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The (sometimes) DEFINITIVE List of Block Games
Noel
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These have become my favorite type of wargame and so far nobody has put them altogether in a single list.
Additions, comments, opinions welcome.
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Popular Tags: columbia [+] trĂ¥d [+] [View All]
Posted Thu Jun 8, 2006 8:53 pm
Edited Tue Jan 15, 2008 9:27 pm
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1. Board Game: Napoleon: The Waterloo Campaign, 1815 [Average Rating:7.31 Overall Rank:303]
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Noel
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Robert Wesley
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050809
:DActually, you should include the latest version of THIS game as a seperate 'entry'! It plays much more 'differently' than the 'O'riginal one, including the "Gamma 2 Games, Avalon Hill, & Columbia Games" editions. Hey, just LOOK at ALL of the many 'versions' of "M-opoly" that are out there, but they basically 'play the same way', huh? At least with the "New & Improved" 'Napoleon' game, there ARE significant advancements to warrant having THEM pointed out in it's very OWN 'submission'!:what:
MTG Ninja
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dude, your posts are unreadable, do you actually talk like that?
Douglas Painter
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0405
Though Robert uses a unique writing style, he has a good point. This game has a 2nd and 3rd edition which are both very different; list them both :wow:
Douglas S
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I have the old Avalon Hill version. Fun game indeed!
2. Board Game: Bobby Lee [Average Rating:6.92 Overall Rank:1146]
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Noel
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Chester Ogborn
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0406070809
I thought this was about that little jeans guy.
Iain K
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0405
CJ, That's Buddy Lee . . . show some respect now ya' hear ?!
Noel
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There was a lot of buzz about this before it was published, but I haven't noticed much since it was published. Maybe I just haven't been paying attention...
3. Board Game: Crusader Rex [Average Rating:7.44 Overall Rank:237]
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Noel
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Johan Johannesson
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How can a game that has not yet been published be on a "Definite List"?
Noel
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Because it WILL be published. If it goes the way of Island of the Mighty I'll delete it.
Michael Lewis
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Shame about the Island of the Mighty

It's probably the Mario Cumo of the Boardgame World.
Noel
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I have to agree. It had promise.
David Sullivan
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05060708
Yep, I have to add my own sense of loss about Island of the Mighty. That sounded like a very promising game.

I've preordered Crusader Rex, which will be shipping in August.
Douglas S
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Noel,
I have this game. Great fun. There are possible tweakings ahead to make play of the Franks easier. But for now, this is a good one!

Doug
4. Board Game: EastFront [Average Rating:7.88 Overall Rank:167]
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Noel
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Severus Snape
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050708
I have had this game for a couple of weeks, and it is the only block game I have played since I played Waterloo in the time that land forgot, or vice versa. I have found it to be a most enjoyable game. Experience will tell whether or not I feel it is a realistic portrayal of the Eastern Front (but at least it is not a Ty Bomba disaster flick disguising itself as a game). I am curious about Europe Engulfed (the next one or your list), and its portrayal of the Eastern Front, and I wonder how long it will be before the devoted fans of EastFront and Europe Engulfed begin to go at each other, as they seem to do on every list (give it a rest boys, it's only a game :p).
Severus Snape
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050708
Whoops! :surprise: I see that Europe Engulfed is not the next one on your list. Is it even on your list?! I will have to see, but first, let's clean those glasses.
Shyue Chou Chuang
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I have played two tension-filled scenarios, namely, Kursk '43 and Stalingrad. They were exciting affairs with crisises every other turn! :)
5. Board Game: EuroFront [Average Rating:7.09 Unranked] [Average Rating:7.09 Unranked]
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Noel
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Fabrizio Da Pra
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0407
Finally ive all the series....now i must convince my friends to play it!
Thats the most difficult part!
Real men play campaign game....but campaign games in monster games, if not its too easy!
Noel
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Every couple of months or so, this one tempts me. But then I wake up and decide that I don't have the space, time or (really) the money. I'll just stick with EE for 'the big picture', at least until next month when I start thinking about it, again.
Noel
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The entire Front series is now being reimagined as three sets, with an Eastfront II, Westfront II and Eurofront II. This actually may push me over from iffy to definite purchase.
6. Board Game: Gettysburg: Badges of Courage [Average Rating:7.20 Overall Rank:1240]
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Noel
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7. Board Game: Hammer of the Scots [Average Rating:7.78 Overall Rank:45]
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Noel
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Scott Gray
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Just picked this one up about a week ago. I decided to purchase it on the high ratings and positive comments here on BGG. I haven't has a chance to play it yet but I have read through the rules and am pretty excited about giving it a try. It look to be better than Napoleon and Bobby Lee, the other block games I've played in the past. I wasn't too thrilled with those. Although, a group of us did play Napoleon as a campaign game using the Eagles card game to resolve the battles and that was a lot of fun!
Jonathan
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040506070809
I picked this up recently too, love it. I've been playing it like crazy.
8. Board Game: Hellenes: The Peloponnesian War [Average Rating:7.92 Unranked]
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Noel
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Jason Sadler
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070809
I am in a Thucydides phase right now. I can't wait to play the arrogant Athenians and kick the piss out of the Spartan League at Syracuse!
Jason Sadler
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070809
No irony intended. I was looking forward to changing history. I can't believe there won't be an invasion of Syracusa in my future.:cry:
Douglas S
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As much as I am interested in this war, I can't get this one. I love the 1991 version of this war too much!

