Recently, I have been on a bit of a buying spree with so many new games coming out! It is like an avalanche of goodness and I am fine being buried up to my neck in it. I searched high and low this month and found some really great offerings to share with you. There just seems to be so many great looking designs in the works. This month, I was able to find a total of 21 games to share including 1 of those being offered on Kickstarter and 2 being offered on Gamefound.
This month, we again have a sponsor for the Wargame Watch post in Sound of Drums GmbH, who has made some really great looking games over the past few years including their History of the Ancient Seas Trilogy (HOTAS: HELLAS, HOTAS: DIES IRAE and HOTAS: MARE NOSTRUM), 1793: Patriots & Traitors. Also, coming soon to crowd funding is their Battle Commander: Volume I as well as several other great looking projects on the design table. Their newest offering though is now available in retail and is called Battles of Napoleon – Volume I – Eylau 1807. Sound of Drums really has a great approach to game design and they also are committed to high quality production with great components, fantastic art and really sharp graphic design. They are definitely a publisher to keep an eye on and you should give their games a try!
1. Dutch Resistance: Orange Shall Overcome!Expansion and Reprint from Liberation Game Design Coming to Gamefound May 7th
I love a good cooperative game that is based on interesting history. We have played many of these games and have always enjoyed working together to overcome whatever evil is besetting us. A few years ago, we missed the Kickstarter for an interesting looking Euro game called Dutch Resistance: Orange Shall Overcome! from a new publisher called Liberation Game Design. A few months ago, the designer Marcel Köhler contacted us about doing a review video for the game as he was planning an expansion and 2nd Printing of the game and we agreed. A few weeks ago, we broke the game out and played 2 of the 5 scenarios and absolutely had a blast with the game and its mechanics. That game is now ready to start its crowdfunding campaign on Gamefound as of May 7th.
From the game page, we read the following:
Dutch Resistance: Orange Shall Overcome! is a scenario-based cooperative game about the Dutch Resistance during the Second World War. The main mechanisms are pick-up and deliver and resource management.
The game has five very different highly replayable scenarios. They are not directly connected to each other but focus on different aspects of the resistance work. Each scenario has its own goals, special rules, cards, and other elements.
Each player controls a character that is based on a real resistance fighter. These ten different characters have their own deck of three unique Character cards, based on what this person did during the war.
We really enjoyed the game and were frankly surprised with how much we enjoyed playing. The game is highly replayable as there are 5 different scenarios and then a total of 10 different unique characters that all have different abilities. This combines to give this game a lot of options and will keep the players engaged as they learn their new character’s abilities and how best to utilize them to hoodwink the German occupiers.
As was already mentioned, the campaign is supposed to kickoff as of May 7th.
2. Hannibal & Hamilcar from PHALANX Coming to Gamefound May 14th
This is a big game from one of the best designers in the business and it is very well respected in wargaming circles. PHALANX is running a new crowdfunding campaign for another reprint of Hannibal & Hamilcar and it looks really sweet. We played this one a few years ago and we need to play this some more as we had a difficult time with the strategy of what to do with the mighty Hannibal as he was frustrated by the difficulty of naval movement (because the cards didn’t help) and maintaining a consistent force to attack the Romans.
From the game page, we read the following:
Hannibal & Hamilcar is a card-driven political game for 2 players set during the Second Punic War, the epic struggle between ancient Rome and Carthage. That conflict has in many ways defined our modern reality. It took Rome over 100 years to win the competition with Carthage and three long wars were fought in the process. Our game takes considerably less time. Some scenarios are playable in under 30 minutes.
The other thing that I would mention about this offering is that there are supposed to be some new metal miniatures included and if you have purchased one of the upgraded editions in the past from PHALANX, you can purchase a new upgrade kit to bring your game in line with the new version.
As was already mentioned, the campaign is supposed to kickoff as of May 14th at 11:00am EST.
3. Crisis in Korea from Catastrophe Games Currently on Kickstarter
I really like the idea of a few smaller games in one box. Catastrophe Games is now working with new designer Sebastian Bae on 2 new micro-games dealing with the collapsing North Korean Peninsula in Loose Nukes and KTO Crisis. The games have been on Kickstarter for a few weeks now and have funded.
From the game page, we read the following:
Two microgames in one box:
Loose Nukes; a race between China and allies South Korea/US as they move into a collapsing North Korea trying to secure as many nuclear devices as possible. Careful though, don’t push whoever is left in charge of North Korea from launching a nuclear strike!
And
KTO Crisis; a more traditional contest between North Korea defending against the Allies trying to wrest control of key areas from a collapsing North Korea. Will China enter the fray?
As of May 1st, the Kickstarter campaign has raised $3,019 toward its $500 funding goal with 93 backers. The campaign will conclude on Sunday, May 5th at 11:55pm EDT.
4. The British Way: Enemy of My Enemy Expansion from GMT Games
I have been hearing some rumors about The British Way over the past month or so and I really didn’t know what to expect. I knew that the 2nd Printing was announced on P500 a few months back so it wouldn’t be that. Would it be a new expansion? A totally new game? The game being added online to Rally the Troops!? Who knew but when the Update email dropped, I was really blown away with what the new rumored “thing” was; a new expansion and even more than that, variants for the existing conflicts covered in the game.
