Matrix Games Forums

As the release date draws near I've sent out the call to arms.

For the most part I've only been reading the forums and watching the progress of the game. I have in garage a first edition of WiF. The last one that I bought was 5th edition. It's sitting right by the 1st edition copy.

I had to buy a 5th edition copy because we wore the first edition out. We have been waiting since that time for World in Flames to be put on the computer.

Our time is coming. The staff meetings have already started. We are all brushing off our prized war winning strategies.

Three wargames in my gaming career of 35+ years have given me the ultimate in gaming experience. First was SL/ASL, then World in Flames and last was Combat Mission.

SL/ASL was for a time replaced with the Combat Mission series of games. Now that those are slowly dying, I expect Panzer Command to take their place. Especially with what I see Matrix planning to do in the next game in the series.

World in Flames has never been replaced by anything, and as the group drifted apart, it's not played any longer either. Now it can be.

The conversations of what, where and how have already started.

We consider ourselves to be very good strategists. The equal of any. Better than most. We are preparing to put a couple of "refesher" games under our belt and then retake our rightful place as the conquerors of the WiF world.

So be warned, the call to arms has been issued, the plans dusted off, the strategies opened for review, tanks/planes/ships are being fueled and armed.

We will be coming.


Good Hunting.

MR

So it's started has it...[:D]
 
Although me and the boys haven't played WiF in a few years I don't think it will take long for us to get our brains dusted off, re-learn the rules, remember our miriad of victorious strategies...then take our rightful place as conquerers.[;)]
 
Don't worry though, we won't mind if you use the strategies you learn from us to beat your next opponents.[:)]
 
See you soon Sad Russian.
 
"You may fire when you are ready, Gridley."

Once it is out, I hope there are many challenges on this bboard. In addition, for any with the time, there is the option of playing people face to face at WiFCon in Lansing Michigan this August.

any chance you could post some pics of that copy of 1st edition WiF? Like the map and the counters?

ORIGINAL: brian brian

any chance you could post some pics of that copy of 1st edition WiF? Like the map and the counters?

I would love to see what the early versions of WiF looked like. I only knew it since 4th/5th Ed.

I'll see what I can do to get some pics. The counters may be a little difficult, I know we reordered counters more than once...but who knows.

I played third edition once, and then bought a copy of 4th edition. I remember a review of the 1st edition in a Third Reich pbm 'zine I was reading at the time, but it took awhile to run across the game again.

ORIGINAL: Froonp

ORIGINAL: brian brian

any chance you could post some pics of that copy of 1st edition WiF? Like the map and the counters?

I would love to see what the early versions of WiF looked like. I only knew it since 4th/5th Ed.

Was first edition 1985? That is the earliest set of maps I have.

My maps are in pristine condition because we always played under glass. The counter are a little worn, though I believe I have the complete set.

The counters have silhouettes of the air and naval units, with the ship counters representing two ships (e.g., Saratgoa/Enterprise). The backs of the units are just the silhouettes/NATO symbols with no other details except the ship sunk dates. The front of the counters are just the 4 numbers for the air and navel units, though the land units are close to what they are today. lastly, I do so view very favorably the HQ units as 1-3-2 instead of what they are today.

I am not capable of taking and posting pictures, though my new portable has a built in camera. Maybe I'll figure out how to do that someday if I get bored.[;)]

Even before that there were ship counters without names on them.  They were refered as HS & LS (for Heavy Surface and Light Surface).

I miss the simplicity of those days....when your air or naval phase didnt take all night to do

ORIGINAL: Taxman66

Even before that there were ship counters without names on them.  They were refered as HS & LS (for Heavy Surface and Light Surface).

I think the names were only on the carriers - and each counter represented 2 carriers.

Oh and to reminisce about the old combat tables. Getting four rolls on the 4 naval table for example and seeing if each roll got a result on a LS, HS and CVs.

ORIGINAL: Shannon V. OKeets

ORIGINAL: Taxman66

Even before that there were ship counters without names on them.  They were refered as HS & LS (for Heavy Surface and Light Surface).

I think the names were only on the carriers - and each counter represented 2 carriers.

No ships, aircraft, land units or HQ were named.

Good Hunting.

MR

ORIGINAL: Mad Russian

ORIGINAL: Shannon V. OKeets

ORIGINAL: Taxman66

Even before that there were ship counters without names on them.  They were refered as HS & LS (for Heavy Surface and Light Surface).

