tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5368677310334370714.post4797369941511211729..comments2024-03-28T16:32:41.081+00:00Comments on Battlefields and Warriors: Clash of Giants - GettysburgNormhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05031444717952755557noreply@blogger.comBlogger16125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5368677310334370714.post-22968141771167972412018-04-20T08:36:12.545+00:002018-04-20T08:36:12.545+00:00Play 2nd Bull Run again face-to-face. We went for ...Play 2nd Bull Run again face-to-face. We went for the two day battle, dispensing with the first campaign day, which is mostly just a day of manoeuvre. It was interesting to see where the historical Confederate forces began day 2, compared to the positions I had got them into with the campaign scenario.<br /><br />the two day battle is a better fit for an evenings session. It was another very enjoyable and tight game that has both players drawn in. We ended with a Confederate victory.Normhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05031444717952755557noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5368677310334370714.post-50747397171633072252018-04-14T08:07:01.020+00:002018-04-14T08:07:01.020+00:00Played 2nd Bull Run last night as a face-to-face g...Played 2nd Bull Run last night as a face-to-face game. this is the other scenario in the box. We played this face-to-face and it gave a brilliant, tight situation that kept both players fully engaged.<br /><br />This is a two day battle (29th - 30th August), but the 28th is also included to give a campaign scenario. Counter density is relatively light, so players just going for the two day battle could complete this in a single session. We went for the three day version, which gives you all the opening moves of the first day.<br /><br />This slows down play a bit because the movement and combat restrictions of that day meant we had to keep a careful eye on the exclusive rules, however, this is a relatively new battle situation to me and it does help reveal the history and the problems that the commanders had that brought the very character to this battle.<br /><br />It is a well crafted scenario and the map is very nice to play over - I can see us coming back to this one soon.Normhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05031444717952755557noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5368677310334370714.post-58774927519843657772018-04-12T17:31:54.682+00:002018-04-12T17:31:54.682+00:00Thanks Norm, will look forward to more ACW goodnes...Thanks Norm, will look forward to more ACW goodness then!Prufrockhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17659918463589870423noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5368677310334370714.post-45874570931912872902018-04-12T16:26:13.486+00:002018-04-12T16:26:13.486+00:00Thanks Aaron, I am not generally keen on VP counti...Thanks Aaron, I am not generally keen on VP counting. Here it did influence play, because from eye-balling the game, I would have said that overall, the Union had the edge throughout the battle, it felt and looked like a Union win ... however, the TER of the unit is important and although there is a lot of blue on the map, there are a fair number of '2' values there, which are pretty brittle. The Confederates tend to have the higher TER, giving them greater staying power, so just looking at the board is not a reliable way of knowing who will win on VP's ... but as you observe, knowing the values on the VP track does influence play, but not until the very end.<br /><br />In my game, the Confederates gave the last push because they knew that level, if the VP number had been hidden from me, I likely would have called of further Confederate attacks.<br /><br />I am playing 2nd Bull Run tomorrow night, so will ponder your question in that setting. I hope to have a look at he new Compass Gettysburg game over the coming weeks which is also chit pull and compare.Normhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05031444717952755557noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5368677310334370714.post-69554493602300587542018-04-12T16:14:29.916+00:002018-04-12T16:14:29.916+00:00Hi Norm, just to echo the others comments, this is...Hi Norm, just to echo the others comments, this is a marvellous piece of reviewing. This game had slipped under the radar for me, and it being Ted Racier doing ACW I probably would not have bothered to check it out further were it not for your review. As it turns out, I like the look of the map and counters (and of course the fact that it is so solo friendly) and will consider picking it up once I'm back into buying games mode again.<br /><br />Did you feel that player VP count knowledge meant that you were playing the game rather than the situation at the end, or did the action seem be a natural consequence of the board position and situation? To put it another way, did the VP system 'intrude' into in-game decision-making in an unnatural way, or do you think it drove the action appropriately? <br /><br />Cheers, and thanks again for a great review! Really enjoyed that.<br /><br />AaronPrufrockhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17659918463589870423noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5368677310334370714.post-11493440964941097622018-04-11T05:26:15.867+00:002018-04-11T05:26:15.867+00:00Thanks Stew, I was surprised how I felt a little s...Thanks Stew, I was surprised how I felt a little straight-jacketed by own sense of predictability as to how the battle 'should' play out. I would like to play it out a few more times, just to see what the likelihood is of the Pickett's Charge and Devil's Den action being realised. <br /><br />Certainly by day 3, I think it likely that the players will be casualty focussed rather than objective focussed.<br /><br />I will have to try and get another ACW post in soon :-)<br />I do have something up my sleeve. Normhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05031444717952755557noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5368677310334370714.post-26328254553539413712018-04-10T23:25:48.421+00:002018-04-10T23:25:48.421+00:00A good overview. I like it SO much better when yo...A good overview. I like it SO much better when you discuss ACW than Naps. 😀 (that’s only my bias of course). <br /><br />When it comes to Gettysburg, which is so well known by almost anyone, a game does well by allowing the players new options and not be locked into historical moves only. And Gettysburg is also great for this as it’s a battle that starts as a meeting engagement and grows out of control. 😀<br /><br />Stewhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00340930167419307092noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5368677310334370714.post-40544070088239776402018-04-10T18:14:49.509+00:002018-04-10T18:14:49.509+00:00Hi Norm,
