This month was simply a bonanza of new games! I was able to find 33 new games to share (now 9 of those were from a pre-order Palooza from Compass Games!) with 5 being funded via crowdfunding platforms (2 on Gamefound and 3 on Kickstarter). I have been a bit pressed for time this month with attendance at the World Boardgaming Championships and school starting for our children so you get what you get and you won’t throw a fit!
Again this month, we have a sponsor for the Wargame Watch post in Legion Wargames. Legion is a fantastic boutique publisher of very fine quality games. Randy Lein is also a super nice guy and it is really amazing all of the great games that they put with really only Randy and his wife as employees. They have relationships with many fantastic designers including John Poniske, Kim Kanger, Steve Dixon, Bob Best, Vance von Borries and others and are always putting out great looking games on lesser known or gamed subjects.
Legion has their own pre-order system called the CPO (Customer Pre-Order) and once a design reaches the required 250 pre-orders it gets moved into the production queue. Here is a link to the description of the CPO and a look at many of the games they have offered there: https://www.legionwargames.com/legion_pre-order.php
One of their CPO games that I am most interested in is the COIN Series inspired Werwolf: Insurgency in Occupied Germany, 1945-1948. The game is a very interesting take on a “what-if” historical situation where the Werwolf insurgents rise up to attempt to kick out their occupiers in the Soviets and the Americans while also simultaneously fighting their enemies the Edelweiss Insurgency. The game has reached the CPO order requirement of 250 and is in the production queue, probably coming out in 2025.
Here are just a sampling of a few other links to our video reviews for several of their games that we have played and really had a great experience with:
Dien Bien Phu: The Final Gamble designed by Kim Kanger:
Captain’s Sea: The American Frigates, 1799-1815 designed by Mike Nagel:
Nemesis Burma 1944 designed by Kim Kanger:
Decisive Victory 1918 Volume One: Soissons designed by Tim Gale:
East Front games are always focused on things such as weather, movement, supply, and of course combat as the combatants fought it out over the fate of World War II over the short period of a few key months in 1941-1943. Typically, these games all tell the same outcome, that of the Germans punching the Soviets in the mouth for the first few months of June, July and August 1941 until they got their feet underneath them and then punch back as the weather worsened and the Soviet people mobilized to defeat the invaders. Then what follows are major Soviet victories creating pockets of trapped German armies that are struggling to break out and just survive. The outcome of these East Front games are not necessarily pre-ordained, but unless something different happens, their outcome rarely if ever changes. Recently, Compass Games released a new pre-order designed by Ernie Copley called Breakthrough Russia, which is a low complexity East Front game that looks pretty interesting.
From the game page, we read the following:
Breakthrough Russia is a WWII strategy game that takes players back to the crucial period from the Summer of 1941 to the Summer of 1943 when the outcome of the war in the East hung in the balance. This game is for two players with a low-to-moderate complexity level and is also suitable for solitaire play. Players can easily play the game in an afternoon, thanks to the low unit count of corps and armies, along with shorter scenarios for Barbarossa, Fall Blau, and Kharkov-Kursk. The movement and combat systems are straightforward, quick to learn, and easy to administer.
A unique chit-pull system determines each player’s resources rather than which units may activate. The game’s tempo is entirely up to the players, who decide on Pass, Attrition, or Offensive options each turn. Historical features such as partisans, industrial production, armor superiority, weather, air transport, and Lend-Lease enhance the game’s realism.
East Front games are always pretty interesting and frankly when they utilize chit pull mechanics for activation they are always that much better. This one to keep an eye on for sure as it develops over the next few years.
From the East Front to the West Front we travel with the next pre-order from Compass Games being Road to the Rhine designed by Frank Chadwick.
From the game page, we read the following:
In the cataclysmic battle of the Falaise Pocket, the Allied forces defeated the German army and drove them back across France in disorder. In the south of France, American and French troops of the 6th Army Group have stormed ashore and driven the remnants of the German 19th Army north toward the border.
Road to the Rhine covers the Allied pursuit of the German Army following the Normandy breakout through fierce fighting at the West Wall and bridging the Rhine River. The campaign game covers the period from September 1944 through April 1945, while separate shorter scenarios include Operation Market-Garden and the Battle of the Bulge. The game includes two battle games (one-turn scenarios), two longer scenarios, and one full campaign game. The game also includes extensive designer notes from original game designer Frank Chadwick and a historical play-through of the Bulge battle game.
Road to the Rhine is another classic by Game Designers’ Workshop, re-mastered by Compass Games. Originally designed by Frank Chadwick, this edition pays tribute to the classic by honoring the original game system while introducing many enhancements for gameplay purposes. In terms of presentation, we upgraded all components, including completely new full-color maps, new reinforcement and new unit displays, expanded turn and supply tracks, enhanced charts, a rulebook with incorporated errata, and larger counters.
This one does have two 22″x34″ maps but with only 2 countershafts so it is large in scope but not necessarily in scale as it appears to be fairly low counter density. One to keep an eye on though as it is designed by Frank Chadwick and is a remastering of the classis GDW release in 1979.
3. Warriors of Politics: The Struggle for America’s Soul from Compass Games
Word of warning! I could see this game being flame bait and causing gamers to become polarized about the issues or the sides involved. With that being said, I am very much interested in this one and love to consider all different types of games, including those that are more focused on politics than outright war, that tell a fantastic narrative and also cause me to think in a different way or from a different point of view. Such is the case with another pre-order title from Compass Games called Warriors of Politics: The Struggle for America’s Soul designed by Adam Starkweather.
From the game page, we read the following:
Based on the very well-received Warriors of God system, Warriors of Politics takes these inconceivable times and lets players determine what might change over the decades that followed. Players will represent the ardent supporters of Conservatives and Liberalism and use the power of the office of the President to try and advance their agendas. But pitfalls are everywhere — from issues that can derail a presidency to sudden health issues to sex scandals, your agenda may fail.
Your chosen political warrior will have to navigate the minefields of an election to gain the highest office in the land. There will be debates, scandals, flubs, pratfalls, health issues, and battling supporters. This isn’t politics. This is war!
While there is not a lot of information to go on, I would wonder if this is a similar style of game to 1960: The Making of the President from GMT Games or if it is more akin to Mr. President from GMT Games. My guess is probably the former but I just don’t know at this point I am sure that this will be an interesting game.
We first experienced this system with 2018’s Gallipoli, 1915: Churchill’s Greatest Gamble from GMT Games designed by Geoffrey Phipps and really enjoyed the game, the detail in the combat system and have been looking forward to this one since that time. It was announced by GMT as a P500 in February 2021 but has since dropped off and appears to have been picked up by Compass Games.
From the game page, we read the following:
Mons, 1914: The Mad Minute is the second game in the Rifle and Spade Series, first used in Gallipoli, 1915: Churchill’s Greatest Gamble. The series rules have been completely overhauled to speed play and ease learning. Key charts have been simplified and rules that were rarely used have been dropped, resulting in faster and smoother games. Gallipoli can be played with the 2.0 rules with some short upgrade instructions and a few replacement charts.
