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Re: What games are you playing?

Posted: Thu Feb 15, 2024 10:33 pm
by ncc1701e
Right now:
. Playing GG's a world at war a world divided.
. Learning and practicing QGIS to create my own maps.
. Discovering Decision Games' Barbarossa Deluxe on my tabletop.

Matrix World in Flames MWIF

Posted: Sat Feb 17, 2024 4:07 pm
by Angeldust2
Matrix World in Flames MWIF 5.0.0.1

GT 18: July/August 1942
Battle for Suez.JPG
Battle for Suez.JPG (129.66 KiB) Viewed 2108 times
Moscow has just fallen.JPG
Moscow has just fallen.JPG (334.6 KiB) Viewed 2108 times
Kuban still holding.JPG
Kuban still holding.JPG (271.82 KiB) Viewed 2108 times
China strong ....JPG
China strong ....JPG (281.04 KiB) Viewed 2108 times

Empire Deluxe

Posted: Sat Feb 17, 2024 5:50 pm
by Angeldust2
Empire Deluxe
by White Wolf Productions 1993 played via archive.org
Empire Deluxe.JPG
Empire Deluxe.JPG (68.75 KiB) Viewed 2093 times

The Troop - Scn21 Special Air Service Mission

Posted: Wed Feb 21, 2024 6:33 am
by jhyden
The Troop - Scenario #21 Story Mission: SAS raid on German Supply depot


1. MAP (upper): Mission Objectives are located near the Chateau (lower left) and the larger depot area (upper right):

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2. MAP (lower): Deployment is along most points of the playable bottom hex row (note jeep cluster in front of the chateau)
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3. CHATEAU (front) - note 3 supply lorries
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4. DEPOT (back) - note chateau (upper right)
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5. DEPOT (front) - MG42 nest protecting the center!
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6. UNITS AVAILABLE: Six specially equipped jeeps (w/crew & AT team) total: 24 men
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7. MISSION BRIEFING:
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8. ANIMATED Gif: SAS Jeeps fend off counterattack and score with concentrated direct fire.
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9. LINK to video on youtube: SAS in North Africa (1942):

The SAS Behind Enemy Lines in North Africa, 1942 - Animated


Greetings and Best Wishes to All



~

Re: Empire Deluxe

Posted: Thu Feb 22, 2024 8:37 pm
by Kuokkanen
Angeldust2 wrote: Sat Feb 17, 2024 5:50 pm Empire Deluxe
by White Wolf Productions 1993 played via archive.org

Empire Deluxe.JPG
Look up Empire Deluxe Combined Edition. Comes with more units and there are scenarios & mods... somewhere.

Re: What games are you playing?

Posted: Sat Feb 24, 2024 10:09 pm
by ncc1701e
RFalvo69 wrote: Tue May 30, 2023 10:55 am Next week I plan to start Empire of the Sun with a friend. We will assign our side randomly. Last time it was a blast but we learned by trial and error and after a while we decided to stop. This time it will be different…
I have really hesitated between Empire of the Sun and Pacific War. I took Pacific War. Battle scenario are really good but the campaign is not something I have started yet. It seems I will have to do it on Vassal to save it because it will be quite long.

Empire of the Sun is more on a strategic level. In how much time do you complete a campaign game?

Re: What games are you playing?

Posted: Wed Feb 28, 2024 1:43 pm
by RFalvo69
ncc1701e wrote: Sat Feb 24, 2024 10:09 pm
RFalvo69 wrote: Tue May 30, 2023 10:55 am Next week I plan to start Empire of the Sun with a friend. We will assign our side randomly. Last time it was a blast but we learned by trial and error and after a while we decided to stop. This time it will be different…
I have really hesitated between Empire of the Sun and Pacific War. I took Pacific War. Battle scenario are really good but the campaign is not something I have started yet. It seems I will have to do it on Vassal to save it because it will be quite long.

Empire of the Sun is more on a strategic level. In how much time do you complete a campaign game?
Regarding Pacific War, Mark Herman stated many times how the game should be used as a tapestry on which to recreate the various historical and hypothetical campaigns of the war. It was never meant for the "full campaign": Herman himself tried it only a couple of times and he never felt that it worked. Of course THE.PLAYERS.JUST.WANT.THE.FULL.CAMPAIGN. but this is a different matter.

I think that Empire of the Sun was his answer to "Do you want the whole war? Here it is!" IMHO it is a great game but, like "Fire in the Lake" for Vietnam, it uses a different "language" than the usual hex'n'counter. It is about the allocation of resources and make the best from the opportunities give by the cards.

Regarding the game length, it is almost a given that the first couple of attempts will not end well. This because the players "assume" how the rules work, only to discover that the match so far is so riddled by mistakes that it is best to start again. Once you abandon the idea that EotS is not PW on a different scale, but its own take on the PTO, and the spirit of the game "clicks", then the fascination starts.

Two players who know how to play well can finish the campaign in 8-10 hours. The new edition includes an expansion centred only on Guadalcanal which is easily playable in a week-end. Also, C3I Magazine Nr29 came with "Plan Orange", which is a complete EotS game "in simpler times" (1930-35). I have it but I never played it. My guess is that the campaign can be finished in a week-end too.

