Best Solitaire Games

[Nefaro]

The Lost Legion expansion mostly adds a small bit to everything, and provides a few revised cards to replace the originals.  The big thing is the new scenario modes utilizing the Lost Legion.  In most of the new scenarios, it is like a basic programmed solitaire opponent with some variability. 

I've not played against the new piece yet but it looks to break the "conquer these cities" scenario mold by adding a mobile opponent as opposition in your solo games, which is pretty cool. 

I believe Ricky also has a vid of a basic Lost Legion scenario playthrough on the 'tube.

[PanzersEast]

I've now played a couple of solo games of Asgard's Chosen and will write up some thoughts.  First game I lost by have 2 gods left to appease, however the next game I won..... may have been just a luck of the draw.


PE

[BanzaiCat]

Cruel Necessity and In Magnificent Style both arrived late Friday. I was expecting CN to be a smaller game, but was happy to see it was in a much bigger box than 'normal' VP Games products. Sadly I have not had time to play either and probably won't for a few weeks. :(

[PanzersEast]

Just won the 1800 Italian campaign with a Historical victory..... I almost lost Milan and Savona in the end but hung on.  The ai was uncanny in the end, so kudos to Dan and DVG.


PE

[PanzersEast]

@ Nefaro
Did you ever sink any time into The Republic of Rome?  I was curious about your feedback of the game.

Also, I have been interested in picking up RAF, however I heard the game was a little too easy.... but was wondering about others feedback who have played the game if that is the case.


PE

[PanzersEast]

Trying to learn this game through the uuuhhh arrrggghhhh original rules and the living rules by playing the Vassal module.  I am trying to decide if it is something I feel is worth picking up as it is right down my ally, however I am primarily a solo wargamer so.....  The rules are tough to swallow right now and I am still working through the Forum phase and how and why to manage my personal revenue.


PE

[Nefaro]

@ Nefaro
Did you ever sink any time into The Republic of Rome?  I was curious about your feedback of the game.

I read the rules and punched it but never quite got to playing it.  It's obvious that the game is meant to be played with a group of fellow gamers into the theme, and that's where it could really shine.  But the solitaire rules basically consist of simple programmed opponent factions that are pretty static in their behavior and I think the fun of this game system is predicated on some unpredictability.  There are better solitaire games out there so I don't think I'd recommend Republic of Rome for solitaire. 

The plotting and backstabbing, while still being forced to work together for the greater good, could be a wonderful time with the right group.  I will still get around to playing solo sometime, but some facets of the game aren't going to be present.  I'm not sure if what's left will be challenging and fun or if it just ends up being a "see how high you can get your score" kind of thing.

Also, I have been interested in picking up RAF, however I heard the game was a little too easy.... but was wondering about others feedback who have played the game if that is the case.

I played RAF: Lion last month. 

While the repeated Luftwaffe attacks became a bit repetitive after awhile, I still managed to finish a full campaign and enjoyed it quite a bit.  I can't speak to how difficult the German campaign is but the British one wasn't terribly difficult.  I was slightly worried at a point or two with taking excessive bombing hits while running out of available squadrons to intercept that specific day, but I ended up winning handily in the end.  The early game started off a bit behind but it slowly went the other direction so that near the last third I knew I was going to have a major victory. 

So yes, it may be a bit too easy on the Lion side.  I'm hoping the Eagle side will be more difficult.  I did enjoy my Lion game and it managed to suck me in for the numerous hours it took to finish.  But due to my victory, I may not play the Lion side again anytime soon.  When I do, I will probably make a house rule that I can't buy extra squadron reinforcements, or something along those lines, and see how tough it is.

[bayonetbrant]

picked up Congo Merc from Decision here at the show - I'll try to get in half a game or so while I'm here and let folks know what I think

[PanzersEast]

I've been playing a user made Falklands 82 scenario for Hornet Leader.  It's been pretty interesting thus far as the weight limit and limited choice of weapons without using SO points make it harder.


PE

[Staggerwing]

Does the game already include the units needed?

[Nefaro]

In the middle of another game of Darkest Night. 

Some of the expansion stuff make it a bit more difficult, such as Quests and those damn Desecration blights.  The latter of which I started the game with one in play and another soon followed.  When you're getting +1 and +2 Darkness per turn, it will ramp things up quickly.  Those red-colored blights that affect the whole board are definitely being felt.