From the game page, we read the following:
The British Way: Enemy of My Enemy is an expansion for The British Way, including two entirely new games on “prequel” conflicts using the Malaya and Palestine maps and expanding the base game experience with new variants for all four conflicts originally covered. The British Way: Japanese Occupation puts the British and the Malayan Communist Party (MCP) on the same side in their efforts to resist the Japanese occupation of Malaya during World War II. The British Way: Arab Revolt allows players to explore the brutal suppression of the Arab Revolt (1936-1939) that preceded the Jewish insurgency covered by the original Palestine game. The two new games involve entirely new mechanics to capture the unique features of each conflict and can each be linked to the original Palestine and Malaya games, which also allows them to feed into the “End of Empire” Campaign Scenario. The two new games in the expansion allow players to explore how British attempts to combat earlier threats to colonial rule involved collaborating with local armed groups that they would later end up fighting against (Jewish paramilitary groups in Palestine and the MCP in Malaya), ironically strengthening and preparing these groups for two of the conflicts featured in the The British Way.
So 2 new games in The British Way: Japanese Occupation and The British Way: Arab Revolt that use 2 of the existing boards. But there is more. The variants to me seem like the most interesting part as they add new elements to all of the 4 base games. For Palestine, they are adding a free functioning Lehi insurgency that does some neat looking things (I am not sure if these are a type of Bot or if it is controlled by the player). In Malaya, they add additional Jungle bases for the insurgents that make them harder to get to and the British get SAS units that can do that job, plus an additional 4 new Event Cards. In Kenya, we get a new British Detention Deck and the Mau Mau get a few leaders. And finally in Cyprus, are added some new Turkish group cell pieces to hinder the British. These expanded elements look very interesting and I think continue the focus of the game on studying the types and form of insurgency/counterinsurgency at the end of the British Empire across the world. Just fantastic!
As you know, I love the COIN Series, and this new multi-pack format is very exciting as it provides us more access to smaller, lesser gamed subjects that are fast playing. It also provides to us as players a comparable view at different types of conflict and how they affect the populace and the overall success of these efforts. I think this type of approach won’t work with every conflict and many conflicts will be better served in the framework of the larger COIN Series as their own standalone games. In speaking with Stephen on this very subject, he has shared that his “…hope is that a series of multipacks might provide new ways for wargamers to think about conflict and help cover some topics that would be difficult to design or sell as standalone products”.
5. Volume II Civil War Heritage Series Army of the Potomac: Campaigns of 1862 and 1864 from GMT Games
Several years ago, Mark Herman designed a very unique and simple American Civil War game called Gettysburg that appeared in C3i Magazine #32. That game became the basis for his new Civil War Heritage Series with the first volume being Rebel Fury that focused on five battles from the Chancellorsville and Chickamauga Campaigns. He has mentioned working on a follow-up to that game and we finally got it with Army of the Potomac that was announced with the April Monthly Update.
From the game page, we read the following:
Army of the Potomac: Campaigns of 1862 and 1864 is the second volume in the Civil War HeritageSeries and the follow-up game to the innovative and acclaimed Rebel Fury. Army of the Potomac uses the same core rules as Rebel Fury, so players familiar with Rebel Fury will be able to jump right into the action. Each battle in Army of the Potomac is quick-set-up, quick-playing, and deeply interactive. The density of counters in each scenario is low, allowing you to see and experience the big picture of the battle.
Army of the Potomac covers the battles of Spotsylvania II, North Anna River, Cold Harbor, and the entire Seven Days battle (McClellan vs. Lee), including the prelude Seven Pines (McClellan vs. Johnson) when Johnson’s wounding brought Lee into the command of the Army of Northern Virginia. Each battle places you, the player, in the role of the Army Commander (Grant, McClellan, Lee, Johnson). You maneuver your army to find the enemy’s flanks, concentrate your forces for an attack, and determine where to commit your artillery assets.
I think that one of the most interesting parts about this new volume is that this new game can be played with Rebel Fury as also included are two bonus scenarios to allow owners of Rebel Fury to fight Spotsylvania II and begin the Campaign scenario from Wilderness to Cold Harbor using their original Rebel Fury map.
If you are interested in Volume II Civil War Heritage Series Army of the Potomac: Campaigns of 1862 and 1864, you can pre-order a copy for $49.00 from the GMT Games website at the following link: https://www.gmtgames.com/p-1108-army-of-the-potomac.aspx
6. A World at War: Second World War in Europe and the Pacific, 4th Printing from GMT Games
One game that we took a pass on a few years back on the P500 was A World at War3rd Printing. It wasn’t for a lack of interest on our part. It was simply because it intimidates us and we didn’t have a place to leave a monster game like that set up as we play through it over a few months time. But now that we have a new larger table in the bunker and have more recently been playing more monsters, and that they are offering a new 4th Printing, I might have to give it another thought. Frankly, I have regretted the decision to take a pass the last time.
From the game page, we read the following:
First published by GMT in 2003, A World at War is a grand strategy game based on the award-winning Advanced Third Reich/Empire of the Rising Sun gaming system. A World at War simulates the military, economic, political, diplomatic, research, and production aspects of the Second World War and lets the players find out for themselves what might have happened if:
Germany had tried to execute Sea Lion, the invasion of Britain.
Admiral Raeder’s Mediterranean strategy had been adopted and the British position in the Middle East had crumbled.
Russia had been prepared for the German attack.
“General Winter” had not come to the aid of the hard-pressed Russian armies in late 1941.
The European Axis and Japan had cooperated in implementing a strategy aimed at destroying the Western Allied lines of communication in the Indian Ocean.
