Sometimes in life we meet with trouble or adversity! Life is not a bed of roses and we are routinely asked to deal with bad news. There is a common euphemism “what doesn’t kill us makes us stronger” and I think that this month that saying fits the situation perfectly. We got a bit of bad news this month, with some unfortunate but necessary price and shipping increases, but also lots of good news that will hopefully balance out that bad news for you!
There were 2 new P500 additions offered this month including Ermine: Battles in the War of Breton Succession, 1341-1364 and Thunderverse Track Pack. There also was 1 reprint offered in Rebel Fury 2nd Printing.
But that wasn’t all as there was plenty of other information shared including updates on GMT One products, development updates, upcoming future P500 additions and the usual gorgeous art samples!
The first point made in the Update, and probably the one that will directly effect you with your new P500 orders, is the planned across the board price increase. Due to economic concerns with things like unknown tariff changes and impacts and future projections, GMT will enact an across-the-board 7-10% retail price increase effective immediately. These new retail prices are loaded up on their website now, so the prices you see there reflect this increase. I want to make sure that you take note that GMT has not increased any existing P500 prices. Gene has said that this tactic is a way they “can hold the line in one area and ease the pain of the increases a bit while still being responsible in making sure our overall revenues cover rising expenses”.
Now I know that no one enjoys price increases and we have all had to absorb many of these types of increases in general goods and services over the past few years while our salaries and compensation hasn’t necessary grown, but keep this increase in perspective. For example, a $50.00 P500 price last month will now increase to $53.50 (7%) or $55.00 (10%). So just a few bucks! And with P500, you are already saving 30-40% anyways. Not the end of the world and we all should remember that this is a hobby and not necessities. I believe that we all want GMT Games to remain strong so that they can deliver on the games we have all pre-ordered and are awaiting and also to be able to put out more great games in the future.
The second piece of bad news was about shipping and proposed cost increases. These proposed increased shipping rates will become effective around the first of the year before the next P500 shipping round in early January. Gene has stated that “We don’t yet know exactly what this will entail. Currently, we have Tony, Mary, and Jason (who has a ton of experience with UPS shipping) teamed up and studying all the details of our shipping operations, talking/working with UPS, and figuring out together what exactly we need to do to our shipping rates to make sure we are economically viable while also minimizing the impact to our customers as much as we can”.
I know that these 2 pieces of information are not what we want to hear but unfortunately are a part of our world today! I just appreciate that GMT has been up front and transparent about these upcoming changes rather than trying to hide it.
Likely Winter Sale
Now as somewhat of a palette cleanser, I wanted to share a piece of good news that Gene mentioned after the bad. Namely, that there is going to be a likely Winter Sale. According to Gene, GMT has a LOT of inventory in the warehouse. They are thinking that given the economic challenges, that having a sale to turn some of that into cash on hand for operations and reserves is a good idea. There is nothing that is finalized as of yet, but the sale will probably be in late January or late February (to stay away from the P500 charge/ship cycles), and will apply to games shipped in 2024 and before, and likely be 40-50% off for EVERYONE and not just P500 customers. They should have final details on this for the January Update. So get those wish lists ready and take a look at their great games to decide what you want to add to your collections!
Digital Version of Rebel Fury
GMT has evidently continued to develop digital versions of some of their games but have not been sharing much information about them. Currently, they have a couple of digital projects in the works and the first of those projects is a digital version of Rebel Fury designed by Mark Herman.
From the Update, we get the following:
Hexes of War has been developing a digital version of Mark Herman’s Rebel of Fury that will soon be available on Steam for Windows, Mac, and Linux. Please check it out at the link below and consider adding it to your wishlist—Mark’s low complexity rules make this an excellent introduction to hex and counter wargaming, and the more wishlists we have, the more Steam will promote the game. Beta testers are needed as well so if you’re interested in helping out send an email to the following: bob@hexesofwar.com.
We have really enjoyed our several plays of Rebel Fury and the system is just really solid and approachable. I can’t wait to get to play this on my laptop.
If you are interested, here is a look at our video review for Rebel Fury:
Now onto the main event with the new P500’s.
