The Supreme Commander: WWII in Europe, 1939-1945

 Card Games  Comments Off on The Supreme Commander: WWII in Europe, 1939-1945
Jul 242013
 

The Supreme Commander WWII in Europe, 1939-1945The Supreme Commander: WWII in Europe, 1939-1945

$65.00 SRP

SDI

 

The Supreme Commander is a game designed for 2-5 players covering the entirety of World War II in the European Theater of Operations (ETO), from September 1939 to the end of the war. While there are plenty of other ETO games out there, The Supreme Commander effectively models all of the primary aspects of the war in a simple, straight-forward manner.

 

All of these elements and more are included in a surprisingly easy-to-learn game: Murmansk convoy, Lend-Lease, diplomacy, the strategic U-Boat campaign, technological advancement, strategic bombing campaigns, naval invasions, the economy and military production, partisans.

 

That is not to say that The Supreme Commander is some sort of compromise, surrendering historical accuracy for simplicity. The game delivers a detailed order of battle and meticulously researched economic and diplomatic system which allows players to play out the historical military campaigns of the war as well as the “what ifs” that may have happened. It is entirely up to the players, the system is open-ended and does not restrict players to the exact decisions of the past.

 

Contains:

Rules Booklet, Play Booklet

Two Counter Sheets

Two Player Aid Cards

Diplomatic Track

Six Force Pool Cards

22 x 34 inch Map

Two ten-sided dice

Enhanced by Zemanta

Box Breaking 74 T34/85 Medium Tank for Bolt Action

 Bolt Action, Bolt Action, Box Breaking, Featured, Warlord Games  Comments Off on Box Breaking 74 T34/85 Medium Tank for Bolt Action
Jul 152013
 

In this Box Breaking Matt takes a look at the T34/85 Medium Tank for Bolt Action Games.  This is the Russian main battle Tank.  The T34 is a product of Warlord Games.

 

 

You can learn more about Bolt Action at Warlord Games.
 

Battle for Normandy

 Board Games, GMT Games  Comments Off on Battle for Normandy
Jun 082013
 

normBattle for Normandy Expansion: June – August 1944

$59.00 SRP

SDI

 

This expansion set for The Battle for Normandy allows players to extend the campaign game to the end of August, but most importantly includes the area for the Mortain and Falaise Pocket scenarios. Counters are included to fill out Allied and Axis Order of Battles to the end of August, and also include specific breakdown counters for AT, SP AT, and mechanized infantry.

 

The Full Color Rules & Scenario books are updated and comprehensive, and include all original rules and scenarios plus all optional rules, and 6 new scenarios.

