It was really good to hear Grant's honest reaction to the game, especially the landings aspect. Too many reviewers tend to unduly praise the games they're presenting, without taking a more critical view when something doesn't feel right or turn out to be beneficial to the gaming experience or understanding the history involved. Thank you.
Great debate and game context discussion. It’s what makes your channel so engaging & insightful. I would be fascinated to hear you do a top 5 D-Day, Breakout & France games.
Lol! (at Grant's "an ungodly amount of allied chits" comment) 😄 Yes, I agree the friendship you guys have and how that comes through in your videos is a huge part of why I really enjoy watching your videos! I'm hoping for a Market Garden Dark game myself. The Dark Highway...The Dark Bridges... something like that.
A little late to the party but I'm getting this on the table next week. I agree with what you say about the landings. It's interesting that, in his Barbarossa to Berlin game, Ted was willing to cut out the beginning of the war (which many players NEED like they need D-Day). It seems like he could have taken the design leap to eliminate the landings here to make a more concise (better?) game.
The landings are just there for color. You are right though. Look at how much some people have complained about the game's treatment of Cherbourg. Not including the landings would be ten times that.
Great job as usual guys. TY. How many more ways/games are there going to be on the topic LOL. I've purchased several Normandy games over the years from Avalon Hill's The Longest Day back in '80 through to Simonitch's Normandy '44 and all in between. I'm very happy with N'44 which I believe is most comparable to this one so I'm good on Normandy games along with Bitter woods & Ardennes '44 to satisfy the Bulge fix.
My copy arrived today. Can’t wait to try this solo, also of thinking of using the game to follow the historical events to try to explore some of the decisions made.
There was a thread on bgg a while back about future dark games. I think Ted did confirm there was a pacific game well on it’s way and a few other ideas. Personally I’m hoping for a dark series Market Garden game.
I agree with you on the landings section. I think I would've preferred a table for landing units to suffer (or not) some kind of damage - with Omaha having a deadlier table than say the British/Canadian sector - applied on the first two waves and then no more.
I agree about the landings. Maybe just roll for a step loss at Omaha and Pointe Du Hoc. I thought it was also interesting that there was no disruption or chance of loss for the airborne units. Otherwise a fun and pretty easy-to-play Normandy game.
So, you are saying i could have played the beach part of the Normandy 1944 invasion, instead of watching this review? Just kidding, the first part of this review is one of the reasons that i consider your channel essential viewing, when it comes to wargames, these days. :)
I think the landings help create some initial drama / impetus to set-off the entire campaign. The fact that there is some hidden info also adds some nice tension. I'm glad they were included, and they are fairly easy to work through which is a nice bonus.
... I'm sorry, can you give me some advice? Which game would you recommend between the two Normandy`44 or The Dark Summer Normandy 1944? Greetings from a Ukrainian soldier who loves board games) ...
I own, but have not played Normandy '44, but apparently it's excellent. It's more limited in scope (just the landings and beachhead breakout). The Dark Summer has the whole falaise pocket and more on it, which is a different beast. Sorry I can't be of more help. You can't go wrong with either. God Speed.
@@ThePlayersAid Thanks) Yes, I see that Dark Summer has Avranches, Morten, Argentan-Falez, but not Cotanten and Cherbourg. Yes, a difficult choice, although choose both))
Sounds like this game is fully on board with the 'British were inferior' Normandy narrative that too many US game designers love. Never mind that they faced a greater density of German armour and elite units than the Russian did at Kursk, whereas the US faced virtually none. Or that they might have meant to have been the anvil for the US hammer all along. They might have broken out and exceeded the German blitzkrieg in terms of speed and distance charging through France and the Low Countries ahead of schedule. But what the heck we're so insecure that we have to portray ourselves as 'the best'. It's pretty tiresome and thoroughly disproved. The Brits were just as tactically adept as anyone. Having got that rant off my chest all that this is a great review so many thanks TPA. It just seems that this game is box-ticking platitudes such as the landings and British inferiority for easy money from a certain audience. I'm out 😁
Thanks for another great review guys appreciate it, for sure thinking about getting it now. Quick question you guys ever play ASL buy chance. I listen to your advice a lot. Is it worth getting into , your opinion? Kinda on the fence with the whole thing.
We've never played, although I own a bunch of it so that at some point we can. ASL is a lifestyle game. What I would say is that you can always start with one of the Starter Kits, which have the same core rules, but are smaller complete boxes. If you like that then there's a TON of ASLSK you can continue with, or take the plunge into the regular ASL if desired.
Great review and discussion. I like it when reviews are not afraid to be critical on certain aspects of a game. By the way, got an advert in the middle of the video, is that supposed to happen (never had it before on your videos)?
I don't have this game but after watching the review, I agree with Grant that maybe the game should have started more inland instead but I'm sure the designer had his reasons.
I look at something like France 1944 from Mark Herman: just start the units on the beaches at 00:00 on June 7th. Simple solution that removes extra rules and time.
Let me guess, the allies win ? How many compass playtesters does it take to unscrew a lightbulb ? lol . . . . me thinks they need to hire just two ;) Maybe the victory conditions should be based on how long the Germans hold out ?
The Germans can win, if they can delay the allies for long enough. The allies have to push to win and that leaves them over stretched at points. It’s a good game with two experienced players who know the game.
The camaraderie between you two is the reason for the channel’s popularity. Keep it up guys!
It was really good to hear Grant's honest reaction to the game, especially the landings aspect. Too many reviewers tend to unduly praise the games they're presenting, without taking a more critical view when something doesn't feel right or turn out to be beneficial to the gaming experience or understanding the history involved. Thank you.
