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The Spanish Tercios 1536-1704 From Osprey in July

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Jun 282012

The Spanish Tercios 1536-1704

$ 17.95 SRP

A mixed infantry formation made up of about 3,000 men armed with pikes, swords and handguns, the innovative and influential tercio or ‘Spanish square’ was the basic combat unit of the armies of Spain throughout much of the 16th and 17th centuries. Arguably the first permanent tactical formation seen in Europe since the Roman cohort, the tercio was the forerunner of modern formations such as the battalion and regiment. The variety of different weapons fielded in the tercio meant the Spanish infantry could resist opposing cavalry forces while overcoming every kind of enemy infantry deployed against them. Featuring full-colour artwork and photographs of rare items held at the Spanish Army Museum, this study covers the whole period during which the tercios were active, opening with the third Italian war between the forces of France and the Holy Roman Emperor and concluding with the final transformation of the Spanish tercios into regiments in 1704. Softcover; July 2012; 48 pages

WWII US Cavalry Groups: European Theater from Osprey

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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;

P-38 Lightning Aces of the 82nd Fighter in July from Osprey

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Jun 242012

P-38 Lightning Aces of the 82nd Fighter

$ 22.95 SRP

When the 82nd Fighter Group was organized in March 1942, most of its initial pilot cadre was comprised of newly graduated staff sergeant pilots of Class 42-C – enlisted men! They learned to fly the P-38 at Muroc, in California’s Mojave Desert, and then moved to the Los Angeles area to continue their training and to serve as part of its air defense. In September 1942 the group was transported to the East Coast, from where it shipped out to Ireland on the Queen Mary. By this time all its remaining sergeant pilots had been commissioned. As of VE-Day the 82nd Fighter Group’s score of confirmed aerial victories stood at 548 aircraft shot down, plus a huge amount of enemy materiel – including aircraft – destroyed on the ground and the sea. It had been awarded three Distinguished Unit Citations. The cost of this success was high, however, for around 250 of the group’s pilots had either been killed in action or captured. Softcover; July 2012; 96 pages;

Timeline From Asmodee Editions in July

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Jun 042012

Timeline: Historical Events

$ 14.99 SRP

JFK’s assassination, the 1st step on the moon, the last crusade… Can you put all these events correctly on the timeline? Each player is dealt the same number of cards. At the start of the game, a card is drawn at random from the stack and is placed at the center of the table with the date showing. This is the starting point for a timeline that will be gradually completed by the players. The first player then chooses one of his cards and places it before or after the card on the initial map. The player’s card is then turned over to show the date of the historical event. If it is correct, it stays in place. Otherwise, the card is discarded and the player must draw another to replace it. The more cards in the timeline, the harder it is not to make a mistake! The first player with no cards left wins.

Flash Point 2nd ed Releasing in June From Indie Boards and Cards.

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May 232012

Flash Point Fire Rescue 2^nd Edition

$ 39.99 SRP

A cooperative game of fire rescue. The call comes in… “911, what is your emergency?” On the other end is a panicked response of “FIRE!” Moments later you don the protective suits that will keep you alive, gather your equipment and rush to the scene of a blazing inferno. The team has only seconds to assess the situation and devise a plan of attack – then you spring into action like the trained professionals that you are. You must face your fears, never give up, and above all else work as a team because the fire is raging, the building is threatening to collapse and lives are in danger. You must succeed. You are the brave men and women of fire rescue, people are depending on you. This is what you do every day. Flash Point: Fire Rescue is a cooperative game. All the players are on the same team and everyone either wins or loses together. To win, the players must rescue the victims trapped inside a burning building before it collapses.

Box Breaking 10 Days in the USA

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Apr 032012

In this Box Breaking Ryan bust out 10 Days in the USA

10 Days in the USA is basically another destination in the 10-Days Travel Series. You have 10 Days in the USA – Travel the country by jet, car, and on foot. Plan your trip from start to finish using destination and transportation tiles. With a little luck and clever planning, you just might outwit your fellow travelers. The first traveler to make connections for their 10 day journey wins the game.

The Corporation has arrived in the US From Mantic Games

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Mar 302012

Corporation Rangers (10)

$ 24.99 SRP

Utilizing their years of experience, the Corporation Rangers strike ahead of the main force. Some missions require them to lay down suppression fire on the enemy, whilst others task these elite troops with taking out enemy commanders, seizing objectives and capturing enemy troops for information retrieval.

Heavy Gear Battle Report: Down Not Out

Battle Reports, Blitz, Dream Pod 9, Gaming News, Heavy Gear 1 Response »

Mar 262012

On our last game night we played Heavy Gear among others.

We are still learning about Heavy Gear and as a result we are still playing very basic games, 3 gears on 3 gears. They are often short and vicious battles. In every game there is always a surprise. This game was no different it is a testament of how balanced I believe the game is.

Box cover of the first Heavy Gear computer game (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

The two forces that faced off were 150 points or less.

