Thanks everyone for the responses. I decided to get Memoir '44, and just picked it up yesterday from a local game shop. They ha Tide of Iron, but I didn't know anything about it, and in hindsight wish a little bit that I had gotten that instead. But whatever is cool.
The rules seem pretty cool, and I like the little miniatures. I'm pretty pumped to play. Also while we were there my friend got Arkham Horror, so I think this weekend will be bad ass.
I'm glad you're enjoying M44! You did actually make the right decision in not buying Tide of Iron; compared to the other wargames I've played, it's not in the same league.
I've played through all the scenarios in the basic M44, and the Eastern Front - that's a lot of fun. We're going through the Pacific Theatre at present...
Well, I've decided Memoir is one of my favorite games so far, and I ordered the Eastern Front expansion. I was reading about the Pacific Theatre one, and it sounds cool. I was wondering if any of the other ones are "must haves."
Also, I'm still interested in deeper, more simulationist-y wargames, if anyone has any other recommendations for those.
Thanks!
EDIT:
Are there any good World War I games? I'm somewhat more interested in that time period than any other one, but I'm not sure how well that particular war would translate into a game.
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Last edited by Sandwich; 20th January 2009 at 09:56 PM..
As mentioned previously, Conflict of Heroes is a pretty slick game. Note that as you delve into more detailed and simulationist-style games, they become less "casual"...
Don't know of any WWI games, but ofr WWII, some thing you might want to check out include ASL (Advanced Squad Leader), Band of Brothers (Lock 'n Load), Panzer Grenadier and ATS (Advanced Tobruk System). All of these games are tactical (squad or company level scale); my preference more than anything else. Also, note that ASL is NOT in entry-level game, but can offer you thousands of pages of rules, details and minutae...great fun for those who've made the leap, but a pretty steep learning curve for anyone new to the system.
Well, I've decided Memoir is one of my favorite games so far, and I ordered the Eastern Front expansion. I was reading about the Pacific Theatre one, and it sounds cool. I was wondering if any of the other ones are "must haves."
Almost all of them. Seriously. Well, Terrain Pack isn't that great, but you need it for things like the Air Pack, which is great.
The ones I'd definitely get:
Eastern Front
Pacific Theatre
Mediterranean Theatre
Terrain Pack
Air Pack
Campaign book
Quote:
Also, I'm still interested in deeper, more simulationist-y wargames, if anyone has any other recommendations for those.
ASL Starter Kit #1.
Combat Commander: Europe
If you want to move out of squad-level games, there are some good ones out there.
Quote:
Are there any good World War I games? I'm somewhat more interested in that time period than any other one, but I'm not sure how well that particular war would translate into a game.
Paths of Glory is one of the best, but it's out of print (with any luck, it'll be reprinted soon - it's on GMT's P500 list). It's cousin, Pursuit of Glory has just been released - it deals with the Great War in the near east. Both are strategic level games - mainly because there wasn't really much great man-vs-man action in WW1.
Excellent. Thanks so much for the recommendations. I think I have quite a few things to save up my money for now (in addition to Gen Con). I'll definitely try to get all the M44 expansions, and I may get either ASL or one of the Combat Commander games, I'm not sure yet. I may find one WWII game and its expansions may be all I need for that war.
Paths of Glory looks like something I would definitely like, though it evidently runs really long? Here's to hoping they reprint it.
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Haven't played M44, but BattleLore is pretty good. Not a fan of the new Axis & Alies game, it's not whether the Allies win, it's how quickly they do. Tried A&A minis recently, that was cool.
The one game I've tried and want to pick is called Wizard Kings from Columbia Games. Army building, fog of war, multiple army types and soldier types within each army and limitless scenario possibilites make this a great game. Plus it's relatively rules light, a good entry wargame. And it can be played with 2 to 9 players (though I suspect a 9-player game would be very long).
I'm pretty much in love with Memoir '44, and I'm roommate recently ordered Commands and Colors: Ancients, so I couldn't be happier.
I'm trying to find a good deal on Paths of Glory, but it's somewhat difficult. We may go with Twilight Struggle, which, while not a wargame, sounds like it plays similarly and could be cool.
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We played M44 twice last night - the first time, I won in 11 minutes after a very nice Air Raid knocked out Randy's artillery - we were playing my Americans vs. his Japanese from the Pacific Theatre set. So, win to me, 5-2.
Then we reversed it, and I won the second game 5-4! I'm happy.
Twilight Struggle is my #1 game. It's absolutely brilliant, and you should get it. Paths of Glory is on the P500 list for reprinting at GMT Games; it needs 500 preregistered buyers to be reprinted. (I'm on the list, as I just missed it myself, though Randy has it).
We played through all of the scenarios that came with the base game, and it was a blast. We tallied up the medals at the end, and I, as the Allies, lost by two. We're taking a break for a couple days, since we played it a ton over the past week. Soon we'll start on the Eastern Front, which I'm pretty excited for, and after that I'll have to get some other expansions. I still don't totally know what to get next.
Actually, I don't know how I feel about the expansions. Of course, I haven't played any yet, but looking over the contents of the Eastern Front one, I find it hard to justify the price it costs. I mean, we get a handful of new rules, a few new tiles (most of which don't even do anything new) and some new miniatures. Also there are the seven scenarios, which doesn't seem like that many. Also the cardboard that makes the box is not as strong. I like the new rules, I just wish there were more scenarios. I want more tiles that do different things, I think.
Not meaning to speak ill of the game, though. It's a blast. I just want more scenarios and rules and fewer new terrain tiles that do essentially the same things as the old terrain tiles. My hope is that perhaps the other expansions offer a little more. The Air Pack is the only one that sounds like it really offers something of significance.