New P500’s
As mentioned above, there were 2 new P500 additions offered this month including Ermine: Battles in the War of Breton Succession, 1341-1364 and Thunderverse Track Pack. There also was 1 reprint offered in Rebel Fury 2nd Printing.
Ermine: Battles in the War of Breton Succession, 1341-1364
In 2020, we finally discovered the Men of IronSeries by playing the Men of Iron Tri-Pack, which is a large box game that includes the first three games in the Men of Iron Series from GMT Games including Men of Iron, Infidel and Blood & Roses, plus the Battle of Agincourt from C3i Magazine #22. This box was huge and heavy and is probably one of the greatest values in wargaming as there are three games included and the box is packed full to the brim with counters, maps and player aids. We really enjoyed our foray into the series and would love to continue playing the rest of the other scenarios.
This month, there was a new volume in the series announced called Ermine: Battles in the War of Breton Succession, 1341-1364 and it also appears to be interesting with a whole new era being opened up to play.
From the game page, we read the following:
The death of Duke John III of Brittany in 1341, just 4 years after the beginning of the Hundred Years’ War, would spark a dynastic conflict between Joan de Penthièvre, his niece, and John of Montfort, his nephew. Both sides would be backed by the Kings of France and England, respectively. Charles de Blois, Joan’s husband, was the primary military leader of the French-backed side and would be present in almost all of the battles during the conflict. Meanwhile, the Montfort faction would see numerous different ambitious and capable military leaders, who were regularly outnumbered by the French troops.
The war was characterized by a series of military engagements and shifting allegiances, as both factions sought to solidify their claims. The conflict not only featured traditional battles but also included skirmishes, sieges, and political manoeuvring, drawing in various local noble families, as well as notable mercenaries.
As the war unfolded, it became intertwined with the broader context of the Hundred Years’ War, further complicating the regional dynamics. Ultimately, the war concluded with the Treaty of Guérande in 1365, which recognized John de Montfort’s son (also called John de Montfort, you’ll find that most of the major political players during this conflict were called either John or Joan) as the Duke of Brittany, establishing his lineage and ending the immediate succession crisis. This resolution would have lasting implications for Brittany’s political landscape and its relationship with both France and England.
This entry is echoing Richard’s Berg design intent of the original Men of Iron, whose focus was to highlight the re-emergence of infantry on the battlefield at the beginning of the Hundred Years’ War. It will cover the 6 major battles during the War, as well as an extra one which saw many of the commanders and knights of the Breton conflict take part.
I really am interested in that last point made in the description of “emphasizing the importance of infantry on the battlefield”. I do enjoy these static lines of counters in this series and really look forward to seeing how it is changing in this time period that I admittedly know nothing about.
There are a total of 6 battles included in this entry.
Champtoceux 14th October 1341 – The opening engagement of the war, sparked by Charles de Blois besieging the castle of Champtoceux. John de Montfort rode to relieve the siege and was defeated in the field.
Morlaix 30th September 1341 – With John de Montfort imprisoned in France, his wife Jeanne de Flanders petitioned King Edward III of England for assistance, which came in the form of an expeditionary force led by the Earl of Northampton. Northampton laid siege to Morlaix, which Charles de Blois sought to relieve. The English had little time to prepare for the French attack, but did manage to dig a trench hidden behind a low hedge, just in front of their line, hoping it would be enough to blunt the charge of the oncoming French Knights.
La-Roche-Derrien 20th June 1347 – The Earl of Northampton secured control of the town of La Roche-Derrien in 1343, which proved to be a vital strategic stronghold for the control of the northern half of the Duchy. Charles de Blois gathered a very large host and besieged the town. The English did not have a large army to relieve the siege through a conventional field battle, which led to Thomas Dagworth’s daring night attack with barely 800 men, less than a quarter of the number of French troops.
Mauron 14th August 1352 – Sir Walter Bentley and Sir Robert Knolles, who had just recently returned with reinforcements from England, had been spending the month of July relieving sieges and establishing control in central Brittany. Guy de Nesle, the Marshal of France, moved south to wipe this force out. De Nesle’s army, primarily composed of mounted Knights, was several times bigger than the English one. As such, de Nesle offered to allow the English to leave the field without a fight, providing they left central Brittany. The English refused.
