Unboxing new games

[BanzaiCat]

I have Quartermaster General from Griggling Games, the new version of Hornet Leader from DVG, and Bulge 20, Fleets 2025, Astra Titanus, and Frontier Stations from VPG on my desk right now...all future reviews for GH. :)

I want to eventually start up an AAR for Hornet Leader, but not until I finish the Ottoman Sunset one I'm authoring. Astra Titanus might be a good AAR as well.

[MengJiao]

And now, Bloody April:

I punched and sorted all the counters late last year but have yet to play it. 

My plan is to run that one with the solo option, then figure out some ways of doing the same with Elusive Victory.  Should be easier with all the dummy counters.

There's a solo scout matrix that comes with Bloody April.  Supposedly one has to be the RFC and the DLS (the Germans) are scouts coming after you via the "matrix" logic.  Scenario 4 has 2 BE2s trying to take some pictures and 3 Jasta of DLS coming after them while DH2s, Pups and Nieuports try to keep them alive.  so that's what I'm doing.

[Nefaro]

And now, Bloody April:

I punched and sorted all the counters late last year but have yet to play it. 

My plan is to run that one with the solo option, then figure out some ways of doing the same with Elusive Victory.  Should be easier with all the dummy counters.

There's a solo scout matrix that comes with Bloody April.  Supposedly one has to be the RFC and the DLS (the Germans) are scouts coming after you via the "matrix" logic.  Scenario 4 has 2 BE2s trying to take some pictures and 3 Jasta of DLS coming after them while DH2s, Pups and Nieuports try to keep them alive.  so that's what I'm doing.

Yeah, I've also read the rulebook for Bloody April.  It has the briefest solitaire rule set I've ever seen but running the German side in some of the scenarios looks to be pretty straightforward since they're just taking off & intercepting your British flights as they cross.  Seems like the game, even in multi-player, resembles as much of a narrative game than a strategy game but I enjoy those.

If nothing else, I figure that modifying scenarios in Elusive Victory to a similar setup would make things much more straightforward for solitaire.  Removing either the Egyptian or Israeli ground attack aircraft, and maybe a small portion of the fighters for the defending side, should make it more streamlined for such.  I know the Egyptian SA-2 defenses have specific map zones where they can be set up.  So combined with dummy counters for the air defense placement it could be interesting enough without having to pre-plan a bunch of stuff for both sides.

Even after the solitaire Cactus Air Force eventually gets printed (with GMT's backed up P500 schedule, it may be a couple years  :-\ ), I'd still want something a bit solo friendly from the jet age.  So I'll get around to it.

[PanzersEast]

Well here is the Up Front Re-Print and I am mixed on it.  The counters are just glossy card stock  and no box is included.  The cards are nice and clear and are heavy enough, but you will need to download and print the rule book..... all in all, I believe the $50 price tag is kinda pricy considering what you get.

This was all that was in the box with some small stuffing...


Cards are nice quality and clear








Not very pleased with this as it is thin, but the gloss finish is nice.  I will have to cut these out myself.


Not too bad...

[GJK]

I'd maybe make color copies of the countersheet (front and back) and then mount those on old scrabble pieces or the like.  The Action Deck looks good.  In the copy of UF that I just acquired, the AD cards are a bit browned from age where as those look nice and pearly white on the background.  I believe that those Personality Cards are larger than the originals which is a good thing (unless table space is an issue).

The original rules are a mess to sort through (I found).  I think that I posted a link to it here before, but grab Glen Oberhauser's rules rewrite to get an easier grasp of how the game plays; I labeled the pdf "UpFront_Simple_0.96.pdf" and it is on my dropbox here:  https://www.dropbox.com/sh/rymgjsfrq7yunr5/AABBgVH9XwvOg_v_q33QrdnJa?dl=0  (there's some other goodies there as well, help yourselves)

[BanzaiCat]

So, that's what the original cards look like?

Maybe it's just the graphic designer in me, but those look like they could stand an upgraded look.

Then again I don't have the benefit of having played this one and don't have any nostalgia towards it, so perhaps I speak blasphemy.

[GJK]

So, that's what the original cards look like?

Maybe it's just the graphic designer in me, but those look like they could stand an upgraded look.

Then again I don't have the benefit of having played this one and don't have any nostalgia towards it, so perhaps I speak blasphemy.

Nostalgia for me.

The decks on artscow (that may or may not be there, I haven't looked) were updated using images lifted from Osprey material.  Those decks were there for a number of years but it tripped somebody's copyright wire and artscow either pulled down or hid and then later put back up- I don't know- but they looked pretty good and may still be there if one were to search hard enough:



There's also a fan made set of counters available for p-n-p on BGG. 

Joe Steadman's video gives a great view of his own copy of the artscow/p-n-p version and what he did to make it:

[bayonetbrant]

Then again I don't have the benefit of having played this one and don't have any nostalgia towards it, so perhaps I speak blasphemy.

Don't you have a podcast to finish editing?!? ;)

[Cyrano]

I admire the work that went into the new cards -- particularly the part where they correct the odd typo -- but I prefer the older look.  BC's point about them looking of their time is certainly well taken but one loves what one loves.  That and the fact that the new cards have a font that I find a wee bit too small.

I guess I'll only note again: LOOK, HASBRO AT WHAT PEOPLE ARE WILLING TO GO THROUGH FOR THIS GAME.

*sigh*

Best,

Jim
"Cyrano"
:/7)

[Bison]

Carwars! 




Sorry for the blurry photos, but it's a game not a girl in a bikini so does clarity of the image really matter?

[BanzaiCat]

Goddammit, now I have to go look for my original Car Wars set.

[GJK]

The HPB where I scored UP Front and Time Tripper had Car Wars as well that I *almost* bought. There was some really good, classic games - it was hard deciding!.  I don't recall what they were asking for it, but it was pretty damn reasonable. May have to go back and look for it. 

I never played Car Wars.  Is it just a plain silly little time killer or is there something more to it?

[Bison]

It's not a deep game, but it is a fun time waster.  Cars.  Racing.  Rockets.  Guns.  Smoke screens.  Spike traps.  Oh yeah!

[Nefaro]

I thought Car Wars just got a reprint?  Or maybe it was Kickstarted for an updated reprint but is still due?


I had the old basic plastic box version, with the same artwork as above, back in the 80s.  Pretty cool stuff but I never got around to playing it much. 

Wasn't there a bigger "deluxe" edition too?  The smaller pocket size game had a decent amount of content compared to others of it's size but I recall wanting MOAR (per usual).

[Bison]

It was just reprinted.  That's what I picked up today.  I had a copy of it back in the 80's and you are right Nef in that it was a deluxe version.  It had I want to say 3 or 4 colored maps and if I remember correctly some road pieces so you could make your own tracks.