Enhanced by Zemanta
Dec 152012
 
> Where did your staff find inspiration for AE WWII: Euorpean Theatre?
The bulk of our inspiration comes from true events.  A lot of the weird elements of AE-WWII are based on real things that happened during WWII.  Few people know how weird the war really was and it’s with just a little creative license that we can turn these true events into the amazing occult and sci-fi elements you find in the game.  Wonder weapons, occult rituals, secret operations – these all took place in surprising frequency during the war and it’s these events that we twist just a bit to become true ‘Weird War II’.
> How long have you been creating the project?
AE-WWII has been around for about six years.  Rob Kingery and I put out the core rulebook in January of 2007 and we had models and playtest rules out in 2006.  Along with Clint Werner we put together a great game with a rich background that gamers really enjoyed.  I’m very excited to be reviving the line with the second edition.
> What is your favorite experimentation?
If you’re asking what my favorite ‘weird’ element of the game is, I’d have to say the Soviets psychic soldiers.  In our timeline people in the Soviet Union have begun to develop psychic powers that are quickly put into military service through the NKVD.  Psi-Cannons that fry the enemy’s brain, Psi-Commandos that are nearly invisible, Banshees that emit a psychic scream and the half-man, half-chimp Chumans are a lot of fun to use and very tactically diverse.  I’ve got a soft spot for my communists.
> What has your largest hurdle been?
Our biggest hurdle with AE-WWII has always been getting more people to hear about the game.  Getting exposure as a small game company with an ‘indie’ miniature game is always tricky.  Without a big budget for marketing, we rely on word of mouth and the support of our fans.  This is one of the many reasons we chose to use Kickstarter for the second edition: it helps us fund the project as well as let everyone know the game is out there.
> With the kick starter funded what do you believe is your biggest challenge?
After meeting the goals of the Kickstarter, our biggest challenge is taking that success and getting the game out into retail stores.  We’re working with distributors to begin a new push for AE-WWII and it’s our hope that a new edition coupled with the success of the Kickstarter campaign will help bring new attention to the game.
> What is the story background?
Wow, that’s a big question.  Clint Werner has put so much work into the alternate history of the game, there’s a lot there.  But the biggest changes revolve around the failure of the invasion of Normandy and the war dragging on into 1947.  All sides turn to wonder-weapons to win the war and, coupled with occult horrors brought to bear by the Axis and the Allies, the war becomes very strange indeed.  Each nation has sci-fi elements as well as the many occult branches of the various military organizations across the world.  The setting is one of my favorite components of the game and there’s really far too much to go into here, but I encourage any fan of history or weird history or just general weirdness to look into the alternate history Clint has created.
> Many of your models show a tremendous amount of detail, how much historic research went into their design?
Quite a bit.  For all our ‘normal’ models we try very hard to stay true to the uniforms, weapons and appearance of the soldiers of WWII.  We obviously can’t get every detail right – especially with the weird elements mixed in – but we do our best to have our models reflect the fighting men of the war.
> Will you have quickstart rules?
Absolutely.  For the first edition of the games, our QSR was available online as a free download and included in the starter packs.  We will continue that tradition and include the QSR in starter and detachment packs as well as being available as an online download.
> What are the basic mechanics of the game?
It’s a simple d6 mechanic.  Players roll 1d6 and either compare the results to an attribute or add an attribute to the total.
One of the most unique elements of the game is our morale, or Drive, mechanic.  Units have a Drive value that slowly decreases as their detachment suffers casualties.  When a unit’s Drive reaches zero, they rout.  This causes additional Drive penalties in friendly units and creates a cascade effect whereby the entire detachment will run off the battlefield.  These penalties are mitigated by models with the Command ability – officers and sergeants – who will spend action points to boost falling Drive scores.  No rolling involved, just a struggle to constantly keep your men from fleeing the action.  I’m quite proud of this mechanic and I have yet to see another game that uses anything like it.
> How many models will a basic game need?
The game is skirmish-scale, so each player will field a detachment with an average of 10 models.  We’ve seen lists with as few as 3 models and a vehicle or lists with as many as 20 models for a Soviet ‘horde’ detachment.
> What is the average game length supposed to be?
The game plays quite easily in an hour.  Depending on the scenario, some games can be much faster or a bit longer.  But the average play time in around an hour.
> What about the table; what size is the game designed for?
We recommend a 4′ x 4′ table.
> How much terrain does the game use?
Terrain is vital in this game.  We’ve captured the essence of WWII where a soldier in the open is going to get killed.  Players that don’t take advantage of cover will find themselves fighting an uphill battle.  That’s why we recommend a good amount of terrain – a few pieces for every 1′ x 1′ table section.
> Now that the kickstarter is funded are you looking to an expansion yet?   Will we see vehicles?
The core rules have always had vehicles in them and they will be included in the second edition.  The focus will remain on light and medium vehicles; jeeps, halftracks and light armored cars.  We will not be including rules for tanks in this book.
As for expansions, we already have a few things in the pipe.  Due to space/budget we are unable to include a full British Army list in this book, which is something we really regret.  Rest assured that they are first on the list for expansions and we’ll be looking to ’round-out’ Europe before moving on to the Pacific Theater.
Let me know if you have any other questions or any comments.  Thanks Matt!
If you have more questions you can check out the kickstarter on the right hand side of the screen or check them out at Black Ball Games.
Enhanced by Zemanta

Two New D-Day Dice Expansions From Valley Games

 Gaming News  Comments Off on Two New D-Day Dice Expansions From Valley Games
Oct 222012
 

D-Day Dice: Operation Neptune

Release Date: Nov 2012

$ 14.95

Operation Neptune offers 6 new Battle Maps: 4 of them are normal Battle Maps and 2 are double-sized, giant Battle Maps. New features like the “Command Posts” and the “Few Good Men” rules give these new maps a character of their own. This expansion also includes 2 new Items, 2 new Awards and 1 new Specialist, the “Executive Officer”, who comes in 4 different versions (depending on the player color).

 

D-Day Dice: Normandy Expansion

Release Date: Nov 2012

$ 9.95

This small expansion contains 4 new Battle Maps, using some of the new features introduced in the “Operation Neptune” expansion (including special rules if you don’t own Operation Neptune).

Check these and other products from Valley Games.

Enhanced by Zemanta

Bolt Action: Assault on Normandy From Warlord Games

 Gaming News, Historical, Miniatures  Comments Off on Bolt Action: Assault on Normandy From Warlord Games
Oct 172012
 

Bolt Action: Assault on Normandy

Coming Soon

$ 92.00

Bolt Action: Assault on Normandy gives you everything you need to pit your tactics and wits against your opponent as you recreate the great battles of World War II on the tabletop! In addition to the glorious Bolt Action rulebook and eight Orders Dice, you will find forty hard plastic, multi-pose 28mm miniatures as well as terrain for them to fight over. This is a great starting point as you seek to defeat your foes and bring an end to the greatest conflict in history. Bolt Action: Assault on Normandy contains:

Full-colour 216-page hardback Bolt Action rulebook

40 multi-pose, hard plastic 28mm miniatures:

20 US Army infantry

20 German Heer infantry

1 hard plastic Ruined Farmhouse

8 Bolt Action Orders Dice.

Go check out Warlord Games and rewrite history with you friends this weekend.

