Benny’s Weblog

ASL Starter Kit - S12(2): Over Open Sights was fun but bloody. As the attacker I was chewed to pieces thanks to some incredible ROF tears. I really want to give this one another go soon.

ASL Starter Kit - S15(2): Hammer to the Teeth is a pretty fun scenario. The Germans get a big 81mm MTR to play with, the Americans a couple of AT Guns with limited HE ammo. First play through using VASL, we’ve kicked off another game after swapping sides.
The Germans were well and truly chewed up before getting close to their victory conditions.

1856 (4): I’m well on the learning curve with 18xx, my game-play is shocking but I’m not going to let that deter me in the slightest. We’re going to try playing this one over and over, Nicholas calls it a “season”.

Mare Nostrum (6): Hey, this isn’t too bad a multi-player game. I can see how it may get nasty in some circumstances though. Good fun.

Command and Colors: Ancients (2): Usual C&C:A, always great fun. Played the same scenario twice, swapping sides.

Liberte (5): My second play. This game is actually pretty good. It’s up there with all the other area control games. Would I choose it over El Grande, SoE, Perikles, Shadow of the Emperor etc? Probably not.

All played online.

Eastfront (2): Played the 1941 Summer scenario. The Germans failed to move quick enough into Russia and strong enemy lines developed to slow the blitzkrieg. Russia took the the victory easily.

Bonapart at Marengo (2): This game has been an uphill battle for me. The rules are short but quite sophisticated so getting them to sink is has been a challenge. Couple that with the mechanisms being entirely different to any other game out there.
Now that I’ve played via PBEM it all makes sense. Had a lot of fun and can now see the strategies of each side opening up. Can’t wait to play again.

The Russian Campaign (2): The Germans did better than any other game we had played, they survived the sudden death victory conditions and captured Rostov moving deep into Russia in the North and South. My opponent pulled out of the game at turn 5 due to other commitments. One day we will get a full game of this completed!

Republic of Rome (6): Our game of Republic was a mess on so many levels. It’s a complicated game however and I still want to keep playing to figure it out. Finding willing opponents may be difficult!

Pax Romana (4): Three turns of Pax took 6 hours but at least we ironed out the rules in preparation for our VASSAL game.

Shogun (4): A pretty good game but I’m not jumping out of my skin to play again. Over hyped.

Perikles (3): Also a pretty good game, quite quick for three players but may bog down with more. I’m a little burned out on multi-player area control games, I’d rather just play El Grande.

ASL Starter Kit - Clearing Coleville (2): I had forgotten how much fun ASL is when you break it down into such a simple scenario. I miss it.

Runebound - Sands of Al Kalim (2): Good stuff. Long but good.

Runebound - Sands of Al Kalim (2): Probably a little too long!

Combat Commander: Europe (2): Still enjoying CC:E. The scenarios feel very similar to me however. I would prefer a little more opportunity for strategic decisions. Still, this game is a heap of fun.

Combat Commander: Europe (2)

Pikamino (6): Standard light fun. No real skill here but for some reason it still gets played.

Hermagor (4): Neat little game which I may play once or twice more. Feels like a more interesting version of Thurn und Taxis. More opportunities for conflict and interaction.

Through the Desert (4): Need more time with this. I’ve been spoiled by Go so still difficult to get too excited about this game.

Republic of Rome (6): Wow, love this game. So much politics and so many things going on.

Combat Commander: Europe (2):

Twilight Struggle (2): Another loss but I’m definitely improving. One of the greatest games I’ve ever played.