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Last edited by Sandwich; 30th January 2009 at 08:19 AM..
Reason: wanted to add some stuff
We played through all of the scenarios that came with the base game, and it was a blast. We tallied up the medals at the end, and I, as the Allies, lost by two. We're taking a break for a couple days, since we played it a ton over the past week. Soon we'll start on the Eastern Front, which I'm pretty excited for, and after that I'll have to get some other expansions. I still don't totally know what to get next.
Actually, I don't know how I feel about the expansions. Of course, I haven't played any yet, but looking over the contents of the Eastern Front one, I find it hard to justify the price it costs. I mean, we get a handful of new rules, a few new tiles (most of which don't even do anything new) and some new miniatures. Also there are the seven scenarios, which doesn't seem like that many. Also the cardboard that makes the box is not as strong. I like the new rules, I just wish there were more scenarios. I want more tiles that do different things, I think.
Not meaning to speak ill of the game, though. It's a blast. I just want more scenarios and rules and fewer new terrain tiles that do essentially the same things as the old terrain tiles. My hope is that perhaps the other expansions offer a little more. The Air Pack is the only one that sounds like it really offers something of significance.
Have you tried the online scenarios?
They're coming out with a campaign/scenario book as well.
When you get the Air Pack, you'll see it uses a bunch of stuff from the earlier expansions. Basically it updates all of the earlier scenarios with the new air rules, using lots of terrain pieces and minis from those sets. At that point, you realise why the expansions are good.
They're coming out with a campaign/scenario book as well.
When you get the Air Pack, you'll see it uses a bunch of stuff from the earlier expansions. Basically it updates all of the earlier scenarios with the new air rules, using lots of terrain pieces and minis from those sets. At that point, you realise why the expansions are good.
Cheers!
I've looked at some of the online scenarios, and they seem pretty cool. When we're done with the Eastern Front stuff we'll probably play through all the online ones we can. I'm pretty excited about the campaign book, I'm hoping it'll be really cool. Really, I don't mind the expansions. I'm sure I'll buy most of them, but I know that I'll be grumbling under my breath as I carry them to the cash register--for the terrain pack at least.
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The terrain pack is the one you grumble about... until you find scenarios later on that use it. There's a really fun one in the Eastern Front pack that has a train...
I'm late to the game for this thread, but I wanted to recommend Nexus Ops, a Wizards of the Coast/Avalon Hill small-squad self-enclosed wargame. It's for two to four players, but works excellent with three and okay with four.
It has a sci-fi theme. It has four colors of translucent plastic alien pieces. The rules are relatively straightforward.
The only problem is that it's out of print, and a copy might be hard to find.
Are there any good World War I games? I'm somewhat more interested in that time period than any other one, but I'm not sure how well that particular war would translate into a game.
Try Wings of War, particularly with the miniatures. Even without them, its scads of fun. I run an after-school game at my 5th graders school, and all the kids love it.
While it deals with aerial combat, there are rules for ground units (AA, airstrips, etc.) that make the game more fun.
Quote:
Originally Posted by MerricB
You did actually make the right decision in not buying Tide of Iron; compared to the other wargames I've played, it's not in the same league.
You are correct, MM'44 is way out of ToI's league: ToI is more intelligent. MM'44 is good, but ToI is so much better. Of course, YMMV.
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I agree with Torillan on Tide of Iron. I have M44, ToI, CC:E and CoH now, and while I haven't played them all extensively, it seems to me that each has it's own niche.
M44 leads pretty well to CC:E as both depend heavily on proper use and management of the cards you draw, M44 is more casual while CC:E is more detailed.
ToI and CoH are more governed by position and the action - reaction of unit activations. ToI is a bit more visual, abstract, and casual, while CoH is a bit more detailed, traditional, and historical.
They all require good tactics and strategy to do well, but each has it's own feel to the game play. I just started to get into war games a bit and the new games seem very good. I'm not sure what games to go to next, maybe ASL for more detailed squad based game, or one of the block games for a more operational level game.
Thanks again for the responses and info. Right now I'm working on acquiring some good eurogames, but once my collection feels sufficient in that department I'll probably look back into wargames. The ASL starter kits and Conflict of Heroes interest me the most, I think. Combat Commander sounds interesting, but for some reason a little less so than the others.
I'm really not interested in Tide of Iron at all. I'm content with Memoir '44 in terms of casual wargames, and now I'd rather have something a lot more in depth. Increased depth, as well as simulation, are the two things I'd like to have in another game. Also, larger battles would be nice.
With M44, we have one more scenario left on the Eastern Front, after which we'll have to look for new places to battle. I think it'll be a good time to check out some of the free online scenarios!
EDIT:
Also as an aside, does anyone know anything about Manoeuvre? I still like the idea of simple, abstract wargames, and I was wondering if it was any good.
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Last edited by Sandwich; 11th February 2009 at 05:51 AM..
I'll second Wings of War as being a great game, with minis its even better. excelent of the casual gamer - yet a real wargame
WWII minis I have ot go with Disposable Hero's for the same reasons.
Both have low buy in.
If you already have a lot of minis for D&D laying around you can't go wrong with Song of Blades.
All these games are cheap compared to a lot of the other wargames out there, simple enogh to teach casual / newcomers or even children yet are complex enough tactics wise to keep long time wargamers happy.
EDIT:
Also as an aside, does anyone know anything about Manoeuvre? I still like the idea of simple, abstract wargames, and I was wondering if it was any good.
It's got a lot of good press, but I've not seen it myself.
I'm happy.
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