Enhanced by Zemanta

Words With Matt Sprange from Mongoose Publishing at Gen Con 2012

 Gen Con 2012, Mongoose Publishing  Comments Off on Words With Matt Sprange from Mongoose Publishing at Gen Con 2012
Aug 302012
 

Join us as Matt entertains us with information on Traveller, Star Trek (Tholian Web), Judge Dredd’s Prowler Tank, Historical line coming soon, and what is Ratzenkriege?

 

 

 

 

I look forward to hearing from Matt soon about that Prowler Tank.   Please follow us the links are on the Right hand side of the screen.

Digiprove sealCopyright secured by Digiprove © 2012

Me 262 Bomber and Recon Units from Osprey in July

 Games and Education, Gaming News, Osprey Publishing  Comments Off on Me 262 Bomber and Recon Units from Osprey in July
Jun 262012
 

Me 262 Bomber and Recon Units

$ 22.95 SRP

 

When the revolutionary Messerschmitt Me 262 jet first appeared as a bomber in the skies over north-west Europe in late 1944, it represented both a new dawn in aeronautical development and a great shock to the Allied air forces and armies. In mid-1944, Adolf Hitler, having seen the impressive and formidable performance of Me 262 prototypes, stated his firm desire to see the aircraft enter service as a bomber. There was nothing which the Allies had in their air forces which could touch the Me 262. Although, due mainly to problems associated with delays in engine deliveries, its debut was too late to contest the Allied landings in Normandy, when it finally did enter service in the autumn of 1944, the bomb-carrying Me 262s conducted several hit-and-run raids against RAF airfields in Belgium and Holland. From then until the end of the war the Me 262 remained one of the most feared weapons in the Axis arsenal. This book covers the complete history of the Me 262 bomber and reconnaissance units during World War 2. Softcover; July 2012; 96 pages;

Enhanced by Zemanta
Digiprove sealCopyright secured by Digiprove © 2012

WWII US Cavalry Groups: European Theater from Osprey

 Games and Education, Gaming News, Osprey Publishing  Comments Off on WWII US Cavalry Groups: European Theater from Osprey
Jun 262012
 

WWII US Cavalry Groups: European Theater

$ 18.95 SRP

 

The cavalry regiments of the US Army were in the process of being transformed into a mechanized force when the USA entered World War II. While those cavalry regiments deployed to the Pacific to fight the Japanese were turned into infantry units, those sent to Europe were employed as light armor in the cavalry’s traditional spearhead roles – reconnaissance, the screening of advances and flanks, and the pursuit of beaten enemy forces. Equipped with M8 Greyhound armored cars, M5 Stuart and M24 Chaffee light tanks, and halftracks, these units were designated cavalry groups (mechanized), each c. 1,700 strong and divided into two heavily armed squadrons. They were seldom attached to divisions, but to higher-level corps commands, meaning they could be shifted around quickly and independently and be formed at need into flexible battle groups with armored, infantry, and other units, depending on the mission. Featuring specially drawn full-color illustrations depicting uniforms, insignia, armored vehicles, and tactical scenarios, this is the story of the US cavalry units that led the advance to victory in Europe during World War II. Softcover; July 2012; 64 pages;

Enhanced by Zemanta
Digiprove sealCopyright secured by Digiprove © 2012

Archibald Wavell coming in July From Osprey

 Games and Education, Gaming News, Osprey Publishing  Comments Off on Archibald Wavell coming in July From Osprey
Jun 252012
 

Archibald Wavell

$ 18.95 SRP

 

Archibald Wavell remains one of the great Allied commanders of the early phases of World War II. In fact, between June 1940 and June 1941, he was the only British theatre commander actively engaging Axis forces. At a time when the British Expeditionary Force had been expelled from Europe, Wavell was conducting campaigns across nine countries and two continents. In those 12 months, he planned and directly oversaw a multitude of campaigns, from the hugely successful winter campaigns against the Italians in the Western Desert and the conquest of Italian East Africa, through the Iraqi revolt, the invasion of Vichy Syria and Lebanon and the ill-fated British involvement in Greece, to the unsuccessful attempts to break the siege of Tobruk that led to his replacement in June 1941. While Wavell’s great victories are often overshadowed by those of other commanders later in the war, this should not detract from his proven abilities as a strategist and tactician. This book tells the complete story of Wavell’s wartime exploits and examines his strengths and weaknesses as a commander. Softcover; July 2012; 64 pages;

Enhanced by Zemanta
Digiprove sealCopyright secured by Digiprove © 2012