Between Combat! Vol 1, D-day at Omaha Beach, and Enemy Action: Ardennes, which one is the LEAST complex? I’m looking into getting my first solitaire game, and these all look like very solid options, but I don’t want to jump in to one that’s super complex.

Is there a lighter, but thorough hex-map series that covers Ancients and Medieval (pre black powder) battles / campaigns / wars? Kind of like the Standard Combat Series does for WW2? Thanks 👍

I'm thinking of making review/overview/vlog YouTube videos of the wargames that I play (usually solo). This is mostly as a hobby and way to talk about games I think people should try. I'm omnigamer and wargames are a small percentage of the games I enjoy, so I might offer a perspective different from a lot of the existing wargame channels.

To give me an idea of what to include in my first videos while I find my footing, please tell me what you hope to see in a YouTube video about a wargame. For example: game length, scale, complexity, how it accommodates solo play, breadth of scenarios, historical background of the conflict, info about how the designer/publisher made it, detailed rules examples, general overview of the structure, what makes it different, component quality, visual design clarity, etc.

I’ve picked up Arracourt and Baptism by Fire but haven’t yet really tried to play either. If I’m not going to learn from another human who knows the game where should I start in terms of which scenario in which box? Both have intermittently been recommended as beginner-friendly. I’m not coming from a deep wargame background so I don’t have anything to unlearn particularly about other systems.

Thanks!

Was Tru'ng bot made to work with both editions First and Second?

Wannabe napoleonic enjoyer here…

So, I need a single title for Austerlitz and a single for Waterloo. But one of them should be tactical with emphasis of formations end engagement tactics, while the other operational with a larger scope of strategic theory like movement etc… What do you suggest, and why?

As far I’ve saw divisive opinion so I’m willing to gather ideas… someone advocate that the real deal of Waterloo (for example) was to negate the Prussian army to meet the English (so the operational can capture that feeling better), while other fight for have the tactical scale there because it shines of single episodes that are the real gems of the battle (like the Hougoumont struggle);

Thanks a lot for your personal opinion and experience!

Also, important note for my OCD: I already have La Bataille de la Moscowa, so I consider the tactical virtuosism and La Bat system already covered!

How do you organize your counters? By module or by nationality? What storage bins do you use?

Just found this new youtube channel where this guy goes through a German solo playthrough. Not only that, hes thorough, understands the rules and (spoiler) wins.

Worth a watch if your confused about something, or wanting to see how the game plays.

Sorry the youtube link didnt.. well.. link.

Let me try this. https://www.youtube.com/@DubbleJ-t9t/videos

Greetings grognards, a dear friend of mine will have his birthday in a couple of weeks. He’s a great old school wargamer and he loves the hex&counter archetype. In this moment he’s building his napoleonic collection (he’s usually a WW2 connoisseur) and he’s lacking a good Austeriltz title… What can I search for him?

As far as I know after fetching some info he loves the idea of hex and counters; tactical scale with the usual archetype of “rock paper scissor” like square formation - cavalliry - artillery; Fog of war… well it depends, not mandatory I’d say!

Also: if there some some ESSENTIAL tactical scale napoleonic that are on other battles, feel free to suggest them that maybe they will make him happy nevertheless (if not better)!

Thanks a lot!

I've got some games I'd like to play before I die. Hoping someone out there is in the same area No I don't want to play online.

I got really into commands and colors recently. I played memoir years ago, but just discovered the rest 2 years ago. I was able to pick up some reprints, but others are out of print. Does anybody know if the great war and red alert will be reprinted? I've played the great war computer game, but want a reasonably priced physical copy and the used ones have ridiculous prices.

I have tried making my own counters multiple times, and its always a huge pain. The hardest part is finding something that can cut 2mm chipboard reliably and accurately. I have a laser engraver, that after a dozen attempts I got to cut black acrylic *perfectly* into .5" square counters. They are durable, thick, easy to pickup, and though sharp edges now I could round them easily enough. However, each 12"x12" black acrylic sheet is like $15, it takes an hour or so to cut, and once cut, all the counters just fall out. So it isn't a "countersheet" IMO.

While I'm not 100% sure this will work, I'm going to start with the die as shown below, and probably buy the GrandeMARK 2 Die-Cutting Machine which the template is made to fit. That machine has 2000psi, so hopefully its enough! This is my primary concern. If it doesn't work, I'll look into die punching machines for leather.

If this works, my other template for .75" hexes, .75" squares, 1" hexes, 1"x.5" rectangles, and so forth, should be pretty easy in comparison and I'll order them all.

Currently I have a color laser printer that I can print both sides on labels to stick, though I may have to tinker with that as they current smear a little. This may end up just being regular paper and some spray glue.

