C3i Magazine #24 PREVIEW! RBM and GMT Have Done It Again!
Martin
United States
Bainbridge Island
Washington
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Last week GMT charged us P500 folks for C3i, and I have proof it is nearly ready to ship! I've just received a preview of the newest issue of C3i, my favorite magazine, and it is packed with value! Editor Rodger B. MacGowan does a tremendous job.
My only complaint is that it doesn't come out four times each year! (Because it's a preview, no countersheet...damn.)
It's still available for order, but if the last few C3i issues are any indication, they don't print a whole lot of extras. Remember, by preordering you save $6.
http://www.gmtgames.com/p-311-c3i-magazine-issue-24.aspx
Besides the countersheet that we've come to expect, there are inserts included with this issue for EIGHT different games!
I love the countersheet. I love the scenarios. I love all the inserts. I can't wait to read all the articles. Why wasn't there a great magazine like this when I was a kid?
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Martin
United States
Bainbridge Island
Washington
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This issue includes two new scenarios printed on an insert card. Scenario 111 features Canadians vs Germans in the Battle for the Scheldt Estuary.
Scenario 112 is a big late war urban battle with a whole lot of tough Russians against some heavily entrenched Germans.
"Are you just cycling cards to get more defensive reaction chances?"
"Ja."
Bryan Collars writes about his method for creating new scenarios, and a complete list of all C3i Combat Commander content published to date is included.
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Martin
United States
Bainbridge Island
Washington
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Finally! Rich Borg gets the blue faced Britons on the board vs.Galba's Romans. Good news, the Britons get Druids; bad news, the druids cannot turn into either trees or boomkins. Two scenarios on an insert card along with a brief write up on Boudica's Revolt.
It's enough to make Mr. Borg smile.
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Martin
United States
Bainbridge Island
Washington
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I recently played Washington's War with my pal Glenn Drover. We both enjoyed it, although I probably enjoyed it more as my little U.S. armies completely befuddled Glenn's evil British in the south. That being said, these two 2-sided player aid cards looked familiar, as they were designed by BGG's own Major Sholto! Major Sholto's play aid charts definitely make the game quicker to play. Super-cool decision by RBM to include these. Congrats Major! We did use these Sholto-charts when we played, and they are very helpful.
Mark Herman has written a very meaty 8-page article about the design philosophy behind and the strategies embedded with in Washington's War.
This reminds me of my all time favorite David Letterman episode: Back in the NBC days, John Cleese appeared on the show on the Fourth of July.
Letterman: So on the Fourth of July do you and your countrymen hang your heads? Is it a big deal, knowing we colonists sent you packing? Is your tea just a bit more bitter on this day?
Cleese:(pause) (sits up taller) (inhales) No Dave. All things considered we'd much prefer to war against the French.
On the countersheet you'll find 14 state control markers, which will make keeping track of who is winning a bit easier in this variable-ending-year game.
Seriously great game, try it.
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Martin
United States
Bainbridge Island
Washington
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My buddies down at Metro Seattle Gamers are playing this monster every weekend until....well until it ends. This issue of C3i includes 4 charts which will help keep track of turns, losses, and interdictions.
Dan Holte has also provided four pages of optional rules and scenario variants.
There are 64 optional and errata counters on this month's sheet.
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Martin
United States
Bainbridge Island
Washington
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The units and set-up to fight the Battle of Crotona using Simple GBoH rules are included, as is the routine.
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Martin
United States
Bainbridge Island
Washington
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This is one handy insert player aid card for SPQR, a relatively simple set of charts to keep track of game turns and rout points.
"They really painted their faces blue? Damn, that's another 3 rout points...Romans, run for your lives!"
The Battle of Crotona is this month's featured Punic battle.
There are 16 SPQR counters on this month's countersheet:
4 leaders for Elephant Victory
3 leaders for this month's scenario
6 rout markers to use on the player aid counter in this issue.
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Martin
United States
Bainbridge Island
Washington
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Included on the countersheet are three errata counters and 6 "in Irons" markers.
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Martin
United States
Bainbridge Island
Washington
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The "In Irons" markers may come in handy for Flying Colors as well.
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9.
Board Game: Ship of the Line
[Average Rating:7.87 Unranked]
[Average Rating:7.87 Unranked]
Martin
United States
Bainbridge Island
Washington
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There are two errata counters on the countersheet.