The Battle of the Atlantic had been won by Germany.
War had broken out between Russia and Japan in 1941 or 1942.
Japan had avoided disaster at Midway in 1942 and instead invaded Australia or India.
Japan had knocked China out of the war.
the U.S had mobilized more armor units and fewer air units, or more infantry and less armor, or…
the Western Allies had tried Churchill’s Balkan strategy
the Western Allies had tried to invade France in 1943 or earlier, leaving Italy for later.
the Western Allies had failed to develop the atomic bomb—but Germany had.
the Western Allies had developed jets or rockets.
YOU had been in command.
Like most monsters, A World at War does come with a dozen scenarios, ranging from the introductory Battle of the Atlantic and Barbarossa scenarios up to European and Pacific Campaign Games. And if you are game and up to the task, you can go for the whole enchilada and try the campaign game.
7. Flying Colors Deluxe, 4th Printing from GMT Games
I have once heard that real wargames involve naval operations. Well, how about a game that focuses solely on naval operations? That is Flying Colors which deals with fleet actions in the Age of Sail. There is a new 4th Printing that is being offered and this series seems to be very popular so it doesn’t surprise me at all. I have yet to play this series even though we have at least one of the various volumes. One day!
From the game page, we read the following:
Flying Colors recreates naval actions during the height of the Age of Sail, from small engagements to full battles involving dozens of ships in each fleet. Play is fast, furious, and does not require the pre-plotted movement found in many other naval games. Instead, a simple initiative and command system allows players to activate and maneuver their fleets in a realistic manner, indicating how older commanders adhered to rules of engagement where more forward thinking commanders, like Nelson, could retain control of their fleets after the first broadsides began to be exchanged.
This is not a strategic level game where one piece represents several ships. Flying Colors includes 300 individually named ships rated for size, gunnery, boarding ability, and damage capacity. Also included are nearly four dozen individually named commanders, rated for their ability to control their formations as well as the impact of their presence within the fleet. The game system provides what naval enthusiasts will expect in a tactical Age of Sail game: broadsides, rakes, anchoring, wind effects, weather, shore batteries, and much more. All this is packed into a short, accessible rulebook.
Included within the game are 17 historical scenarios ranging from the Battle of Minorca (1756) during the Seven Years War to the Battle of the Capes during the American Revolution and on through the Battle of Trafalgar (1805) during the Napoleonic Wars. The battles range in size from small engagements playable on a single map through huge engagements like the Glorious First of June playable on three maps. Players are also free to create their own variants and “what-if” scenarios using point values for each ship. Most scenarios can be played within a few hours, and two players can complete even the largest within a day. Several are also well suited to solitaire play. You can now recreate Nelson’s glory with Flying Colors!
This Deluxe Fourth Printing edition is an expanded treatment of this best-selling game. As a Deluxe treatment, there is a deep 3″ box, and contains not just the original classic scenarios and ships but also the Ship of the LineExpansion. Additionally, they will be including much of Mark Barker’s article content (first published in C3i Magazine by RBM Studio), including updated Trafalgar and battles of the Seven Years War. They also are including a half-dozen brand new scenarios, including Lagos (1759) and Cape Spartel (1782). All of this content amounts to nearly four-dozen scenarios and six and a half countersheets. This can be considered the definitive Age of Sail wargame.
8. Assault on Gallipoli: The ANZAC Landing Campaign 1915 2nd Edition from Hexasim
A few years ago, I was contacted by a friend of the designer for a new game covering the battles fought at Gallipoli during World War I. They were very excited about the game and encouraged me to reach out to the designer Kieran Oakley to discuss the game. I had some limited experience with Kieran on Facebook and he has always seemed like a really great guy. The game is called Assault on Gallipoli and was originally published by Gecko Games. But, recently Hexasim announced a new updated 2nd Edition of the game that they are offering for pre-order.
From the game page, we read the following:
Assault on Gallipoli is an exciting two-player strategic WWI game – While the fronts are established everywhere else, the British decide to launch an operation in the Dardanelles. The resulting Battle of Gallipoli will highlight the courage of the soldiers on both sides and will result in terrible disappointment on the Allied side.
Assault on Gallipoli is a game that simulates the landing of ANZAC units on the Gallipoli Peninsula in 1915. Players will relive the intense struggle to conquer the strategic heights, featuring ANZAC soldiers facing a determined Turkish defense. One player commands the Entente forces, made up primarily of Australian and New Zealand soldiers, but also including British, Maori, Gurkha, and Sikh soldiers.
The other player, for his part, is at the head of the Turkish defenders, reinforced by Syrian conscripts and German officers. The game uses many units, including Guard battalions, machine gun companies, artillery and howitzer batteries, and ships.
The mounted map is divided into zones, which helps speed up the resolution of movements and combat. The topography of the peninsula is well rendered, which will not make the task easier for the British. The trenches and barbed wire will also represent a thorn in the side of the attacker.
Fire combat and Opportunity Fire are resolved using ten-sided dice. Close combat are resolved using cards that players play in turns to try to outperform their opponent.
Leaders play an important role in both movement and combat, and their proper use will be one of the keys to victory. Players also have Action cards that must be used wisely to acquire that little something that will turn the scales in your favor.
The length of a game turn is never known in advance, which gives a feeling of urgency that can generate cold sweats.
Assault on Gallipoli features five scenarios, from the initial landing of ANZAC troops on Turkish soil to the great August offensive. Choose your side, and prepare to relive this terrible battle whose memory, more than 100 years later, is still present in the minds of the people who experienced it.
