Monthly Archives: February 2014
GARPA 39 – GrogHeads Advanced Research on Projects Advisory
Our running late on a busy Friday brings you this week’s GARPA!
Board Games
SUPREMACY 2020 – Superpower Game of Nuclear Brinksmanship (Command Post Games)
$17,700 of $15000, ends 15 March 2014
An old classic reimagined for a new superpower age, Supremacy returns as the 2020 version with its ever-tense mixture of resources, nukes, conventional armies, technology, and back-stabbing fun. Make no mistake, this is a high-strategic-level game that won’t have you pushing battalions and brigades around. You track your missiles, and missile interceptors, along with navies and resources and nary a grunt in sight. Stretch goals have already added international terrorists to the mix, and bring you a set of pieces to add Brazil as one of your superpowers. Check it out and get your pledges in.
The Adults of Carcassonne (Carcassonne Shop)
$7200 of $7000 goal, ends 9 March 2014
Ever been in the middle of a board game and thought “Man, I could use a drink!” ? How about a game that answers “Sure!” Tje Adults of Carcassonne is an unofficial expansion (though they are official “accessories”) that swaps meeples for shot glasses, and game tiles for mug coasters. Yep, this is the pub-friendly Carcassonne for the drinking gamer. Go ogle the fun at their Kickstater page, and get your gamedrink on.
The Scramble for Africa – A Civ 5 AAR (Part 3)
Conquering Africa in one of Civilization 5’s special scenarios
By Brant Guillory, GrogDude
Click images to enlarge
Last episode, we exchanged handshakes with a few Europeans, and hit the ‘pause’ button in our war on the Zulus.
Caravan bros before “Caravan, ho!”s
I don’t have many places to send this thing, so I’ll send it to Zukeland for now, and expect that it’ll get recalled when I’m ready to return to whuppin’ ass.
Exploring to the West
Well, apparently there are Canadians Barbarians in sub-Saharan Africa. And that Zulu settler that got away? He’s planted a city to the upper right on this view.
First Impressions: Mark H. Walker’s Lock’n’Load Heroes of Stalingrad
The Grumpy Grog says “This is a new line of attack on an old campaigning favourite.”
Developed by Lock n Load Publishing and published by Matrix/Slitherine
First Impressions by Boggit, 23 February 2014
Click images to enlarge
I’ve never played any of the Lock’n’Load games before, so this is a truly fresh look at this game. I am looking at this game with the beta update v1.04. The game is tactical in scope, and each hex represents about fifty meters across, each turn represents 2-4 minutes, and each counter is a single vehicle, an individual, or a group of soldiers: for example, a half squad, or a weapons team.
Starting the game for the first time, the player is set up at the introductory level. This is a particularly forgiving mode that can be changed in the main menu. I immediately changed it to “hard”, which runs the game under unmodified rules. “Normal” gives a dice bonus. Rash perhaps, but you’ll see no signs of weakness from me!
The options screen gives a good choice of items to customise your game.
The main menu gives the usual options. Essentially it is the place to start a new game, load an old one, create missions and scenarios with the editor, and to play multiplayer. In multiplayer, the user needs to set up a Matrix/Slitherine account and you’re then taken to the Multiplayer lobby. From there you can create a new game for someone to play with you, go onto the forum, and can check-in on your own games. I’d seen this before with Field of Glory, and it is a very user friendly multiplayer system. I’m glad they didn’t reinvent the wheel on this one, as it works, and works well. The only downside was a very empty multiplayer lobby, but to be fair, the game’s just come out, so that should change with time.
Celtic War Chariots – A Primer
Lloyd Sabin, 14 February 2014
Click images to enlarge
Celtic chariot pulled by a team of two
Beginnings and Basics
I wish I could have met the guy who invented the spoked wheel. It’s one of the most vital inventions in the history of mankind. Invented about 4000 years ago, it immediately made all human pursuits easier, from travel to commerce to war. And once the spoked wheel took off, it led directly to the development of the war chariot.
The earliest vehicles built for war and considered chariots were built by the Sumerians, Hittites, and Persians, around 2500 BC. Looking back, we today would probably just call them ‘wagons carrying a spearman’…because that’s exactly what they were. Heavy and cumbersome, with solid wheels, they were not very fast and made for easy targets until the Sumerians developed a more modern two-wheeled version, with the brand new spoked wheels. Speed gave the Sumerians battlefield dominance, and the modern technology of the spoked wheel began to spread.
Simultaneously, wheeled, chariot-like vehicles were being developed all over the world at the time. In the 2000 years before 1AD, examples of chariots appeared, often in a military role, in Chinese, Indian, northern and central European civilizations. The domestication of the horse helped with the advance of chariot technology, especially in European warfare.
A spearman mounted on a chariot, doing what he does best.
Perfecting the War Chariot, Inspiring Fear
Of all European cultures of the ancient world, the Celts are probably the best known charioteers, with some of the most feared wheeled vehicles of the ancient era. Not content just scaring the crap out of their opponents with tattoos, woad and war cries, the Celts also tricked out their combat rides with a host of nasty countermeasures that left their opponents reeling. This included scythed wheels, extra noise to spook opposing horses, and skill to jump from the chariot, fight on foot, and jump back on the chariot again to move along without their opponent able to catch up to engage…hit and run tactics at their best.
Prosciutto – Hamming it up with the di Parmas… Part Twenty-Ace
We hit “blackjack” on UCG’s long-running Crusader Kings II AAR …
as always, click images to enlarge
In Part 20 Oberto’s cousin and Marshall was unexpectedly given ‘his’ Duchy of Capua, he received many claims on neighbouring provinces, and marched on the Muslims to complete the Duchy of Salerno. In this new part Sicily is found to be falling apart and unhappy subjects rise up.
Oberto’s armies arrive in Taranto to kick out the Muslims. It isn’t much of a match and they’re soon defeated and heading South
Taranto on its own doesn’t give up enough warscore for a victory. Oberto needs to take more Muslim land nearby to bump up the score. Heading South his scouts show the Emperor is already in Sicily, bravely keeping nine Muslims at bay!
Whilst Oberto knocks down the walls of Taranto rebels in Capua decide they’ve had enough and start knocking down its walls.
