Some minor rules remarks that might be helpful to someone watching this... 02:00 In the beginning, you give a fourth Order Token to the German AI, but it should only be a third one, as the Germans only have two available Order Tokens to begin with (from their Officer). The Flamer unit at 14:00 does have _Fire on the Move_ with its _Flamer_ Special Ability, but it doesn't spot the concealed German unit until the end of its Movement Action, when the timing window for _Fire on the Move_ has passed. But the flames will come later, obviously, being as lethal as ever. 🔥 22:45 You _can_ play your No! Action Card to cancel AI Action Cards, or even to remove one of the AI's available Action Cards on their dashboard reserve. But like you said, you cannot cancel Reaction Cards. 23:00 During Turn 2, when Activated, that Commonwealth Officer shouldn't have captured that Tactical Bonus yet, as control of Objectives is only checked at the end of the Supply Phase. There was a German Fire Group unit contesting that Tactical Bonus in the Supply Phase of this turn, so it should have stayed on the board. 31:50 That Fire Group could perform Suppressive Fire as a Reaction, even if it didn't have the special ability. It's a difference in the Solo Mode that this Reaction Card let's AI Units do Suppressive Fire even without the ability, they just don't double their Combat Value. 33:50 The AI would not have a third Order Token, as its Officer only yields two. Excellent video anyhow!
Thanks very much! Really appreciate the observations and I'll put notes in the description with the corrections :). I'll hold off for now though as I can see you're adding items as you spot things. Thanks again!
FYI,@@andrewchoong2895, Bart is one of the proof-readers for the English version of the game, as am I. Bart is also a fan of solo mode, where I am not... explains why he was watching it in a relevant time frame, but I am coming in a year late because youtube suggested it to me. Well done overall and very informative video.
Thanks so much again, and I'm very honoured by the feedback! Like Bart, I really like the solo mode, but I know quite a few HoN players who are not so keen (including the one who loaned me his set!) 😆
I am saddened to hear of players losing interest, although it often happens to a game that goes out of print. I have never understood that sort of thing, but it does happen. On the plus side, if your friend is losing interest, perhaps they are willing to sell you the solo mode ;)
Great follow up after the setup video. Well explained. Have you considered adding these videos to the BoardGameGeek video section for the Solo Mode... you'd get some more views!
Excellent play through Andrew! I am routing for your British, but I wonder if they even have a chance? Might be slim? It was great to see how you used the cards both to the AI as well as your own advantage while playing!
Thanks David! :) On reflection afterwards, in the context of a six-turn scenario the British probably had a chance, but realistically everything would have rested on the speedy Lieutenant Higgins aided by some lucky card play. It was comforting that for the most part the Germans had nothing to counter my mortar with.
Andrew, I'm enjoying this one, thanks. During the first video I thought that the AI looked bit too complex and that play might feel rather clunky. However, from a spectator's point of view it seems to be going quite smoothly and the AI comes across as quite natural. Having said that I've no experience of the game beyond your videos. I'll be interested to hear your final thoughts at the end. Thanks again, I look forward to the next instalment. All the best, Doug
Hi Doug! Hope all's well, and thanks very much! I must confess, on first opening the box and looking at the components I did feel rather intimidated and the game does look rather heavy going. It was only when I realised I was probably over-thinking it that things 'clicked'. It is a little tricky getting used to what's really a balance between fairly free play with a LOT of logic trees bolted on to it, some of which may never see use in a given game. Should be uploading the final instalment tonight :) Very Best Wishes, Andrew
I agree...I've had the solo mode over a year but the impression of complexity has suppressed the urge to put it on the table. This play through has bolstered my nerve and im going to get a solo game in when time allows over the next week or so. Thanks to Andrew.
Greetings from Sweden. I stumbled upon your channel when I looked for HoN videos. I just ordered the Big Red One edition and the Solo Mode. I love WWII games. I have many of the Undaunted games, Memoir 44 and Conflict of Heroes: Awakening the Bear 2ed. Is the old stuff from HoN compatible with the new version ? What do you recomend to get from the old version as a compliment the new one ?
Greetings, and thanks so much for visiting the channel! The older HoN components are compatible with the new game (one or two need slight rules adjustment, but no physical alteration required). I am tempted to say the old core set, plus the original British, German and US Army boxes. With the old core set, most of the units are the same as the ones you find in the new box, but the missions in the latter are more serious and historical. Maybe prioritize getting the Army boxes and see what you think once you have those. In any case, happy gaming!