I own a copy of the 1st printing but have yet to get around to playing it. I will try to rectify that this year.
If you are interested in Assault on Gallipoli: The ANZAC Landing Campaign 1915 2nd Edition, you can order a copy for 69.00 € ($74.00 US Dollars) from the Hexasim website at the following link: https://www.hexasim.com/en/3951-Assault-on-Gallipoli.html
9. Coral Sea Solitaire Deluxe from Decision Games
I love a good solitaire wargame. And when you mix that with the Pacific Theater of Operations of WWII, you have my interest. Recently, I saw where Decision Games was offering a Deluxe Edition of Coral Sea Solitaire for pre-order and I immediately began looking into the game.
From the game page, we read the following:
Coral Sea was the first of the Pacific War’s great carrier versus carrier battles. It was the result of an Imperial Japanese Navy (IJN) offensive into the South Pacific, with their South Seas Fleet transporting invasion forces to Port Moresby (at New Guinea) and Tulagi (off Guadalcanal). Their strategic objective was to cut Allied lines of communication to Australia. The US Navy (USN) moved to counter and inflict a defeat on the Japanese fleet. The ensuing actions saw each side launch aircraft carrier strikes against opposing task forces. While the battle ended in an IJN tactical victory, the USN won strategically as the New Guinea invasion force broke off and returned to its base. Coral Sea set the stage for carrier battles which would pay off at Midway a month later.
Coral Sea Solitaire Deluxe Edition is a one-player (solitaire) wargame of the decisive aero-naval battle that took place between the USN and the IJN in May 1942. The Coral Sea Deluxe Edition design is based on the system used in World at War Magazine #2’s Solomons Campaign; however, there are significant differences owing to the different scale of the Coral Sea operation and the rules required for a solitaire design. The game system controls IJN forces via naval and air doctrine tables which initiate a range of strategies.
The player controls various Allied forces, collectively called the USN, through an operational system based on US military staff organization which provides a wide range of actions that can be conducted on the game map. The player can react to various threats and launch counterattacks to exploit opportunities as they occur. This is your chance to fight and win one of the decisive battles of World War II in the Pacific.
10. Drive on Stalingrad Deluxe Edition from Decision Games
Decision Games also is offering a Deluxe Edition of their classic Ty Bomba design Drive on Stalingrad.
From the game page, we read the following:
During World War II, Germany and the Soviet Union had been at war since the launching of Operation Barbarossa in June 1941. Caught in a brutal war of attrition in the summer of 1942, a weakened German Army prepared to launch another major offensive, Operation Blue. The German Army would attempt to push into the Caucasus region to capture the oil fields of Baku, Grozny, and Maikop, while also advancing along the Don River to the city of Stalingrad on the Volga, with the additional hope of finally destroying the Soviet Red Army. As the offensive stalled in late summer, the German Arny found itself over-extended and locked in a fierce battle for Stalingrad. In November the Red Army launched its counter-offensive, Operation Uranus, shattering the German and Axis-Allied front and surrounding the German Sixth Army in Stalingrad. The Soviet Union now held the strategic initiative, though the war would continue for another two and a half years.
Drive on Stalingrad Deluxe Edition is a two-player, medium complexity, strategic-level simulation of two offensives: Operation Blue, the German attempt to seize Stalingrad and the Caucasus area of the Soviet Union in the summer of 1942; and Operation Uranus, the Soviet counter-offensive in late 1942.
The Operation Blue scenario begins with the start of the German offensive on 28 June 1942 toward Stalingrad and the Caucasus. The scenario ends on 15 September, after eleven game turns. The Operation Uranus scenario starts on 19 November 1942, with the beginning of the Soviet Operation Uranus counter-offensive, and continues for six turns to the end of December, when historically the German attempt to free their encircled 6th Army at Stalingrad ground to a halt.
Drive on Stalingrad DeluxeEdition upgrades components with a new enlarged map on two mounted map boards, larger counters, along with new player aid cards and markers for enhanced play. Now is your chance to refight a critical campaign of World War Two.
11. Advanced Squad Leader Action Pack #19 – Roads to Rangoon from Multi-Man Publishing
For those of you out there that are addicted to Advanced Squad Leader and building your collection, here is an opportunity to get a new module.
From the game page, we read the following:
Roads to Rangoon, the 19th Action Pack for Advanced Squad Leader, follows up Action Pack #9 To the Bridge! with more action in Burma between Japanese (and allied Burmese Independence Army troops) and British Commonwealth forces in March and April 1942. Roads to Rangoon presents several “tournament-sized” offerings featuring Japanese infantry forces, occasionally supplemented with light armor and guns, against Commonwealth infantry (including units of the Gurkha Rifles) supported by Stuart tanks of 7th Armoured Brigade the famed “Desert Rats,” fresh from the North African theater. The Chinese even make an appearance in one scenario, all of which were designed by Gary Fortenberry. Three double-sided 11˝ × 16˝ maps, painted by Charlie Kibler, round out the package. Each board is completely geomorphic and compatible with previous ASL mapboards.
Action Pack #19: Roads to Rangoon contains:
Three 11˝ × 16˝ double-sided geomorphic mapboards (20a/b, 21a/b, 22a/b)
10 ASL scenarios featuring the new mapboards.
Designed for the aficionado, Action Pack #19 is NOT a complete product and assumes the buyer owns the core Advanced Squad Leader game system.
