Dylan Woods
United States
Tallahassee
Florida
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Hi all,
I'm trying to figure out which States of Siege game is the best for me, and I have it narrowed down to this one or Levee en Masse.
I know this is the Soviet Dawn forum, but it seemed the most active out of the two.
Reading the manuals of each, they seem like pretty similar games, though Levee seems like it relies even more on "track sliders", and has less "flavor" events and cards and whatnot. Is that true? Those of you that have played both, which one do you like the best?
Thank you very much for your advice.
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Jeff Myers
Spain
Los Ranchos
New Mexico
"Always rely upon a happy mind alone." Geshe Chekhawa.
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I really like both, but would probably give the edge to Soviet Dawn.
These games are like Cheetohs (TM), though, in that you can't have just one....
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Dylan Woods
United States
Tallahassee
Florida
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Yeah, they all look fun, and I'll probably end up buying most of them.
Thanks for your response, and if you could tell me what in particular makes Soviet Dawn "better", that would be great.
Does it have more flavor? Are you just more a fan of this time period than the French revolution?
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Jeff Myers
Spain
Los Ranchos
New Mexico
"Always rely upon a happy mind alone." Geshe Chekhawa.
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I like the multiple paths to victory aspect of Soviet Dawn, I think....
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David Kennedy
United States
California
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I've only played Soviet Dawn. That said, I've played it easily over 500 times now. I think that says a lot. For such a simple game, I'm amazed with the depth of the game play. After playing it all these times, each and every game is unique. Look through this forum and you'll see how I've posted a ton of AAR and commentary related to aspects of the game. You'd think I'd have exhausted it by now. Nope. The game engine works superbly and with extraordinary elegance. Further, I'd point out that the more you play, the more enjoyable it gets.
I really like the short playing time. It sets up in less than two minutes. You can have an intense experience within 20 minutes. So you find yourself squeezing in a game at all hours and moments. Recently, I played a game after midnight and an intense game ensued involving the Curzon Line for the first time. See here > http://www.boardgamegeek.com/thread/554131/curzon-line
This game came down to the last turn of the game with the Denkin Unstoppable event. See here > http://www.boardgamegeek.com/thread/543872/denkin-unstoppabl...
This morning, I had a new experience with the Finns in the late game. Usually, the Finns presence is felt in the early game. Not today and another intense and memorable game ensued. See here > http://www.boardgamegeek.com/thread/561654/mannerheim-yudeni...
The sheer efficiency and narrative power of these game experiences is exhilerating.
I also have to say I love the atmospherics of the game. If speaking in a thick Russian accent as you issue orders to the Red Army Tank Corps; employing Communist subversion to stymie the foes of the revolution; conferring with Lenin to defend the revolution; downing shots of cheap vodka as you ponder your next move; if all these appeal at some primal and irrational level, order the game and the Expansion kit. You won't be disappointed.
The game engine shines here. I think it is well suited for the chaos of the Russian Civil War. There are three epochs -- Twilight, Darkness, Dawn. You start with the Twilight event cards. At key junctures, the Darkness and Dawn cards are shuffled in. This makes for extraordinary variability as the Germans could capitulate as early as the second turn. So there's a truly chaotic feel to events. My understanding of Levee en Masse is the event deck has the same three epoch structure. But, the transition to each new epoch is more orderly. That probably reflects the history. But, as game, I wonder if it makes for a more scripted feel and ultimately limits replayability. I don't know. Still, food for thought.
I don't know if Levee en Masse can offer the same intensity, efficiency or replayability. Maybe Bonaparte and the French Revolution get you going. Maybe you prefer French wine to vodka. That's your call. Still, I hardly think you can go wrong here.
Finally, just to be clear, you have to bring your own vodka. It is not included in the Soviet Dawn game.
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