For me, when I saw the Commands and Colors Ancients system a few years ago I kind of wrote it off as too simple as I was into miniatures games like Impetus at the time. But now I've found this game is complex enough to give you a lot of variety while still being able to get a couple of games done in an evening. Also as an added bonus it has been a great game to teach newer players with like my daughter who really enjoys the game. I personally classify it as a next step up in complexity from Chess or risk
He's right. Ancients battle games, and ancients games in general, are wonderful due to the combined arms aspect. More specifically, there are many different troop types in each army and figuring out how to best utilize them not only together, but considering the enemy army's composition, is a big part. While many will fanboy over playing Rome, I often find them the least interesting because they tend to have the least troop variety. Although earlier Republican ones were more interesting than Imperial ones in that sense.
I agree there is a stigma about this game. I started with Napoleonic's because when i looked at the lack of terrain I thought this is too simple. Upon further review I just ordered this. I played it on steam and realized the subtlety of the strategy in this and of course the Elephants lol. One of the things I dislike about Napoleonic's and memoir 44 is the 20 minutes I spend putting terrain tiles on the board and triple checking that I got them correct only to play a 20 minute game. This solves that. Thanks for the review as always.
regarding the catapults you can download some extra scenarios from GMT's website. 1 of these have catapults in it. Having played both Medieval and Ancients there are some small but major differences. Inspiration counters, higher quality armor, height advantage for Cavalry, Cavalry being 4 blocks instead of 3. Pretty much all infantry in medieval taking a 1 dice reduction to combat values just to name a few changes
The difference in how you play Ancients and Medieval is significant. As you point out the strengthening of cavalry (armor & stature, increased blocks) against the weakening of infantry (many lose dice) is a crucial pivot point along with empowered leaders (inspired leadership). You cannot apply the same battlefield tactics in both.
This game is great. Fairly easy rule set and due to the dice it gives some real punch the air moments when your plan comes off with spectacular luck. That said there are things to do mitigate the dice and maximise your chances too. Loads of fun and tactically sound.....
just to be clear. Expansion 1 - Greek vs Eastern Kingdoms (Adds Alexander & Camels), 2&3 - Barbarians(2- Adds barbarian chariots light) and Roman Civil War(3 adds Julius caesar and some special rules for heavy and medium infantry) are together. Expansion 4 (Imperial Rome includes catphratcted cavalry and camels with caltrops rule and para bellum - battle played over 3 days)
Hey Guys... I played "Medieval", so I bought Ancients and then got EVERYTHING in terms of expansions... Spartans, Greeks, etc.... love the block system. Moving blocks on the board is a wonderful tactile feel.
Medieval does take place in the medieval era, the plan was to go through history from the very beginning of the medieval period and go through each stage of it with expansions chronologically. Would have been great! Unfortunately, a lot of people who complained, like yourself most likely, have caused them to abandon this plan.
For me CCA is the best in the series. The blocks, the units and rules are at that perfect intersection of simplicity and detail. Makes me tempted to look at CCM.
I just bought this after looking for Napoleon C&C at a decent price and failing. Based on your review I think I’m going to be very happy with my purchase. 😀
The more I listen to this video the more I kept thinking about the Elephant scene in the War of the Rings movie. I think it would be cool recreate that scene in an Command & Colors game system.
Funny you should mention each having to respectively figure out how to utilize or deal with war elephants. Reading the historic battles always gave me the impression that both sides, likewise, were unsure of how to go about it. Defending against them took a little time to figure out, and their likelihood of panic-stampeding back through friendlies was obviously well known to those who used them. I recall war elephants being set up in a different array during each of the large battles around the Med. Which tells me they were also a difficult wild card to plan with.
Your version shows 15 battles but I have seen some with only 10 battles, do you know why or which editions/printings have 15 instead or which battles were added/removed? Thanks all
This is the best of the series, I have print one of this game and it is my favorite. the elephants and the chariots are awesome. Also the scale of the game is great with the different sized blocks. You mention playing all of the series, have you played Battlelore? Another great Borg game.
If I had to pick between Ancients & Napoleonic's it toss of a coin. As I am totally fascinated with Napoleon I may give Napoleonic's the edge. Ancients has one card were you can activate all units that are touching is a Great card unless your on the receiving end. I may take heat but I wish I had block's instead of the mini's for Battle Cry. May if they min's were painted.