Mons is a big game. Two maps show the length of the Condé Canal. Over 1,500 counters cover every unit from the BEF and the German 1. Armee. Units are half-battalions and batteries with some platoon pickets. The game includes introductory scenarios, six historical scenarios, three hypothetical scenarios, and numerous variants.
In the meeting engagement scenarios, the armies enter gradually, led by their cavalry divisions. A wild period of maneuver follows as the cavalry and jägers attempt to sneak past the enemy until the infantry show up, and the battle is joined in earnest. There are rules for cavalry charges, including debacles and impetuous charges. The command problems of the BEF and German 1. Armee are shown, although scenario variants give players all the freedom they could want.
Now keep in mind that this is a big game, with 2 maps, 6 counter sheets with 1,500 counters and a play time akin to an entire quarter with a 16-24 hour Full Campaign and 4-8 Hour Scenarios. This one is a monster and will take you some effort to get into but I thought the system was good, it was interesting and we enjoyed our play. I do know that this volume has some rules cleanup though so it should take out some of the crunch and make it that much more playable.
5. Trench Raid: Solitaire Patrol Command on the WW1 Western Front from Compass Games
This title looks to be really interesting and intrigues me quite a bit. A solitaire WWI design from a new designer that I do not know anything about. I like new and different and this looks to be both. Trench Raid: Solitaire Patrol Command on the WW1 Western Front is a new pre-order offering from Compass Games that was debuted early last month along with a bunch of other games that I am highlighting on this list.
From the game page, we read the following:
Trench Raid is a single-player game set on the Western Front in World War One. The player assembles a group of 10 raiders and plots their course on a map towards the enemy lines on the other side of No Man’s Land. With 12 different raid objectives and 20 random events that can take place during the crossing, no two playthroughs will be exactly the same.
The game also includes rules for campaign play — whether their raid was successful or not, the soldiers who make it back to their trench lines relatively unscathed will steadily get better at raiding, learning through experience how to survive.
Building a team of raiders, each with different attributes and benefits, plotting your course across the map and then trying to accomplish different objectives. And these scenarios play in under an hour. This one is very interesting looking and I cannot wait to learn a bit more about it!
6. Falling Crescent: The British Offensive: September-October 1918 from Compass Games
More WWI is never a bad thing. Particularly when that game focuses on a front that doesn’t get a lot of love in the wargaming world. But Falling Crescent is such a game that that focuses on the British offensive against the Turks in Palestine in the fall of 2018.
From the game page, we read the following:
Falling Crescent is an operational-level game of the British offensive of September-October 1918 against the Turks in Palestine. One player controls the Turkish, German, and Bedouin forces, and the other, British, French, and Arab guerilla forces. A three-player version, commanding the Arabs separately is also included.
After lasting for centuries, the Ottoman Turks’ hold on Palestine is at risk. British forces and Arabs in revolt threaten to bring down the Ottomans and their Crescent flag. The game is one of skill, in which it is entirely possible to change the course of history. This game proves to be an interesting challenge as modifications to the design, such as strategic and operational cards, bring a new feel to the classic model also built-in!
In designing Falling Crescent, designer Roger Nord brought out the flavor of encirclement and surrender, of charging cavalry and elusive Arab guerillas. The Palestine campaign is one of history’s last great cavalry actions. In this fluid scene, local plans can often go astray unforeseen developments may hinder or even alter command plans. The players’ cards, new to this edition, add their part to the fortunes of war with reactive tactics and shifting events.
The game’s pace is swift, and we believe players will enjoy it as a World War I game devoid of attrition and stalemate. Especially in the use of cavalry and air, they will see a hint of things to come in 1939-1940, when a later war will no longer be fought with horses and canvas biplanes, but with treaded armor and screaming dive bombers.
I am very much looking forward to this one. Games on this subject and with this scale are pretty rare and the comment in the description about “one of history’s last great cavalry actions” definitely has my attention!
7. Shattered Swords: The Naval Battles of 1942 from Compass Games
Another new offering from Compass Games this month is a card game. I know that many of you have simply stopped reading after that statement but it is an air war card game focused on the naval battles in the Pacific during 1942. You know some of the most famous in history such as the Battle of Midway and the Battle of the Coral Sea amongst others. I love card games and this one looks to be pretty interesting and is called Shattered Swords designed by Adam Starkweather.
From the game page, we read the following:
Shattered Swords is a card game on the naval battles between Imperial Japan and the United States in 1942. It is a unique system using cards to represent the majority of combatants from both sides. Players will have to fly search planes, find the enemy, and strike first before the enemy finds them.
Scenarios Included:
The Battle of Coral Sea
The Battle of Midway
The Battle of the Eastern Solomons
The Battle of Santa Cruz
Also included is a linked campaign game that allows players to play each battle in order. Lastly, there is a grand free-for-all game mode in which almost anything can happen!
I think that this one looks pretty fun and will be a nice change of pace from our normal faire. I am very much interested in the linked campaign as well.
8. Grand Army of the Republic, Designer Signature Edition from Compass Games
ACW games have really started to grow on us over the past few years! In fact, Alexander now has a pretty unhealthy infatuation with the Great Campaigns of the America Civil War Series from MMP. With that being said, Grand Army of the Republic, Designer Signature Edition just looks to be great and a big upgrade over the former volume.
From the game page, we read the following:
Grand Army of the Republic, Designer Signature Edition by Roger Nord has returned! In this game, the North and the South marshal their economies, produce forces, and command them on wide fronts. In the multi-player game, partners fight the war as a team. What players do as commanders will shape the destiny of the Blue and the Gray.
Several changes have been made to this game, incorporating exciting concepts such as the promotion of Generals and game-enhancing variants from long-time enthusiasts, Volunteers Magazine, and the designer himself. In addition, a completely new Solitaire Version has been added, along with several charts to guide the single player through the experience.
This one looks to be highly playable as well with lower counter density and a shorter play time than other large operational games on the subject. And with a dedicated solitaire mode to boot. Should be interesting and we are keeping an eye on this one!
9. Air & Armor: V Corps, Tactical Armored Warfare in Europe from Compass Games
Cold War Gone Hot games are all the rage! And I get why. It was a time that is prominent in the minds of most wargamers (as we are all from the 60’s, 70’s and 80’s) and there is always big tanks and other cool vehicles. This new offering from Compass is called Air & Armor: V Corps and follows the hypothetical Soviet attack on NATO forces in West Germany during 1986.
From the game page, we read the following:
Air & Armor is a highly realistic game system designed to simulate modern warfare at a grand tactical level. In the Cold War Series, set in 1986, players simulate a hypothetical Soviet attack on NATO forces in West Germany. V Corps depicts the collision of two Soviet armies, the 28th Army and the 1st Guards Tank Army, with the famed U.S. V Corps in ferocious battles from Fulda to Frankfurt. The U.S. 3rd Armored and 8th Infantry Divisions, covered by the 11th Armored Cavalry Regiment, attempt to halt the advance of four Warsaw Pact motor rifle divisions and five tank divisions in a titanic struggle for the approaches to Frankfurt.
