This review is the first in my line of sporadic Ridiculous Review Series. Given this is more Accessory than Game, I have spoofed it to a large degree. But there is still some informative content as well.

Summary

Game Type - Accessory (Board)
Play Time: Takes 1.89 seconds to unfold (with training)
Number of Players: 2-6 (Most commonly 2 players)
Mechanics - Fold Open and place things on it, Expansion Collection Mechanic...
Difficulty - Moderate (6-fold boards can be challenging for some Geeks, not to mention the weight factor)
Components - Very Good to Excellent (Thanks to its mounted flipping magic!)


Image Courtesy of terKo

This review follows on from my review of the base game in the Memoir System. Of course this review will be a little different as well...this is only the flippin' ( ) board!

The Winter/Desert Board Map - Overview

This release was initially designed to be used with the Terrain Pack Expansion, which included 1 Mediterranean Scenario and the Eastern Front Expansion, which featured battles in the snow. Of course it can be used with many other Fan-made scenarios now and a few Official Scenarios created online by DoW for special events.

In October of 2008, Memoir is set to see the arrival of the British Expansion, which will make the Desert side of the map board finally come into its own.

A Detailed Feature Analysis

This review (however ridiculous) would not be true to my style without including a bucket load of dice denoted points...ready..set.roll -

Landscape - The board features one side that depicts Desert Terrain, whilst the other depicts a Snow covered location.

Size - Each side comes in exactly the same size as the standard Memoir '44 Board Map. That makes for 113 hexes of Memoir-ee goodness per map side. Add them together and you have a total of 226 hexes. That's 10 more than the number which represents the chances of rolling 3 Star Symbols on a single attack roll, when rolling 3 dice. How many times have we all done that?!

Sections - There are exactly 3 sections to each map, which are delineated by 2 red lines that roughly positioned 4 hexes in from the left and right outermost edge of the maps.

Medals - There are exactly 6 medals for each side. The Axis Medals are no different to the original artwork from the base game. The Allied Medals are depicted using a Russian Star insignia. Both medal sections are accompanied by the 'metal crosswork' design of the original Memoir '44 board.

Supporting Artwork - Both sides of the board feature supporting artwork. Both sides feature pockmark holes, presumably from Artillery, Armour and Grenade attacks. The Desert side also features Armour Tracks and the skulls of wild animals. The Snow side features countless shrubs and bushes that are now leafless in the wintery conditions. Some hexes also contain a faint pattern that possibly reflects ice that may be unstable.

Fluff - The Paper Strip that wraps around the Board (see top image) also had some basic rules for Campaign Play printed on the inside...if my memory serves me correctly. I found these so pointless that I (a guy who will keep his toenail clippings for a statutory 5 years in case the Chinese suddenly deem them valuable and buy up world supply) threw it out.

Filler - I actually don't have much more to say here but I love that red number 7 dice...so here we are.


Image Courtesy of Zorz SERBIA

Availability

According to reliable sources, apparently this Expansion was out of print, for some time after its initial release. Thankfully with the impending release of the Mediterranean Theater Expansion, even more reliable sources inform me that this Expansion will be available once again. With any luck it will be a bundled offering. We need a 'look to the heavens with hands clasped together' Emoticon!!!

The Final Word

Availability or no availability, I'm mighty pleased I bought myself a copy of this Expansion Board. I really couldn't imagine enjoying playing a scenario with the wrong terrain type and no self-respecting Memoir '44 fan should be without this item.

I'll see you at the Memoir '44 World Board Flipping Championships!

Ridiculousness ends......Now.

Links

Memoir '44

Memoir '44 - Eastern Front Expansion

Memoir '44 - Pacific Theatre Expansion

Memoir '44 - Campaign Bag + Breakthrough Scenario