I dabble in wargames... very light and even the occasional mid-light wargames: Nexus Ops, Viktory II; these are more Risk alternatives than anything - granted they have far more variability and strategy than Risk ever could. I've recently been noodling about with Commands & Colors: Ancients and that was about as heavy as I'd let myself delve into the world of wargaming.

Conflict of Heroes: Awakening the Bear! - Russia 1941-1942 hit my radar; I really can't remember the exact circumstances, and I'm intrigued but wary. Looks a tad heavy for my experience level. Oh what the hell. I've gotta have one medium-heavy wargame in my collection, right?

The Game arrives on my doorstep last week. I stare at it for 2 days... off and on. I browse through the ruleset. This doesn't look so tough. I punch out the rather beautiful looking counters, open and fold the gameboards back up, ruffle through the cards (I do wish that the cardstock was a bit better quality and perhaps this is an 'upgrade' that Academy Games would consider in the future), and generally mull over my purchase.

My day off from work hits on Thursday and I decide that this is 'The Day'. I'm gonna, at the very least play a game of solitaire. Fortune smiles on me, however, and The Wife says she'll try out the first Firefight with me. I grab the required units stipulated for Firefight #1 and we dive in.

Everything is so logical, besides the strangely inverted Flank DV vs. Front DV (I'm sure there's some logic to this but I haven't been able to figure it out). AP's, CAP's, VP's, and no clutter. Attacker is the only one that rolls... this plays fast. This is bloody, this is rather unexpected, this is brilliant. So brilliant in fact that The Wife has requested that we work our way through Firefight #2 and #3 tonight and tomorrow (both kids have a nasty case of Gastroenteritis so we're home from work looking after them). I cannot think of a better endorsement for this game coming from a mal-exposed wargamer and The Wife is even less so.

I've already picked up the expanded #6 gameboard and have printed out the updated Feb '09 ruleset. I could very easily see this game getting some steady, steady play over the next few weeks and months.

I'm not going to bother rating the game. The fact that I'm ready, CC in hand for whatever Uwe E. brings out next, sight unseen, should be enough of a testament to just how good this game is.

I'm keeping detail-driven game notes for very near-future session reports played with The Wife. I figure it may offer a unique perspective as She chimes in now and again on various aspects (components, gameplay...) of the game.

I too am a light wargamer, although a little heavier than I used to be. I LOVE CoH! It really is just a simple fun game. You are very lucky that your wife will play it with you, mine just rolls her eyes when I ask her to play a wargame.

Coming from a different angle, I play heavy wargames. Been an ASL player since 1985. And I love COH too!

It allows me to play a WW2 tactical game against players that just roll their eyes when I mention ASL.

I bought the game three weeks ago and have played 13 times since then against or with 5 players, all with positive feedback. Will I give up ASL, no I love that game too, but COH is special and Uwe deserves our praise!

I've had this game for a while, but haven't played it that much. I started the first scenario last night, and played a couple of turns. I immedietely remembered from the first play of this scenario a few months back that it takes a roll of 10-12 on your attack to get a hit on units in any kind of cover.

If you take the good old "rule of 7", that means that it will take an act of God for your squads, even stacked, to be effective in ranged combat unless you stack for the extra +1 per squad, and then pay some CAPs to up the ante a bit.

I'll play some more of this scenario today (after I finish up a DASL scenario, set up my SASL game, and try a quick run through of a Day of Heroes scenario). I'm guessing that the close combat will be a little bloodier, so we'll see. Plus, I know that it'll take more than one game for me to figure out tactics (still working on that one in all the other games I play ).

I agree, a great game. We may eventually begin referring to this as one of the best intros to Wargaming. I also enjoy Combat Commander, but this hits the table much more often. We've been playing it on average twice a month since I got when it first came out. And typically we'll play 2 to 4 scenarios each time it comes out.

It's quick, it's fun and I just love it! Looking forward to all the expansions.

John, it may take a 10-12 normally, but if you can sneak up for CC or add command points, the odds get much better. Those are the tactics you're talking about and once you and your opponent figure them out, it really gets interesting!

Please rate the game, Stefan. The Rating System being what it is, it helps offset the 'haters'.

And please post the comments your wife has on the game. I constantly marvel that:

1) Gamers get married.

2) Gamers get married to women who actually like to game.

3) Gamers remain married after this.

Her comments may get my wife to consider this game (NOT!)

Aye, 'tis a good game but never a successor to ASL, the game I've not played for years.

Conflict suits me just now. It's relatively easy to learn the rulesand is not the time-sucking machine ASL can be.

I'll try and go through the game for a final rating.

Components: 8.5 outta 10. As stated, I really think that the cards could've been of much better stock, and the decision to have the Flanking DV overtop of the Front DV is kinda wierd... but those are my only complaints. This game is stunning. Thick counters, well defined art and information, beautifully mounted boards; what more could I ask for?

Rules: 8.5 outta 10. The ruleset for CoH is some kind of phenom. Aside from the fact that even this amazng set of rules required a recent update, I still found them to be easy to follow, very linear (which always helps when learning a game), and easily referenceable. Even the supplied reference sheets are well thought out.

Gameplay: 9 outta 10. This game is just all kinds of amounts of fun; tension abounds. Difficult decisions crop up pretty much every turn and the AP and CAP's system is so simple; it really limits and causes you to have to make some really interesting decisions. I really love the way that Uwe built in the 'Opportunity Actions' as this gives another delicious flavour: do I fire back now, pivot to meet on-coming fire, move in response or retreat? Only to have no actions for that troop on my Turn? Lovely.

What The Wife says: 7.8 outta 10. First, you've got to understand that she's far more critical of games and that an 8 is super high for her (to put this in perspective, she rates Agricola a 7, amd she enjoys that game. She rates Twilight Imperium 3rd Edition a solid 7.5, a game she adores but says that the time factor slides that down to what it is. She rates Roma an 8, and that's got to be pretty much her favorite 2-player game.

Taking these number all into account I come up with a rating of 8.45, but we'll round that up to 8.5. I think once we've played upwards of 10+ times that I'll safely be able to say that this game deserves a 9 outta 10.

Agreed!!! I really wish the DVs were in the -- dare I say it -- correct placement.