1. Battles of Napoleon – Volume I – Eylau 1807 from Sound of Drums GmbH
One of the newer publishers in the market is Sound of Drums and they have serious potential as their production values look amazing and their art and other assets are top notch. Sound of Drums is a Swiss publisher owned by Uwe Wallentin and they are putting out some great looking games including the 3 game set Hellas, Dies Irae and Mare Nostrum published in 2022 and now their newest game is Eylau 1807 that is being made available on retail this month.
From the game page, we read the following:
Battles of Napoleon is an epic game series that simulates the most famous battles of Napoleon on a tactical scale sharing an elegant and cohesive ruleset. The series portrays the most important aspects of battles of the Napoleonic era with easy to learn and remember rules, intuitive mechanics and procedures. This enables players to focus less time consulting the rulebook and more time on strategy, tactical decisions and gameplay. The system focuses on the “cat-and-mouse game” of coordination and timing of the various formations of the different armies without unnecessarily complex or excessively thematic gameplay that too often compromises game-flow. The scale of the series is approximately 150 meters per hex. Infantry units are battalions; artillery are batteries, and cavalry are represented as regiments.
EYLAU 1807 contains 1,120 large (15mm) counters, 280 alternative counters, 2 huge map sheets (each 86 x 55 cm) with large hexes, 4 charts and tables, 125 wooden cubes, 2 counter trays, 1 rules manual and 4 customized dice.
Thanks to the successful funding on Gamefound and the unlocked stretch goals the components of the game are upgraded: the dice are customized and the charts and tables are deluxe (printed on 2mm grey carton) and the game includes 280 alternative counters.
This game is just stunning to look at the game seems to be very interesting as well. We have a copy that we have unboxed but have not yet had an opportunity to get to the table. I am very much looking forward to that opportunity and will share our thoughts with you. The best thing about this new series is that they are already planning out the next few volumes and we should get more of this goodness in the near future.
The game is supposed to be available for retail sale in May.
2. Irregular Conflicts Series Volume 2: A Gest of Robin Hood: Insurrection in Nottinghamshire from GMT Games
As you know, I love the COIN Series and anything associated with it. This new Irregular Conflicts Series is considered COIN adjacent and shares some of the same elements. The 2nd volume called A Gest of Robin Hood is a 2 player game that is set in the world of literature but based on actual events of the time as it covers the bandit known as Robin Hood as he patrolled the Sherwood Forest around Nottingham and attempted to relieve the evil Prince John of the money that he stole from the peasants and give it back to them.
From the game page, we read the following:
A Gest of Robin Hoodis the second game in the Irregular Conflicts Series, further adapting the COIN system to depict peasant revolts, feudal tax collection, and outlaw activities in late 12th century medieval England. Transposing one of GMT’s most popular systems into a simpler format and a more approachable setting makes A Gest of Robin Hood perfect for newcomers to wargaming. At the same time, it also offers a tight challenge for more experienced wargamers who can enjoy a tense asymmetric duel in under an hour.
I really like that GMT is trying to bring new blood to the hobby and these type of gateway games, with simpler mechanics and more comfortable style than some of our more deep games in the hobby, will do good work in that regard.
The game has two factions that are playable and are rooted in the legends about the exploits of Robin Hood. The two factions are as follows:
Robin Hood and the Merry Men: Robbing from the rich to give to the poor. An archetypal insurgency faction focused on undermining the Sheriff’s authority by inciting peasant revolts, robbing carriages and travelers, and building a network of camps across Nottinghamshire. The Sheriff of Nottingham and his Henchmen: In charge of maintaining order and collecting taxes for Prince John. A proto-counterinsurgent faction focusing on suppressing peasant revolts and securing roads to ensure the safe travel of wealth confiscated from the parishes.
If you are interested in Irregular Conflicts Series Volume 2: A Gest of Robin Hood: Insurrection in Nottinghamshire, you can order a copy for $50.00 (but act fast as once it starts shipping during the first week of May the price will increase to $75.00) from the GMT Games website at the following link: https://www.gmtgames.com/p-934-a-gest-of-robin-hood.aspx
3. Bayonets & Tomahawks: The French and Indian War2nd Printing from GMT Games
A good game on the French & Indian War is always welcome on my table and this one looks to be pretty damn good. Bayonets & Tomahawks is a two-player grand strategic game depicting the French & Indian War, which raged from 1755 to 1760 and in which France’s North American empire was conquered. The players will take command of either the French or British to fight all facets of the conflict including army maneuvering, diplomacy with indigenous nations, raids, battles, construction, naval operations, sieges, and more. With scenarios varying from a single year to the whole war, as well as rules for team play, Bayonets & Tomahawks is perfect for new and experienced wargamers alike.
There are cards in the game as well as they are used during the Action Rounds to take either the printed events or to use them to take any number of actions. The thing that I find very interesting is that the units have non-traditional shapes, like hex or triangle counters, and represent the different type of forces engaged. Having different shapes bypasses the decoding process inherent with classic wargames. You don’t need to read a counter or scrutinize its graphics to know what it is. For example, light units act fundamentally differently from other pieces (they move faster, can raid, can use paths). They were the first to get a distinct shape the designer settled on a triangle because it made him think of a vector or even an arrow. Brigades (standard pieces) remain square with forts having an octagon shape for them (same shape as a stop sign because they don’t move), long rectangles for fleets (inspired by Fighting Formations’ vehicle counters).