see
http://www.boardgamegeek.com/game/1678
Noel
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Still unpublished...
Noel
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A name change and a new publisher. Let's hope to see this one soon.
9. Board Game: Liberty [Average Rating:7.43 Overall Rank:505]
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Noel
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Douglas S
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I have this one too. We player with a lower point threshold for a British victory and with that, we have a really good time! :)
10. Board Game: MedFront [Average Rating:6.40 Overall Rank:2365]
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Noel
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Roger Leroux
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04060708
The real gem hidden in this is the Spanish Civil War, which takes only a short time to set up and plays in under two hours.
11. Board Game: Europe Engulfed [Average Rating:7.85 Overall Rank:98]
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Noel
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Scott Gray
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This one is on my short list of games to buy. I really want this one bad!!!
Javier Palacios OutĂ³n
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Great, Great, Great !!!! :arrrh: The Best!!
Saludos from Hot Spain: :cool:
12. Board Game: Victoria Cross [Average Rating:7.21 Overall Rank:1124]
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Noel
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Noel
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This is a fun game. If you are on the line about purchasing it, I say go for it.
Douglas S
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I'd like to purchase or trade for this one, but can't really find it!
ack!

Doug
ăƒ•ă‚£ăƒ«
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You can order it from GMT.
13. Board Game: Pacific Victory [Average Rating:6.86 Overall Rank:1019]
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Noel
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14. Board Game: Quebec 1759 [Average Rating:7.00 Overall Rank:658]
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Noel
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Alex Henderson
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IIRC, this was the first wooden block game. It was published by Gamma Two Games of Vancouver, BC in, I think, 1973. By the standards of the time, it seemed ridiculously simple and lacking in realism. I loved it.
David Sullivan
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05060708
When Quebec 1759 came out, I never could have imagined having so much fun with it. We played it over an over and it never became predictable.
15. Board Game: Texas Glory: 1835 - 36 [Average Rating:7.59 Overall Rank:1987]
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Noel
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16. Board Game: Rommel in the Desert [Average Rating:7.71 Overall Rank:173]
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Noel
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skippen
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040506070809
And soon to be back in print.
Alan Kaiser
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04050708
And just as soon as it comes back in print, it will be sitting on my shelf!
David Bohnenberger
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050608
I hope columbia makes the new rulebook available for download. I have the original and the included "errata" sheet is as long as the rulebook!
Mickel Knight
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RitD one of the best games I've played. You want tension? This is the place to find it!
17. Board Game: Sam Grant [Average Rating:6.45 Overall Rank:2369]
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Noel
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18. Board Game: Victory: The Blocks of War [Average Rating:6.37 Overall Rank:1449]
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Noel
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Nigel Wright
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This is currently half price on Columbia's website!

