Stauffenberg's review of DC: Ardennes Offensive

[Staufenberg44]

DC:Ardennes Offensive will either be a micro-management hell for the uninitiated, or a lavish heavenly feast for grognards who revel in exacting details and all-out immersion. Happily I fall into the latter camp and I frankly pity those in the former sweating it out down there as it were. And as for those languishing in purgatory in between: I do feel you, however it's time to make a choice.

I thought I had been "Bulged" to death at this point since my first game over half a century ago (Avalon Hill of course, 1965); however, no, I apparently haven't had enough. Not with a remarkable game like this in the offing. From the OB and intensively arcane-but-uber-realistic combat mechanics done as proficiently as one could wish for, a meticulously detailed TO&E (offering inspired unit artwork and descriptions for all elements--no mean feat), the laudable unit statistic detail/capabilities, the de rigueur command options and copious officer pics and stats, the notoriously tricky issues of supply well-handled thank-you very much, not to mention the best Ardennes map in gaming history--all of these intuitively push things towards a gaming synergy for the historically informed. Those unable to invest the time and concentration this design demands will be missing out on one of the best "Classic detailed wargame" experiences in recent memory. Trust me, they are few and far between these days. My own last big Bulge design was "Plan Martin"(TOAW) some time back, and I have to say I was pleased to see that this lucid plan by Rundstedt was incorporated here as well. It needed to be, and it is. Yet another box ticked off.

I think the last time I had this sort of "Bulge epiphany" was playing an Ardennes game by James Dunnigan offered up in days of yore as a freebie in a magazine I believe, one that featured a mindfeck map sporting a host of cryptic hexside dynamics one had to get one's head around. Close but no cigar Jim. This one delivers, and while I could drop in a few slight criticisms I'm not going to bother: what are a few modest dents, minor scrapes and bug splats on your new Ardennes Classic Coupe? My unmediated proposition for the faint-hearted or undecided in wargaming purgatory: simply get it, strap in, and floor it.

I've launched an AAR posted elsewhere for those interested.

Well done, and a cigar for Victor and Davide.

[altipueri]

I've got it but played only the smaller scenarios so far.

For adifferent take on the Bulge I recommend "Command Ops" - was published by Matrix, now elsewhere:

https://store.lnlpublishing.com/command-ops-2-series

Incidentally you can get the core engine for free with a couple of scenarios to see if you like the system.

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I've also got Advanced Tactics and Shadow Empire by Victor.
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Thanks Stauffenberg for the review - looks like we were both playing games in the 1960s !
I was with a group who used a logarithmic scale on table top games - and 20 sided dice in the days you had to make them yourself:

http://vintagewargaming.blogspot.com/20 ... es-of.html

http://vintagewargaming.blogspot.com/20 ... re_30.html

[nikdav]

Hi Daniel,
Happy you like DC Ardennes, and thanks very much for the review.

Davide

[Oberst_Klink]

Hi Daniel,
Happy you like DC Ardennes, and thanks very much for the review.

Davide

Still love to documentation of Plan Martin from Daniel. Invaluable for research and I hope we'll soon have a 1:1 version for DC4. It would be a cracker.

Klink, Oberst

[SwampYankee68]

Well written. It is a phenomenal design; I cannot wait to see where Vic and the team take it next.

[Staufenberg44]

Hi Daniel,
Happy you like DC Ardennes, and thanks very much for the review.

Davide

Still love to documentation of Plan Martin from Daniel. Invaluable for research and I hope we'll soon have a 1:1 version for DC4. It would be a cracker.

Klink, Oberst

Thank you for that Klink (vielen Dank für das kompliment darf ich sagen.)
I finally noticed your post in the other thread and as I said, I would be pleased if my Plan Martin work was utilized in some way.

[Staufenberg44]

Well written. It is a phenomenal design; I cannot wait to see where Vic and the team take it next.

Thank-you SY. It does look promising doesn't it.
Cheers,
Daniel

[Staufenberg44]

I've got it but played only the smaller scenarios so far.

For adifferent take on the Bulge I recommend "Command Ops" - was published by Matrix, now elsewhere:

https://store.lnlpublishing.com/command-ops-2-series

Incidentally you can get the core engine for free with a couple of scenarios to see if you like the system.

---
I had not looked at that and it does look interesting, thank-you.
And yes wargaming in the 60s. You're part of a rare breed. Hand made 20-sided dice, I can't top that. But I was one of those painstakingly trying to play Jutland with range-finders etc on a huge blue rug that one of us had. I was once interviewed by some journalist bloke and his first question was: "So, do you wear uniforms when you play these?"
You can't make this stuff up.

[Staufenberg44]

Hi Daniel,
Happy you like DC Ardennes, and thanks very much for the review.

Davide

You're quite welcome Davide. A pleasure playing it and finally reviewing it.