One of the problems that I know plagues wargamers is simply finding an opponent to play a game with. We either don’t know anyone that plays wargames, we live too far from other wargamers or we don’t like people and don’t want to interact with them face to face. These are real problems for many and aside from attending gaming conventions such as WBC, Consimworld Expo, San Diego HistCon or GMT’s Weekend at the Warehouse, or the open play at your FLGS, there are few options to play with others and we are relegated to solitaire gaming, which can be the loneliest of all gaming!

But never fear! There is now a new online alternative to this process of registering for a convention, traveling across the country, spending your hard earned money and having to deal with other gamers called Rally the Troops!.

Rally the Troops! is created and maintained by Tor Andersson and it is a free online software project that allows gamers to play games with others from all across the world. There are options for asynchronous gaming, where players are notified by email when their turn can be taken, or you can connect in real time with other gamers and play a game over a few hours. The software is very well done and provides a great deal of choice in the games that are offered, including several wargames from the likes of GMT Games, Nuts! Publishing, Fort Circle Games, Columbia Games and Wehrlegig Games.

In fact, there are currently 14 games available to play including 300: Earth & Water, Andean Abyss: Insurgency and Counterinsurgency in Columbia, Crusader Rex, The Field of the Cloth of Gold, Hammer of the Scots, Julius Caesar, Nevsky: Teutons and Rus in Collision, Pax Pamir, Red Flag Over Paris, Richard III, Rommel in the Desert, The Shores of Tripoli, Time of Crisis and Wilderness War.

I have now played about 10 games on the software over the past few weeks and currently have 5 ongoing games with lots more that I am getting ready to start. One word of warning though, Rally the Troops! is pretty addictive! I find myself checking my ongoing games hourly to see how they are doing and whether it is my turn or not. As an asynchronous platform, that also allows you to play with someone in real time, you have to be patient and wait for others to take their turns. This is the worst part about the platform but you can tell others when they sign up for the games what the expectations are for their play such as if you expect 1 turn per day, several turns per day, etc.

Let’s now take a look at a few of my current games in progress and take a look at the interface.

First up here is an ongoing game of Time of Crisis: The Roman Empire in Turmoil from GMT Games designed by the dynamic duo of Brad Johnson and Wray Ferrell who have brought us such classics as Sword of Rome: Conquest of Italy, 362-272 BC (2004) and The Barracks Emperors (2023). Time of Crisis is a simple hybrid wargame that uses deck building as players take on the roles of wannabe Emperors vying for control of the throne in Italia during the time period of 235-284 AD. Players will play various colorized or suited cards that allow various actions such as building Legions, moving armies, taking over provinces and seating a new governor, placing mobs to vex other players, building improvements and increasing influence. The goal of the game is to score the most VP and be seated as the Emperor in Italia. The game is fast and furious and plays in about 60-90 minutes once players know the rules. The deckbuilding aspect is really pretty cool as you have to balance your needs with your cards as you gain more influence and buy new cards to put into your deck and also trash weaker cards to thin your deck making it more efficient. Combat is simple and players can attack each other or have to deal with various Barbarian incursions into their lands from the Goths, Sassanids, Nomads, Franks and Alamani. It is very addictive and fun to play!

If you are interested in learning more about Time of Crisis, you can read our written review at the following link: https://theplayersaid.com/2017/09/04/the-most-recent-fruits-of-wargame-hybridization-a-review-of-time-of-crisis-the-roman-empire-in-turmoil-235-284-ad-from-gmt-games/

Next up is a look at Andean Abyss which is the first volume in the vaunted COIN Series from GMT Games. Andean Abyss deals with Columbia in the 1990’s during the time of the NARCOS. This game is a 1-4 player game, which is best at 4 players, where each side takes on the role and controls one of 4 factions involves in the struggle. These factions include the Government, backed by the United States with funding, the AUC or United Self-Defense Forces of Colombia which is a coalition of Colombian paramilitaries that used the conflict to carry out illicit economic activities, the FARC or the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia – People’s Army which is a Marxist–Leninist guerrilla group and the Cartels which represent the likes of Pablo Escobar and other groups looking to sell their drugs and control the country.

For me, the COIN Series is such a great vehicle to tell this multi-faction story with open conflict, sabotage, terror, bribing and spreading of influence. And to be able to play the game with all of the rules enforced by the program keeps it easy to play for new players to the system and much quicker than a normal game.

You will notice there are buttons along the top row that show what actions can be taken by the player and it also gives hints about how they work making it easy to play. There is also a tab where you can bring up the player aid and read through your Commands and Special Activities. The whole experience is just grand!

Recently, I wrote this piece on the COIN Series and you can read more about why I think it is great at the following link: https://theplayersaid.com/2023/09/12/the-coin-series-from-gmt-games-10-reasons-it-is-great/

This all sounds great I know but how do you play? Well, you have to first visit the Rally the Troops! site and sign up with an account. After creating your account, you will then be able to host and join games and people will see your game in the lobby. This might take a while to get the number of players you want to join but never fear, you will always find someone to play with. Once you make online friends you can add them as friends and invite them to games that you have created. Simple!

The Rally the Troops! software is absolutely fantastic and I love the work that Tor Andersson has put into this. It is very smooth, helps you to play the games with good player aids, reminders and rules enforcement, and gives us wargamers an additional vehicle to get games played.

What games would you like to see added to the platform?

-Grant