Air & Armor employs a highly interactive game system with asymmetric rules, modeling each alliance’s different command-and-control capabilities. The game simulates all major aspects of modern warfare, including reconnaissance, combined arms operations, air, helicopter, and artillery strikes, chemical and electronic warfare, and combat engineering. Multiple levels of hidden intelligence produce a true “fog of war” experience and provide plenty of opportunities for deception, surprise, and ambush. Play this game to experience what it would have been like to command a Cold War division in battle.
V Corps includes 12 scenarios, each depicting a unique battle situation, most of which are playable in a single sitting. Players can choose to play the game in Open Mode or Hidden Mode. In Open Mode, each player knows his own unit strengths but cannot see his opponent’s. In Hidden Mode, unit strengths remain a mystery to both players until the moment of contact. Hidden Mode makes for highly entertaining solitaire play.
10. Lace Wars Series: Volume I The Wars of the Sun King 1648-1713 from Serious Historical Games
In 2022, I became aware of a new French publisher called Serious Historical Games and one of the games in particular caught my eye in Nagashino 1575 & Shizugatake 1583: Battles of the Sengoku Jidai. We purchased a copy and played it and really enjoyed the system, including the combat, the gorgeous cover and the fantastic counter graphics. That same publisher has a new game up on pre-order that deals with the Lace Wars in France between 1648-1713 called Lace Wars Series: Volume I The Wars of the Sun King 1648-1713.
From the game page, we read the following:
This the first opportunity to play, with a single set of rules, the five conflicts led by France under the reign of Louis XIV the Great and the great rebellion called “La fronde”.
La Fronde Rebellion (1648-1653) – taking advantage of the weakness of royal power while Louis, the future Louis XIV, was still a minor, the parliament of Paris and the nobility revolted at different periods and to different degrees against the regency ensured by Anne of Austria (widow of Louis XIII) and Cardinal Mazarin, hated by all. This weakening of France is a boon for Spain, still at war with France, to recover territories (Catalonia, Roussillon, the North of France).
The War of Devolution (1667-1668) – Spain’s non-payment of the Infanta of Spain’s dowry at her marriage to Louis XIV was used as a pretext for a war of conquest. This was the first conflict initiated by Louis XIV against a militarily and economically weakened Spain.
The Franco-Dutch War (1672-1678) – France wants to bring the Dutch Republic to its knees. This fierce commercial competitor, too tolerant as a state, opposes France’s expansion toward the Spanish Netherlands. This war for glory pitches against each other living legends of the Thirty Years War like Turenne, Condé et Montecuccoli. As a result of this conflict, the King of France earns the nickname Louis the Great.
The War of the Reunions (1683-1684) – Spain does not accept the annexation by France of enclaves and surrounding areas in the Spanish Netherlands, stating their boundaries were poorly defined by the international treaties ending the War of Devolution and the Franco-Dutch War. Vauban recommends limiting the territorial enclaves, leaning against the mountainous area and securing the enclaves by constructing strongholds; it’s a matter of turf.
The War of the League of Augsburg (1688-1697) – The Habsburg’s victory against the Ottomans diverted the Empire’s attention on the French territorial gains following the War of the Reunions. In 1687, Louis XIV wanted to transform the Truce of Ratisbon into a permanent accord and send an ultimatum to the emperor who refused. The German princes and the great European powers form an alliance to counter France’s politics of expansionism and religious persecution. France finds itself diplomatically isolated.
The War of Spanish Succession (1701-1713) – King Charles II of Spain dies with no descendants. The two principal reigning families of Europe, the Bourbons (France) and the Habsburgs (Austria), are both related to Charles II and claim the throne. The principal stake is the domination of Europe by seizing the enormous heritage of the Spanish Habsburgs. France is confronted with its fiercest military enemies: Marlborough and Prince Eugene of Savoy.
Maximize your resource points to recruit armies, build strongholds, lead sieges and battles and win glory points.
If you are interested in Lace Wars Series: Volume I The Wars of the Sun King 1648-1713, you can pre-order a copy from the Serious Historical Games website at the following link: https://www.payfacile.com/serious-historical-g/home
11. Limits of Glory Campaign II: Maida, 1806 from Form Square Games Currently on Gamefound
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 publishing 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 was called Bonaparte’s Eastern Empire and takes the action to Egypt with a very interesting and engaging looking system. Now, after a successful Kickstarter campaign for the initial game, Andrew has drawn up the next game in the series called Maida 1806 and it recently launched on Gamefound.
From the game page, we read the following:
By the close of 1805 the Third Coalition, which had been orchestrated by William Pitt, was in tatters following their catastrophic defeat at Austerlitz. However, in late 1805 a tiny Anglo-Russian army, sent by Pitt and paid for by the British government, disembarks in the Bay of Naples to support Ferdinand IV, King of the Two Sicilies. This army, commanded by the Russian General Lacy supported by the British commanded by General Craig, approximately 15,000 men strong, is now the only Coalition force on mainland Europe. Will they be able to defend Naples, or will they evacuate leaving the wretched Neapolitan army to its fate? Will Marshal Massena secure the Two Sicilies for his Emperor, or will the Coalition be able to save Ferdinand’s last stronghold, the island of Sicily itself? The second game in the Limits of Glory Series explores the British campaign in Naples in 1806.
As of August 1st, the Gamefound campaign has raised £4,285 ($5,510 in US Dollars) toward its £2,500 ($3,208 in US Dollars) funding goal with 38 backers. The campaign will conclude on Tuesday, August 27, 2024 at 3:00pm EDT.
12. Lords of Heaven from PHALANX Coming to Gamefound August 27th
A good old fashioned area control game that is set during the time of the Crusades is always something that I will be interested in. Lords of Heaven is the newest game being offered by PHALANX and it comes to Kickstarter at the end of August on the 27th so there is a bit of time left for you to get a look at the game. We have been asked to do a preview video on the game and we recently received the absolutely beautiful prototype and are getting ready to play a full 4-player game.
From the game page, we read the following:
Vie for control of Jerusalem and the supremacy of the Middle East as one of the four major powers of the medieval world: the Latin Christian Crusaders, the Orthodox Christian Byzantine Empire, the Shia Fatimid Caliphate, or the Sunni Seljuks. Refight and change the history of the two first Crusades!
Lords of Heaven is an area control and card placement game for 2-4 players. You, the leaders of each of the four asymmetric factions, will play events and up to 60 historical character cards to take your actions such as build units, fortresses, and temples, move troops, fight battles, and develop your Middle East holdings.
The game is a clever combination of rivalry and cooperation between two blocks of factions – Christian and Islamic – where combat and conquest are not always the best ways to achieve success. Politically nuanced and deeply steeped in its early crusades setting, Lords of Heaven will offer a couple of short scenarios and a campaign.
The campaign is supposed to go live on Tuesday, August 27th. As mentioned above, we are getting an advance preview copy to play and create a video in early August. I am very much looking forward to this one!
