Friday is finally here!

[Greybriar]

Third Reich PC, an oldie that was overlooked but I think a well implemented game.  I've been playing the campaign game this week as the Axis and am in the Summer 1940 turn and in the middle of the France invasion.  The AI has invaded Germany from southern France and also landed in Libya....

I have a boxed copy of Third Reich that I've never played. Is it worth the effort? Or is there a newer PC game that is better?

You really have to learn the rules of the boardgame or you will just get frustrated but if you invest the time to learn the system it is one hell of a good game; IF you like structured games to where each move is an important one.  It's not just a "move up your lines and attack with your strongest guys" type of game.  Each move must be very calculated and precise.  Most enjoyable.  Use DOSBOX to play it and it's quite stable.

Thanks, GJK.

[Toonces]

@GJK:
The Burning Blue is pretty complex.  I'm not groggy enough to really compare it to another game, but there is a lot of stuff going on.

The thing is, Brimmicomb-Wood has really nailed it with these more operational level air warfare games.  Tactical level is neat, but truly surpassed by flight simulators, IMO.  Operational level on the PC is really weak, and that's where his boardgames shine.

The Burning Blue has a butt-load of historical research in it.  For that alone it's almost worth the price.  There is a lot going on in the game, and GMT rates its complexity pretty high, I can't remember the exact number but it's like a 7 out of 9 I think, but if you grasp air warfare it's not that hard to pick up. 

I recommend it highly.  It's a great game, super awesome components as usual for GMT, and it's going to hold its resale value in the future I'm sure.  A safe bet to pick up and try for sure.

[JudgeDredd]

^ shame it's not solo  :(

I'd quite like a solo operational air war game... pacific, Battle of Britain, Allied bombing of Germany...if anyone knows of any...throw me a bone pls

[Wolfe1759]

There are downloadable solo rules for Lee Brimmicombe-Wood's previous game Downtown.

http://www.boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/6613/downtown-air-war-over-hanoi-1965-1972

And there is always RAF: The Battle of Britain 1940 which is primarily designed as a solitaire game

http://www.boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/40209/raf-the-battle-of-britain-1940

There is also (though out of print)

London's Burning

http://www.boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/2150/londons-burning

Carrier

http://www.boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/1679/carrier

[Huw the Poo]

OK here's my list so far:

Endless Space
Neverwinter (still not sure about this at all, but I'm giving it a chance)
Guild Wars 2
Age of Wonders: Shadow Magic
Dominions 3

[undercovergeek]

OK here's my list so far:

Endless Space
Neverwinter (still not sure about this at all, but I'm giving it a chance)
Guild Wars 2
Age of Wonders: Shadow Magic
Dominions 3

So far PC hijack by junior playing Moshi Monsters - squeezing in Dom 3 on the laptop at the mo

once shes tucked in itll be either Shogun 2 or AOW - yet to see what Huw sees  :-*

[Anguille]

It's a Big Beta Weekend! Card Hunter and continuing testing of the German campaign in LnL.

Anguille, what is Iceman's mod?

It makes various modifications to the game...

http://ntronium.com/simplemachinesforum/index.php?topic=1349.0

Cheers

[MetalDog]

I wasn't taken in by AOW either.  I hear there is an awesome LotR mod for it though.

[Huw the Poo]

Heathens.  AoW:SM is one of the best strategy games EVAR!

In non-digital weekend gaming news, I just beat my lady at Android:Netrunner to take the series 3 games to 2.  I win!  The last game couldn't possibly have been closer, either.  We were both on 6 points each, I had an agenda installed with three pieces of ice protecting it, and I knew she had the capability to steal it on her next turn.  Thankfully I was able to spend my last credit/click advancing it, and won by the narrowest of margins. :D

[undercovergeek]

Heathens.  AoW:SM is one of the best strategy games EVAR!

just hasnt happened for me yet - i need to throw some time at it - instead of playing the tutorial over and over

[Huw the Poo]

Skirmish is where it's at, mate.  Big world, lots of opponents, all three planes available, and custom mage.  Then sit back and enjoy the game in all its epic glory!

[undercovergeek]

Skirmish is where it's at, mate.  Big world, lots of opponents, all three planes available, and custom mage.  Then sit back and enjoy the game in all its epic glory!

and when ive played it long enough - ill know what that means!

[Zulu1966]

^ shame it's not solo  :(

I'd quite like a solo operational air war game... pacific, Battle of Britain, Allied bombing of Germany...if anyone knows of any...throw me a bone pls

Well - there are the old grigsby games over a matrix - battle of britain and bombing the reich. They both come in one pack now I think.
Like most grigsby games the interface is a bit of a pain.

Then defending the Reich over at HPS - British Night Raids against germany - I have it but never really played it.

Erm ... Cant think of any operational stuff apart from that.

Edit... Sorry - you meant boardgames....

[Staggerwing]

AH's 'Luftwaffe' has an option to play the basic game as the Germans against the Eighth Air Force using  a number of preplanned raids that are then put in envelopes and shuffled. The German player sets up and then opens a random American raid plan which he then executes against himself. He must still play the US escort fighters against his own Luftwaffe units during the American turn but that is only a part of the overall game. You can find the game on eBay from time to time. There are also some at Boardgamegeek.com.


Here is the rulebook hosted at Boardgamegeek so you can decide if it is worth pursuing:

http://boardgamegeek.com/file/download/7udxgen8jz/Luftwaffe_Rulebook.pdf

You will have to log in or register to d/l it.

[MetalDog]

Skirmish is where it's at, mate.  Big world, lots of opponents, all three planes available, and custom mage.  Then sit back and enjoy the game in all its epic glory!

Sounds quite a bit like where Paradox got the idea for Warlock.  Now THAT is a game!  ;)