Cochorel 16th May 1364 – Whilst not part of the War of the Breton Succession, many of the soldiers and Knights in this battle were present and influential in it. Primarily Bertrand du Guescelin, the Eagle of Brittany, a Breton Knight who was one of the most important military figures of the early Hundred Years’ War. Taking place over a bridge and near a large hill, Cocherel saw the forces of the Kingdoms of Navarra and England square up against the forces of the Kingdom of France and was a crucial battle for the French to win in order to retain control of the south of France following several years of setbacks.
Auray 29th September 1364 – The final battle in the War of the Breton Succession saw John de Montfort’s forces, numbering around 5,000 and backed by the English, face off against Charles de Blois’s French-supported army of about 10,000. Despite being outnumbered, Montfort’s troops effectively utilized English archers and executed strategic maneuvers. The battle culminated in the capture of de Blois, leading to Montfort’s decisive victory. This victory solidified his claim to the Duchy of Brittany and paved the way for the Treaty of Guérande in 1365, which recognized his rule and reduced French influence in the region.
I am not a huge fan of racing themed games but we have played and enjoyed Thunder Alley a few times, although we never put together a review video. The game is fast and dynamic and you are never really out of it and a shrewd player can come back with the right cards and a bit of luck.
For the racing game fans, there is a new multi-track Track Pack being offered called ThunderverseTrack Pack, which has content for all 3 GMT Games racing themed games.
From the game page, we read the following:
The Thunderverse, home of Thunder Alley, Grand Prix, and the wilder little brother Apocalypse Road. Each game has its own rhythm and sensibilities. But each needs specific tracks upon which to compete. Over time these tracks become the comfortable backgrounds in the stories. But eventually, players will seek out and desire new challenges and changing backgrounds. First there was the Thunder Alley track pack, and it introduced dirt racing and a few legendary multi-purpose tracks. Then new tracks were created focused on Grand Prix.
Now we have the first Track Pack designed with the entire Thunder Alley racing series (known by the designer as The Thunderverse) in mind. No matter what your preferred game, this expansion has something for you. I ask that once again; please overlook my horrible artistic endeavors here. I promise these will NOT be the final versions. You can trust me, every track has looked like this before the artists turned them into spectacular centerpieces.
This expansion is pretty simple and includes a cover page with any new rules and 2 double-sided track boards including Charlotte, a classic oval perfect for Thunder Alley, but with a few chicanes and an infield course designed to challenge Grand Prix drivers as well, Chicago, not only is it a grueling road course setup to challenge Grand Prix and Thunder Alley fans, but they snuck in an Apocalypse Road course in the otherwise unused corners of the course, Montreal, a primarily Grand Prix course, but it does make a nice alternate for Thunder Alley and Stow Circuit, designed as an Apocalypse Road track but the tight footprint allowed them to easily add a Thunder Alley/Grand Prix course around the outside.
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. This is a low complexity, low counter density system that is very much focused on maneuver and positioning of forces on the American Civil War battlefields and is really fun to play. The game has done very well and been a hit so they are bringing it back for a 2nd Printing on the P500 and I recommend that you get in now!
From the game page, we read the following:
This design features a new system on Civil War combat akin to the old SPI Blue and Gray Quads. Each game in Rebel Fury 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.
Rebel Fury places you, the player, in the role of the Army Commander (Lee, Burnside, Hooker, Bragg, Rosecrans, Grant). You maneuver your army to find the enemy’s flanks, concentrate your forces for an attack, and determine where to commit your artillery assets.
Units are portrayed at the Infantry/Cavalry division level. The Civil War Heritage series game system features a new Zone of Influence/Zone of Control mechanic that controls unit formation (March/Battle) based on their proximity to your opponent. As your units close with the enemy, your forces naturally break into battle formation, where they then maneuver the last distance to engage. Unlike most hex and counter wargames, this system allows you total freedom to move units in any order multiple times, unleashing the full range of historical tactics in a simple and clean format.