13. Arabian Struggle from Catastrophe Games Coming to Kickstarter August 27th
A couple of years ago we had the chance to play and do a preview video for a new series called Conflict of Wills from a new publisher in Catastrophe Games. The first game in the series was called Judean Hammer designed by Robin David and was a very interesting and unique card driven area control game. Now, this series is being expanded by a few new designers into a game called Arabian Struggle covering the conflict for the Arabian Peninsula in the early 20th century.
From the game page, we read the following:
Arabian Struggle is a card-driven conflict game set in the Arabian Peninsula in the early years of the 20th Century. Three players each take one faction seeking to gain power over Arabia: the Hashemites, the Rasheedis and the Saudis. Each faction must deal not only with the other two factions, but also with the considerable interference of two non-player empires, the Ottomans and the British.
There’s also a two player variant in which the players take the Hashemite and Saudi factions.
The campaign is supposed to go live on Tuesday, August 27th. I am also hosting the owner of Catastrophe Games Tim Densham at my house on Friday, August 2nd to play the game and shoot a video discussing it. I will then release this video near the start of the campaign.
14. The Rock of Chickamauga from Flying Pig Games Coming to Kickstarter Soon
We have very much enjoyed the American Civil War designs of Hermann Luttmann. A Most Fearful Sacrifice: The Three Days of Gettysburg was a fantastic game and was my game of the year in 2022! Since that initial release it has now sold out 2 full printings and I heard that it will be going back to Kickstarter later this year for a 3rd. The 2nd game in this new Black Swan Series is called The Rock of Chickamauga and is set to go to Kickstarter in late August (I have not seen when the date is so I am just saying “late”.)
From the game page, we read the following:
The Rock of Chickamauga is the next game in the Black Swan Series and follows closely on the heels of the highly acclaimed A Most Fearful Sacrifice. Using the same proven game system, The Rock of Chickamauga covers the entire Battle of Chickamauga, fought from September 18th through the 20th, 1863 in northern Georgia. The Union Army of the Cumberland, under William Rosecrans, is driving south from Chattanooga, hoping to envelop and trap Braxton Bragg’s Confederate Army of Tennessee in its vise. But Bragg anticipates the maneuver, pulls back and then counterattacks the overextended Union forces. They meet along Chickamauga Creek, the “River of Death”, in an epic struggle.
The ensuing battle was a confused affair with generals exercising little control over their formation’s movements. A true “soldier’s battle” and an engagement that the Black Swan System was designed to simulate. Based on the system used in A Most Fearful Sacrifice, and similar to The Devil’s to Pay and Hill of Death, The Rock of Chickamauga will have the usual high quality production value that Flying Pig Games is known for and will not only be a deeply challenging wargame but an innovative and immersive simulation as well.
I am working on an interview with the designer Hermann Luttmann that will hopefully be out a bit before the Kickstarter launch. Keep an eye out for the date.
15. ONUS! Triumviratus from Draco Ideas
A few weeks ago, I started seeing advertisements for a new pre-order offering to expand the growing ONUS! Series from Draco Ideas called ONUS! Triumviratus which allows players to command the armies of Gaius Iulius Caesar, Gnaeus Pompeius Magnus, Marcus Licinius Crassus and the civitates of Gaul between 59 and 44 BC. The game is being offered on pre-order and looks pretty good.
From the game page, we read the following:
Triumviratus is a versatile expansion of the ONUS! series that gives you the opportunity to take command of the armies of Gaius Iulius Caesar, Gnaeus Pompeius Magnus, Marcus Licinius Crassus and the civitates of Gaul, as well as an extensive selection of entirely new allied and mercenary forces, to immerse yourself directly in the armed conflicts that changed the course of the history of Rome, Europe and the Middle East between 59 and 44 BC.
This expansion comes in the form of five handy army boxes of 40 cards each, which can be purchased as stand-alone packs. Each box provides the player with everything needed to recreate the forces that fought for Caesar, Pompeius, Crassus and Vercingetorix, as well as the mercenary and allied contingents that were available to all of them during the battles they fought in the mid 1st century BC, as well as a full range of new generals representing the most prominent commanders of the period who fought to achieve undying glory or simply to serve their homeland with honor.
Basically, the ONUS! Series is a tactical combat game that plays similar to a miniatures game but uses cards and tiles to represent the armies on the board. Plus the production is really great and the art is also top notch!
16. Tattered Flags No. 1: Into the Whirlpool from Blue Panther
We have seen this one around for the past 3 or 4 months and first got a look at the game while attending Buckeye Game Fest in early May. Tattered Flags is an older (2010) games series published by Victory Point Games and designed by Hermann Luttmann. Tattered Flags No. 01: Into the Whirlpool is a tactical American Civil War design that really has the feel of a miniatures game with the way units move and the facing. The really interesting part of the game is the way the map is laid out. It doesn’t use traditional hexes but uses star shapes that act as hexes but are called 8-pointed spaces. The rules are really tight and crunchy as to hit rolls are expressed in percentages and players roll 2d10 with one die identified as the lead.
From the game page, we read the following:
Tattered Flags No. 01: Into The Whirlpool is a hybrid historical miniatures / board game design that simulates tactical American Civil War combat in a playable format. The game depicts in detail the series of engagements that occurred in and around the salient formed by Union General Dan Sickles’ III Corps as he was attacked by Confederate General James Longstreet’s Corps at the Battle of Gettysburg on July 2, 1863.
The game is primarily designed as a two-player game, one player taking Union forces and the other the Confederate (or Rebel) forces. However, more players are easily accommodated as commands or sectors for each side can be divided amongst multiple players.
Since most players do not have the time, funds, or eyesight to paint armies of miniature figurines, Tattered Flags uses ready-to-play cardboard counters to substitute for such miniatures. The game also uses a detailed battlefield map in lieu of miniature terrain models in order to provide the player with an accurate playing surface, complete with every significant terrain feature depicted on the map. The map is overlaid with a grid of eight-pointed spaces which serve to help players easily regulate the movement, facing, and firing range of each unit counter as it moves and fights across the landscape.
17. Chicago ‘68 from The Dietz Foundation Coming to Kickstarter August 6th
As you know, I do love me a good Card Driven Game. I love the mechanic because it allows for the designer to keep a game going while using cards that incorporate special rules that fit a historical situation but also to be able to use bits of the history itself to teach the players about the topic. A few months ago, I caught wind that The Dietz Foundation was working with a new designer named Yoni Goldstein on his first game called Chicago ’68 for a summer Kickstarter campaign. Chicago ’68 deals with the Democratic National Convention riots of 1968 in Chicago and sees players taking on the role of either the Establishment or the Demonstrators in a fast-paced game of street battles and political maneuvers. I reached out to Yoni and he was more than willing to discuss the game with me and also work on a series of Event Card spoiler posts in a run up to the Kickstarter campaign that is set to launch on August 6th.