The map is also absolutely stunning (if you didn’t know Marc is also a graphic designer and cares very much for the look of a game) and the game uses custom dice for combat with symbols rather than numbers (reminds me of the dice system used in the Birth of America Series from Academy Games).
If you are interested in Bayonets & Tomahawks: The French and Indian War2nd Printing, you can order a copy for $44.00 (but act fast as once it starts shipping during the first week of May the price will increase to $64.00) from the GMT Games website at the following link: https://www.gmtgames.com/p-978-bayonets-tomahawks-2nd-printing.aspx
4. A Dutiful Fight: The Battle of Chateauguay, October 26, 1813 from High Flying Dice Games
I love lesser gamed subjects. It is always nice to play something unique and interesting while learning new parts of history. High Flying Dice Games does this exceptionally well as they have made their living on doing lesser (or even totally) unknow battles in their small games.
Their newest series is called Battle for Canada and delves into lesser known parts of the War of 1812. In the newest volume of the series called A Dutiful Fight: The Battle of Chateauguay, October 26, 1813, they take a look at this invasion of Canada and the attempt by two American forces to take Montreal.
From the game page, we read the following:
The US capture of Canada was assumed in Washington, DC “to be a mere matter of marching”. However, the fight for the British colony was severe and prolonged. The US mounted a double-pronged offensive from New York to take the Canadian capital city of Montreal in the fall of 1813 planned by US Secretary of War, John Armstrong, Jr. However, the two US forces were commanded by Generals James Wilkenson, who had a particularly dubious and corrupt history, and Major General Wade Hampton, who loathed and despised Wilkenson. With little to no cooperation between the US forces, their British and Canadian opponents were able to deal with each US force separately.
With most of the British regular forces devoted to dealing with Wilkenson, it was left to Canadian militia and First Nation warriors, under the command of Lieutenant Colonel Charles de Salabarry, to stop Hampton. The combined Canadian and First Nation force skirmished repeatedly with the Americans as soon as they crossed the St. Lawrence River, frustrating Hampton’s hopes that he could beat his rival to Montreal. The weather and sparsely settled region meant that the few trails were muddy quagmires that frequently mired the American supply wagons and artillery caissons, slowing the American’s advance even more. Along the Chateauguay River, Hampton learned that the enemy had built a substantial defensive position along the main route to Montreal, and he divided his force in two. One would pin the Canadians and First Nation warriors in place, while the other crossed the river to flank the enemy and capture fords that were to the rear of their defensive works. If successful, the enemy would be trapped and the way to Montreal open to the Americans. However, dividing one’s force in the face of an undefeated and determined enemy is a very dangerous gambit in warfare.
If you are interested in A Dutiful Fight: The Battle of Chateauguay, October 26, 1813, you can order a copy for $16.95 from the High Flying Dice Games website at the following link: https://www.hfdgames.com/ADF.htm
5. Operational Matters Volume 2 w/OCS Luzon: Race to Bataan from Multi-Man Publishing
We have yet to really play any version of the Operational Combat Series (OCS) from MMP. Ardwulf gave us a nice crash course into the system a few years ago at Buckeye Game Fest and I ended up buying OCS Smolensk but we have not gotten it to the table. But, this magazine game called Luzon: Race for Bataan really looks interesting and seems to be a bit of a smallish intro to the series so I am intrigued for sure.
From the game page, we read the following:
Operational Matters Volume 2 w/OCS Luzon: Race to Bataan is a 40 page magazine focused on players new to Operational Combat Series games. The eight articles help players learn or even improve on their OCS knowledge. This also includes a set of six double-sided cardstock Reference Cards to help learning and experienced gamers as well. We’ve also included a small OCS game, Luzon: Race for Bataan, which is a low-density, quick-playing game.
OCS Luzon: Race for Bataan covers the mobile campaign during the Japanese invasion of the Philippines, from December 22, 1941, when the main Japanese forces landed in Lingayen Gulf, to January 7, 1942, when the U.S.-Philippine Army completed its retreat to the Bataan Peninsula. New designer Matsuura Yutaka has created a five-turn OCS mini-game that recreates this period of intense maneuvering. General Wainwright, commander of the North Luzon Force, conducted a brilliant retreat against the advancing Japanese blitzkrieg, and succeeded in getting a large number of troops to Bataan. In Luzon: Race for Bataan, the U.S.-Philippine Army must delay the Japanese advance and gather forces in the Bataan peninsula. As directed by Imperial General Headquarters, the Japanese priority is to capture Manila. However, if the U.S.-Philippine Army can be outmaneuvered, the Japanese could both occupy Manila and deal a devastating blow to the U.S.-Philippine Army. The game pits a small-but-elite Japanese force which must make fast progress against a larger, less-effective opponent.
OCSLuzon: Race for Bataan has a single 22″ x 34″ map, fewer than 50 combat units, and is played at a scale of 5-miles per hex and 3.5 days per turn. There is only one scenario, with an option for random changes which alter play each time. This looks very intro compared to what we have seen so I am in!
6. Comet: Allied Airman Rescue During WWII from Hollandspiele
I have always had a great love affair with the solitaire wargames from Hollandspiele. So many good ones, including Agricola, Charlemagne, Wars of Marcus Aurelius and Stilicho to name just a few. This past year, I was able to play That Others May Live designed by Brad Smith dealing with search and rescue missions during the Vietnam War. That was also a fantastic game and now Brad has a new offering that is solitaire and deals with a never before gamed subject on the Comet Line that secreted downed Allied pilots to safety from Europe during World War II. The cover was immediately what caught me about the game as it is really simple and gorgeous but I have now ordered a copy and it will arrive shortly.