IMHO, EotS is way better than Pacific War. It is easily one of the best wargames ever made - once you understand that you are ONLY the one whose job is to run a war, and not, at the same time, the guy who plots the search arcs near Santa Cruz.

Re: What games are you playing?

Posted: Wed Feb 28, 2024 10:16 pm
by ncc1701e
RFalvo69 wrote: Wed Feb 28, 2024 1:43 pm
Regarding Pacific War, Mark Herman stated many times how the game should be used as a tapestry on which to recreate the various historical and hypothetical campaigns of the war. It was never meant for the "full campaign": Herman himself tried it only a couple of times and he never felt that it worked. Of course THE.PLAYERS.JUST.WANT.THE.FULL.CAMPAIGN. but this is a different matter.

I think that Empire of the Sun was his answer to "Do you want the whole war? Here it is!" IMHO it is a great game but, like "Fire in the Lake" for Vietnam, it uses a different "language" than the usual hex'n'counter. It is about the allocation of resources and make the best from the opportunities give by the cards.

Regarding the game length, it is almost a given that the first couple of attempts will not end well. This because the players "assume" how the rules work, only to discover that the match so far is so riddled by mistakes that it is best to start again. Once you abandon the idea that EotS is not PW on a different scale, but its own take on the PTO, and the spirit of the game "clicks", then the fascination starts.

Two players who know how to play well can finish the campaign in 8-10 hours. The new edition includes an expansion centred only on Guadalcanal which is easily playable in a week-end. Also, C3I Magazine Nr29 came with "Plan Orange", which is a complete EotS game "in simpler times" (1930-35). I have it but I never played it. My guess is that the campaign can be finished in a week-end too.

IMHO, EotS is way better than Pacific War. It is easily one of the best wargames ever made - once you understand that you are ONLY the one whose job is to run a war, and not, at the same time, the guy who plots the search arcs near Santa Cruz.
I agree. Pacific War is excellent to simulate local engagements. The whole war is just a dream for a dedicated motivated solo player imo. The rules of Empire of the Sun are not too far from Pacific War through. The way HQs are working are quite similar. But this is true that Empire of the Sun looks much faster. Once a reprint is done, I will surely take it.

Re: What games are you playing?

Posted: Thu Feb 29, 2024 9:20 am
by RFalvo69
ncc1701e wrote: Wed Feb 28, 2024 10:16 pm The rules of Empire of the Sun are not too far from Pacific War through. The way HQs are working are quite similar. But this is true that Empire of the Sun looks much faster. Once a reprint is done, I will surely take it.
EotS is actually simpler, rule-wise, than Pacific War. The system is cleaner and many card-related rules are written on the cards themselves. The problem is that you have to learn everything from scratch and don't consider a given many rules that other wargames share. Many people play, let's say, "Operation Watchtower" and wonder why they aren't able to invade Guadalcanal. This because the card allows an operation on the scale and intent of Watchtower, but it is not necessarily tied to Guadalcanal.

The real difficulty comes from learning how to play well. Mark Herman himself notices how the biggest problem for a new player is "decision paralysis" - which is, in my experience very true. I and my gaming pal started and threw two games before everything "clicked". Luckily there are many instructional videos and play throughs on Youtube, so one can start from there.

Re: What games are you playing?

Posted: Thu Feb 29, 2024 2:36 pm
by Zovs
Board wargames...

Europa Series, Fire in the East/Scorched Earth, TEM scenario Leningrad 41
AH The Russian Campaign (using 4th edition rules) (vassal)
SPI Leningrad (vassal)
SPI Atlantic Wall (vassal, hoping to start in mid spring)
SPI Napoleon at Waterloo (vassal hoping to start next week)
AH Afrika Korps (vassal hoping to start next week)

On my wish list:
SPI AGS quad
SPI Battle for the Ardennes quad
SPI North Africa quad
SPI Wacht am Rhein
SPI Highway to the Reich
AH Battle of the Bulge 81
XTR Proud Monster/DD

I also signed up for the two SPI tournaments from Russ Giffords SPI Opponents website.

Musket & Pike
Blue & Gray

I guess you can say I have gone back to my roots.

https://www.spigames.net/finding_spi_op ... _draft.htm

Re: What games are you playing?

Posted: Thu Feb 29, 2024 5:29 pm
by RangerJoe
Zovs wrote: Thu Feb 29, 2024 2:36 pm Board wargames...

Europa Series, Fire in the East/Scorched Earth, TEM scenario Leningrad 41
AH The Russian Campaign (using 4th edition rules) (vassal)
SPI Leningrad (vassal)
SPI Atlantic Wall (vassal, hoping to start in mid spring)
SPI Napoleon at Waterloo (vassal hoping to start next week)
AH Afrika Korps (vassal hoping to start next week)

On my wish list:
SPI AGS quad
SPI Battle for the Ardennes quad
SPI North Africa quad
SPI Wacht am Rhein
SPI Highway to the Reich
AH Battle of the Bulge 81
XTR Proud Monster/DD

I also signed up for the two SPI tournaments from Russ Giffords SPI Opponents website.