Combat features a differential combat system with few but significant factors that capture the key features of Civil War division level combat. Units are rated for quality, artillery support, supporting units, and terrain. The game features artillery duels with the occasional Exploding Caisson result. The Civil War Heritage series combat system accurately depicts the ability of units to launch multiple waves of attacks on the same position, capturing the back-and-forth nature of many famous combat duels.
Each battle features special units and situations, such as Wilder’s Brigade of mounted infantry (Chickamauga) plus other famous units and personages. If you are looking for a competitive, quick-playing Civil War battle game, Rebel Fury may be the game you have been looking to fit into your busy schedule. The short playing time (1 hour or less) entices you to play multiple battles in the same sitting.
One of my favorite parts of the system is the focus on maneuver and how Zones of Influence work as units approach each other. Each of the unit counters have a movement side and a combat side and as they are moving about the board to get into position when the come in contact with an enemy unit’s Zone of Influence. I really like the concepts of how your forces naturally break into battle formation, where they then maneuver the last short distance to cross the battlefield and engage the enemy. Unlike most other hex and counter wargames, this system allows you total freedom to move units in any order multiple times, unleashing the full range of historical tactics in a simple and clean format. The activation is I-Go-U-Go but each side only is allowed to move one unit. This creates some back and forth, and in some ways stalling, as players try to think about their movement objectives and where they wish to end up in relation to the enemy. For such a small, low counter density game, the maneuver is really quite good in this system.
Here is a link to our playthrough video of the Fredricksburg scenario:
If you want to know more, you can check out our video review at the following link:
One of the features that I have always enjoyed about these Monthly Updates has been the New P500’s on the Horizon segment where Gene Billingsley shares a few very cryptic comments about an upcoming project and we are supposed to somehow decipher his meaning from these “clues”.
Here is a brief tease for P500 additions lining up in the coming months.This month’s Ermine, Battles in the War of the Breton Succession, 1341-1364 was teased last month as “A new series game with battles set in the War of Breton Succession.” Note that this is not a comprehensive list (nor will I preview EVERY game we have planned), so I will switch these up a bit from month to month. Over the coming 1-6 months, I anticipate that we will add:
A new game from Mark Simonitch – I am going to take a leap here and guess the rumored expansion for Normandy ’44.
A strategy game set in Russia – Tsar, which is similar to Prime Minister.
A grand-tactical game set on the Eastern Front in World War II – I think that Ted Raicer has mentioned a new Dark Series game on the East Front so that is my guess.
Something new from Ted Raicer – I first thought this was the expansion to I, Napoleon, but then saw the word new so I am guessing another entry in this series I, Elizabeth.
Those are my feeble guesses this month. Well, maybe I should classify them differently. Not feeble, as they are based in things that I have heard, but that I have no confirming information for. How did I do Gene?
P500 Removals
One more thing I wanted to share from the Update was their P500 removals. There were a few P500 removals this month, which is something that I truly hate to see.
They are continuing to cull and streamline their P500 Reprint list a bit, in conjunction with designers, as noted below:
Permanent Removal:
No Retreat: The Russian Front 3rd Edition. I very much love this game and system and they recently removed the rest of the No RetreatSeries and the designer Carl Paradis asked if they’d remove this one, too, so he’ll have an entire series intact if he wants to take it to another publisher.
As with any of these P500 removals, as designers find a home for these games with other publishers, they will let you all know so you can order them if you want them.
Temporary Removals.
According to Gene, we have the following:
These are per mutual agreement with the designer, until he has time to get back to work on them. We have removed these items from our P500 page on our website but are retaining their game page (along with any P500 orders to date) in a “non-published” state. When the designer has these ready to go back on our list, we’ll republish them on the P500 page along with the P500 order totals. If you have a current P500 order for one of these, you won’t have to do anything to order the game if it comes back on the list. Your current order will remain. If you decide you don’t want the game when it goes back on the list, you can easily delete it from the P500 section of your “My Account” on our website.
Red Winter Expanded 2nd Edition Red Winter 2nd Edition Update Kit Salerno ’43, 2nd Printing – In this case, Mark asked GMT to temporarily take it off the list until he has the rest of the series in print and can make sure he has all the updated rules for the series consolidated into the reprint for this one.