I'll do a compare and contrast, than...Hi Norm,<br /><br />I'll do a compare and contrast, thanks for the heads up.<br /><br />Cheers<br /><br />JayOld Trousershttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16866101372406631079noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5368677310334370714.post-27543937957399385912018-04-10T14:40:37.988+00:002018-04-10T14:40:37.988+00:00Hi Jay, of note is that Compass Games have just re...Hi Jay, of note is that Compass Games have just release Battle Hymn. This is a Gettysburg / Pea Ridge duo, but of note is the fact that it is chit pull and the designer is Eric Lee Smith of Across 5 Aprils fame. Just saying as both systems have enough similarities to warrant some comparison before buying. Normhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05031444717952755557noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5368677310334370714.post-44169780823129000932018-04-10T09:38:16.507+00:002018-04-10T09:38:16.507+00:00Hi Norm,
Great review! I didn't know anything...Hi Norm,<br /><br />Great review! I didn't know anything about this game. The combat model and artillery rules sound really interesting. I'll put this one on my list!<br /><br />Cheers<br /><br />JayOld Trousershttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16866101372406631079noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5368677310334370714.post-28397204562038587832018-04-10T04:45:21.160+00:002018-04-10T04:45:21.160+00:00Thanks Jonathan, I do like the idea of combat effe...Thanks Jonathan, I do like the idea of combat effectiveness being represented in a game. For the most part, units with sit in the middle ground, but the exceptional units (for good or bad) get true recognition.<br /><br />Though sometimes the historical extremes do not always produce the best gaming scenarios, I am thinking here of engagements such as between U.S. WWII Paratroopers and second line German troops, where the bulk of both sides have quality moving in the opposite direction.<br /><br />In this game (Gettysburg), the bulk of the forces sit with values of 3 and 4, which actually is enough to bring a lot of nuance, while there are also some swing units at ratings 2 and 5 and the player find themselves being bolder or more nurturing with them as appropriate.<br />Normhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05031444717952755557noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5368677310334370714.post-13592601502273998392018-04-09T23:20:17.814+00:002018-04-09T23:20:17.814+00:00Another fine sample of your reviewing skill, Norm....Another fine sample of your reviewing skill, Norm. The combat engine in this game seems very similar to the engine I have used in a number of my own designs. Raicer calls his Tactical Effectiveness Rating. I call mine Combat Effectiveness. Very similar in use and meaning.<br /><br />One thing I prefer with tactical horse and muskets games (and I have said this before) is counters to show formations in a top-down fashion. I really do not care much for icons especially when facing is important.<br /><br />If you both had an enjoyable evening playing the game, that is really all that matters.<br /><br />Good job! Jonathan Freitaghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07862373894196924886noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5368677310334370714.post-53823410609413536032018-04-09T18:06:38.168+00:002018-04-09T18:06:38.168+00:00Thanks Phil, yes, it's hard to free up the tim...Thanks Phil, yes, it's hard to free up the time .... when I was younger, I could give up sleep! we were talking the other day about a boardgame that is due for re-release, I played it almost 40 years ago and on the first play, stayed up until after 4 AM to see it through .... I was in work for 7 AM. Those were the days :-)<br />Normhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05031444717952755557noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5368677310334370714.post-52004427724712869772018-04-09T17:30:10.145+00:002018-04-09T17:30:10.145+00:00Sounds very nice, makes me want to play again boar...Sounds very nice, makes me want to play again boardgames...if only I had time!Philhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08913029478686087197noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5368677310334370714.post-75976936550055819192018-04-09T17:27:56.479+00:002018-04-09T17:27:56.479+00:00Hi Mike, thought the play through result would sur...Hi Mike, thought the play through result would surprise you, as we both thought the Confederates chance for a win had run its course and failed by the end of day 1. 2nd Bull Run should make for a good game and its not a game subject we see much. Looking forward to it.Normhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05031444717952755557noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5368677310334370714.post-34621156449376533852018-04-09T17:19:41.546+00:002018-04-09T17:19:41.546+00:00Hugely enjoyed our game that took us in to the beg...Hugely enjoyed our game that took us in to the beginnings of day two. So, fantastic to see how things played out when you continued the game on and amazed that the Confederates squeaked an Automatic victory. The whole post embracing comments about the nature of the game plus AAR makes an engrossing read. Bring on 2nd Bull Run on Friday!Mike Wallhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00412103694827166164noreply@blogger.com