Hey everyone! I hope you liked the video. If you did, I'd love to think I earned your subscription. It really helps me to get more of these great games to show off! You can also help by subscribing to my Patreon: www.patreon.com/wargaminghansen
Nice video! Great overview of all aspects of the game, which is fun and challenging. Short rule book but lot of strategic thinking required by both sides to play the game well. The relatively simple game system has plenty of depth and captures key elements of the actual battle (terrain, supply, importance of roads for reaching objectives, etc). And the components are great - box, mounted board, counters, etc. Thanks for sharing your thoughts!
I have played this game several times. Here is why I like it. 1. You can finish a game in 2 hours. 2. You can easily teach it to non-wargamers. 3. The Allies do not know which scenario card the German player has chosen which makes this game endlessly re-playable. 4. As the German player, you actually have a chance to cross the Meuse. 5. The mechanics are simple. 6. The step system means you don't have to have big stacks of units. 7. It captures the flavor of the overall battle. Germans start with a bang but every effing turn more US units keep showing up and they quickly start forming blocks at the key road junctions.
At 15:50 you point out that the hex ID numbers are impossibly small on many of 'em. That's for sure but the setup is easier if you flip those Order of Battle charts over! The initial counters are displayed on the entry edge of the map. I didn't notice that when I set up the first time (and so far, only time--haven't finished first game).
Wayne, nice review of the game. You should have covered more on supply (in supply/out of supply). Reason being, I had overlooked it. I was watching another TH-camr recently who covered this and according to him there were only two main German supply routes and can easily be interdicted (blocked by the allies) it can isolate a lot of German units, if allied units are left behind the German advance. Also, According to the supply rules, units have to be within 3 hexes of a road to be in supply and continuous. Because I did not pay much attention to it in my few plays....as a result, the Germans one every game! and quickly. I realize that I had not followed "supply" more. If I had the Allies would have maybe won more! Also the fact that the allies are spread thin the supply rule would help in there advantage to win the game later. Just thought I'd mention it.
Thanks Stevie. I certainly could have covered Supply more, but there's two things. Talking about Supply in a game isn't exactly riveting stuff, and second, I am trying to explain the game and provide a review within a reasonable amount of time. I've had reviews go for 45 minutes, that's just too long in my opinion. Obviously though, like with all games, a video will never cover everything, and you will need to read the rules and pay attention to them as you go. For the record, as long as you push the Allies on the entire front and don't bypass units, the German player shouldn't have any issues with supply.
Well said. The rules overall are well written. The supply paragraph could be a little clearer on the ways to be in supply. My friends and I have played a number of times and the Allies usually win because the German supply lines can get long and are easily cut. Cheers.
Thanks for the great video. May I suggest Wayne to do a video with solitaire tips/ideas to play non-solitaire games? You cover mostly solitaire games and I am not sure if what I suggest is strange and/or difficult, but any tips from your experience may help those we must play mostly solitaire games at home due to the pandemic. Maybe using several games, and it should not be that long video, but I guess it might be helpful and fun, besides you could explain/review solitaire systems you feel work well/not. Anyways, just a suggestion if you want to have a look. Best regards from Spain
That's not a bad idea, Daniel. I'll add that to my list of video ideas for the channel. Yes, I do have a list like that. The only problem is finding time to film all of the ideas!
Hey, Wayne! Thanks for pointing out (at six minutes) that you only "charge" a moving unit the higher MP cost. I think it would help to quote the rulebook here (actually copy and paste), "The terrain cost to enter a hex is the highest cost if more than one condition exists.... For example, for an armor unit to enter a forest terrain hex that is located in an enemy ZOC would cost 3 MP not 5." Without this caveat, it would be impossible for infantry (only 4 MPs) to enter a forest to attack a unit.
@@WayneHansen no it is ID Jesters group but has very many wargame TH-camrs in it Ardwulf,Moes game table, Rough swordsman, kev of the big board and Tonys board life to name just a few i think you would enjoy it
Cool. Another video. You really should have more subscribers. I picked up Flying Colors, Cowboys and Indians, and Devil Boats (yeah..I know) yesterday.
Dennis, nice haul. Well, except for that game about charts. I mean about PT boats. Seriously though, Cowboys came in with Battle of the Bulge 1944, so it's definitely going on the "games to cover" pile.
@@WayneHansen - I have the old Avalon Hill title "Gunslinger", and I have played it a LOT, over the last 40 years. I developed an insanely complex solitaire system for it, along with a scenario generation system, and a modified RPG system for each character, with progression. I will likely do the same thing for CAI. I will be looking forward to it. I have some ideas on better solitaire play, already.
Hey Wayne,Great Video as always,are there solo rules for this or did you just play both sides to the best of your ability?...Also another one from Worthington you'd like that is very underated is Holdfast Tunisia 1942-43 from Matt Looby.
Hey David! No solo rules, just played both sides. The "basic" rules let you play both sides very easily. There are additional rules for a 2 player game featuring fog of war, hidden units, and German variable objectives. Holdfast Tunisia, huh? I own a few of the Holdfast games, but not that one. I'll have to look into it.
Hey everyone! I hope you liked the video. If you did, I'd love to think I earned your subscription. It really helps me to get more of these great games to show off! You can also help by subscribing to my Patreon: www.patreon.com/wargaminghansen
Nice video! Great overview of all aspects of the game, which is fun and challenging. Short rule book but lot of strategic thinking required by both sides to play the game well. The relatively simple game system has plenty of depth and captures key elements of the actual battle (terrain, supply, importance of roads for reaching objectives, etc). And the components are great - box, mounted board, counters, etc. Thanks for sharing your thoughts!
