You asked for it (well, even if you didn’t ask for it you are going to get it)! Our 2020 Rambling Retrospective video where we simply share our stream of consciousness about the year that was 2020, gaming in general, our favorite games from the year (even though we didn’t play as much) and our sorrow over the fact that we didn’t attend any Conventions! Enjoy.
-Grant
The Players' Aid 
Love your reviews. Just as you said it is a bit of rambling but it feels genuine that way and it comes across conversational not a lecture. Love how you play through a game and give the review on it and talk about how the game felt for both players. Congrats on the award!
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You guys missed some of my favorites of the year. Wings of the Motherland – long time since we’ve seen much in this series, and wow did they deliver with that title. Also released in this series was Buffalo Wings, but I think that didnt ship until Jan ’21. I am so excited for the upcoming Tiger Wings, which will cover early ww2 China.
ASL also rates top notch with its release of Red Factories, which was played heavily in my house. Yes the fighting in the Martin Ovens of Red October feels significantly different than Barrikady fighting of Red Barricades. ASL also so the release of Croix De Guerre with an additional historical campaign Dinnate covering early war fighting against the French. Haven’t dug into that yet, but it looks excellent.
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Speaking of solo games, have either of you played “Devil Boats” by Compass games yet? I’m currently playing it, I would like to know your take on it.
By the way, you guys are the best. You two got me back into wargaming, keep up the good work. Stay honest and real and you will keep growing. Thanks.
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We have not. We need to get a copy soon. It does look really good.
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Hi guys,
In 2020, not much made any sense, and judging by the number of enemies I made on Facebook (bashing COVID-19), talking about GAMING is a nice relief.
This year was about “getting real” about my gaming. In past years, I used to salivate over the big games, that might require a big table and maybe three or four players (lots of units). There are STILL some games that are on my BUY LIST, I’m saving up for… GMT’s Gallipoli, Interceptor Ace, West Front Ace, and others. BUT…? Here I am a SOLO player (no game group).
To my credit, I managed to haul in Tiger Leader from DVG (always a fav), an old AH game France 1940, four Decision games on WWI, Post Human, Post Human Saga, Alone, and add to the expansion units for some older games (Squad Leader, PanzerBlitz, Panzer Leader).
To my surprise, this was a year for some great solo games with a smallish footprint… Way of the Samurai, Tripods and Triplanes, Modules for Warfighter, “11:59”, and a ton of Kickstarter games, from the Mexican Revolution to the Spanish Civil War, and expansions for “Wearing the purple” and “Nemo’s War”.
My savior? MTG, Hostage Negotiator, “Rifles in the Ardennes/Pacific” and “Rogue State”.
It was also a golden opportunity to focus on EBAY for some games, that were on the back burner.
Can’t tell you how envious I am of you having other people to play with… playing CoH by yourself is NOT quite the experience.
I HAVE been really glad to receive your content. Next to NEH, your monthly rundown on GMT’s 500 has been wonderful! Really like the interviews… because of that I KS’ed “Red Dawn”, my fourth Russian Civil War game.
As always… THANKS for keeping gaming FRESH.
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No problem Jim. We appreciate your passion for games and would live to play a game someday. If I’m not mistaken you are in California correct? Maybe we can meet up at GMT West one day.
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Grant,
It’s painful to see these “Cons” come and go. When I used to watch TDT on a consistent basis (until Sam left), they would always go to this CON or that CON… it looked really fun… all those new games, the used game section (sale), and being able to chat with designers and such.
The more I think about it, GMT West, and WBC are the two I’d save up for… there’s one in Las Vegas as well, that might be possible. I decided on these three because I think there would be more war gamers attending.
I didn’t tell you this but I did A.I. T. (Advanced Individual Training) at Fort Ben Harrison, outside Indy, back in 1975… I imagine a lot of things have changed since then… I remember a Chicago-deep-dish place (Lawrence, IND) that used to deliver— wonderful. To this day, STILL love Chicago deep dish pizza, when I can. find it. I remember all those brick buildings, big homes… very stately.
Also forgot to mention I’m loving Maquis, another game I KSed. IF you like small, solo games… I’d recommend “Way of the Samurai” through ALONE Games. It’s just a fight between YOU and another Samurai, though there is a two player variant. First class mechanics and production.
I noticed that Alexander favors his 3D games (big boards, make your own backgrounds)… he might want to look into a great gaming concept called “Never Coming Home…” by Wet Ink Studios… it’s all the misery of WWI with a touch of Chathulu (people mutating and such)… trench warfare was never so much fun.
Looking forward, one day, to playing a game or two with you guys… would love to show you “Operation Tannhauser”… already painted minis, great boards… it’s Fantasy Flight! Amazing first person shooter war game.
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