I'd been a hardcore block gamer for years before writing Sekigahara. I wanted to write a euro wargame (in the spirit of Marengo, Wallenstein, Friedrich) that retained all the historical authenticity of a full wargame.
Sekigahara for example has no dice and resolves combat by matching cards (motivation) to blocks (armies) to produce battlefield impact. Hand size is a measure of legitimacy, and varies by number of castles controlled.
It's nice to see innovation and I look forward to perusing the rules to the game. Marengo took block gaming in a different direction and this looks like it will do the same. Good luck!
Aha, this isn't about the BATTLE of Sekigahara (which, I think, should remain mainly untouched by attempts to simulate it). Still, the point about forces switching sides still counts: in a 2-player game, how do you incorporate the turncoats?
You have obviously correctly realized that there are people who like historical themes but can't devote endless hours studying rules with exceptions and exceptions of the exceptions that will surely be forgotten during gameplay. I think this is the future of wargaming and as far as I am concerned, it's only for the better.
mcalkins wrote:
I'd been a hardcore block gamer for years before writing Sekigahara. I wanted to write a euro wargame (in the spirit of Marengo, Wallenstein, Friedrich) that retained all the historical authenticity of a full wargame.
Good there's people like you around that can prove that this is possible.
mcalkins wrote:
Sekigahara for example has no dice and resolves combat by matching cards (motivation) to blocks (armies) to produce battlefield impact. Hand size is a measure of legitimacy, and varies by number of castles controlled.
This is another future element. Wargames were mostly made in the U.S.A. and they are, as I feel it at least, the very definition of "Ameritrash"- rich in theme and luck. The future is on the merge of theme with strategy. Cards belong to this future in my opinion. Dice don't(with the sole exception of maybe be used to determine weather changes and nothing more).
Thank you for an excellent design. As an art professional, congratulations for the aesthetic part as well.
See my Favorite Contribution Microbadge (Purple Dot) for my collection of reviews from the 2011 Solitaire Print and Play contest.
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The latest from Columbia Games. By first time designer, Justin Thompson. This one has some interesting ideas, such as only using some of the cards from the deck - thereby insuring no two games are identical.
It does have blocks (as supply trains; the marshals and generals are represented as wooden cylinders with hidden strengths). Yes, this is a block game and deserves to be included in this fine genre / family of unique, 'fog of war' / hidden strength piece games.
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!
Colorado Springs
Colorado
Where to start for a person that likes Eurogames but hasn't really played any wargames?
Aurora
Colorado
Unspecified
Jackson
Michigan
Raszyn / Warsaw