Justin Nordstrom
United States
Drums
Pennsylvania
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Hi everyone,
I've played Ted Raicer's Paths of Glory a couple times and really enjoy the game, though I'll admit it's on the cusp of being too complex for my tastes. But I'm looking for suggestions on a WWI game that, unlike PoG, plays in one sitting. I've come across some gigantic WWI games on the GMT website, but if I were to cap the game length at, say, 3 hours, what would you suggest? I've seen this great geeklist:
http://boardgamegeek.com/geeklist/23950/item/476044#item4760...
That lists Raicer's other games, mostly those on WWI. Some of these sound promising, like Clash of Giants, The First World War (which seems to straddle the line between simple and simplistic) and Grand Illusion: The 1914 Campaign in the West which seems to push the envelope in terms of game length. Anyhow, anyone care to comment on these three, or any other WWI games that can be played in one sitting and are of medium complexity?
Justin
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L Myrick
United States
Pasadena
California
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You should take a look at both Clash of Giants II and Clash of Giants.
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Was George Orwell an Optimist?
Spain
Corvallis
Oregon
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If you want to play the whole war, you should try and find a copy of World War I. It is a simple and manageable game that portrays the situation very successfully.
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iain
England
elegantly wasted
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I would strongly second Georges' suggestion. If you want a strategic look at the whole of the war within the parameters you state then WW1 is well worth a look.
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Phillip Heaton
United States
Springfield
Virginia
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You might try 1914: Glories End. It just covers the opening (and possibly only
 ) moves of the war.
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Robert Fix
United States
Sterling Hts
Michigan
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The First World War from Phalanx is "do-able" in one sitting.
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Rod Bauer
United States
Larned
Kansas
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While I agree with Robert, that FIRST WORLD WAR by Phalanx "is do-able" in one sitting, I think you might do better to take George's advice and try WORLD WAR I. It is superior to FIRST WORLD WAR when it comes to simulating the history of that war. It is small in scale, plays in short time, and does a fine job of simulating the stalemate on the Western Front as well as the more fluid and mobile action in the East.
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Jim Marshall
United Kingdom
York
North Yorkshire
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The only shortish WW1 ganmes I've played are the aforementioned First World War and Word War 1 - the latter of which I've owned twice for some reason.
First World War - easier to get into, quicker, encourages purely strategic thinking (no operational element whatsoever), can be decided on the dice (the surrender rolls are VERY important, although if you know that you play to move the odds in your favour).
World War 1 - more traditional hex'n'counter treatment of the war, while strategic there are operational elements involved (movement points, you'll be looking to surround pieces with zones of control and attack them while out of supply etc.) I think that you'll do well to play it in 3 hours unless both you and your opponent are up to speed with the game and are happy playing quickly. Two set up options, the historical one favouring the allies and the free set up one the central powers (don't attack Belgium, concentrate on the East). Russians falling back slowly can frustrate in the East
Bottom line for me: I've enjoyed them both (I think FWW gets too hard a press on BGG) and would recommend either
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E Butler
United States
Hughesville
Pennsylvania
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rlfix wrote: The First World War from Phalanx is "do-able" in one sitting.
Second that! The First World War is a very good game that can be played in a few hours or less.
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Justin Nordstrom
United States
Drums
Pennsylvania
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Thanks everyone...now I just need to track down this game, which will be a fun challenge. I'll put Grand Illusion on hold for now and try these ones out. Thanks again.
Justin
Sphere wrote: If you want to play the whole war, you should try and find a copy of World War I. It is a simple and manageable game that portrays the situation very successfully.
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David Gray
United States
Deerwood
MN
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SPI's World War One. A pocket masterpiece.
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Jens Hoppe
Denmark
Frederiksberg
What are you, like 80?
It's not the years, honey, it's the mileage.
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Before designing Paths of Glory, Ted Raicer did some nice WW1 games for Command Magazine, including 1918: Storm in the West and When Eagles Fight. Both of these are smaller and simpler than Paths of Glory, and though I haven't played them in years, I rememeber them as being fair to good.
For a list of other Ted Raicer WW1 games, check out this list:
Ted Raicer - Master of the First World War
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