You guys are lighting a fire under my butt to get my copy of GBoH Chandragupta clipped and organized. There are elephants. Every battle has elephants. Now I just want to play elephants vs. elephants.
They are very, very similar (Memoir '44 uses the Commands & Colors system too). IF you had to chose between the two then go for theme you prefer. There are many great WWII games that are as easy as memoir, but I think Ancients is a great place to start with ancient history.
Just played this again (finally) with son . I love it. You must always have s strategy but nust he ready to change. Leaders & formations are very important. I guess I be the one, what's with the haircut Alexander?
@@oldmanmilo8539 regardless of how you call it, when it takes majority of the video, it is a waste of viewers time. especially when im looking for information on the game system, how it plays, how is it diferent from others in the series. i like when they add their warstories after the "review" part is done, not when they replace it with talking.
![[UNCUT] เก็บ "สจ.โต้ง" เอี่ยวมาเฟีย รู้ตัวคนบงการ ก่อนสั่งลั่นไก I คนดังนั่งเคลียร์ I 13 ธ.ค.67](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/o-J_p62D40w/mqdefault.jpg)
![แฉกลโกงงานวัด 2024 [ โกงมั้ยครับ ep.106 ] | DOM](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/taC5dpP3HXA/mqdefault.jpg)
For me, when I saw the Commands and Colors Ancients system a few years ago I kind of wrote it off as too simple as I was into miniatures games like Impetus at the time. But now I've found this game is complex enough to give you a lot of variety while still being able to get a couple of games done in an evening. Also as an added bonus it has been a great game to teach newer players with like my daughter who really enjoys the game. I personally classify it as a next step up in complexity from Chess or risk
From Chess?!
@@xavierpaquin Chess isn't complicated.
He's right. Ancients battle games, and ancients games in general, are wonderful due to the combined arms aspect. More specifically, there are many different troop types in each army and figuring out how to best utilize them not only together, but considering the enemy army's composition, is a big part.
While many will fanboy over playing Rome, I often find them the least interesting because they tend to have the least troop variety. Although earlier Republican ones were more interesting than Imperial ones in that sense.
You made very good review! I ordered this game after watching your video. Thank you! It looks fun:)
I agree there is a stigma about this game. I started with Napoleonic's because when i looked at the lack of terrain I thought this is too simple. Upon further review I just ordered this. I played it on steam and realized the subtlety of the strategy in this and of course the Elephants lol. One of the things I dislike about Napoleonic's and memoir 44 is the 20 minutes I spend putting terrain tiles on the board and triple checking that I got them correct only to play a 20 minute game. This solves that. Thanks for the review as always.
regarding the catapults you can download some extra scenarios from GMT's website. 1 of these have catapults in it.
Having played both Medieval and Ancients there are some small but major differences. Inspiration counters, higher quality armor, height advantage for Cavalry, Cavalry being 4 blocks instead of 3. Pretty much all infantry in medieval taking a 1 dice reduction to combat values just to name a few changes
Good to know about the catapult scenarios, thanks!
The difference in how you play Ancients and Medieval is significant. As you point out the strengthening of cavalry (armor & stature, increased blocks) against the weakening of infantry (many lose dice) is a crucial pivot point along with empowered leaders (inspired leadership). You cannot apply the same battlefield tactics in both.
This game is great. Fairly easy rule set and due to the dice it gives some real punch the air moments when your plan comes off with spectacular luck.
That said there are things to do mitigate the dice and maximise your chances too. Loads of fun and tactically sound.....
just to be clear. Expansion 1 - Greek vs Eastern Kingdoms (Adds Alexander & Camels), 2&3 - Barbarians(2- Adds barbarian chariots light) and Roman Civil War(3 adds Julius caesar and some special rules for heavy and medium infantry) are together. Expansion 4 (Imperial Rome includes catphratcted cavalry and camels with caltrops rule and para bellum - battle played over 3 days)
Hey Guys... I played "Medieval", so I bought Ancients and then got EVERYTHING in terms of expansions... Spartans, Greeks, etc.... love the block system. Moving blocks on the board is a wonderful tactile feel.
Medieval does take place in the medieval era, the plan was to go through history from the very beginning of the medieval period and go through each stage of it with expansions chronologically. Would have been great! Unfortunately, a lot of people who complained, like yourself most likely, have caused them to abandon this plan.