http://www.columbiagames.com/
19. Board Game: VolgaFront [Average Rating:7.56 Unranked]
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Noel
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Robert Wesley
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050809
:DTHIS...isn't so much a 'Game' in it's OWN right, but more like an 'Expansion' for the "East Front" one. In fact, you don't even 'get' ANY "wooden blocks" with this(at least the LAST time that I had bought it, there weren't ANY!) and for WHAT they 'command' for the PRICE!?!...well, let's just say that if I had SPENT as much on a 'date with Miss Panda';) as was/is being PAID for this, then I'd expect much MORE than a "cup of Coffee and companionship"(jk!)(NOT really):laugh:
Jason Sadler
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070809
Reading it as the Chamberlain from Dark Crystal is magnificent! You have improved my BGG experience.
Michael Lewis
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What's the name of the bug-eyed commedine who always acts like he's constipated? Those posts read like that guy's act.
Alex Frackowiak
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Robert "Bobcat" Goldthwait is his name. I'm pretty sure he has some kind of disorder.
Noel
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This expansion has been merged with EastFront in EastFront II.
20. Board Game: War of 1812 [Average Rating:7.06 Overall Rank:627]
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Noel
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Was George Orwell an optimist?
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0506070809
This is too good a game to pass without comment. Simple rules, but fascinating gameplay.
21. Board Game: WestFront [Average Rating:6.87 Overall Rank:1371]
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Noel
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Noel
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I like the maps of the Front games.
22. Board Game: Wizard Kings [Average Rating:6.92 Overall Rank:439]
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Noel
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Douglas S
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The only block game my wife will play with me besides Crusader Rex! :)

Doug
23. Board Game: Maneuver [Average Rating:6.50 Unranked]
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Peter Loop
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 Maneuver, by Gamma 2 Games, Columbia's predecessor. Same wooden blocks
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24. Board Game: Send in the Marines [Average Rating:7.50 Unranked]
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Michael Cox
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 On Columbia's Gameplan ( http://www.columbiagames.com/cgi-bin/query/cfg/zoom.cfg?prod... ). Looks very interesting and involves modern warfare which is new to CG, I believe.
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25. Board Game: Bonaparte at Marengo [Average Rating:7.60 Overall Rank:165]
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Adam Starkweather
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 You are missing the new kid...
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Dick Jarvinen
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0507
This is one great game, but don't expect it to be like the other block games.

The movement/combat system, combined with the board design, are truly innovative.
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14 comments [Hide]
Ed Sherman
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040506070809
Okay, now the question...
Where to start for a person that likes Eurogames but hasn't really played any wargames?
Nigel Wright
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040506070809
The block games are a good entry point to consims - the components are attractive, the nature of the blocks tends to limit the number of units to a reasonable level and the fog-of war is present by default so they tend to have quite elegant systems.

Eurofront/Masterfront and Europe Engulfed push up the complexity level, but even here you can work your way up through the Front games, and start out with the lighter Blockskrieg rules for EE.

And don't forget that with Napoleon and Bobby Lee/Sam Grant can use the Eagles and Dixie card games to resolve the battles.:meeple:
Alan Kaiser
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04050708
Boy, did I start these comments on complexity!? I guess I need to really clarify a few things. Columbia really does an excellent job packing a lot of game into a relatively easy set of rules and throwing in great components as well. So in terms of my list of which games to start with I guess I should throw in that many wargames would fall with EastFront on the complexity scale or even more complicated than that (some a LOT more complicated than that). So by comparison, Columbia's games are not a problem for most anyone who likes games. I wouldn't call that complex at all! I've played a few of the complex wargames and I really prefer the lighter games which is why I love the Columbia games. I just don't have the time to read 30 page+ small print rulesbooks or spend 12 hours on a game anymore. So for the average euro game player who doesn't mind reading rules I would say anything on my list below Sam Grant/Bobby Lee and Pacific Victory would be no problem at all. I own Bobby Lee and Pacific Victory. I'm reading the rules to Europe Engulfed at the moment and based on just the rules I would say it is in the same ballpark as these three of Columbia's games. I tried teaching Pacific Victory to my Dad once and it took us an hour to get through the rules with both of us being new to the game but experienced with wargames. I know a lot of euro gamers that would be getting antsy after a half hour rules explaination!
Noel
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I'm wondering if I should put the second-edition Front games here...
james browning
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I'd like to see a block wargame list broken down by period and/ or by manufacturer. That's just my 2 cents. Very nice list though.