Monthly Archives: April 2016
Twilight Struggle: An AAR – Part 8
Our AAR of the new digital Twilight Struggle enters Turn 2 ~
Michael Eckenfels, 24 April 2016
TURN TWO
Eight Cards in Hand; Six Action Rounds
So, yes, I’ve done a bit of studying and seen all of the colossal failures I’ve committed thus far in Turn 1. Well, ‘colossal’ in that a strategy guide I found on the very helpful website www.twilightstrategy.com (thanks to forum member Pinetree for the revelation on the PDF version), and even though I knew of the site, I still didn’t really bother to look at it closely.
I feel it’s easier to learn by losing than by winning. Knowing all of these strategies might make me a better player, but without actually understanding them in the first place, and having played TS extensively beforehand (other than years ago, and admittedly I’ve forgotten quite a bit about this game), there’s no way in hell I’ll ever get the U.S. in this game into a position of dominance.
Right now, I’m just wanting to survive. I’m not just 14 points in the hole – I have to score 34 VPs now to win. And that’s if the Soviet AI doesn’t score any more for the rest of the game. I suppose it’s possible, though I have my doubts.
A recording of President Truman comes on, remind me of why I’m not a very good President.
The Battle of Waterloo: A Comparative Exercise
What happens when our resident Napoleonicist compares all things Waterloo side-by-side(-by-side-by-side-by-side)? ~
Jim Owczarski, 23 April 2016
With respect to E.S. Creasy, lists of “greatest” or “most significant” battles are best left as the stuff of coffee shop debate or oversized, remaindered tomes available at your local discount book store. There’s just too much that goes into defining sprawling words like “greatest” that prevents the conversation from being useful much less dispositive.
That said, Waterloo is the greatest battle ever. Ever. I will not subject this to further debate.
Let us instead, at the request of the editorial staff hereabouts, visit some of the many consims to take up the battle, and, along the way, talk about how approaches to the battle have changed over the years. This is not a complete list and it is a subjective one, but I hope it gives you a small window into the world of Waterloo gaming — a place where I have spent an awful lot of time. Lest the tyro turn away at first glance, let the story begin with the simpler games that offer to take the player back to mid-June 1815.
I must here confess that I don’t think over-much of the Avalon Hill classic “Waterloo”. It’s not that both the board and the counters are, putting the matter generously, merely serviceable.
Yep, 1962.
Twilight Struggle: An AAR – Part 7
How’s the new digital Twilight Struggle play? ~
Michael Eckenfels, 23 April 2016
PART 7
TURN ONE, ROUND 6: USSR (FINAL ROUND FOR TURN ONE)
News! Slitherine’s Panzer Corps Weekend
Check out the latest from Slitherine ~
GrogHeads Newsdesk, 23 April 2016
Slitherine is streaming Panzer Corps all weekend long on their Twitch channel. They are also have a huge sale on Steam all weekend with 75% of the base games and 50% off all DLC
Saturday:
- 10-12 – Agrippa – Fall Weiss Campaign part 01
- 12-15 – CB – Soviet Corps Campaign part 01
- 15-17 – Agrippa – Fall Weiss Campaign part 02
- 17-19 – Lord Cucumber – Sea Lion
- 19-22 – Agrippa – Fall Weiss Campaign part 03
- 22-24 – CB – Soviet Corps Campaign part 02
GrogHeads Advanced Research on Projects Advisory #92
We venture beyond hex-and-counter wargaming for much of this week’s GARPA ~
GrogHeads Staff, 22 April 2016
The Dark Sands (GMT Games)
p500 $38, MSRP $55 – made the cut
Ted Racier strikes again! He’s taking his East front campaign system from The Dark Valley and dropping it into North Africa. You get to refight the dramatic 2 years of back-and-forth warfare between Cairo and Tunis at the operational level, with a focus on combat and planning. Notably, the GMT copy on their promotional material pokes fun at a certain well-known North Africa game with a heavy logistical focus. Meanwhile, you’ve got a highly solo-friendly game that spans a grand campaign from a designer we all love and a company that churns ass-kicking products. Got get your order in before you can’t get the p500 price anymore.