Musket & Pike
Blue & Gray

I guess you can say I have gone back to my roots.

https://www.spigames.net/finding_spi_op ... _draft.htm
There should be a 5th edition of Russian Campaign coming out if it is nor already out.

Re: What games are you playing?

Posted: Thu Feb 29, 2024 6:09 pm
by ncc1701e
RangerJoe wrote: Thu Feb 29, 2024 5:29 pm
There should be a 5th edition of Russian Campaign coming out if it is nor already out.
Yes, it is already out.

Re: What games are you playing?

Posted: Thu Feb 29, 2024 6:44 pm
by altipueri
Shadow Empire

Sid Meier's Gettysburg.


Why? Both have random scenario generators - and with Gettysburg each one gives you a code so you can recreate the same scenario elsewhere - I don't think Shadow Empire does this but you can save a file (I'm told).

I've never really like space and science fiction stuff - but I'm getting to the age where I will soon discover whether a lot of things exist or not.

Re: What games are you playing?

Posted: Thu Feb 29, 2024 8:22 pm
by Kuokkanen
I saw a video about Dominions 6 and I'm intrigued. Anyone here played it yet? Or older Dominions games? What do you have to say about them? Here's the video
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A9OqAdOfkbU

444 PAGES OF MANUAL!!!

Re: What games are you playing?

Posted: Fri Mar 01, 2024 1:01 am
by RFalvo69
Kuokkanen wrote: Thu Feb 29, 2024 8:22 pm I saw a video about Dominions 6 and I'm intrigued. Anyone here played it yet? Or older Dominions games? What do you have to say about them? Here's the video
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A9OqAdOfkbU

444 PAGES OF MANUAL!!!
Dominions is one of my favourite series of games ever! I played Dominions 3 back in the day PBEM almost every evening (one move a day). Some of my best gaming memories belong to that period.

Don't let the manual size intimidate you: the basic rules are actually quite simple and one can learn how to play the game in one evening. What is difficult is to learn how to play well (again, it seems to be the theme "du jour"). In a way, it is a bit like "Magic: the Gathering" mixed with a "hands off" Total War game (you tell to your troops what battleplan they have to follow and then you watch and hope).

The manual is big because there are tons of spells (and I mean tons), specific faction capabilities, the lay of the land... and your job is to have everything come together.

My suggestion is to learn the game sticking with a faction you like (I played as Man, which basically is Arthurian Times) vs. one managed by the AI and master both yours and the enemy one. The important thing is to understand how to get the best synergy between armies, spells and tactics. Then try to play your first MP game with your faction. The community is very friendly so don't worry if you are badly beaten: after the game they will be there for you to help.

Oner last thing: I just love the lore behind the game. I read it over and over. It is more deep and - I dare to say - shows a better understanding of the ancient peoples and cultures around the World than Warhammer and similar.

Re: What games are you playing?

Posted: Fri Mar 01, 2024 6:45 am
by warspite1
altipueri wrote: Thu Feb 29, 2024 6:44 pm
......but I'm getting to the age where I will soon discover whether a lot of things exist or not.
warspite1

:shock: :lol:

Re: What games are you playing?

Posted: Fri Mar 01, 2024 7:20 am
by mainsworthy
warspite1 wrote: Fri Mar 01, 2024 6:45 am
altipueri wrote: Thu Feb 29, 2024 6:44 pm
......but I'm getting to the age where I will soon discover whether a lot of things exist or not.
warspite1

:shock: :lol:
deep fakes and A.I. so would you know

Re: What games are you playing?

Posted: Fri Mar 01, 2024 9:42 am
by warspite1
mainsworthy wrote: Fri Mar 01, 2024 7:20 am
warspite1 wrote: Fri Mar 01, 2024 6:45 am
altipueri wrote: Thu Feb 29, 2024 6:44 pm
......but I'm getting to the age where I will soon discover whether a lot of things exist or not.
warspite1

:shock: :lol:
deep fakes and A.I. so would you know
warspite1

Well I'd hope that there is none of that shenanigans going on at the pearly gates (or wherever one's personal belief takes them). ;)

Re: What games are you playing?

Posted: Fri Mar 01, 2024 3:35 pm
by Kuokkanen
RFalvo69 wrote: Fri Mar 01, 2024 1:01 am Dominions is one of my favourite series of games ever! I played Dominions 3 back in the day PBEM almost every evening (one move a day). Some of my best gaming memories belong to that period.
I take it Dominions 3 is your favourite. How do sequels look/feel to you? What do you recommend to others? The newest sequel isn't always the greatest. Just ask anyone who has played Sid Meier's Civilization series, or Heroes of Might & Magic series, or Master of Orion series.

Re: What games are you playing?

Posted: Sat Mar 02, 2024 2:15 pm
by mainsworthy
DCSWORLD is free on steam, and if you gook up your VR set to it, its incredible

chasing a jet through its jet smoke, and sending a missile up its tail pipe is great fun in VR.