Charging & Shipping
The following information for Charging and Shipping was copied directly from the Update:
Next Charges/Shipments: They will charge Monday, January 6th for the following items:
The next (huge!) shipment should arrive at the warehouse in mid-late January. They plan to charge/ship in early February. They will let us know final details on this and the following shipment in the January customer update.
That is a ton of great looking games! Some we have played and can positively tell you they are good such as In the Shadows, Downfall and A Gest of Robin Hood. Check them out and nab them at their P500 prices before they ship to save yourself some dough.
Project Updates and Sample Art
One final thing that I wanted to share this month is all of the great sample art that has been shared as a part of the update on various games as they run up to production. There is not near as much as normally but what they showed was pretty amazing!
The first thing that was shown at the very top of the Update was the box back for the new addition to The Last Hundred Yards Series called For King & Country. This is volume 5 in the series and focuses on the British and Canadian Forces retaking Western Europe from German occupation. The pack contains ten/twelve Missions that occurred in 1944 during the Normandy landings and breakout phases from June through August and Operation Market Garden in the Netherlands in September. Players must own The Last Hundred Yards Volumes 1 and 2 to play For King & Country.
They then showed the final cover for the expansion and I was a bit disappointed. I just am not a huge fan of every single WWII game having an historical picture. I know that it takes a bit of time and effort, which really means money, for original art, I just think it makes the games that much better. I will give it kudos though for the color choice as I really like that red!
The next offering we were shown were some final cards for the upcoming 20th Anniversary Edition of Twilight Struggle. These cards are sharp and I love that they are making the US cards blue and the Russian cards red. It appears that much of the same pictures are included in the cards but the new graphics and layout is very sharp!
Next, we got a look at the new art for the cover of the Irregular Conflicts Series game Cross Bronx Expressway.
I am fine with the look but am concerned about the orientation. Is this cover art designed for the box to be a larger size than their normal game box? I hope not and would prefer to see that it is oriented along the vertical axis rather than the more traditional horizontal lean. Here is a note from the designer Non-Breaking Space on the cover:
The stencils on the abandoned building on Charlotte Street in the South Bronx have been my visual for the game from the very beginning. Created by agitprop artist John Feckner in 1980, the building itself was the backdrop for the People’s Convention held in protest of the 1980 Democratic Convention at Madison Square Garden. The message then, as today, was clear and poignant. Yet as I thought about the cover for the game, it needed something more.
In many ways, stencils are from the perspective of an outsider. To contrast that, I wanted something that captured the insider voice. For me, there is no greater expression of that voice than the graffiti I would see everyday growing up. So, I reached out to BG183 of the legendary Tats Cru. His wild style letters really capture the complex beauty of the borough. You have to put in work to see it, but once you do your perspective opens up to a whole new interpretation. In many ways, this captures how I hope the game affects players. You’ll have to put in work to see it, but when you do, it will open up new perspectives on games and the history.
Next we were shown the box back for the upcoming Battles of the American Revolution Tri-Pack II. This one contains Monmouth Courthouse, Germantown and Newtown and all games will feature hard-mounted maps and the deluxe, thick-cut counters that are the hallmark of GMT quality components. Player aids and rule books will be printed in color. Each game will feature all replacement counters that have been issued for it over the years so your sets will be the most complete and up to date available.
We next got a look at the near final Joint Multinational Readiness Center, Hohenfels, Germany map and Syria map for Decisive Action.
The art department is definitely doing some good work! I feel as though they are taking a large leap forward and are not just focused on doing things the same as always but looking at the competition out there and trying to emulate it to bring more visual interest to their great games!
Designer/Developer Updates
I also wanted to share a few of the project updates that were included in the email as they are just chock full of great information.
From designer Jules Félisaz and developer Peter Evans, we get the following update on 1848: The Springtime of Nations:
We’re heading into the home straight with 1848: The Springtime of Nations. Jules has just finished the card manifest and has made his final changes to the decks in the game. We’re now ready to get the cards laid out in their final form and art for all the game’s counters. Once those are done, we’ll just need to go through our rounds of proof-checking before sending it over to Gene to push the Big Red Button that switches on the printing machines. Nearly there now! – Jules and Peter
From designer Yann de Villeneuve, we get the following update on A Fading Star: Insurgency and Piracy in Somalia:
Hey folks, it has been a few months since our last update. There is nothing much new to state regarding the game’s position in the COIN pipeline (also known as the second longest pipeline west of the Appalachians). So…let’s talk art! As the work on China’s War is mostly done, and with The Pure Land soon entering the art department, it is time to start sketching a rough idea of what the game may look like.