Warrior w/bazooka

Hunter

Jager

against

Dessert Viper

Mad Dog

Hunter

We played on a 28″ by 24 Inch board with a lot of terrain. The models were all deployed. The dessert viper was the first to activate. He stepped out from the Fuel silo and took a shot at the Warrior. The Warrior was in the open at sub optimal range – definitly worth the shot with a heavy grenade launcher. The dice were cast 2 natural sixes compared to a one and a two. We didn’t even finish the math, we just removed the model. the rest of the first turn was spent jockeying for position.

On turn two my opponent had the opportunity to go first. His Hunter came running around the corner towards the Mad Dog and the Dessert Viper and threw a hand grenade at the Mad Dog. Each of the Gears took at least a box of Damage. If memory serves the Hunter took 2 boxes. Then the Dessert Viper moved forwward and Fired another grenade only to miss, with no end result. His Jager, ostracized from the battlefield, kicked into ground mode and top speed in an attempt to get into combat. The Mad Dog moved forward his minimum distance crashing into the Hunter. The Hunter was no more.

On turn 3 The Jager dropped to combat speed and took a shot at the stunned Mad Dog. It was a devastating blow, pieces of the mad Dog went everywhere,with a plume of flames. The Desert Viper advanced and returned ripping of about half the Jagers armor, while the Hunter kicked it into top speed.

On Turn four the Jager advanced and fired. He lit up the Jager with a margin of six on the dice thus ending the pilots life. The hunter dropped to combat speed and opened fire missing the Jager.

At the top of round five we had one Jager with half of its armor and an untouched Hunter. The Jager won initiative and managed to hit the Hunter. It was too little too late, sadly, the Hunter returned fire and ended the game.

That game is one of the most appealing things about heavy gear. The game isn’t about a list. It isn’t just about how many dice you roll. In so many games it is about what you have to put on the table. In Heavy Gear it looks like it is more about how you use it

Heavy Gear Blitz: A Brief Overview (gamer-goggles.com)
Game Night Feb 22 2012 (gamer-goggles.com)

A House Divided Coming in June from Mayfair Games

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Mar 202012

A House Divided™

The War Between the States 1861-1864.

A House Divided simulates the epic struggle of the American Civil War that was fought over the twin issues of slavery and state’s rights. The period from 1840 to 1861 saw these issues brought to a boil, and in 1861 the nation became tangled in a terrible war that lasted four long years.

The game depicts the war between North and South from the First Battle of Bull Run (or Manassas Junction) to Lee’s surrender at Appomattox Courthouse (or Grant’s surrender at Harrisburg…). Each player leads one of these two nations and makes the strategic decisions which determine the outcome of the war.

The game board represents the United States, north and south and from the Atlantic coast to just west of the Mississippi. Including Missouri, Iowa, Illinois Indiana, Ohio, Pennsylvania, New York, New Jersey, Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, Florida, Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana, Arkansas, Tennessee, Kentucky and West Virginia. The play map contains a number of boxes, each representing a city, town or locations important to the war. These boxes are connected by transportation lines – blue for rivers, tan for roads and black for railroads – which provide the paths to victory or defeat.

Will you keep the Union whole or force the separation of the United States?

A House Divided ™ contains

234 die cut markers representing armies, leaders and specials

o 48 miscellaneous 5/8” counters

o 45 Veteran Infantry ¾” counters

o 18 Veteran Cavalry ¾” counters

o 21 Crack Infantry ¾” counters

o 15 Crack Cavalry ¾” counters

o 42 Militia Infantry ¾” counters

o 6 Militia Cavalry ¾” counters

o 21 Utility ¾” counters

o 4 General counters

2 Order of Battle forms
1 game board 21” x 20.50” (6 panel)
6 dice (3 blue, 3 gray)
1 tray
1 box
1 rule book – containing basic, standard and advanced rules.

A House Divided™ $30.00

Ages 12+

For 2 Players

Playing Time 60 + minutes

Designer: Frank Chadwick

Artist: Jason Just & Franz Vohwinkel

Made in the U.S.A.

Dimensions 2.625” x 10.875” x 7.5625”

Panzer Clash Releases February

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Feb 012012

Panzer Clash Starter Pack

$ 17.99 SRP

Panzer Clash is a light, card-based war game for two Players about Second World War Panzer battles. With the Starter Pack you get all you need to start playing right away: Two player decks, one Axis and one Allies Deck, as well as a Terrain Deck. Pick either side and try to defeat your opponent on the battlefield. The player decks contain Factories, Units, Events and Terrain Modifiers. The players randomly pick 20 Terrain Cards laying them face down in a 4 X 5 grid on which their unit cards will move. Factories are needed to build Units and Terrain Modifiers as well as to power Events. Units and Events, which belong to one or more of the four factions (Germans, Japanese, Americans and Soviets) are used to attack and deal damage to the opponent. These have certain beneficial effects on the game or are used to weaken the opponent. For each point of damage a Player receives through Units and Events, one card from the deck is put into the discard-pile. If a player is unable to draw a card from the Supply, that player loses immediately. So take up the challenge, be a Panzer General and vie for ultimate domination on the battlefields of World War 2 . Contents: 120 cards One 50 cards Axis Deck One 50 cards Allies Deck One 20 cards Terrain Deck One Rules Booklet

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