I did lawl at that very last post
vyshka
6277
Nice. Did you pick up their other game as well?
I wish! I would love to have that game on my resume. But just a fan of it :)
I am kind of a ww2 tactical eastern front player so this is my jam. My top 3 list currently would look like this (in order and purged of miniatures rules which imho are generally better at this scale than hex and counter).
1.) Old School Tactical
https://flyingpiggames.com/products/old-school-tactical
This one has a big negative. Two big fixed map boards that are not modular they weigh in at 30" x 41". So you need a large space and then you sector off areas of the map to play on. That said the maps are excellent and The Stalingrad extra map & scenario pack is even better. The size also gives a really great feeling of having room to maneuver.
Positives are it plays super smooth and leads to very interesting decisions. Its that nice balance of feeling very meaty gameplay wise with interesting decisions but you are not looking up rules every two seconds. It plays fast and deep. I like it a lot.
2.) Retro/ASL+ Historical modules.
This one is very much a “Rod likes this, no idea why” thing, so let me clarify. Retro strips down the ASL rules so you can play a scenario in a fraction of the time and is designed with solo play in mind. So I made my way through https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgameexpansion/112962/festung-budapest in a few weeks. Belting out a scenario every evening over an hour or so. It is the way I play ASL these days.
The catch? You must already understand ASL to use the simplified Retro rules. Catch 22 :) Also Retro does away with opportunity fire and replaces it with a hesitation mechanic. For some people removing opportunity fire like that just utterly destroys their sense of immersion. For me I can easily imagine a squad at ASL scale finding cover or an alley or having good timing as they spring across a street to avoid the opp fire. But I respect fellow grogs who just cant get past it. Finally retro is best used by a player who is comfortable mixing in some ASL rules he/she likes or inventing rules on the spot.
The benefits? You get to use the very good and plentiful ASL modules out there and play them in 10% or less of the time you would using the regular ASL rules.
3.) LockNLoad
I still like this system a lot but its getting long in the tooth. The main problem with it is the price of entry
But its a good system that is supported by a lot of great expansions, so a solid choice. I still enjoy playing it.
Hope that helps and good luck!
Rod
Which one, Under an Iron Sky? Yeah, I bought that last year. Still hoping to play it with @Juan_Raigada
vyshka
6280
Yes. Post some pics if you guys do play.
Thanks for the reply @Rod_Humble, et al. Still looking at Old School Tactical, Heroes of the Motherland, and Awakening the Bear. Enemy Actions Kharkov really has me tempted to just wait, although no new info in two years doesn’t instill confidence that it’s coming any time soon.
Edit - Found this update at BGG:
Enemy Action: Kharkov, covering the Feb/March 1943 Soviet Star and Gallop Offensives and the German “Backhand Blow” will be published by Compass in late 2019. The design of the 2-player version is complete and in balance testing; the German solo version will begin testing later this spring with the Soviet solo version to begin testing in the fall.
Unfortunately, its Compass…
Never bought anything from Compass so if they have issues I’m not familiar with them. Sounds like EA Kharkov won’t be out until Christmas at the earliest.
Also, just remembered I have Tiller’s Panzer Battles Kursk which is mostly unplayed by me. Built in opponent and the price is right! It’s between tactical and operational level so that might scratch the tactical itch.
Then again it’s my birthday in two weeks and my wife is looking for an idea for a present, and you can never have too many Eastern Front games! :) Decisions, decisions…
EA: Ardennes is a good production from Compass, with little if any errata . That’s the only game of them that I own, so i can’t say more.
It seems to me the company quality depends of each game’s developers and designers. I think you’ll be fine with Butterfield at the helm.
Panzeh
6285
Yeah EA:A is probably compasss’s best, so i suspect EA:K will be fine, too.
Minor correction:
Had me confusedly googling for a moment, but it’s Conflict of Heroes.
Damn, yeah, that was silly.
Company of Heroes is great solo!
Speaking of tactical games, no one’s getting The Last Hundred Yards from GMT?
I am, but haven’t followed it super closely. Sounds interesting, anyway.
Don’t think I could have gone wrong with any of the recommendations you guys made for me, and in the end I ordered Old School Tactical. The large maps are not an issue for me and I like the idea of both a Summer and Winter map. From watching AAR’s on Youtube I liked the way the turns flowed. The Stalingrad expansion looks great and was also a selling point for me. It will probably be my Father’s Day present. :) Thanks to all who offered their thoughts.
So hey y’all, the new Armored Brigade DLC is out:
http://www.slitherine.com/products/802/details/Armored.Brigade.Nation.Pack.Italy.-.Yugoslavia
I’m about to pull the trigger, but let me ask, because I can’t find anything: does this game allow you to save during a battle?
