Off Topic. Showing off my wargame collection

[rkr1958]

Just got through de-cluttering, re-carpeting and re-arranging my study. Thought it was a good time to get my wargame collection out of the closet (stored in plastic bins) and displayed on a bookshelf. Partially hidden behind the rib on the left is AH's, "Hitler's War" and fully hidden behind the rib on the right is AH's, "The Arab-Israeli Wars".

I'm showing the top shelf of a three shelf high bookcase. The middle shelf contains 30 to 40 issues of AH's, "The General" and my subscriptions to "WWII Quarterly" and "WWII History".

Don't really have any plans to play any of these cardboard and paper wargames (for now). Though looking through AH's, "The Russian Campaign" sure was tempting. That is, to start up a solo. The rules are less than a dozen pages and counter density is low.

[rkr1958]

My 20 years college sophomore son found this cover particularly interesting. Specifically, AH's claim of, "official bicentennial War Game Commemorating Our 200th Anniversary!".

[rkr1958]

By the way, that kicking tee in front of my copy of WiF CE, I got when I was around 12-years old, or in 1970.

[rkr1958]

What's brought up all this reminiscing? Well the MWiF PBEM game I started with NatRapsEno happens to be an old childhood buddie of mine back where we grew up. Several of the games you see we played over several summers, home for break from college.

There were many games between the two of us but others that included other childhood friends, one of whom is no longer with us. [:(]

We played many a game of Squad leader, Cross of Iron, The Russian Campaign, Third Reich. He wasn't that interested in naval games so I could never get him to play two of my favorites, VITP and WaS. Though I played many of games of those two with Tommy, who's the one that's no longer with us.

Anyway, to my surprise when I responded to his request for an opponent we figured out that we were the childhood buddies and live one state and about 4-hours away from each other. This is after 40 some odd years of losing contact with each other.

[rkr1958]

Promise that this will be my last trip down memory lane, well at least for tonight that is. [:D]

Here's a picture of me at age 6, my sister at age 16 and brother at age 18. This was our Christmas present to our parents in 1964. Sadly, only my brother and me are left.

[rustysi]

Pfft. You call that a collection?[:D]

Kidding, although I have copies of most of those and then some.

[warspite1]

Thanks for sharing rkr1958. A little trip down memory lane for many of us I suspect.

I got rid of my games many, many years ago. The only ones I have left are World In Flames (of course) and the Europa/Glory series. Don't know quite what to do with the latter.....

[wobbleguts]

I had some of those titles but they are sadly lost.

My parents bought me AH 'Arab Israeli wars' when I was 15 or so. Argued a lot with my friends about the rules but we really enjoyed it. Later on I bought the Third Reich one, which is probably my favorite AH game, though it annoyed us because it was restricted to the European theater. (unlike WIF)

Then I got Squad leader. There were loads of expansion packs for Squad leader and I bought some of those. I think there was also an Advanced Squad leader edition that I bought. That tractor factory was a real bummer! But it did teach me an important lesson. Don't spill curry on your war game!

Shame AH have gone.

[Joseignacio]

You know that there is a Squad leader simplified board game called Combat Commander? I didnt get to play SL but have played many times CC.

[rkr1958]

Thanks guys! Appreciate your feedback.

I spend many late nights and very early mornings pouring over these games during high school and college breaks and in my early (i.e., single) days of my work career. Such memories. Also, such better eyesight too!

[wobbleguts]

ORIGINAL: Joseignacio

You know that there is a Squad leader simplified board game called Combat Commander? I didnt get to play SL but have played many times CC.

Didn't know that. Was it any good?

[Joseignacio]

I loved it, even though the randomness of some things, fruit of the adaptation process, I guess, was deceiving at first.

I guess it may not be of interest for a hardcore player, same as WIf Blitz is not made for hardcore wiffers but for a broader public (although anyone may play it of course).

Me, not being a SL player, loved and play (when able to) sometimes the CC series, especially the latter ones, when the game has improved with experience and testing. For example:

https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/28181/combat-commander-pacific

[brian brian]

WiF owes a heckuva lot to a game on that shelf and it is not John Prados’ Third Reich.

[rkr1958]

ORIGINAL: brian brian

WiF owes a heckuva lot to a game on that shelf and it is not John Prados’ Third Reich.

Might that game be The Russian Campaign?

[rkr1958]

ORIGINAL: rkr1958

ORIGINAL: brian brian

WiF owes a heckuva lot to a game on that shelf and it is not John Prados’ Third Reich.

Might that game be The Russian Campaign?

And if that's not right my second guess would be Fortess Europea.

[brian brian]

No, I meant Victory in the Pacific. Which was basically a sequel to War At Sea and an excellent, tensely balanced game which gave off a lot of feel of WWII all while rolling lots and lots of dice. A triumph of simulation using area movement.

[brian brian]

I have always thought VitP would make a pretty good game to play via mobile OS “app” but dunno who owns it now.

[brian brian]

Also I think Magic Realm is one of the more valuable Avalon Hill titles right now for some reason; probably a low original print run would be my guess.

[rkr1958]

ORIGINAL: brian brian

No, I meant Victory in the Pacific. Which was basically a sequel to War At Sea and an excellent, tensely balanced game which gave off a lot of feel of WWII all while rolling lots and lots of dice. A triumph of simulation using area movement.

ViTP was one of my all time favorites. We played it to death along with many game of WaS. I grew up thinking that carrier air battles happen almost weekly in the Pacific. Wasn't until I got into reading about the history of the Pacific War that I found out there were only 5 carrier battles between the USN and IJN in the entire war. Admiral Jack Fletcher, who I feel has been much maligned by history, was in command for three of them.

[rkr1958]

ORIGINAL: brian brian

I have always thought VitP would make a pretty good game to play via mobile OS “app” but dunno who owns it now.

Doesn't Hasbro own the rights to all of Avalon hill games? They were the ones that bought them.