OT-Decision Games WitP

[captskillet]

I remember The Longest Day full monty took awhile to set up and we ended up setting it up on my buddy's floor because his table with both leaves put in was still not big enough for all the map boards to fit on......... we used the tackle box system also ......had 2 Plano tackle boxes full o' counters for this baby!!!!

[Mike Solli]

ORIGINAL: BB56

Just out of curiosity, did the game come with any counter trays? The last few games I bought (quite a while ago) either didn't come with any trays at all, or not enough to properly store the counters.

The game came with a bag ful of small ziplock bags. Fortunately I bought a boatload of counter trays from The Gamers years ago. I expect to use 6-7 for the counters and put the markers in some of the bags.

[Yava]

ORIGINAL: Mike Solli

ORIGINAL: Yava

ORIGINAL: Monter_Trismegistos

Games that can be completed in one or two evening sucks!!!

Why to ever play them if you realized that you are finishing it, even if you just started.

Try playing Waterloo from Dragon... [:'(] One evening of setting up...[;)]

Ooh, more details please? Dragon who?

It was a publisher...
http://www.taktykaistrategia.pl/?lang=english

[panda124c]

ORIGINAL: captskillet

I remember The Longest Day full monty took awhile to set up and we ended up setting it up on my buddy's floor because his table with both leaves put in was still not big enough for all the map boards to fit on......... we used the tackle box system also ......had 2 Plano tackle boxes full o' counters for this baby!!!!

Drang nach Osten [:D]

[Grotius]

OMG, my copy of this monster arrived today, and I'm both excited and overwhelmed!

The seven strategic game maps are huge. The manual says they are each 22" by 28", but they seem more like 22 by 35 to me. I actually might have the table space to fit them all, but jeesh! Interestingly, the "size" of hexes varies from 60 to 40 nautical miles, depending on the latitude.

In addition, there are two dozen two-sided full-color tactical map sheets of pretty much every island in the theater. That's 45+ large pages of maps, and most such pages hold tactical maps of several islands, so we're talking about maybe a couple hundred tactical maps. The designer notes say that initially they thought they might just issue the most "likely" islands and make others available for download, but ultimately they just gave 'em all to us. Some do seem more "likely": I'm looking forward to setting up on Singapore, for example. It's especially cool to have maps of atolls and the like. The tactical maps vary in scale from 1 mile/hex up to 10 or maybe more miles/hex. I can't wait to see how they play out.

Then there are the 15 or 20 sheets of colorful two-sided counters. On top of that, there are two rulebooks; two chart books; a book of optional rules and play examples; a book of scenarios; 20 "displays", including tactical naval-air display, a tactical surface encounter display, and various displays for TF composition, leaders, reinforcements, submarines, Allied global movement, etc. I guess the combat result tables are in the chart books somewhere. There's a turn chart with weather, wind direction, and other details. (Wind direction!) The game ships with 2 six-sided die and two 10-sided die.

My plan is to try this introductory Midway scenario first. That I have space for. But space is a consideration for the strategic map. Can you explain to me the designers' suggestions for finding space to play? The designers say "[t]he most efficient and workable solution for the maps is to wall-mount them on a metallic surface (galvanized sheet metal, for example). Then use magnetic counter-holders for all units and markers." Are they suggesting mounting these maps vertically, on a wall, and playing standing up with magnets attached to each counter? Is that what they mean by "wall-mount"?

[dtravel]

ORIGINAL: Grotius
My plan is to try this introductory Midway scenario first. That I have space for. But space is a consideration for the strategic map. Can you explain to me the designers' suggestions for finding space to play? The designers say "[t]he most efficient and workable solution for the maps is to wall-mount them on a metallic surface (galvanized sheet metal, for example). Then use magnetic counter-holders for all units and markers." Are they suggesting mounting these maps vertically, on a wall, and playing standing up with magnets attached to each counter? Is that what they mean by "wall-mount"?

