rain here so not much playing. Got the first two training scenarios done in early morning sessions. Good stuff so far. Land combat is a breeze once you've done it a few times. Works well. I was able to conquer Poland on the first try.
Norway was a tougher nut with air and naval rules added in and weather can be a real bitch.....

More as I plot through.....

Awesome news to hear.  I'm beginning to think this game should be sitting in my library soon.  Keep the reports coming in.  I'll try to do a rain dance for you but so far the rain seems to be pelting me more than you.   ;D

Quote from: panzerde on May 25, 2014, 11:21:13 AM
Just ordered Ghost Panzers and have started messing with it via VASSAL. The game system seems very easy and understandable so far. I'm eager to get my actual boxed copy.

Oh I thought BoB had Leaders and Ghost Panzer got rid of them.

No leaders in the BoB games. This is 'baked-in' by use of a CP system.

My newest acquisitions

Let me know how Asgard's Chosen goes.  I almost jumped on it, and will probably end up regretting it.

I will do a write up or AAR after a play through or two....  first thing I noticed were the Hero tokens.  Not a fan so I created a quick replacement for the male and working on a quick one for the female until I have time to do up some right.


PE