Great debate and game context discussion. It’s what makes your channel so engaging & insightful. I would be fascinated to hear you do a top 5 D-Day, Breakout & France games.
Excellent video, great conversation. I have the game and can’t wait to try it. Thank you
Lol! (at Grant's "an ungodly amount of allied chits" comment) 😄 Yes, I agree the friendship you guys have and how that comes through in your videos is a huge part of why I really enjoy watching your videos! I'm hoping for a Market Garden Dark game myself. The Dark Highway...The Dark Bridges... something like that.
A little late to the party but I'm getting this on the table next week. I agree with what you say about the landings. It's interesting that, in his Barbarossa to Berlin game, Ted was willing to cut out the beginning of the war (which many players NEED like they need D-Day). It seems like he could have taken the design leap to eliminate the landings here to make a more concise (better?) game.
The landings are just there for color. You are right though. Look at how much some people have complained about the game's treatment of Cherbourg. Not including the landings would be ten times that.
Great job as usual guys. TY. How many more ways/games are there going to be on the topic LOL. I've purchased several Normandy games over the years from Avalon Hill's The Longest Day back in '80 through to Simonitch's Normandy '44 and all in between. I'm very happy with N'44 which I believe is most comparable to this one so I'm good on Normandy games along with Bitter woods & Ardennes '44 to satisfy the Bulge fix.
My copy arrived today. Can’t wait to try this solo, also of thinking of using the game to follow the historical events to try to explore some of the decisions made.
There was a thread on bgg a while back about future dark games. I think Ted did confirm there was a pacific game well on it’s way and a few other ideas. Personally I’m hoping for a dark series Market Garden game.
Thanks for the review. I loved my play of the dark summer.
I agree with you on the landings section. I think I would've preferred a table for landing units to suffer (or not) some kind of damage - with Omaha having a deadlier table than say the British/Canadian sector - applied on the first two waves and then no more.
Good grief. You guys are killing me and my wallet. I literally ordered this today because of you. :)
I agree about the landings. Maybe just roll for a step loss at Omaha and Pointe Du Hoc. I thought it was also interesting that there was no disruption or chance of loss for the airborne units. Otherwise a fun and pretty easy-to-play Normandy game.
As someone new to hex and counter, is there a newbie’s guide of recommendations?
So, you are saying i could have played the beach part of the Normandy 1944 invasion, instead of watching this review?
Just kidding, the first part of this review is one of the reasons that i consider your channel essential viewing, when it comes to wargames, these days. :)
Grant should have been a playtester.
I think the landings help create some initial drama / impetus to set-off the entire campaign. The fact that there is some hidden info also adds some nice tension. I'm glad they were included, and they are fairly easy to work through which is a nice bonus.
... I'm sorry, can you give me some advice? Which game would you recommend between the two Normandy`44 or The Dark Summer Normandy 1944? Greetings from a Ukrainian soldier who loves board games) ...
I own, but have not played Normandy '44, but apparently it's excellent. It's more limited in scope (just the landings and beachhead breakout). The Dark Summer has the whole falaise pocket and more on it, which is a different beast. Sorry I can't be of more help. You can't go wrong with either. God Speed.
@@ThePlayersAid Thanks) Yes, I see that Dark Summer has Avranches, Morten, Argentan-Falez, but not Cotanten and Cherbourg. Yes, a difficult choice, although choose both))
Great video!
Sounds like this game is fully on board with the 'British were inferior' Normandy narrative that too many US game designers love. Never mind that they faced a greater density of German armour and elite units than the Russian did at Kursk, whereas the US faced virtually none. Or that they might have meant to have been the anvil for the US hammer all along. They might have broken out and exceeded the German blitzkrieg in terms of speed and distance charging through France and the Low Countries ahead of schedule. But what the heck we're so insecure that we have to portray ourselves as 'the best'. It's pretty tiresome and thoroughly disproved. The Brits were just as tactically adept as anyone.
Having got that rant off my chest all that this is a great review so many thanks TPA. It just seems that this game is box-ticking platitudes such as the landings and British inferiority for easy money from a certain audience. I'm out 😁
Thanks for another great review guys appreciate it, for sure thinking about getting it now. Quick question you guys ever play ASL buy chance. I listen to your advice a lot. Is it worth getting into , your opinion? Kinda on the fence with the whole thing.
We've never played, although I own a bunch of it so that at some point we can. ASL is a lifestyle game. What I would say is that you can always start with one of the Starter Kits, which have the same core rules, but are smaller complete boxes. If you like that then there's a TON of ASLSK you can continue with, or take the plunge into the regular ASL if desired.
Ty you for the advice, you guys are the best.
Great review and discussion. I like it when reviews are not afraid to be critical on certain aspects of a game. By the way, got an advert in the middle of the video, is that supposed to happen (never had it before on your videos)?
I don't have this game but after watching the review, I agree with Grant that maybe the game should have started more inland instead but I'm sure the designer had his reasons.
I look at something like France 1944 from Mark Herman: just start the units on the beaches at 00:00 on June 7th. Simple solution that removes extra rules and time.
Let me guess, the allies win ?
How many compass playtesters does it take to unscrew a lightbulb ? lol . . . . me thinks they need to hire just two ;)
Maybe the victory conditions should be based on how long the Germans hold out ?
😅
The Germans can win, if they can delay the allies for long enough. The allies have to push to win and that leaves them over stretched at points. It’s a good game with two experienced players who know the game.