From the game page, we read the following:
In this solitaire game from Brad Smith (That Others May Live), you help allied airmen shot down in World War II escape from occupied Europe. There were several escape lines – networks of safehouses, forgers, and civilian guides – but the most famous of these was the Comet Line, running from Belgium through France and Spain to British Gibraltar. The real people – many of them teenaged girls – are represented in the game, as well as the real challenges they faced. Given the nature of the work, infiltration by the Gestapo was unavoidable, and the threat of capture was omnipresent. More than eight hundred members of the Comet Line were arrested; about three hundred were executed, or died in concentration camps.
Smith’s game acknowledges this grim reality while celebrating the courage and victories of these brave civilians who risked so much in resistance to fascism. With a limited number of actions available to you each turn, you will need to satisfy competing demands: finding new guides and safehouses, rooting out infiltration, and dealing with the impact of world events beyond your control. At the end of each turn, you’ll plan and execute movement of the men under your protection, risking their capture and your exposure. Losing your only guide for a route can bring the whole thing to a standstill. Through clever card play and careful use of your stretched resources, you’ll have to rebuild and move forward – ever-optimistic in the face of incredible odds.
If you are interested in Comet: Allied Airman Rescue During WWII, you can order a copy for $50.00 from the Hollandspiele website at the following link: https://hollandspiele.com/products/comet
7. Solitaire General: Napoleon at Waterloo from White Dog Games
I love these little solitaire wargames and have played many of them from White Dog Games from several designers including David Kershaw. They are always engaging, interesting and well put together and create a very good play experience. Recently, White Dog Games announced a new solitaire hex and counter wargame set on the Waterloo battlefield designed by David Kershaw.
From the game page, we read the following:
Napoleon at Waterloo is a game in the series Solitaire General. Designed by David Kershaw (The Mog, Pyrates, The Night, Irish Freedom, World War Zed), Napoleon at Waterloo puts you, the player, at the head of the French forces at Waterloo, and provides solitaire rules to determine the behavior of your British and Dutch, and Prussian opponents. You must defeat these determined foes while still keeping as much of your force in tact as possible to then face the Russians and Austrians.
If you are interested in Solitaire General: Napoleon at Waterloo, you can order a copy for $50.00 from the White Dog Games website at the following link: https://www.whitedoggames.com/waterloo-solitaire
The game will not be shipping until May 15th and you will be able to order it in the next week or so.
8. Limits of Glory: Bonaparte’s Eastern Empire from Form Square Games
A few years ago, we became acquainted with Andrew Rourke through his Coalitions design from PHALANX that went on to a successful crowdfunding campaign. He has since been a busy guy with starting his own publishing company called Form Square Games and also starting the first design is a new series called Limits of Glory that will take a look at the campaigns of Napoleon. The first game in the series is called Bonaparte’s Eastern Empire and takes the action to Egypt with a very interesting and engaging looking system.
From the game page, we read the following:
In the wake of a great storm, in May 1798, Bonaparte leaves France, heading for Egypt. By August 1801, the remnants of his exhausted army surrender to the British. Face his challenge and re-write history.
Luck, luck, luck! Bonaparte was lucky to reach Egypt without being intercepted by Nelson, lucky to not catch the plague when visiting the French hospital in Jaffa, lucky to get back to France without being caught by the British: or was it all skill? This game examines the influence of luck and skill on the timing of events during Bonaparte’s adventures in the East.
Bonaparte started off lucky; a storm blew strong Mistral winds from the 12th May to 19th May 1798, delaying his departure. However, luckily, the very same winds drove Nelson and the British blockading squadrons from their stations, allowing him to slip away unnoticed.
In Bonaparte’s Eastern Empire you take the role of either the French, who must sail their fleets to Egypt and fight to conquer the Egyptian lands, or the Allies, who must prevent the French incursion by expelling or destroying them.
The Limits of Glory series examines the effect of ‘skill and luck’ on the commanders present in a campaign. A Glory rating is attributed to all the significant participants in the campaign, made up from the skill they exhibited and the luck from which they benefited. Players must make difficult decisions as to when to use their commanders Glory to mitigate the situation on the board to their advantage by attempting to change unfavorable events as the campaign unfolds.
We have played a few of Vance von Borries designs and have really enjoyed them with my personal favorite being Demyansk Shield from Legion Wargames. He has a great knack for telling a great narrative with his games and his newest offering Invasion: Malta just looks really great! This one also comes with a bonus game in Battle of Leros that covers the historical invasion of Leros.
From the game page, we read the following:
Invasion: Malta uses many familiar game mechanics found in similar scale games. Featured here are chit draws for activation of formations and individual unit efficiency ratings. The Axis player uses amphibious landings and airdrops to bring his units into the battle while the Allied player defends with artillery bombardment from behind heavy fortifications. Special rules include heavy tanks and dummy airdrops, and more, as found in a group of random events that players draw in order to obtain special capabilities, such as Deception Measures, Gas, Anti-tank guns, Transport, Smoke Screen, and much more. As you might expect, the game includes the highest quality OoB for both sides for each scenarios; we really dug into various national archives for this game. All scenarios stop after only a few days of campaigning as it is during this time that the battle would be decided.
