Excellent introduction, Gilbert, as always! I designed the map for Hexasim, but they used their Waterloo artist to do final art, on which he did an incredible job! Their two map Ligny comes out in another week or so. No snow on the field that day, though - just a heavy frost that melted away under the 'Sun of Austerlitz.' Temps went up to about 40F by noon, rendering a lot of places a muddy mess.
The combat model seems to capture what you intuitively would expect it to. You can always wish for more, but the simplicity of it makes the game flow really well.
Thanks Rick. You did a good job on the original then from which this is based. Now having pushed some counters around, I think this is going to be one of my favourite of the 'big' battle games.
Ligny should be out and shipping by now, which is another two sheet map, with a third adding in Quatre Bras to the west possibly next year. Again, I designed the original maps, but they quite rightly want to keep the same artist and look they already have. Actually, I laid that combo out as FOUR adjoining maps, but they decided to lose a bit of 'shoulder room' so they could get away with three. I may have to do my own version eventually using all four sheets. ;-)
Hi Gilbert nice intro to the game. Agreed would love to see Eylau or Jena. I enjoyed your coverage on previous Eylau products. Components look great quality on this. Id like them to cover some Thirty Years War battles, yes I know they do Fr R Wars. Decisions, decisions....
Yes, this one is quite good. I understand "Waterloo" is a fine game too but I'm glad I waited for this one. I'm working in a simple 'part 2' video where I show combat
It's a wonderful game, but I had hoped that the system would better show the differences between the Coalition and French methods of fighting at the grand tactical scale. For example, artillery SHOULD be handled differently - the French put their artiller into companies, which could be massed, while the Coalition still used artillery mostly as battalion guns. 2/3 of the Coalition artillery were battalion guns and were largely ineffective and certainly couldn't be massed. However, the game puts these artillery battalion guns into separate "companies", which gives the Coalition an artillery advantage that they CERTAINLY didn't have during the battle/campaign. Another example is how the French corp system was so flexible, vs the Coalition regiments put into columns, with very little flexibility, or even knowledge of the abilities of each of the units within their columns. It would have been nice to show this grand tactical difference, so that the French/Coalition are not played in similar manners.
I find this one quite suitable for solitaire play, because in the end a commander still has to roll to see if he moves or obeys orders. I'm currently involved in a face to face game of the grand battle and my opponent and I think this is a great 'battle' game.
I didn't find that to be much of a barrier to play. The hidden movement only really plays a part in the opening stages before you come within 4 hexes of the enemy. It's not perfect playing solitaire but it does show off the game system for what it is. A very good system indeed.
Excellent introduction, Gilbert, as always! I designed the map for Hexasim, but they used their Waterloo artist to do final art, on which he did an incredible job! Their two map Ligny comes out in another week or so. No snow on the field that day, though - just a heavy frost that melted away under the 'Sun of Austerlitz.' Temps went up to about 40F by noon, rendering a lot of places a muddy mess.
Hexasim is one of THE game publishers to closely look at. Very high quality products and great games to play
A very good overview of the game. This looks like a must for any wargamer. Always enjoy your perspective. Thank You .
The combat model seems to capture what you intuitively would expect it to.
You can always wish for more, but the simplicity of it makes the game flow really well.
Thanks Rick. You did a good job on the original then from which this is based. Now having pushed some counters around, I think this is going to be one of my favourite of the 'big' battle games.
Ligny should be out and shipping by now, which is another two sheet map, with a third adding in Quatre Bras to the west possibly next year. Again, I designed the original maps, but they quite rightly want to keep the same artist and look they already have. Actually, I laid that combo out as FOUR adjoining maps, but they decided to lose a bit of 'shoulder room' so they could get away with three. I may have to do my own version eventually using all four sheets. ;-)
thank you for another eye opening review. You are a must watch for informing me of new and old games.
beautiful close ups thank you I will get this one
Hi Gilbert nice intro to the game. Agreed would love to see Eylau or Jena. I enjoyed your coverage on previous Eylau products. Components look great quality on this. Id like them to cover some Thirty Years War battles, yes I know they do Fr R Wars. Decisions, decisions....
Yes, this one is quite good. I understand "Waterloo" is a fine game too but I'm glad I waited for this one. I'm working in a simple 'part 2' video where I show combat
thank you Gilbert!
It's a wonderful game, but I had hoped that the system would better show the differences between the Coalition and French methods of fighting at the grand tactical scale. For example, artillery SHOULD be handled differently - the French put their artiller into companies, which could be massed, while the Coalition still used artillery mostly as battalion guns. 2/3 of the Coalition artillery were battalion guns and were largely ineffective and certainly couldn't be massed. However, the game puts these artillery battalion guns into separate "companies", which gives the Coalition an artillery advantage that they CERTAINLY didn't have during the battle/campaign.
Another example is how the French corp system was so flexible, vs the Coalition regiments put into columns, with very little flexibility, or even knowledge of the abilities of each of the units within their columns. It would have been nice to show this grand tactical difference, so that the French/Coalition are not played in similar manners.
uploaded on my birthday!
There was no snow at Austerlitz.
Yeah, but there were frozen lakes and streams. It was December.
Does this play player against player? If so what is the max amount of players?
Of course! It is designed as a two player game but I suppose you could play with 3 players. French, Austrians and Russians.
Gilbert Collins thx m8
How would this play solitaire?
I find this one quite suitable for solitaire play, because in the end a commander still has to roll to see if he moves or obeys orders. I'm currently involved in a face to face game of the grand battle and my opponent and I think this is a great 'battle' game.
What about the hidden movement? Would you double blind them until revealed by LOS?
I didn't find that to be much of a barrier to play. The hidden movement only really plays a part in the opening stages before you come within 4 hexes of the enemy. It's not perfect playing solitaire but it does show off the game system for what it is. A very good system indeed.
Perhaps a game with less emphasis on hidden movement would work better solitaire? Ligny 1815?