We must strike a fine balance between the seriousness of the topic and delivering components, including a map, that will be both appealing and practical. On this side, A Fading Star is blessed with a geographically featureless board. As such, I hope we can provide you folks with something that could use this “landscape vacuum” to showcase a full-art map along the lines of other recent ICS titles such as Vijayanagara (wink wink) or A Gest of Robin Hood (wink wink wink). I had the privilege of witnessing the beauty of the Somali coast seen from the skies, and what really struck me at the time was the sense of a “dry beauty,” if you will excuse my English. The poetry of hundreds of kilometers of bare rocky cliffs and beaches devoid of concrete, berthed by the breathtaking elegance of a quiet Indian Ocean cloaked in white and azure. I hope we can translate this sense of natural grace into the board to introduce the settings to the players.
Then comes the theme. A Fading Star‘s older brother set in modern Afghanistan, A Distant Plain, took a militaristic approach in its picturing. The map has a clear “NATO intelligence room” feeling, and the background of the cards is a desert camo pattern. There is no doubt that the land is riddled with conflict, and the prospect is bleak. My question is, do I wish to use this framing for a game set in modern Somalia, a country that is already plagued by a very negative outlook from the outside world? After all, among the possible outcomes the design offers are prospects of fragile peace and stability through African solidarity, state-building, political unity, or clan reconciliation. Then comes the need to express the land’s “Somaliness.” Obviously, the country’s Islamic backdrop greatly influenced its art and culture. The Mediterranean architectural heritage of the short-lived Italian occupation also partly gave Xamar its former title of “Pearl of the Indian Ocean.” I wish to combine bits of all these elements to highlight through the game art that, while the suffering and struggle of the Somalis were and are still real, they are fighting for peace and for the salute of a proud, beautiful nation whose uniqueness is worth the praise.
One other element of inspiration that I have in mind is the modern Somali trend of advertising their shops and service directly on store-front murals (see for example: https://www.amusingplanet.com/2019/04/somalias-hand-painted-storefronts.html and https://www.amusingplanet.com/2019/04/somalias-hand-painted-storefronts.html). These bright and colorful sketches of items and prices also symbolize a return to normal business life, the return of the diaspora in a recovering country, and the bustling nature of the Somali central markets. This is in stark contrast to the black jihadist flag and attire of the Al-Shabaab militants. A Fading Star has no artist assigned yet, but I thought was a good time to share my thoughts on future game art. To close this segment, I am glad to let you know that I will be present at GMT East 2025 in Schenectady, NY from April 25th to 27th (https://www.gmtgames.com/p-1139.aspx?searchEngineName=gmt-east-2025), where I will have a kit of the latest version of A Fading Star to showcase and demo. – Yann
From designer Frank Chadwick and development team Karl Kreder and Jason Carr we get the following update on A House Divided:
Testing is well underway on A House Divided Designer Edition. If you were at SD HistCon, you likely saw Developer Karl Kreder with a physical set, playing and gathering feedback. And the feedback is: the game is great! And that’s no surprise since the game is built on the foundation of the previous editions. All the new systems are working, and Karl’s gathered a list of tweaks and clarifications from his testing. Now we turn to scouring the rules and other materials for correctness and clarity, and balance testing the many scenarios included. One goal of this edition is to have scenarios that are engaging and interesting covering each year of the war that can be played in a single evening, or strung together for longer sessions. We have time reserved with our artist, Wouter Schoutteten, for late spring, so you won’t have to wait long to see more of his excellent work. – Frank, Karl, and Jason
Next, we go back to Decisive Action and get the following update from designer Joe Chacon and developer Evan Yoak:
We are excited to share the latest updates on Decisive Action! Playtesting is nearly complete, and we are now focused on finalizing edits to clean up the rules and charts.