I have played this game several times. Here is why I like it. 1. You can finish a game in 2 hours. 2. You can easily teach it to non-wargamers. 3. The Allies do not know which scenario card the German player has chosen which makes this game endlessly re-playable. 4. As the German player, you actually have a chance to cross the Meuse. 5. The mechanics are simple. 6. The step system means you don't have to have big stacks of units. 7. It captures the flavor of the overall battle. Germans start with a bang but every effing turn more US units keep showing up and they quickly start forming blocks at the key road junctions.
Great feedback, thank you for sharing Dan.
At 15:50 you point out that the hex ID numbers are impossibly small on many of 'em. That's for sure but the setup is easier if you flip those Order of Battle charts over! The initial counters are displayed on the entry edge of the map. I didn't notice that when I set up the first time (and so far, only time--haven't finished first game).
Thanks for pointing that out Dale!
Wayne, nice review of the game.
You should have covered more on supply (in supply/out of supply). Reason being, I had overlooked it. I was watching another TH-camr recently who covered this and according to him there were only two main German supply routes and can easily be interdicted (blocked by the allies) it can isolate a lot of German units, if allied units are left behind the German advance. Also, According to the supply rules, units have to be within 3 hexes of a road to be in supply and continuous. Because I did not pay much attention to it in my few plays....as a result, the Germans one every game! and quickly. I realize that I had not followed "supply" more. If I had the Allies would have maybe won more! Also the fact that the allies are spread thin the supply rule would help in there advantage to win the game later. Just thought I'd mention it.
Thanks Stevie. I certainly could have covered Supply more, but there's two things. Talking about Supply in a game isn't exactly riveting stuff, and second, I am trying to explain the game and provide a review within a reasonable amount of time. I've had reviews go for 45 minutes, that's just too long in my opinion. Obviously though, like with all games, a video will never cover everything, and you will need to read the rules and pay attention to them as you go. For the record, as long as you push the Allies on the entire front and don't bypass units, the German player shouldn't have any issues with supply.
@@WayneHansen Thanks for reply back on this game issue! Continue your great gaming videos on your site!
Thanks
Well said. The rules overall are well written. The supply paragraph could be a little clearer on the ways to be in supply.
My friends and I have played a number of times and the
Allies usually win because the German supply lines can get long and are easily cut. Cheers.
Thanks for the great video. May I suggest Wayne to do a video with solitaire tips/ideas to play non-solitaire games? You cover mostly solitaire games and I am not sure if what I suggest is strange and/or difficult, but any tips from your experience may help those we must play mostly solitaire games at home due to the pandemic. Maybe using several games, and it should not be that long video, but I guess it might be helpful and fun, besides you could explain/review solitaire systems you feel work well/not. Anyways, just a suggestion if you want to have a look. Best regards from Spain
That's not a bad idea, Daniel. I'll add that to my list of video ideas for the channel. Yes, I do have a list like that. The only problem is finding time to film all of the ideas!
@@WayneHansen great to hear that you will take into consideration my idea. Hopefully you could make it
+1
Hey, Wayne! Thanks for pointing out (at six minutes) that you only "charge" a moving unit the higher MP cost. I think it would help to quote the rulebook here (actually copy and paste), "The terrain cost to enter a hex is the highest cost if more than one condition exists.... For example, for an armor unit to enter a forest terrain hex that is located in an enemy ZOC would cost 3 MP not 5." Without this caveat, it would be impossible for infantry (only 4 MPs) to enter a forest to attack a unit.
Good info Dale, I know some people were struggling with this (from what I could tell on BGG).
great job as always Wayne
don't forget to post this in Tac UP Wargaming as well
I appreciate that Chris! Is Tac UP the group you founded over at CSW Community? You could always post it over there too :D
@@WayneHansen no it is ID Jesters group but has very many wargame TH-camrs in it Ardwulf,Moes game table, Rough swordsman, kev of the big board and Tonys board life to name just a few i think you would enjoy it
Nice job. Interesting game.
Cool. Another video. You really should have more subscribers. I picked up Flying Colors, Cowboys and Indians, and Devil Boats (yeah..I know) yesterday.
Dennis, nice haul. Well, except for that game about charts. I mean about PT boats. Seriously though, Cowboys came in with Battle of the Bulge 1944, so it's definitely going on the "games to cover" pile.
@@WayneHansen - I have the old Avalon Hill title "Gunslinger", and I have played it a LOT, over the last 40 years. I developed an insanely complex solitaire system for it, along with a scenario generation system, and a modified RPG system for each character, with progression. I will likely do the same thing for CAI. I will be looking forward to it. I have some ideas on better solitaire play, already.
Hey Wayne,Great Video as always,are there solo rules for this or did you just play both sides to the best of your ability?...Also another one from Worthington you'd like that is very underated is Holdfast Tunisia 1942-43 from Matt Looby.
Hey David! No solo rules, just played both sides. The "basic" rules let you play both sides very easily. There are additional rules for a 2 player game featuring fog of war, hidden units, and German variable objectives. Holdfast Tunisia, huh? I own a few of the Holdfast games, but not that one. I'll have to look into it.
Thanks Wayne, looks like a really nice "quick Bulge" game, but price tag (£71) is too high for me for what the game is, so I'll give it a pass...
I understand. Sometimes a game looks good (or is good!), but just isn't for you. I've been there. But thank you for checking it out!