Matrix Games Forums

Just wanted to send a note and let Matrix know how much I enjoy this game. The only 2 Matrix games I own are KP and Uncommon Valor. Talk about batting 1.000! My only critisism/pet peeve/very minor gripe would be the map. I'm sure its been mentioned before but I have a hard time assessing the overall topography of the battlefield. Especially bridges, which seem to be very important, seem to be difficult to find/see sometimes. Unfortunately I have no solutions - maybe a little less detail on the map? I grew up on AH board games so a bit more abstract map would be fine with me, if it made it easier to assess the entire battlefield a bit better. Minor complaint however. This is a great game.
P.S also wanted to say that I think Normandy would be great. I've played lots on Normandy board games (my favourite being Breakout Normandy by AH - fast, unpredictable, relatively easy to learn with great flow), but I've yet to find a satisfactory computer version. I tried Tillers Normandy, but gave up - talk about migraine inducing graphics - I found it slow and extremely difficult to differentiate units on that map. I think SSG would do a terrific job. Thanks again and sorry for the rambling post.

Not rambling, just a wargamer.

I too have KP and UV, both great games

Petdoc Breakout Normandy is by far my favorite WW2 game too so I'm very much looking forward to a regimental Normandy. I hope Roger can release it by Xmas.

OT question re BN if you could possibly help. How do you interpret the bridge repair rules? Eg: say a unit occupies an area with 3 blown bridges, can it make only 1 repair attempt for that area or 1 attempt per bridge?

I've been using the latter but I have never been able to get anyone to give me an interpretation - and bridges in that game are -the- game!

Thanks,
Adam.

Definitely 1 attempt per bridge, no matter how many. Thats why I wish the bridges were more visible in KP, I love that aspect of BKN, The impulse movement/area movement imho makes this a fantastic ww2 boardgame. Did you know that MMP has published a new area movement ww2 game called Monty's Challenge. Looks like a revamped Arnhem, on a much larger scale. I might try it, trick is trying to find opponents for board games though.

Thanks for that and the heads up - I finally feel a lot better with BN now. I found a second mint copy locally a couple of years ago and bought it thinking I could DYO a Rommel option by adding extra panzers!

MMP does distribute locally too so I'll keep an eye out for that new title certainly - hopefully a mounted map board! I'm very surprised Hasbro didn't take it's AH area games and port them.

I've tried to explain it to some just as you were saying, the rules are so elegant and the game so unique and fast playing that it would make a great PC tournament title.

I'd say that SSG's Normany title may need to tweak the bridge and river aspect of the series - but I'm unsure whether swamps, canals and flooded regions at 3km per hex will be significant to raise the role of bridges in the fighting. I hope so too. Would it also be worth company level bridging units and a bridge repair probability system?

Likely too many extra rear area assets to protect with too few regimental sized units.

Adam.

petdoc wrote: I tried Tillers Normandy, but gave up - talk about migraine inducing graphics - I found it slow and extremely difficult to differentiate units on that map.

I like the Pzc series for the smaller scenarios, but for the reasons you give above the campaign games are just too daunting. The KP scale makes more sense for a campaign game, the divisional highlight tool is better (plus better division logos), and the ability to hop sequentially between all units in a division, makes it easier to keep division integrity in KP. Trying to find the correct HQ units and keep them within the required radius in Pzc in a large crowded scenario.....say no more!!

Re the map reading problem in KP, spotting bridges etc, I find the keystoke EMU clears the battlefield nicely, allowing a search for those vital bridges, but I also put my vote down for the zoom function!

Regards

Remember that the ability to toggle the units and other items off of the map for visual purposes is actually a feature (we could call it the EMU feature now couldnt we? ) .. I know that every single turn that I play I remove the units and other items from the map so that I can have a good look at the bridges, and the type of terrain that a unit is sitting on..

Its all part of information gather in to make the right choices in your turn. Dont feel that you shouldnt be removing the units from the map to examine the map properly.. you actually should be.. thats why the U keyboard key is in the game. Its a feature.. everyone should be using it.. if you arent then you may be missing out on important information..