This is for limited prototype purposes for just personal use, and maybe a few testers.

But if it all works great, I'll post links to everything for others so they can make their own counters.

My current parts list:

$200 Template Below (https://www.customshapepros.com/)

$715 GrandeMarke 2 Cutter (https://accucut.com/products/grandemark-2-die-cutting-machine)

$30 for a 100 pack of 50pt/2mm chipboard (https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0849PMMQG)

Overall cost per countersheet once the template/cutter are paid for is under $1!

I make the counters using visual basic .net. I create a bitmap, then draw the counters at proper intervals using an excel spreadsheet source (that may point to other images). The logic around them is not that hard, and I've made dozens of countersheets programmatically over the years.

Crossing my fingers this cutter cuts it out!

https://preview.redd.it/exzpdsb99ywd1.png?width=2111&format=png&auto=webp&s=c7e4033727db9a48da5b8a28d3ac1a869edfca66

I got Red Dust Rebellion that's all I know. Any others?

I am very interested in playing the Next War Series. I have Next War: Taiwan on Tabletop Simulator. My previous wargaming experience is Axis and Allies and I was immediately interested in the Next War game. I have no clue on how to play this or set it up or how to even get started. Any advice anyone?

i'm a newbie so maybe this is a ridiculous idea/question.

some of you may be familiar with how coin capsules have gained some traction in boardgames to protect (mostly circular) cardboard tokens.

is there such a thing for square counters? perhaps someone needs to invent a line of "rectangular capsules" for overprotective wargames enthusiasts... 😅

Hi folks,

I posted about my Napoleonic Wargame that I am working on that plays a little like Axis and Allies (AnA), Empires in Arms (EiA), and Twilight Imperium (TI4) combined. I understand these are "board games" but my pedigree is more wargaming.

I am struggling with whether or not to make materiel hidden or not. Hex and Counter games sometimes will use imperfect information to simulate a fog of war.

For example EiA uses counters and a roster. Library of Napoleonic Wargames (a hex and counter game) uses vedettes. This requires gentlemanly conduct and meticulous accounting.

Board games like: Risk, AnA, War Room, and Chess are perfect information games. Traditional hex games like Golan '73, other SPI's offerings (Quad Wars, Wilson's Creek etc) generally are also perfect info games. These are generally more elegant but may sacrifice some fog of war simulation.

I have other (limited) mechanisms for fog of war in the game design currently aside from a dice roll. Just FYI.

Which do you prefer?

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Hello! We're hosting a wargame prototype contest. If you're interested in participating, please check out the link below:

https://nevawargames.com/2024/10/11/get-ready-for-our-1st-prototype-contest/

Bought my first copy in 1982. Now I have a deluxe version and my buddy and I will take it for a spin tomorrow. Hopefully. So pumped!

Hi, I'm completely new to wargaming. I've always known about these games, but they seemed too complicated to try, and I didn't have anyone to play with. Recently, I've become interested again and have been watching a lot of YouTube videos and reading about them.

Two games that caught my attention are Next War and Red Strike, mainly because they focus on modern conflicts in Poland/Europe, which is where I'm from. I find the potential scenarios of such conflicts fascinating, and the complexity doesn't scare me anymore — in fact, it's part of the appeal. I do understand that sessions can take a long time, but I'm okay with that. My challenge now is figuring out how to get my friends into it :P

I noticed that Red Strike has smaller, introductory scenarios, but I'm wondering: Is it possible to play these games on a even smaller scale, like simulating skirmishes in a specific part of the map with only some of the available troops? I was thinking of trying a game with friends where each of us has a set number of points to deploy troops. This way, we could play a shorter games on a smaller area while still learning the rules. Does something like this make sense in these games?

Also, I just found out about Vassal Engine. Will this help me learn to play? Will it guide me in any way?

edit: One more thing I forgot to ask. Can you play the Next War series with more than 2 players? I know Red Strike says 2-6 players, but Next War states only 1-2.

What websites/blogs/magazines etc. do you prefer to help you learn about sales, get informed about new/upcoming releases, that sort of thing? Google searching mostly leads to wargaming sites with miniatures, which is not really my jam.

I’ve been in a conquistador/ age of discovery mood and was wondering if anybody knows of any good games based on this era. Preferably solitaire, but don’t mind playing both hands.

they seem to have some interesting games but not sure about production quality

i know blue panther reprinted one of them (Smoke Jumpers) which is where i found out about them

anyone know anything about their games direct from the company? Solar Marine and Final Frontier look good but if blue panther is reprinting them should i just wait for reprints?

I am having a hard time trying to find a Civil War game that is good for solitaire play. Any chance that someone knows some good ones?