Yes.

[ckk]

I actually did wallmount the SPI "War in the Pacific" map, IIRC it was 43 sq. ft. I then bought magnets for IIRC 3200 individual pieces[:)] It was awesome[:D] I'd stay in that room for hours. Course that wife wasn't around for long after that[:D]

[Grotius]

Yeah, this map is on the same order of magnitude. Hmm, are there magnets specially designed for this purpose? Will they work with counters that are two-sided?

[ckk]

I can't remember where I got the magnet's it was 1981[:D] I think at a hobby shop in New York. They were magnetized on one side only, but the pieces slid in and out fairly easy. The real problem was hanging the sheet metal[:'(]

[Grotius]

I actually have the floor and table space to accommodate the maps laying flat, if I do some significant cleaning up. Paradoxically, then, this wargame may actually please my wife for the short term -- at least until all the counters appear on the maps.

[pmelheck1]

I also have a copy of WITP but it's not all their thanks to kids.  I remember the magnets for wall mounting games.  I remember one type that had a cover you slipped the counter in to, it allowed counters to flip and to stack.  With counter stacks however I always thought using a numbered counter i made and a zip lock bag with the same number to hold the stack easier (didn't get knocked over).

[Mynok]

Ziplocs for stacks is a good idea. Beats those "pool sheets" that cats love to sleep on and swish their tails over.

[Jim D Burns]

I think wall mounting this game is the only real option for playing it. Even if you spread it out over two giant pieces of plywood resting on sawhorses (something my group tried) to form a huge table, it’s nearly impossible to reach the center of the map unless you’re 6’6” like me. And you can forget hovering over that area to study the big picture.

Wall mounting allows easy access to the entire map and if you just want to ponder your options simply pull up a chair and pop open a beer and you can stare away all night long without straining your neck/back in the attempt.

For those interested in what they are, here’s a scan of some of my counter-magnets. I’ve shown the front and back of my boxes and a stack of the magnets contained inside. They come 80 in a box and you can find them online by doing a Google search for counter magnets. I only have 2000, so I’ll probably be buying more if I find an opponent some day.



This particular company appears to be out of business as a Google search lead me to some dead links, but most Hobby stores should have them or have access to a supplier.

Jim

[witpqs]

A couple of thoughts occur to me (one serious, one less so).

I recommend you photocopy (or scan) the counter sheets before you break them apart. That way if/when any individual counters are lost you will have the correct unit values available.

Jim, regarding studying that huge map layed on a 40ft x 100ft table (or whatever), try setting up a pully system on the ceiling and get harnesses for the players. That way you can 'hang out' studying the map all day! [:D][:D][:D]

Seriously, hope you enjoy the game. Sounds like a blast.

[Jim D Burns]

ORIGINAL: witpqs
Jim, regarding studying that huge map layed on a 40ft x 100ft table (or whatever), try setting up a pully system on the ceiling and get harnesses for the players. That way you can 'hang out' studying the map all day! [:D][:D][:D]

LOL great idea... that is until my pully breaks and I go crashing down right through the game map. [:D][:D][:D]

Jim

[Mike Solli]

ORIGINAL: witpqs

I recommend you photocopy (or scan) the counter sheets before you break them apart. That way if/when any individual counters are lost you will have the correct unit values available.

I'm scanning the counters as I type. (I took a day off of work pretty much to scan as much as possible of the game.) [:D]

[mogami]

Hi, Here is how you actually play this game.
Step one. Form the teams
Step two. rent a house
Step three. Tell your wives or girlfriends you work for C.I.A. and you have been assigned to hunt for Osma in Afganistan for 6 months.
Step four. arrange with local beer distributor and pizza parlor for supplies

[Nikademus]

and get a marriage councillor on standby

[DuckofTindalos]

And a divorce lawyer on speed dial.

[Monter_Trismegistos]

And those counter magnets are meant to be attached to definetely non-magnetic wall?