New review

[wodin]

Another great review over at Armchair General

http://www.armchairgeneral.com/articles ... e=1&cat=59

[Erik Rutins]

Great review!

Final Thoughts:
I really enjoy Band of Heroes. The replay value is excellent and the possibilities for additional scenarios seem endless. A few of the rules, such as opportunity fire restrictions and close assault of vehicles are not very realistic, but Band of Heroes is a game after all, and one in future years that may even become a classic.

Armchair General Score: 94%
37/40 – Gameplay
15/15 – Components
18/20 – Rules/Documentation
14/15 – Replay Value
10/10 – General’s Rating

Regards,

- Erik

[ravinhood]

Ohhhhhh you have so much to live up to with the computer version. I can hardly wait.

[JimMerson]

I was impressed with the review. I felt it was right on, but I would have dropped the replay value another notch or two because once you read the "event notes" there is no longer any surprise involved with them. Perhaps that can be addressed in the computer version [;)] .

Ravinhood, I need to meet your grandmother someday.

Jim Merson

[ravinhood]

Don't worry someday you will, in fact someday we ALL will.[&o]

[markhwalker]

Bob Skinner... Wow! It is so refreshing to read a review (on any game) from someone who can actually write. Hey, I don't care if he slammed LnL, the guy crafts a well-written, succinct, and interesting review. Great job, Bob!

Reviews in general... the number of reviews has been disheartening. Matrix has sent out the review copies (like right away), but I'm not aware of a single print review. It's frustrating dealing with the board game press.

Replay value... I guess we will just have to agree to disagree on this one, Jim. [:)] I don't feel the events limit replay any more than scheduled reinforcements do in other tactical games. We strove to place events into two categories: 1) Events that must be triggered. These are usually LOS-type events that can't be avoided, and usually trigger reinforcements. Again, they no more ruin playability than any other scheduled occurance on a tactical game card. 2) Events that MIGHT be triggered. We tried to make these semi-random so that players will WANT to trigger them. I think part of the replayibilty thing with events comes from people who read about them, but have never played with them. Finally, only about 50% of LnL scenarios include events.

Opportunity Fire... Bob didn't amplify this point, but I'll make a couple for him: 1) I think it works great, and 2) it could be better. The problem with OpFire in LnL, or most any game that doesn't have 17 convoluted tiers of reaction fire (I'm just saying), is that once it is done, it is done. If you decide to fire your squad with its MG42 at the first American that comes into view, you'll be out of luck when the rest of the platoon shosws up. Not totally unrealistic and you can still mitigate the effects of this by NOT firing at the first unit.

Vehicle Close Assault... Bob didn't explain his thoughts, but I honestly think Close Assault works well (i.e. it's very deadly). But hey, he's certainly entitled to his opinion.

Realism... Ah, a pet peave of mine. Complexity and detail DO NOT equal realism. I ardently believe that LnL is much more realistic than Squad Leader, simply because of its randomness, prominent individuals, and impulse system. I'm not big on research, but I am big on advice from combat vets, and that's what I used in designing the LnL series.

Computer game... so hard to tell you guys, but what the LnL team is working on is a tactical computer game that will rock your world. I really need to cage my tongue, because it will come across as boasting, but CLnL will be ALL LnL and then all the things I couldn't do with a board game.

Best,

Mark

[JimMerson]

ORIGINAL: markhwalker

...snip...

Replay value... I guess we will just have to agree to disagree on this one, Jim. [:)] I don't feel the events limit replay any more than scheduled reinforcements do in other tactical games. We strove to place events into two categories: 1) Events that must be triggered. These are usually LOS-type events that can't be avoided, and usually trigger reinforcements. Again, they no more ruin playability than any other scheduled occurance on a tactical game card. 2) Events that MIGHT be triggered. We tried to make these semi-random so that players will WANT to trigger them. I think part of the replayibilty thing with events comes from people who read about them, but have never played with them. Finally, only about 50% of LnL scenarios include events.

...snip...

Best,

Mark

I do like the triggered events as they are, but I found playing the game, the first time you trigger an event and you do not know what you are getting into (no I really do not read the paragraphs before I am supposed to) is a lot more fun than replaying the scenario and knowing that you need do that fast so you can get this.

I snipped out your comments on opportunity fire but I must admit that I feel a bit guilty on that accord. There have been several times that I have skipped a chance at opportunity fire because I knew there was a stack with a leader in it that might move later that turn. I am totally against the compications that would be brought on by adding concealment or hidden stacks and do not want those rules added now or later, but that is the only way I can think of to prevent that sort of "gamemanship". The inverse of that is a smart opponent will see that happening and "pin" that squad by not moving that valuable leader and in the meantime march the entire regiment past on parade.

Great game Mark and I WILL purchase the next module and computer version of it to boot.

Jim Merson

[markhwalker]

Yes, I agree with you, Jim. The first time an event is triggered is the most fun.

Opfire... there are solutions, but it depends on the game system.

Best,

Mark

[ravinhood]

Just tell me one thing now Mark, are the counters in the computer version going to look like the counters in the board game? I really don't want to see standup icons and have to look over to some side window to see their stats?

[Marc von Martial]

Board game counters, like in the paper version.

[RedMike]

Hey Mark,

I'm really glad to hear your going ahead with a computer version. My two dinarii...make it cross platform so it will run on Linux too. That would be the balls!

I can't wait to get my hands on a copy regardless.

Yours truly,
RedMike...out

P.S. FPG v1.10 is out, ready to resume a pbem game ??

[ravinhood]

ORIGINAL: Marc Schwanebeck

Board game counters, like in the paper version.

YAHOOOO!! I mean that's nice.[:D]

[markhwalker]

Like Marc said, board game counters, but there will be some differences. For example, the turret will not be a separate counter. Nor will most admin counters be separate (stuff like smoke will), but will appear as icons on the counters themselves. For example, after a unit fires a little Fired icon appears on its counter.

Red Mike... I lost my activation code for FPG. Let me get David to send me a new one.

Best,

Mark