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Martin
United States
Bainbridge Island
Washington
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John A. Foley has written a significant article analyzing Asia Engulfed.
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Martin
United States
Bainbridge Island
Washington
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This issue has an insane number of inserts. I love inserts. The General would still be rocking along if it had included more inserts. Here are four play aids for Hellenes.
Craig Besinque has written a 4-page article on strategy.
Steve Carey offers another 2 pages of strategy tips.
On the countersheet you'll find 14 new markers to assist in game play.
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Martin
United States
Bainbridge Island
Washington
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Joel Toppen gives an overview of strategy and tactics for this recent GMT release.
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Martin
United States
Bainbridge Island
Washington
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This issue includes 4 pages of new aircraft and scenarios. 18 new units are on the countersheet for the scenarios included in this issue.
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Martin
United States
Bainbridge Island
Washington
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Mark has written an article on design philosophy. SPQR, Washington's War, SPI, Avalon Hill, what does he know? Quite a bit, and this is the first of what will be a regular column.
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Martin
United States
Bainbridge Island
Washington
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A two-sided four-color insert player aid card for this Victory Point game that was included in the previous issue of C3i.
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Martin
United States
Bainbridge Island
Washington
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There are three errata leader counters on this month's countersheet.
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Martin
United States
Bainbridge Island
Washington
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In this issue there is also a feature highlighting a few of the games on the P500 list that are available for pre-order.
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Martin
United States
Bainbridge Island
Washington
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I'm ending this list with a shout out to Rodger B. MacGowan. There is no doubt that a big part of GMT's success is because of his incredible design skill. When I think about my favorite GMT games, C&C, Combat Commander, Twilight Struggle, the graphic design differences between the three is significant. The graphic designs of the three games is critical to the gameplay and my enjoyment of the games.
Similarly, the strong graphic design of C3i makes other gaming magazines I've enjoyed over the last 30 years pale in comparison. Great job and thank you Roger!
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Martin
United States
Bainbridge Island
Washington
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Rattenkrieg, another post card-sized game, is included in the issue as a free insert.
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Posted Tue Jul 27, 2010 6:32 am
Arlington
Virginia
Bainbridge Island
Washington
It would be nice if GMT dropped a postcard into their games the way Avalon Hill used to do with The General. C3i is a great magazine, so I encourage you to give it a shot.
California
Thank you for the suggestion, but I thought about this problem many years ago and I came up with a simple solution – placing a BANNER AD for "C3i Magazine" on the inside inner panel of EVERY game we publish ;-)
Yes, players cannot buy our games today and NOT see our ad for "C3i Magazine" on EVERY game box -- it is everywhere our games are.
If you play GMT Games you've seen the "C3i" ads on the inner boxes! It is impossible to miss, and you can't misplace the game box like you can a post card ad, etc.
Plus, many of the C3i Magazine ads on the game boxes in the "Combat Commander" series talk about ALL the new "CC" scenarios and modules in back issues of C3i Magazine -- it is a "no brainer" in today's parlance :-)
The CONNECTION between the "Combat Commander" series and "C3i Magazine" has been going since BEFORE the first game was printed. Many guys first discovered the game and the CC series via C3i Magazine. The link has been there since day one – CC and C3i are always on the same wavelength.
Enjoy C3i Magazine,
Rodger
Salford
Greater Manchester
California
In terms of the Combat Commander scenarios exclusive to C3i Magazine they are ALL listed on page 19 of the new issue (C3i Nr24).
All the C3i issues (Nr 20, 21, 22, 23, & 24) containing these CC/C3i Scenarios are still "in print" with the one exception of the first CC Scenario printed in C3i Nr19 entitled "Varsity Blues" (Scenario 103).
C3i Nr19 is "out of print", but I REPRINTED CC Scenario "Varsity Blues" as an INSERT in C3i Nr23.
Therefore, if you purchase C3i issues Nr 20, 21, 22, 23 and 24 (all still in print) you will have the entire CC/C3i Scenario Collection up to this point in time ;-)
Let me also suggest you join the ranks of our "C3immortals". This is a simple sign-up system where you will automatically receive each new issue of C3i Magazine in the future (billed upon publication to your credit card). Just email our office – gmtoffice@aol.com
Hope this helps and enjoy the magazine,
Rodger