Our hobby has perhaps a unique ability to explore the great questions of events in history. Here, what if during WWII the Axis actually invaded Malta. Who would win? The answer turns on many additional questions and circumstances. This two-player game explores several of these in three scenarios plus the bonus game covering the historical invasion of Leros.
10. Storm of Steel: Ju-87 Stuka, Eastern Front from Compass Games
We have seen a lot of iterations of these solitaire air war games over the past couple of years from many different designers including Gregory M. Smith (Interceptor Ace, Nightfighter Ace), Chuck Seegert (Zero Leader and Stuka Leader), Russ Lance (Flying Tigers Leader) and Fernando Sola Ramos (Interceptor Ace Volume II). They appeal to a broad range of gamers because of the novelty of the narrative driven game and the interesting and cool mechanics such as dogfighting, obtaining skills to improve your pilot and graduating to upgraded models. I have played several and always enjoy them even though they can be a bit of a chart flipping dice fest! We have also seen a lot of iterations of games focused on the mighty Stuka on the East Front (Stuka Leader from DVG and Ju-87 Stuka Ace from Lock n’ Load Publishing) and we have another to add to the fray with Storm of Steel from Compass Games designed by Joe Fernandez.
From the game page, we read the following:
Storm of Steel: Ju-87 STUKA, Eastern Front is a solitaire tactical air wargame where you take the role of a Staffelkapitän – Flight leader. Select, equip and fly your aircraft, lead a squadron of Stuka dive bombers and execute close air support missions along the Eastern Front from the opening day of Operation Barbarossa on June 22, 1941 up to the Kursk offensive in 1943.
Take command of the legendary Stuka dive bomber on combat missions over the vast battlefields on the Eastern Front. Select and equip your Stuka Staffel with individual and historically named pilots and gunners or create your own. Lead your unit during the opening days of Operation Barbarossa, targeting Soviet airfields, troop concentrations, rail lines, convoys, tank formations, and more. Attempt the final drive on Moscow during Operation Winter Storm. Continue your career to participate in Case Blue and the offensive on Stalingrad. Use the newly converted Ju-87G Stuka tank killer during Operation Citadel to destroy enemy armor. Conduct maritime missions to sink, and disrupt the Red Navy on the Gulf of Finland and the Black Sea utilizing specialized ordnance.
Manage StG-1, 2, or 77, and fly with your Staffel of up to ten Stukas deep into enemy territory. Avoid enemy fighters, bad weather, and murderous anti-aircraft fire to deliver your deadly payload accurately to its target. Log your missions, scores, gain experience for yourself and your unit. An experienced-based promotion system provides an increased level of proficiency for your crew. Between missions; manage replacements and repairs of your aircraft as well as your wounded and KIA crew.
I am really interested in this one and just purchased this at the pre-order price this past week. Solitaire air war games are always loads of fun and I see no reason why this one won’t be the same.
As usual, thanks so much for reading along and sticking with me this month as I navigated through the many websites and game pages looking for new and interesting games to share.
Finally, thanks once again to this month’s sponsor Sound of Drums GmbH!
So excited that my copy arrived this week! I need to clip it, organize it and read the rules over but hope to play it yet this month even though I have like 4 other solo games all prepped and ready to go that need to be played!
Gents, good luck and do be careful with A World at War – the rulebook is a beast and even the designer admits that it is best to have someone show you how to play rather than use the “rulebook”. So to get into this, I joined their online support site (simply called A World at War, aided by the game designer himself) to see how to play. This was useful (aside from said designer’s often acerbic online demeanor) but there is so much chrome that getting it all correct in the first few plays is nigh on impossible. Patience, I guess.
Thank you Grant for posting these updates. It prompted me to check Bayonets & Tomahawks on P500 which I thought I had backed, but hadn’t. Just backed it in time. Your previous reviews of the game are what sold me on it. Looks incredible!
I hope you back A World at War. Many of us live our wargaming lives through TPA, and this monster game is one I’d love to see your thoughts on (but could never justify buying myself) 😉
Some very interesting games in this list, Hannibal is a great game with great replayabillity. Thanks for keeping us updated in this ever changing world of wargames.
The Players' Aid 
Thank you again for highlighting “Storm of Steel: Ju-87 STUKA”.
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So excited that my copy arrived this week! I need to clip it, organize it and read the rules over but hope to play it yet this month even though I have like 4 other solo games all prepped and ready to go that need to be played!
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I know the feeling brother. But alas; the game is fairly easy to set up and play! Be sure to check very few errata on the BGG page. Happy Gaming.
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Gents, good luck and do be careful with A World at War – the rulebook is a beast and even the designer admits that it is best to have someone show you how to play rather than use the “rulebook”. So to get into this, I joined their online support site (simply called A World at War, aided by the game designer himself) to see how to play. This was useful (aside from said designer’s often acerbic online demeanor) but there is so much chrome that getting it all correct in the first few plays is nigh on impossible. Patience, I guess.
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Thank you Grant for posting these updates. It prompted me to check Bayonets & Tomahawks on P500 which I thought I had backed, but hadn’t. Just backed it in time. Your previous reviews of the game are what sold me on it. Looks incredible!
I hope you back A World at War. Many of us live our wargaming lives through TPA, and this monster game is one I’d love to see your thoughts on (but could never justify buying myself) 😉
Great blog content as always.
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Some very interesting games in this list, Hannibal is a great game with great replayabillity. Thanks for keeping us updated in this ever changing world of wargames.
Niclas
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