@@andrewchoong2895 Wow had my first battle yesterday with a friend. We played Carnage and it was as the title suggests, total carnage. We played Sabaton and album Art of War in the background. I played as the Germans and my friend played the US. He had the initiative and started. The M5 rushed forward and parked on one side of the trench effectively deterring any Germans to try to dash for it. The Pnazer II also advanced to get into position. The rest of troops also advanced. Both of the tanks where taken out early in the game. Then it turned into a bloody shootout mixed with heroic/suicidal assaults on the main objective. The .30 cal had a field day. The US came out on top seizing the main objective. We had a lot of fun I am sure we made a lot rules mistakes but I am learning. Today I am going try the same scenario by myself.
Yes, in the Solo game AI units without the suppression fire ability can perform it, the only difference is they do not double their firepower like a unit with suppression can.
Yes, it is something that would help with this one. I do like its analogue solo-mode, but for larger scale battles it can be a little labour intensive.
He does exert a zone of control, but they can can enter it. What they cannot do is move from one zone of control to another, their only choices are stay put (and presumably fire), leave, or assault. Hope that makes sense :)
Thanks very much for the comment! In this case, no. Although the German unit was within two squares, the corner of the intervening bocage/hedge just blocks the British officer's LOS. It was very annoying for me! 😅
As far as I know it's available in Europe at the moment, and possibly in the US, but I'm not sure. Doesn't seem to have hit the shelves here in the UK as far as I can see - at least not in the gaming stores I usually check. The friend who loaned me his copy for this video got his early by sinking a lot into the Kickstarter.
Great video, loving your explaining of the solo mod for HoN. Thank you.
Some minor rules remarks that might be helpful to someone watching this...
02:00 In the beginning, you give a fourth Order Token to the German AI, but it should only be a third one, as the Germans only have two available Order Tokens to begin with (from their Officer).
The Flamer unit at 14:00 does have _Fire on the Move_ with its _Flamer_ Special Ability, but it doesn't spot the concealed German unit until the end of its Movement Action, when the timing window for _Fire on the Move_ has passed. But the flames will come later, obviously, being as lethal as ever. 🔥
22:45 You _can_ play your No! Action Card to cancel AI Action Cards, or even to remove one of the AI's available Action Cards on their dashboard reserve. But like you said, you cannot cancel Reaction Cards.
23:00 During Turn 2, when Activated, that Commonwealth Officer shouldn't have captured that Tactical Bonus yet, as control of Objectives is only checked at the end of the Supply Phase. There was a German Fire Group unit contesting that Tactical Bonus in the Supply Phase of this turn, so it should have stayed on the board.
31:50 That Fire Group could perform Suppressive Fire as a Reaction, even if it didn't have the special ability. It's a difference in the Solo Mode that this Reaction Card let's AI Units do Suppressive Fire even without the ability, they just don't double their Combat Value.
33:50 The AI would not have a third Order Token, as its Officer only yields two.
Excellent video anyhow!
Thanks very much! Really appreciate the observations and I'll put notes in the description with the corrections :). I'll hold off for now though as I can see you're adding items as you spot things. Thanks again!
FYI,@@andrewchoong2895, Bart is one of the proof-readers for the English version of the game, as am I. Bart is also a fan of solo mode, where I am not... explains why he was watching it in a relevant time frame, but I am coming in a year late because youtube suggested it to me. Well done overall and very informative video.
Thanks so much again, and I'm very honoured by the feedback! Like Bart, I really like the solo mode, but I know quite a few HoN players who are not so keen (including the one who loaned me his set!) 😆
I am saddened to hear of players losing interest, although it often happens to a game that goes out of print. I have never understood that sort of thing, but it does happen.
On the plus side, if your friend is losing interest, perhaps they are willing to sell you the solo mode ;)
There is always that hope. Also, he recently moved to a smaller house and has less room to store games these days [hint, hint] 😁
Great video. Love your voice and thorough explanation of every single action. Really looking forward to the next episodes. Cheers!
Thanks very much! Really glad you liked the video. I have recorded the concluding part and will be uploading it tonight (if my Wifi behaves!!)
I agree 100%. Andrew put together a wonderful presentation for viewers to get a feel for the solo mode.
Great follow up after the setup video. Well explained.
Have you considered adding these videos to the BoardGameGeek video section for the Solo Mode... you'd get some more views!
Thanks very much, indeed :)
Nah ezz got sum good mates on this site ,,,, bgg ask es u to sign in and the font is tiny 😮
Excellent play through Andrew! I am routing for your British, but I wonder if they even have a chance? Might be slim? It was great to see how you used the cards both to the AI as well as your own advantage while playing!