From the game page, we read the following:
Chicago ’68 pits revolutionary spectacle against civil order at the Democratic National Convention riots of 1968. Players take the role of either the Establishment or the Demonstrators in this fast-paced game of street battles and political maneuvers. Each side plays from two asymmetric decks of action cards. The Establishment positions tactical forces and police platoons to co-ordinate mass arrests while working the convention floor. The Demonstrators, on the other hand, can pivot from direct clashes to radical street theater; their tactics can be reactive and unpredictable, allowing for wild cat-and-mouse chases and mischief-making across the tear-gassed avenues of groovy downtown Chicago.
In more detail, the game is played over five rounds, with two rounds representing a single day (daytime and nighttime). Each side takes turns playing cards from two decks of action cards. The first deck represents the leadership committees. For the Establishment, this is the Mayor’s office, and for the Demonstrators, this is the Yippies. These decks are primarily focused on building/activating card splays and manipulating the board state. The Mayor faction can access the policy tableau with the mandate action, which include activating undercover agents, authorizing tear gas, redeploying the National Guard, and more.
Then both sides alternate playing action cards from their rank-and-file decks: The National Mobilization Committee to End the War in Vietnam (MOBE) on one side, and the Chicago Police Department on the other. These actions are largely moving and confronting units on the map and claiming strategic positions. The Demonstrators may build and activate their street theater splay, which is a set of location specific one-time “mini-objectives” with unique, combinatorial powers.
At the end of every round, a delegate commits a vote to either side. Demonstrators grow in number, the mayor is allocated funds, and whoever controls a majority of critical city areas is awarded exposure points.
Chicago ’68 supports 1-4 players in solo, competitive, co-operative, and team play modes. Game duration is 45 minutes per player, with the typical two player duel lasting 60-90 mins.
18. Frank Chadwick’s A House Divided: The American Civil War Deluxe Edition from GMT Games
I love this effort by GMT to resurrect and revive classic games. For example, the venerable Vietnam: 1965-1975 was brought back. Also, Pacific War by Mark Herman was given the deluxe treatment. And now, one of the universally heralded American Civil War game A House Divided.
From the game page, we read the following:
A House Divided Designer Edition is an enhanced and expanded version of Frank Chadwick’s classic American Civil War strategy game. This expanded and refined edition of the game includes all-new beautiful artwork by Wouter Schoutteten and Frank’s definitive ruleset incorporating over 40 years of input from thousands of players. Experienced players will find an expanded map, new militia recruitment rules, streamlined leader rules, and the addition of an Event Deck bringing new flavor and detail to Frank’s classic game.
A House Divided lets gamers play the entire American Civil War in a single session. Players take on the leadership of Union and Confederate forces as they recruit troops, promote Generals, and fight the key battles of the Civil War. A House Divided Designer Edition returns to the spirit of the original game by simplifying and refining a simple set of rules which create complex strategies; successful players will need to plan ahead from the start of the game, rewarding repeated play.
As a Deluxe Edition, there are some improvements and streamlining of the base game. In the words of the designer himself, we have the following:
My intent from the start was to make a game which was mechanically simple, so players could concentrate on strategy, not get bogged down in fiddly mechanical detail, and I think that was the basis of the finished game’s popularity. I later authorized a second edition, although I was busy with other projects and didn’t contribute to the Second Edition design. The Second Edition was published by Game Designers Workshop and then versions of it were later published by Phalanx Games (third edition) and Mayfair Games (fourth edition). So why revisit the game now?
Without taking anything away from the excellent work done on the second and subsequent editions by many people, let me just say this: it’s not the way I would have done it. That does not mean they are wrong, and I’m sure many people will continue to play and enjoy those editions. But it does mean they are not as in keeping with my original aim for a mechanically streamlined game as they might have been.
As you know, we have really enjoyed our plays of games designed by Mark Simonitch, including Holland ’44, Stalingrad ’42, Caesar: Rome vs. Gaul and most recently North Africa ’41. He has an amazing ability to boil down all the elements involved and come out with a very playable simulation of the historical event. A few years ago, his focus on the Italian campaigns of WWII started with his game called Salerno ’43, which covers the Allied invasion of mainland Italy in September 1943. Since that time, we had heard rumors of his plans with the game to include a few additional volumes as the Allies moved north up the peninsula towards Rome. With the update, we got the next volume in the series called Italy ’43.
From the game page, we read the following:
Italy ’43 is a two-player game depicting the U.S. Fifth Army’s advance from Naples to the Gustav Line in 1943. The game (picking up where Salerno ’43 left off) covers the time period from October 2nd to December 31, 1943. Initially, the Allied advance moved quickly with the Fifth Army crossing the Volturno River on October 13th. But from then on, the Germans began to fight a stubborn delay action as they slowly withdrew to their prepared defense lines — The Barbara Line and then The Gustav Line. For the next two and a half months, the Allies advanced slowly north, fighting for practically every village and mountain top to even reach the Gustav Line. It was a grueling campaign known for the battles of San Pietro Infine, Monte Lungo, and Monte Camino.
Italy ’43 uses the exact same map and unit scale as Salerno ’43 and Normandy ’44. Italy ’43 uses the same game system used in Salerno ’43 with some modifications and rule improvements.
Italy ’43 includes four scenarios: Across the Volturno, The Barabara Line, The Mignano Gap, and the full Campaign Game.
As in other 19xx games, the rules include ZOC Bonds, Determined Defense, Extended Movement, and a straightforward CRT. New rules include: Construction of Defense Lines, Mountain units, and two new attack options: Prepared Offensives and Sustained Attacks.
Players will find the game and order of battle extremely useful in understanding what happened in this campaign. It allows players to experience and understand how a depleted German army was able to slow and then stop the Fifth Army at the Gustav Line.
Salerno ’43 was a well designed game that has a short scenario of 8 turns and a full campaign game of 22 turns. I think that this game is very good and will be one that you can play over and over again until you get the strategies down and can really stretch its legs at that point. But the game plays fast and furiously and was frankly a very good way to spend a Friday evening for 4 hours. If you are a fan of the ZOC Bond System, then this is a no brainer for you as it carries out that system well. If you are wanting to get into that system, this is probably the very best place to start. And as stated above, Italy ’43 is going to use the same system with some new rules.
Errata is a fact of life with all publishers and all games! No matter what, a mistake will always slip through and cause us gamers a bit of angst. This is where GMT Games stands head and shoulders above the competition though as they admit to their mistakes and more importantly try to make them right. We have seen this time and time again. So they have a solution for errata found on counters in their new games this year that makes a lot of sense and makes it economically very easy to acquire: a replacement countersheet.
From the P500 page, we read the following:
We are happy to announce today that we have created a “2024 Replacement Countersheet” that includes all of the counter updates that we and the designers know of as errata for games from 2023 and several from 2024. We’re setting this up as a P500 item like we did last year – except that it’s already approved to print. We just need to know how many of you want the item. Please get your order in over the coming few weeks so we can get these in your hands by year-end.
The price for this item will be $3 for US customers and $8 for non-US customers. Note that the cost INCLUDES shipping. Clearly, we’re supplementing most of the cost on these, which we think is only fair, in that these counters represent mostly errata that we missed when we produced the games the counters belong to.