Pretty sure I had forgotten to add/subtract Secrecy for certain actions in past games, such as when you move or when you attack.  Dunno how much that affected the difficulty in those games for me.  This one seems to be a bit easier going thus far, although I'm still concerned about the Darkness modifiers increasing again soon. 

Fortunately there are some extra difficulty options to add if it ends up being too easy but I'll wait until I have a few more games in (and properly played) before I evaluate that.  Fun game!

[PanzersEast]

Does the game already include the units needed?

Yes, he uses the Harriers from from the original game and makes concessions on the weapons to mimic the armaments available at the time.  You will also remove certain A/C from the game and all bandits attack from range 0.  The only A/A weapon available is the Aim-9 and used with SO points.  You can ignore certain SAM sites as well.   You are good to go, just download the sheet from BGG and print..... I did so on card stock and looks good.  There are several others on there from the author as well that I want to give a go, but this was very unique from the rest.

PE

[Nefaro]

Finished my third (?) game of Darkest Night this weekend. It was my second loss.

I swear those expansion additions can be brutal.  It was mainly those red blights with the board-wide effects that kept beating me down when I got ahead.  I had started with the one that added +1 Darkness right from the start and a second one showed up only a few turns in so I had to get rid of them ASAP, but their effects were definitely felt.   

Oh.. and a specific Event card that teleported my character, who was just getting ready to destroy the Necromancer for the win about 2/3rds through, into a different location thus tossing a wrench in my best chance.  After that I would get the red blight (from an expansion) which prevents the use of items globally (including the Holy Relic required to defeat the 'Mancer).  By that time I had passed the dreaded 25 on the Darkness track, the blights were thick, and my characters had to retreat to the monastery for another rest.  At the end, I had been at 30 Darkness for a few turns, with two different Item Use Prevention blights in play, and three blights were added to the Monastery during the Necromancer's turn.  I couldn't clear all the blights from a space in order to lure the Necromancer in for a final ambush once it got passed 25 Darkness because I kept rolling 1s and 2s so he would create two blights instead of one.  Couldn't keep up with his rapid summoning.  Thus it ended in defeat once more.

Which is a good thing.  I probably need to adjust my overall strategies a bit but I had been doing better than my previous loss, for much of the game.  It may be easier once I'm more familiar with how each character's abilities work although their focus is usually obvious from their beginning ones.  Perhaps I should stop trying to be so careful and take more risks in the early part of the game?  I dunno..  I was soooo close but managed to snatch defeat from the jaws of victory.  ;D

It really makes me want to play again.  The unique character card abilities mixed with the open turn order and some unpredictability from the opposition makes Darkest Night one of my favorite solitaire games.  I feel like I'm constantly strategizing instead of going through a bunch of automated motions, charts, or constantly counting long lists of DRMs.  Such a smooth but engaging system.

[Nefaro]

I just set up the Southwest Pacific-only campaign scenario for Silent War on the table. 

It's been awhile since I played only a couple of Patrol scenarios.  Instead of doing another to reacquaint myself, I'll just start this one up and relearn as I go. 

I figured the SWPac campaign should help since it cuts the useable map zones down to a fraction of the full campaign along with fewer subs to run and having set times for torpedo quality and war phases.  The only drawback is having to sort through multiple years' reinforcements to find the proper ones as specified in the scenario because some are just transfers from Pearl.  In other words, the dates on the counters aren't as much of a help.  I need to dig up an alphabetical list of subs that also has the reinforce dates to narrow down my searches if the game advances far.  But that would still be a very long game.

[Rekim]

I just set up the Southwest Pacific-only campaign scenario for Silent War on the table. 

It's been awhile since I played only a couple of Patrol scenarios.  Instead of doing another to reacquaint myself, I'll just start this one up and relearn as I go. 

I figured the SWPac campaign should help since it cuts the useable map zones down to a fraction of the full campaign along with fewer subs to run and having set times for torpedo quality and war phases.  The only drawback is having to sort through multiple years' reinforcements to find the proper ones as specified in the scenario because some are just transfers from Pearl.  In other words, the dates on the counters aren't as much of a help.  I need to dig up an alphabetical list of subs that also has the reinforce dates to narrow down my searches if the game advances far.  But that would still be a very long game.

The Allied Sub OB spreadsheet I mentioned has the subs sorted alphabetically and includes the entry dates

http://www.boardgamegeek.com/file/download/6l837muhsr/Silent_War_Submarine_Roster.xls