Actually, 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'!
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...
One of them was a Slytherin and he was probably the bravest man I ever knew.
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 ).
One of them was a Slytherin and he was probably the bravest man I ever knew.
Whoops! 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.
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!
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.
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.
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!
This is an excellent game. It's unbalanced in favor of the Allies (as was the actual Pacific War), because of the resource strength of the US. The game would readily lend itself to balance, however, through the introduction of a bidding system (players bid on how many extra resource points they'll give the other side in return for choosing the side they want to play) -- or, by altering the points-based Victory conditions, and giving Japan a lower 'automatic victory' level.
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.
I hate to say it (because I sold my copy long ago, and have never replaced it), but this game distills to their essence the concepts of feint, maneuver and deception. Basically, the British player can occupy three different positions, and launch his invasion at two different points -- above Quebec, and below Quebec. If he telegraphs his intentions, the French can stop him. Similarly, if the French player reveals or signals where his defensive strength lies, the British can outmaneuver him. (So what happens if both players telegraph their intentions? I guess it's a case of the resistible force meeting the movable object; I'll leave that to the philosophers among us).
THIS...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)
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!
Actually, 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'!
).
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.
The Best!!
as was/is being PAID for this, then I'd expect much MORE than a "cup of Coffee and companionship"(jk!)(NOT really)