21. A World at War Supplemental Counters from GMT Games
I am a feckless and gutless wargamer because I have never been brave enough to try to learn to play to A World at War. This one is one of the more eclectic and loved or hated wargames out there. One day I promise that I will get there but this month they announced some “supplemental counters” for the game.
From the game page, we read the following:
This supplemental countersheet is largely based on counter improvements for the fourth printing of A World at War. It contains 130 counters, and includes:
Partial oil counters (new).
Western Allied transport and ASW counters, with gradients (new).
Croatian infantry units (previously only included in Gathering Storm).
Polish armor counter (previously only included in Storm Over Asia).
Free French units (previously only included in the third printing of A World at War and Storm Over Asia).
Ramillies BB3 counter, with corrected spelling.
Russian BB2 counters, with updated historical names.
German 4-6 and 2-6 armor counters, to replace possibly worn out counters.
Additional American, Russian and German flag counters.
Additional isolation, partial supply and exploitation counters.
22. A Gest of Robin Hood 2nd Printing 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. The game is very much asymmetric as each of the sides has different goals and objectives but also have different actions, called Plots and Deeds, that can be used to great effect to change the landscape of Nottinghamshire and plant the seeds of insurrection or pacify the locals and keep them paying those juicy taxes. We have played the game a few times now and have really enjoyed what is it that we are seeing and experiencing. The game is a great entry point into the world of asymmetric gaming and also teaches some of the basic principles of the COIN Series mainly focusing on the Sequence of Play, card assisted framework and diverging player sides with vastly different focus. The game is very approachable but also has a lot of meat to it and is really an interesting experience.
From the game page, we read the following:
A Gest of Robin Hood is 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.
23. Next War: India-Pakistan 2nd Printing from GMT Games
I’m going to be honest here. I have yet to play any of the many Next War Series games. Alexander owns Next War: Taiwan and I have Next War: Vietnam with counters clipped and just sitting on my shelf but we just have had other games to play….and are a bit intimidated if I am being straight with you. This one may be the title that gets me off the bench though and into the game. I love a good modern wargame. Next War: India-Pakistan2nd Printing is such a compelling and interesting topic and I would love to get this volume.
From the game page, we read the following:
Next War: India-Pakistan, the next volume in GMT’s series of Next War games and a follow-on to Next War: Korea, allows players to fight a near future war between India and Pakistan.
Due to the nature of a potential conflict, only a portion of the Indo-Pakistani border is featured so that the fighting centers around what it always has: the fate of the Indian state of Jammu & Kashmir. Special rules govern such things as the expanded role bridges play in the region play as well as the fact that both sides in the conflict are nuclear-armed nations. The People’s Republic of China and the United States can make an appearance, but they might withdraw in the event of a nuclear exchange. The question is: will this war settle once and for all who will control northwest India?
Note: the Next War series is not an introductory wargame. Rather, we have intended herein to create a system (and a series) that will allow detailed study of modern warfare in various venues as well as engaging gameplay. That said, the Standard Game rules encompass a fairly straightforward rule set that will, we think, be considered “easy to learn” by experienced wargamers. So, players who choose to play Standard Game scenarios can have a relatively quick game when that’s what suits them. The real flavor of a war in the theatre, however, comes through in the Advanced Game, where you get much more control over airpower and can more clearly see each side’s strengths and weaknesses. For players who want a “mini-monster game” experience, playing the Advanced Game Campaign Scenarios with some or all of the optional rules will definitely “deliver.”
1. Bring Out Your Men, Gentlemen: The Battle of Brawner’s Farm from Tiny Battle Publishing
Smaller games on lesser gamed battles are always a welcome sight. And if you don’t know much about Tiny Battle Publishing, they specialize in smaller games with big return as the game play is very good. Their newest offering covers the American Civil War battle of Brawner’s Farm and uses the Shattered Union Series found in Herman Luttmann’s The Hill of Death but this game is designed by Claude Whalen, who has his own experience with American Civil War Series such as Blind Swords.
From the game page, we read the following:
Heavily influenced by his popular A Most Fearful Sacrifice, Hermann Luttmann’s Shattered Union Series is a new line of American Civil War wargames designed to be accessible to gamers of any experience level. The series aims to provide a playable wargame experience in about three hours. Following the release of The Hill of Death and Conquering the Valley, Bring Out Your Men, Gentlemen! is the third module in the Shattered Union Series. The game covers the initial fight of the Second Battle of Manassas. Jackson attacks one Union Division but finds that “The Iron Brigade” is worthy of its name.
Players can fight the entire historical battle, a shorter version of the historical fight or an interesting “What If” scenario, where more Union forces have a chance to enter the fight. The Game is on a different scale than what was used in the first two games in the series. Besides using demi-companies, the rules on rallying forces differ and therefore the game better reflects the “stand-up” fighting conditions at Brawner’s Farm.
2. Dawn of Battle: Scenario Pack #3 from Blue Panther
A few years ago, Worthington Publishing released a new game called Dawn of Battle designed by Mike Nagel. The game was HUGE size wise containing dozens of playable historic scenarios. The game allows players to refight various historical battles from 1500 BC to 1500 AD or a range of 3,000 years of combat. Players take the roles of the great commanders of history, including Xerxes, Alexander the Great, Julius Caesar, Saladin, and William Wallace. Since that time, Blue Panther has agreed to print the game in a new Designer’s Edition and also add some new content to an already large amount of scenarios and counters. Late last year, they announced two new Scenario Pack Expansions, which included MORE scenarios and now have announced Scenario Pack #3.
From the game page, we read the following:
Dawn of Battle is a hex-and-counter war game system that allows players to experience battles before the modern era. The game spans 3,000 years of combat, from the age of Greek generals to the invention of gunpowder.
This second scenario pack includes twenty more scenarios to further expand the enjoyment and playability of Dawn of Battle. Battles in this set include:
Not a complete game. Requires the base game of Dawn of Battle: Designer’s Edition to play.
3. Crossing the Rubicon Expansion for Beware the Ides of March: The Liberator’s Civil War from Hollandpspiele
We played Beware the Ides of March: The Liberator’s Civil War a few months ago and recently released our video review. The situation is very unique and the system works pretty well for the game but we had some concerns about the scale and size of the game as the outer areas didn’t really matter much and caused some difficulty with the focus of the game.
There is now a small expansion being released for the game called Crossing the Rubicon.
From the game page, we read the following:
Crossing the Rubicon is an expansion to John Theissen’s Beware the Ides of March. This scenario covers Caesar’s civil wars. Additional unit counters are provided, as well as tiles to adapt the map for this specific topic. “Beware”, taking place after these wars and Caesar’s assassination, saw both sides starting with very low prestige, resulting in a great deal of political instability. The players in “Rubicon” start on a much healthier footing, giving this game a longer and more variable arc, with different considerations for each player to keep in mind.