The biggest news is that artwork is officially underway! Our talented graphic artist, Antonio Pinar, is hard at work on the maps. Antonio has contributed exceptional maps and artwork to many published games, including multiple games on modern warfare, and we are thrilled to have him on board. He is transforming our 1970s SPI-style concept and playtest maps into stunning and functional designs that truly bring Decisive Action to life. The Joint Multinational Readiness Center and Syria maps are already done. Next are the National Training Center and Swalki Gap maps. Be sure to check out the samples in the “Sneak Peek” section!
We continue to be amazed by the incredible support from our Decisive Action community and playtesters. One standout contributor, premier playtester Matt Kelly, has volunteered to create detailed examples of play for the game. Matt has already completed the first draft of a comprehensive example that walks players through setting up the game for a mission. This step is crucial, as careful planning of assets is key to victory—knowing what resources to deploy and when can make all the difference. Matt’s guide will be an invaluable resource for players, and we deeply appreciate his dedication.
Thank you for your continued enthusiasm and support! – Joe and Evan
Next, we go back to the Irregular Conflicts Series and get an update on Echo from the Dark from designer Adam Blinkinsop:
I’m excited to report that we’ve made the cut! Development continues with both in-person and online playtesting, with lots of help from some great volunteers. If you happen to be at CascadeCon in the Pacific Northwest in January, or CircleDC in 2025, I’ll be there with a physical prototype for demonstration. I’m ramping up articles now for InsideGMT about some of the more interesting systems in Echo that emphasize the scale and subject matter, so keep an eye out for them. – Adam
Next was an update on Expansion or Extinction from designer Stuart Pierce and developer Evan Yoak. This one has kind of fallen off the radar over the past couple of years as the designer has been busy and they are making some fairly large changes:
Significant progress has been made on the rulebook: we’ve taken the original Triumph & Tragedy rules and started to formally update them to work for Expansion or Extinction. Minor verbiage changes aside, adaptations have to be made to account for the science fiction world of EoE, such as space marines making planet fall assaults and rebel scum acting up in your opponent’s backwater star system. We have also started ironing out rules ambiguities arising from these changes and making the rules as airtight as the original. – Stuart and Evan
We also shot the following video after playing the game at WBC many, many years ago (in 2018 I think):
You have probably stopped reading at this point but the last item that I will share is an update on Iron Storm from designer Edgar Fenollar:
We are continuing to improve on the game while waiting for an artist to be assigned. Most recently I’ve been working on the two vs two team game mode, where the decks are divided into different nations. For example, with the Central Powers, one player takes Germany and another player takes Austria-Hungary, Ottoman Empire, and Bulgaria. Although this is not the format for which the game was first designed, it works well and is a fun way to include more players in the game. – Edgar
I will remind the designer Edgar Fenollar (in a nice way and not in an upset tone) that he still is in possession of a set of interview questions on the game but has for some reason stopped answering my emails. It would be great if these could be finished so I can share more about the game to our readers! Thanks in advance.
I want to end this post by sharing our recent content on the blog and YouTube Channel for GMT Games products including reviews/interviews/unboxing videos:
The shipping increase was the most difficult news for me. GMT already charges among the highest shipping costs of any place I buy games from. Miniature Market gives similar discounts to P500 and charges, at most, $6.99 shipping. That’s typically half or less of what GMT charges.
I am going to reconsider some P500 pledges due to this change.
Unfortunately yes. Shipping is such a bear. Those large retailers can offset the costs because they leverage 1,000’s of games shipping to better rates whereas GMT only has hundreds of games going out.
Sad (but not surprised) to hear about the price/shipping increases. GMT cannot absorb these kind of hits and stay in business. They provide a lot of quality for the money, and I’ll always pay for quality. My personal regret is getting into the board game side of things within the last 2 years after just not enjoying PC gaming and it’s “hey, why did that just happen?” paradigm….a lot of the stuff got snapped up during COVID and is OOP. At least I can watch your videos and enjoy the games and hopefully live long enough to see the P500 Men of Iron games get to me!
