Monthly Archives: June 2016
Origins! Griggling Games
Play all of WWII in one sitting? That’s what the GG guys gave you with Quartermaster General ~
Corinne Mahaffey, 23 June 2016
A quick stop at the Griggling Games booth yielded an interesting – and different – conversation about Quartermaster General and its genesis. Expansions are already rolling out the door for QMG, so look for more to come from them. Designer Ian Brody explains
I wanted to make a simulation, then abstract it until I had a playable game. I also wanted a game that people could play together in an evening, rather than one played in turns for days. I have given the game rules to a new player, then not see them for a week while they read the rules, or learn, as in Axis and Allies, base 6 statistics.
I also didn’t want to be able to gain in-game intelligence because I had to explain rule that my opponent wanted to use. Finally, I wanted a game that war gamers and historians would agree touched on the salient points of World War 2, and had a sense of the narrative of the war.
I was introduced to Magic [the Gathering] by a friend, and realized how much game mechanic could be put on a card. Then I looked at old war games, including World of War, Third Reich, Rising Sun, World in Flames and Europa. I looked at the headings, and realized I needed a card for each one. All the game chrome and fiddly rules could be put on the cards.
I also found that, by front-loading the luck on the card draw instead of backloading the luck on the dice, choosing the one card to play that turn becomes a move of skill. You don’t get to micromanage; you must play the hand you are dealt.
As a reminder, we reviewed Quartermaster General a while ago, and will have some coverage coming soon of the Air Marshal expansion.
Chat about it below, or in our forums, or hit our FaceBook page >>
Gaming Nostalgia – Early RPG Expansions
#TBT at GrogHeads!
The Compleat series of RPG aids were some of the ‘cool’ finds you’d get at out-of-the-way hobby stores.
click images to enlarge
Sound off below, or pop into our forums for a chat >>
Origins! Carolina Game Tables
Beautiful furniture for your gaming goodness ~
Brant Guillory, 21 June 2016
photos by Corinne Mahaffey
Carolina Game Tables were showing off some of their creations in the Studio 2 booth (with the Savage Worlds guys).
Dropped interiors and dining-room quality looks make for some great tables, and the staff even showed us how easy it was to pop the top on and off.
Chat about it below, or in our forums, or hit our FaceBook page >>
Origins! Exhibit Hall
Lots to see! ~
Brant Guillory, 21 June 2016
The exhibit hall is hardly just for wargames, but gamers of all types will find plenty to play there.
The best advice we can give folks about the exhibit hall? Find 5 games you’ve never even heard of, and ask the booth crew to show them to you. They live for showing off their games, and while you might not find something that’s you’re perfect game, you might find find the right one to recommend to a friend somewhere down the line.
photos by Corinne Mahaffey, click to enlarge
Chat about it below, or in our forums, or hit our FaceBook page >>
Old School Tactical – First Look!
Old School Tactical got into players’ hands at Origins ~
Vance Strickland, 22 June 2016
click images to enlarge
All the goodies, 3 maps, 5 counter sheets, rulebook, strategy guide, 3 scenario booklets, 3 day campaign, dice and charts! 13 lbs of wargaming greatness!