You can check out our thoughts on the game in our video review at the following link:
If you are interested in Crossing the Rubicon Expansion for Beware the Ides of March: The Liberator’s Civil War, you can order a copy for $25.00 from the Hollandspiele website at the following link: https://hollandspiele.com/products/crossing-the-rubicon
This is an expansion and you will need Beware the Ides of March to play.
4. Paint It Black: The Attack on Lang Vei, February 6-7, 1968 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. And this month, they share not necessarily a lesser known battle but not a subject that has a ton of games covering it either.
Their newest game is called Paint It Black: The Attack on Lang Vei, February 6-7, 1968 and focuses on the Tet Offensive as it had to go through Lang Vei to get at Khe Sahn.
From the game page, we read the following:
When the Communist forces of North and South Vietnam launched the 1968 Tet Offensive one component was the siege of Khe Sanh. The fortified hilltop positions at Khe Sanh were located near the border of North and South Vietnam. An important strongpoint to the south and west of Khe Sanh was at Lang Vei. It was from Lang Vei that US trained Montagnard and Laotian natives would launch raids into communist held territories to disrupt the “Ho Chi Minh” trail by which the Communist insurgency throughout South Vietnam was supplied, and to capture prisoners for intelligence. Destroying the US outpost at Lang Vei was key to Communist success in the siege as well as their larger war effort.
The Communist offensive was launched by the 24th Regiment of the 304th Infantry Division (one of the formations that had fought at Dien Bien Phu fourteen years earlier). The assault force would also include Soviet built PT-76 tanks of the NVA’s 198th Tank Battalion of the 203rd Armored Regiment, the first these types of weapons would be deployed by the Communists in the war, as well as heavy artillery batteries in North Vietnam. The battle here would usher in a new phase of the Vietnam conflict. Can you do as well or better than your historical counterpart?
If you are interested in Paint It Black: The Attack on Lang Vei, February 6-7, 1968, you can order a copy for $22.95 from the High Flying Dice Games website at the following link: https://www.hfdgames.com/PIB.html
5. Old School Tactical V4: Italian Theater 1943-45 from Flying Pig Games
We have played each and every volume of the Old School Tactical Series and really enjoy its crunch. The game is just fun and because the rules are pretty good you get into the action pretty quickly. The series is now moving to the Mediterranean Theater during World War II and tackling Italy with OST Volume 4 Italian Theater 1943-45.
From the game page, we read the following:
After the victory in North Africa, Allied planners readied a new campaign. It was aimed at the so called ‘soft underbelly‘ of Europe. A bold plan to knock Italy out of the war and drain Axis units from fighting on other fronts. Beginning with the invasion of Sicily in July of 1943, the Allies pressed the enemy, but there was nothing soft about the bloody fight. The drive to Messina in Sicily, the landing at Salerno, the beleaguered beachhead at Anzio, through all the Allies pushed on towards Rome. Countless river valleys and fortified lines favored the German defenders and stymied the Allies at every turn. The Volturno River, the Rapid River, the Liri valley, the Gustav Line, the Caesar Line, all of these names proved a deadly challenge to the Allies fighting to control them. The drive up the Italian Peninsula was costly for both sides and dragged on until the end, which occurred May 2, 1945 with the formal surrender of all Axis forces in Italy.
Old School Tactical Volume IV brings the exciting OST System to this challenging theater of WW2. It brings British forces into the game to battle German and Italian units in difficult terrain. Vickers machine guns, Commandos, Bren guns, PIATs and sticky bombs will see action in the game on the side of the British. They also have an allotment of vehicles including Sherman and Churchill tanks.
The German and Italian forces counter with many panzers including the Marder III and Elefant.
A large map of beautiful Italian countryside is designed for players to contest the many exciting scenarios included in the playbook.
6. Cities of the Damned – Aachen and Cassino in Against the Odds Magazine #60 from LPS, Inc.
I love a good magazine wargame and Against the Odds Magazine always does a good job with their products. This month, Cities of the Damned – Aachen and Cassino became available in Against the Odds Magazine #60. Cassino is designed by Paul Rohrbaugh (of High Flying Dice Games) and Aachen is designed by Mike Rinella, which uses his system from one of my favorite recent solitaire systems for Stalingrad: Advance on the Volga, 1942 and The Savage Streets: Manila from Revolution Games / Take Aim Designs.
From the game page, we read the following:
No two conflicts show the breath and scope of urban warfare the Western Allies ran up against in 1944 than the battles for Aachen and Cassino. Both campaigns tell a very similar story about the high price of hubris and the quality of courage. Cities of the Damned (published in ATO #60 magazine) features two challenging solitaire games in which the player must lead his Allied forces to victory in two of the WWII’s most intense battles.
Cassino by Paul Rohrbaugh: In early 1944 the western half of the German “Winter Line” in Italy was anchored by the town of Cassino high up on Monte Cassino, which also featured a centuries old Benedictine Abbey atop the peak. The position utterly dominated the surrounding valleys, so much so Allied troops HAD to take it to continue advancing on Rome.
Facing some of Germany’s best soldiers, the area was only captured 5 months later after four separate assaults, with the vast majority of the city was destroyed by aerial bombardment and vicious street to street fighting. Taking the town and heights resulted in 55,000 Allied casualties, with German losses being far fewer, estimated at around 20,000 killed and wounded. The stubborn defense of Cassino would reveal flaws in Allied tactics and bolster the confidence of the Third Reich to keep fighting.
Aachen by Mike Rinella: Five months later the world would see yet another account of the terrible cost of audacity. Fresh from a string of victories across the length of France, the US Command set its sights capture of the supposedly weakly held German city of Aachen. The Americans confidently made plans to surround the city, isolate it, and accept its surrender.
But being the former capital of the First Reich, and the first true German city to fall into Allied hands, the city’s propaganda value was simply too great: Hitler forbade surrender. He even grudgingly authorized releasing forces from his Ardennes Offensive build up to help the defenders. American troops would have to storm the city and take it by force. Hidden among the picturesque buildings was a fortress of bunkers, gun emplacements, sniper holes and death traps. The GIs advancing into the city would soon be fighting in the nightmare battlefield of Aachen.
The Aachen game uses the popular solitaire system designed by Mike Rinella for the game Stalingrad: Advance on the Volga, 1942 (Take Aim Designs / Revolution Games).
If you are interested in Cities of the Damned – Aachen and Cassino in Against the Odds Magazine #60, you can order a ziplock bag copy for $39.95 from the Against the Odds Magazine website at the following link: https://www.atomagazine.com/Details.cfm?ProdID=180
7. ONUS! Under the Eagle Expansion from Draco Ideas
Last summer, there was as Kickstarter campaign for an expansion to the ONUS! System that covers the conquest of Britannia with Roman Emperor Claudius, Vespasian, Macro and Cato that also is based on the Simon Scarrow series of books called Under the Eagle. The game is called ONUS! Under the Eagle and is not a miniatures game but is using a similar style system but with cardboard formation counters rather than plastic miniatures.
From the game page, we read the following:
With this expansion of ONUS! you will experience first hand, the battles of the books, commanding Roman troops or enemies of the Empire, from skirmishes of a few men to large armies, even playing alone!
