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The Hotness
Games|People|Company
Best Block Wargames
Joe Anon
United States

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I have never played this sytle of wargame but I am interested. What are some of the best wargames using a block system regardless of complexity or era?
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Posted Wed Jun 29, 2005 7:54 am
1. Board Game: Wizard Kings [Average Rating:6.89 Overall Rank:475]
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Robert C Kalajian Jr
United States
Torrington
Connecticut
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 Wizard Kings is great, but you'll want to download some scenarios from www.wizardkings.com. Couldn't hurt to buy some additional armies either.
Jonathan
United States
Orlando
Florida
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This is one of my LEAST favorite block games, scenarios or not. The game rules reward the defender to the point where attacking at all is crazy. Also, the various armies are poorly balanced.
Robert Ramirez
United States
San Antonio
Texas
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Most of those are fixed by sticking with the 1.5 rules (the latest is 1.6). If you are getting this game, give both versions a spin. I have played with the 1.6 and not the 1.5 but can see why 1.5 would be somewhat more fair.

Either way, it's a great game.
2. Board Game: Hammer of the Scots [Average Rating:7.74 Overall Rank:48]
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K Bent
United States
Seattle
Washington
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 Hammer of the Scots is the first thing most people think of with this genre.

The game components (board and cards) are so poor given the $50.00 cost, that it soured me completely from enjoying this game.

I guess most poeple can see the components to enjoy the game. I'm not one of them.
Robert Taylor
United States
Eaton Rapids
Michigan
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Don't let the components, which are fine, stop you from this great game.
K Bent
United States
Seattle
Washington
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:shake:
Ric Manns
United States
Unspecified
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The second edition is supposed to have an updated map and improved cards. I believe that the components are improving, as for Days of Wonder....the art work is nice, but the cards are flimsy in my Memoir '44 game and the plastic figures get bent easily. Give me the blocks anytime! Hammer is a game that will keep me playing and thinking. The entertainment value is great when compared to $36 ticket for a MLB game or $55 seat for a Colts game.
K Bent
United States
Seattle
Washington
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The changes to Hammer are minor - the pixelated map still remains.

Better graphics doesn't cost one penny more to print.
Ric Manns
United States
Unspecified
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K Bent....

Are you in publishing? I doubt you have a clue about the economics of running a game company. I have a lot of wargames, so Hammer isn't terrific grapically, but wins where it counts in game play.

Go play your pretty Euros and quit ditching a terrific game!;)
3. Board Game: Bonaparte at Marengo [Average Rating:7.60 Overall Rank:167]
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K Bent
United States
Seattle
Washington
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Bill Eldard
United States
Unspecified
Virginia
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Everyone who enjoys block gaming ought to give this one a try.
4. Board Game: Rommel in the Desert [Average Rating:7.73 Overall Rank:173]
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Dan Poole
United States
Goldsboro
North Carolina
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 This is the only block game I own, so I have no frame of reference for comparison within this category. Nonetheless I think this is a highly enjoyable game, better than a lot of other war games I have played. The rules are not nearly as arduous as some of the older hex-and-counter war games, yet it is deep enough to offer a richer, more rewarding gaming experience compared to a lot of other war games (such as memoir or axis & allies). This seems to be a bit more complex than Wizards & Kings and HotS, after having read the rules of these latter 2 games.
Chester Ogborn
United States
Albuquerque
New Mexico
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I only have this and Hammer of the Scots. I like this one much better. I don't recall HotS creating nearly as much tension, or dilemma's about how to position your precious units and resources.
Chester Ogborn
United States
Albuquerque
New Mexico
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OK, well...I DO have Europe Engulfed, too. But I haven't gotten that one on the table yet.
Jonathan
United States
Orlando
Florida
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Quote:
OK, well...I DO have Europe Engulfed, too. But I haven't gotten that one on the table yet.