Happy holidays to TPA crew and viewers. My two-cents worth for today:
The news of rising costs in our hobby is indicative of what is (or is about to) happen in segments of our economy during the uncertain times ahead. Whether it’s a time to be optimistic or cynical about the future is anyone’s guess, but only time will tell how we come through it all.
Cross-Bronx Expressway: Relieved I am not the only one who found the cover a bit…unusual. (I can’t even make out the word “Bronx” in it). I think the black & white photo very powerfully expresses the theme of urban decay, but the color graffiti really clashes with the photo. Maybe that’s the point. *shrug*
Nevertheless, as I have been reminded many times before, it’s what’s inside that matters most—Hopes for another successful game in the GMT product line.
Is anybody ever going to do a tactical level game of Cortez & the Aztecs or Cortez & and the Spanish that were sent to reel him in. (Cortez won and replenished his army) Many variations/variables with factures in Montazuma’s conquered allies(?) and as mentioned the 2nd Spanish fleet/force. Heard ‘Horse and Musket’ would be a great fit with this. I dunno? Just asking.
Clearly GMT are worried what is going to happen in coming years, and I don’t blame them. Tariffs could well take out some publishers in this hobby (plus the TTRPG one). So probably good that they prepare. The shipping costs one is worrying- I’ll need to keep an eye on that one, as may just tip the scales and make even P500 too expensive in Europe – is already brutally expensive as it is. Even 50% sales tend not to be worthwhile.
The Players' Aid 
The shipping increase was the most difficult news for me. GMT already charges among the highest shipping costs of any place I buy games from. Miniature Market gives similar discounts to P500 and charges, at most, $6.99 shipping. That’s typically half or less of what GMT charges.
I am going to reconsider some P500 pledges due to this change.
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Unfortunately yes. Shipping is such a bear. Those large retailers can offset the costs because they leverage 1,000’s of games shipping to better rates whereas GMT only has hundreds of games going out.
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Sad (but not surprised) to hear about the price/shipping increases. GMT cannot absorb these kind of hits and stay in business. They provide a lot of quality for the money, and I’ll always pay for quality. My personal regret is getting into the board game side of things within the last 2 years after just not enjoying PC gaming and it’s “hey, why did that just happen?” paradigm….a lot of the stuff got snapped up during COVID and is OOP. At least I can watch your videos and enjoy the games and hopefully live long enough to see the P500 Men of Iron games get to me!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Happy holidays to TPA crew and viewers. My two-cents worth for today:
The news of rising costs in our hobby is indicative of what is (or is about to) happen in segments of our economy during the uncertain times ahead. Whether it’s a time to be optimistic or cynical about the future is anyone’s guess, but only time will tell how we come through it all.
Cross-Bronx Expressway: Relieved I am not the only one who found the cover a bit…unusual. (I can’t even make out the word “Bronx” in it). I think the black & white photo very powerfully expresses the theme of urban decay, but the color graffiti really clashes with the photo. Maybe that’s the point. *shrug*
Nevertheless, as I have been reminded many times before, it’s what’s inside that matters most—Hopes for another successful game in the GMT product line.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Is anybody ever going to do a tactical level game of Cortez & the Aztecs or Cortez & and the Spanish that were sent to reel him in. (Cortez won and replenished his army) Many variations/variables with factures in Montazuma’s conquered allies(?) and as mentioned the 2nd Spanish fleet/force. Heard ‘Horse and Musket’ would be a great fit with this. I dunno? Just asking.
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Checkout Conquistadors from Compass Games. I own it but have never had the chance to play it. I’ve lugged it to a few cons because it plays up to 5.
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Clearly GMT are worried what is going to happen in coming years, and I don’t blame them. Tariffs could well take out some publishers in this hobby (plus the TTRPG one). So probably good that they prepare. The shipping costs one is worrying- I’ll need to keep an eye on that one, as may just tip the scales and make even P500 too expensive in Europe – is already brutally expensive as it is. Even 50% sales tend not to be worthwhile.
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C&C Grand Battles….will you ever move out of final art section…it’s been forever.
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In contrast, for us Aussies the update is fantastic!
Finally an Australian distributer, to bring down our (utterly insane) shipping costs.
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I’m glad for you. Happy gaming!
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