The Eagle expansion incorporates new rules for the use of characters (in addition to generals), stockades, assaults, limited visibility and much more.
It includes scenarios of the main clashes of the first three books, starting on the border of the Rhine River against a tribe of Germans, suffering an ambush in Gaul escorting the imperial secretary or decisive battles in the conquest of Britannia. And as an exclusive gift for sponsoring this campaign, you get the scenario of the prologue of the first book, many years before, with Julius Caesar.
In order to play the expansion, you will need toown the ONUS! base game, ONUS Traianus or ONUS! Pack!.
8. War of the 3 Sanchos 1065-67 from Surprised Stare Games
Someone turned me onto these games as I had never seen them before but there is a line of smaller wargames in the Pocket Campaigns from Surprised Stare Games that deal with several historical events. The game that is new in the series and had a successful Gamefound campaign last year is called War of the 3 Sanchos 1065-67 and covers the conflicts between cousins during the Time of El Cid.
From the game page, we read the following:
In War of the 3 Sanchos 1065-67, the fourth game in the Pocket Campaigns Series, you are one of three King Sanchos, fighting for control of castles and towers across Castilla, Navarra, and Aragón. The game is designed for 1-3 players.
All three of the King Sanchos, including any non-player Sanchos, are competing to win by fortifying the castles and towers illustrated on the board (one in each region). Players gain victory points for each castle or tower fortified with their pieces: 3 points for a home castle (2 points in the solo game), 2 points for a neutral castle, and 1 point for a tower. If at any time during the game a Sancho has 10 or more victory points, they win a major victory. If no player achieves this during the game, the Sancho with the most victory points after the last card is played wins a minor victory.
The game is played in rounds. Each player has a turn during each round. At the start of the round, the commander for the round plays a card from their hand. This card indicates the number of command points (CPs) from 1 to 3 that the commander uses during the round, and it also describes the actions that each other player must take on their turn, if possible. The game ends either at any point when a Sancho has 10 or more victory points, or after the final card from all players’ hands has been resolved.
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. Target For Tonight! – The Italian Campaign Expansion from Legion Wargames
We love our narrative driven solitaire wargames at The Players’ Aid and particularly enjoy anything designed by the dynamic duo of Steve Dixon and Bob Best. I saw the cover for this one released about 2 weeks ago and was immediately taken in. And more of a good thing is a great thing with the Target for Tonight! – The Italian Campaign Expansion.
From the game page, we read the following:
Ownership of Target for Tonight! is required to use this expansion. Rules from Target For Tonight! are used unless otherwise stated in the expansion rules that follow.
Items Included in the Italian Campaign Expansion Kit:
Italian Campaign Expansion Rules of Play Manual
1 Italian Campaign Expansion Tables Manual
3 Italian Campaign Target Lists (1940, 1941-42, 1943)
1 Target Types by City List – The Italian Campaign (1940-1943)
1 Italian Campaign Gazetteer
1 Counter Sheet (75 Counters)
1 Whitley Crew Placement Board
1 Whitley Bomber Card
1 Whitley Mission Log Sheet
1 Whitley Pilot’s Manual
2 Strategic Zone Movement Sheets (50 miles per zone) (TTN Zones were 45-60 miles per zone) Counters Included in the Italian Campaign Expansion Kit:
Night Fighters – Four new Italian night fighter counters are provided in this expansion, the CR-42CN, RE-2001CN, the D520 (a French import), and the German provided Me-110 C3. None of these aircraft were equipped with electronic detection equipment to function in any way as a night fighter. The three Italian aircraft were obsolete at the beginning of the war.
New RAF Bomber – This counter is used to track your bomber’s progress on the Strategic Zone Movement Sheet. The Whitley Mk V was in full use by the RAF by the time the night raids to Italy began.
Squadron Markers – If the player decides to fly his mission using the squadron optional rules in Target for Tonight!, 12 squadron markers are provided.
New Crewmembers – Two new crewmen are used for the Whitley in addition to the Pilot, Wireless Operator, and Rear Gunner from the Target for Tonight! core game. The 2ndPilot/Navigator functions as an additional pilot if needed and also as the navigator. The Bomb Aimer/Gunner is the bombardier and also operates the Nose Turret.
If you are interested in Target for Tonight! – The Italian Campaign Expansion, you can order a copy for $35.00 from the Legion Wargames website at the following link: https://www.legionwargames.com/legion_TTN-AD.html
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 Legion Wargames!
So many cool games, I’m going to need a second job to buy them all (haha).
Revolution Games has a big (literally) release happening at the end of the month, SHILOH: THE FIRST DAY. This will be the largest game in the Blind Swords’ system, yet it has several smaller quick-play scenarios and is also rated excellent for solitaire.
Hermann Luttmann’s Blind Swords’ outstanding series continues to gain momentum with this 11th volume from Revolution!
Many games from Compass, which I am ambivalent about. I had some issues with the quality of games from Compass and am not totally confident buying their games. They can be great but they can be very much not great.
I am disappointed Italy 43 can’t be combined with Salerno 43. And to be honest, Italy 43 looks exactly like Salerno 43, so I’m not sure what it really brings that is going to be worth looking at.
Grant these posts are like an oasis when I have to venture out into the desert of everyday to-dos, distractions, and need-it-done-yesterdays! A quick drink of Wargame Watch and I feel like I’m right back up to speed with what I missed. Always an enjoyable read.
Thanks Mike. There is a virtual fire hose you can drink from every month. More games than I can actually include as I know I missed at least a few. Thanks for reading (er drinking)!
The Players' Aid 
So many cool games, I’m going to need a second job to buy them all (haha).
Revolution Games has a big (literally) release happening at the end of the month, SHILOH: THE FIRST DAY. This will be the largest game in the Blind Swords’ system, yet it has several smaller quick-play scenarios and is also rated excellent for solitaire.
Hermann Luttmann’s Blind Swords’ outstanding series continues to gain momentum with this 11th volume from Revolution!
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I saw that news so held onto it for the September post.
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Looking forward to it!
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Many games from Compass, which I am ambivalent about. I had some issues with the quality of games from Compass and am not totally confident buying their games. They can be great but they can be very much not great.
I am disappointed Italy 43 can’t be combined with Salerno 43. And to be honest, Italy 43 looks exactly like Salerno 43, so I’m not sure what it really brings that is going to be worth looking at.
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If you read the description again Italy 43 starts where Salerno 43 ends so it is a “combination” of sorts or at least a continuation.
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Thanks Grant, I meant more that the two maps can’t be combined together to fight one campaign – at least, I don’t believe it’s possible.
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Grant these posts are like an oasis when I have to venture out into the desert of everyday to-dos, distractions, and need-it-done-yesterdays! A quick drink of Wargame Watch and I feel like I’m right back up to speed with what I missed. Always an enjoyable read.
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Thanks Mike. There is a virtual fire hose you can drink from every month. More games than I can actually include as I know I missed at least a few. Thanks for reading (er drinking)!
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