For me CCA is the best in the series. The blocks, the units and rules are at that perfect intersection of simplicity and detail. Makes me tempted to look at CCM.
If you like the theme, CCM is better and more refined
I just bought this after looking for Napoleon C&C at a decent price and failing. Based on your review I think I’m going to be very happy with my purchase. 😀
In fairness, it's hard to go wrong with any of these games. Pick a theme you like and dive on in!
The more I listen to this video the more I kept thinking about the Elephant scene in the War of the Rings movie. I think it would be cool recreate that scene in an Command & Colors game system.
Funny you should mention each having to respectively figure out how to utilize or deal with war elephants.
Reading the historic battles always gave me the impression that both sides, likewise, were unsure of how to go about it.
Defending against them took a little time to figure out, and their likelihood of panic-stampeding back through friendlies was obviously well known to those who used them. I recall war elephants being set up in a different array during each of the large battles around the Med. Which tells me they were also a difficult wild card to plan with.
Your version shows 15 battles but I have seen some with only 10 battles, do you know why or which editions/printings have 15 instead or which battles were added/removed? Thanks all
Its actually 15 scenarios the box its a misprint on the box since the forst print
and the missing important information in the rulebook.. units can move in any direction.
This is the best of the series, I have print one of this game and it is my favorite. the elephants and the chariots are awesome. Also the scale of the game is great with the different sized blocks. You mention playing all of the series, have you played Battlelore? Another great Borg game.
If I had to pick between Ancients & Napoleonic's it toss of a coin. As I am totally fascinated with Napoleon I may give Napoleonic's the edge. Ancients has one card were you can activate all units that are touching is a Great card unless your on the receiving end. I may take heat but I wish I had block's instead of the mini's for Battle Cry. May if they min's were painted.
You guys are lighting a fire under my butt to get my copy of GBoH Chandragupta clipped and organized. There are elephants. Every battle has elephants. Now I just want to play elephants vs. elephants.
Would you prefer this or Memoir 44 for this type of game. Or, are they totally different
They are very, very similar (Memoir '44 uses the Commands & Colors system too). IF you had to chose between the two then go for theme you prefer. There are many great WWII games that are as easy as memoir, but I think Ancients is a great place to start with ancient history.
@@ThePlayersAid thanks for the reply!
I love memoir. I've just discovered all these similar games. I'll probably buy some other themes, but I want a couple memoir expansions first.
LOL. You crazy pachy-philiacs! Ancient war elephants forever!
C&C Ancients! Get your pilum on!!!
Do you recommend this game over SPQR?
I have SPQR but it is unplayed. The one thing I can say is that this is far more simple than SPQR, easy to teach, easy to learn, easy to play.
@@ThePlayersAid Thanks a lot for the reply!
cool review.
I'm designing a command and conquer style game. That's easy playable for kids ages 7+ I'm thinking how to do resourse to gain more units..
Samurai Battles was originally published by Zvezda games and is a very good rules set but a hard one to find. Miniatures in it look great.
I've heard the set up is an absolute pain because it's actual miniatures. Might wait for GMT's block version?
@@ThePlayersAid yes, complete pain. I'll also be buying the GMT version. Im a big Borg fan.
Just played this again (finally) with son . I love it. You must always have s strategy but nust he ready to change. Leaders & formations are very important.
I guess I be the one, what's with the haircut Alexander?
Lol, Kelly cuts my hair, she's still learning how to fade. (",)
@@ThePlayersAid lol. Understand. I cut my own hair and have accidentally used wrong number trimmer. No turning back.
I disliked this! My mistake, just corrected!
Are you two lovers?
Guy on the right sounds like alex jones
You were much more repetitious than ever before. Elephants, Elephants,Elephants…..
guys, can you please write scripts for your videos? i just have no time to listenfor 40+ minutes of ramblings about a game which is well known.
Ramblings is an inaccurate description. friendly banter is what I feel is accurate. This is the best part of their videos.
@@oldmanmilo8539 regardless of how you call it, when it takes majority of the video, it is a waste of viewers time. especially when im looking for information on the game system, how it plays, how is it diferent from others in the series. i like when they add their warstories after the "review" part is done, not when they replace it with talking.
Thats their style though
Nobody is forcing you to watch. And besides, they can do whatever they want, its their hard work offered for free.
I’ll take honest banter over a scripted snooze any day. Keep up the good work!