Shame on you! If you can manage Rommel, you can manage EE. You'll find it worth the effort to get to the table!
robin goblin
Canada
Toronto
Ontario
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Hey Jonathon, don't encourage Chester; hey bud, if you don't get it on the table, send it to me! You can even have Mamma Mia and Arena Maximus back in exchange... :D :p

Robin
Guido van den Heuvel
Netherlands
Leiden
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I LOVE this game. Playing it is always a very tense and rewarding experience. I also love the looks of this game. The map is stunning, and the block stickers have a simple yet elegant quality that I like very much. The colours look a bit odd at first (especially the strange, greenish color of the German units), but they really fit the brownish-yellow map.
5. Board Game: Liberty: The American Revolution 1775-83 [Average Rating:7.43 Overall Rank:522]
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Jason White
United States
Ashburn
Virginia
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 This is a GREAT game. I like HoTS, too, and didn't mind paying the 50 bucks for either. Sometimes you pay for quality play...

Every time I play this winner, I find my self wondering when I'll play it again and thinking of how to do things differently...
Garrett Potvin
United States
Brooklyn Park
MN
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Great game, my second favorite block game (right behind HOTS).
Julie Miller
United States
Unspecified
Unspecified
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Ever since I heard David McCullough give a lecture on his new book 1776 I've wanted to try this game. It is probably at the outer limit of what I can deal with in complexity though.
Garrett Potvin
United States
Brooklyn Park
MN
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It's not too hard to pick up, once you sort through the Naval rules and figure out what your ships can do.
Ric Manns
United States
Unspecified
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This is one of my favorite GAMES let alone Block Games.
6. Board Game: Quebec 1759 [Average Rating:7.02 Overall Rank:673]
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Julie Miller
United States
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 OK, just call me a lightweight. I'm not Miss Wargame and the only two block games I have played are this and War of 1812. So don't take me as some kind of authority. But I really liked this game (and 1812 too). Maybe this is not the best block game, but if you are a newbie, I can't think of a better one to start with.
Garrett Potvin
United States
Brooklyn Park
MN
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I agree, another solid offering by CG's. I like this one just a little better than 1812. Maybe it's the simplicity, maybe it's the three column battle resolution system, or maybe it's the simo moves.

Great Game!
Bill Eldard
United States
Unspecified
Virginia
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I concur with you both. The fact that both Q-1759 and W-1812 continue to sell well after 30 years in the hobby, is testament to their high gaming qualities. :)
Robert Wesley
Nepal
Aberdeen
Washington
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:D sorry girl, but I'm gonna have to 'cast' my VOTE for YOU as ''Miss Wargamer'', unless someone ELSE can contend with YOU for the 'title'! :laugh:
Vince Londini
Canada
London
Ontario
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I like this one, too. I think the three-column system is ingenious as a representation of Napoleonic era warfare. I'd like to see the Dalgliesh's do more with it...
7. Board Game: Europe Engulfed [Average Rating:7.78 Overall Rank:120]
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Ric Manns
United States
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 This is a great block game. The Campaign game is terrific, but it does take a little time to play. Usually one long day of playing around 12-14 hours. The scenarios can be played much more quickly aand has new innovations for block games.
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4 comments [Hide]
Daniel Broh-Kahn
United States
Phoenix
Maryland
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I don't think you can do better than any of these!

http://www.boardgamegeek.com/geeklist.php3?action=view&listi...
Bill Eldard
United States
Unspecified
Virginia
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Thanks, DB-K, for the link to Walt Mulder's very comprehensive list. I'm especially pleased that he included the recently published Bonaparte at Marengo, which introduced a new 'block system' that is bound to be further applied to other pre-20th Century battles.

I've you're going to buy just one block game, I'd go with Hammer of the Scots. If you're buying two, add Bonaparte at Marengo. Both are relatively simple games, but quite different from each other.
Noel
United States
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While I enjoyed playing Bonaparte at Marengo, I just traded it away. It's a good game, no doubt, but a bit on the dryer side of block gaming. I do reccomend it, but I think that if you are going to go for this game, it's better to hold off until Simmons produces the next one, Napoleon's Triumph, which will be a more refined version of his innovative system.
Being a WWII nut, I love both Europe Engulfed and EastFront. Each has its merits. I'm looking forward to trying Rommel in the Desert, someday. Pacific Victory was also enjoyable to play, but a bit too complicated for what it is. I'm hoping that Asia Engulfed gets on that pre-order list soon, as well as Rick Young's FAB Bulge game.
One game I consider a blast to play is Victoria Cross. It's a lot of fun.

http://boardgamegeek.com/geeklist.php3?action=view&listid=48...
Mike Opper
United States
Flagstaff
Arizona
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For this category, one must not overlook Columbia Games' classic Quebec 1759.
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