Stauffenberg's review of DC: Ardennes Offensive
Posted: Sat Jul 16, 2022 11:07 pm
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.
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.