I think the names were only on the carriers - and each counter represented 2 carriers.

No ships, aircraft, land units or HQ were named.

Good Hunting.

MR

You're right. One of the sets of counters I have are completely spartan. Only the carriers are slightly different, with a white number for class in the upper right corner. I must have been looking at the counters from the second copy of WIF I bought.

I also remember playing and while waiting for my opponents to finish their strategy sessions on the other room, my partner and I would often entertain ourselves with discussions on 'Which ship is this' with the Naval counters   That and listening to recordings of WWII era music especially the propaganda stuff.  It did alot for atmosphere! 

ORIGINAL: gridley

So it's started has it...[:D]

Although me and the boys haven't played WiF in a few years I don't think it will take long for us to get our brains dusted off, re-learn the rules, remember our miriad of victorious strategies...then take our rightful place as conquerers.[;)]

Don't worry though, we won't mind if you use the strategies you learn from us to beat your next opponents.[:)]

See you soon Sad Russian.

"You may fire when you are ready, Gridley."

Hehe...sounds like the gauntlet has been cast.

Must start reading the rules me thinks.

mo reb

ORIGINAL: Missouri Rebel

ORIGINAL: gridley

So it's started has it...[:D]

Although me and the boys haven't played WiF in a few years I don't think it will take long for us to get our brains dusted off, re-learn the rules, remember our miriad of victorious strategies...then take our rightful place as conquerers.[;)]

Don't worry though, we won't mind if you use the strategies you learn from us to beat your next opponents.[:)]

See you soon Sad Russian.

"You may fire when you are ready, Gridley."

Hehe...sounds like the gauntlet has been cast.

Must start reading the rules me thinks.

mo reb

Not much of a challenge against real strategists I'm thinking.

From where I sit, in any version of WiF, Gridley = Total Surrender.

That was simply a misquote. It should read, "You may surrender when you are ready, Gridley."

Pretty basic really. [:D]


Good Hunting.

MR

ORIGINAL: Shannon V. OKeets

ORIGINAL: Froonp

ORIGINAL: brian brian

any chance you could post some pics of that copy of 1st edition WiF? Like the map and the counters?

I would love to see what the early versions of WiF looked like. I only knew it since 4th/5th Ed.

Was first edition 1985? That is the earliest set of maps I have.

My maps are in pristine condition because we always played under glass. The counter are a little worn, though I believe I have the complete set.

The counters have silhouettes of the air and naval units, with the ship counters representing two ships (e.g., Saratgoa/Enterprise). The backs of the units are just the silhouettes/NATO symbols with no other details except the ship sunk dates. The front of the counters are just the 4 numbers for the air and navel units, though the land units are close to what they are today. lastly, I do so view very favorably the HQ units as 1-3-2 instead of what they are today.

I am not capable of taking and posting pictures, though my new portable has a built in camera. Maybe I'll figure out how to do that someday if I get bored.[;)]

I agree, the 1-3-2 HQ counters were a better idea, and I do miss them. Unfortunately they were doomed by some interesting rules, such as unable to move in Mud (is that the first reference in a game to mud?). There was even a strange variant rule which allowed you to use a PARA to drop the HQ, which was the only way to move in muddy weather (later removed).

This game has mutated quite a bit from the beginning. Remember all those generic plane counters, with all the same range? I've enjoyed every iteration of the game.

After answering the call to arms here, me and the guys want to get a game or two under our belt before butting heads with the Mad Russian and his gang.[;)]

Anyway I'm worried after having moved everything around so often I may be missing some counters. Does anyone have a spreadsheet or something with a complete list of counters for WiF FE? I've looked around and couldn't find one.

Thx,

Gridley

Edit: I think I may have just found what I need. I know this sounds odd but is there more than one edition of the Final Edition? The descriptions of the counter sheets I found seems to imply this.

ORIGINAL: gridley

After answering the call to arms here, me and the guys want to get a game or two under our belt before butting heads with the Mad Russian and his gang.[;)]

Anyway I'm worried after having moved everything around so often I may be missing some counters. Does anyone have a spreadsheet or something with a complete list of counters for WiF FE? I've looked around and couldn't find one.

Thx,

Gridley

Edit: I think I may have just found what I need. I know this sounds odd but is there more than one edition of the Final Edition? The descriptions of the counter sheets I found seems to imply this.

Patrice has a web site with all the latest counter sheets - but I do not know what the name of his website is[:(].