Thanks David! :) On reflection afterwards, in the context of a six-turn scenario the British probably had a chance, but realistically everything would have rested on the speedy Lieutenant Higgins aided by some lucky card play. It was comforting that for the most part the Germans had nothing to counter my mortar with.
Andrew,
I'm enjoying this one, thanks.
During the first video I thought that the AI looked bit too complex and that play might feel rather clunky. However, from a spectator's point of view it seems to be going quite smoothly and the AI comes across as quite natural. Having said that I've no experience of the game beyond your videos. I'll be interested to hear your final thoughts at the end.
Thanks again, I look forward to the next instalment.
All the best,
Doug
Hi Doug!
Hope all's well, and thanks very much!
I must confess, on first opening the box and looking at the components I did feel rather intimidated and the game does look rather heavy going. It was only when I realised I was probably over-thinking it that things 'clicked'. It is a little tricky getting used to what's really a balance between fairly free play with a LOT of logic trees bolted on to it, some of which may never see use in a given game.
Should be uploading the final instalment tonight :)
Very Best Wishes,
Andrew
I agree...I've had the solo mode over a year but the impression of complexity has suppressed the urge to put it on the table. This play through has bolstered my nerve and im going to get a solo game in when time allows over the next week or so. Thanks to Andrew.
Andrew! You 'dah man!
That's really awesome of you, thanks very much! Glad you liked the video :)
Nice!!!!
Thanks very much indeed :)
Greetings from Sweden. I stumbled upon your channel when I looked for HoN videos. I just ordered the Big Red One edition and the Solo Mode. I love WWII games. I have many of the Undaunted games, Memoir 44 and Conflict of Heroes: Awakening the Bear 2ed. Is the old stuff from HoN compatible with the new version ? What do you recomend to get from the old version as a compliment the new one ?
Greetings, and thanks so much for visiting the channel! The older HoN components are compatible with the new game (one or two need slight rules adjustment, but no physical alteration required). I am tempted to say the old core set, plus the original British, German and US Army boxes. With the old core set, most of the units are the same as the ones you find in the new box, but the missions in the latter are more serious and historical. Maybe prioritize getting the Army boxes and see what you think once you have those. In any case, happy gaming!
@@andrewchoong2895 Thanks for the tips. I Will definitely pick up the army boxes. I like the variety they bring and that can build your own forces.
@@s01id74 Good luck assembling your forces, and happy gaming! :)
@@andrewchoong2895 Thanks. The first battle will take place tomorrow.
@@andrewchoong2895 Wow had my first battle yesterday with a friend. We played Carnage and it was as the title suggests, total carnage. We played Sabaton and album Art of War in the background. I played as the Germans and my friend played the US. He had the initiative and started. The M5 rushed forward and parked on one side of the trench effectively deterring any Germans to try to dash for it. The Pnazer II also advanced to get into position. The rest of troops also advanced. Both of the tanks where taken out early in the game. Then it turned into a bloody shootout mixed with heroic/suicidal assaults on the main objective. The .30 cal had a field day. The US came out on top seizing the main objective.
We had a lot of fun I am sure we made a lot rules mistakes but I am learning. Today I am going try the same scenario by myself.
So can unots withput suppression fire still use that ability?
Yes, in the Solo game AI units without the suppression fire ability can perform it, the only difference is they do not double their firepower like a unit with suppression can.
Too bad there isn't an app so you could play solo as in many other games (Heroquest, LOTR, Descent, Mansion of Madness... )
Yes, it is something that would help with this one. I do like its analogue solo-mode, but for larger scale battles it can be a little labour intensive.
min. 23: Does anyone know already if the "No"-card cancels Reaction cards?
Hi there! I had an answer that the "No" card affects the AI's Action cards, but not the Reaction cards. Hope that helps.
26.20: dont you`r comander have area of control?
the enemy cannot stand there
He does exert a zone of control, but they can can enter it. What they cannot do is move from one zone of control to another, their only choices are stay put (and presumably fire), leave, or assault. Hope that makes sense :)
min. 25: The German unit is in a terrain element withing 2 squares. Then there should be LOS, right
Thanks very much for the comment! In this case, no. Although the German unit was within two squares, the corner of the intervening bocage/hedge just blocks the British officer's LOS. It was very annoying for me! 😅
Andrew, is the solo mode already available?
As far as I know it's available in Europe at the moment, and possibly in the US, but I'm not sure. Doesn't seem to have hit the shelves here in the UK as far as I can see - at least not in the gaming stores I usually check. The friend who loaned me his copy for this video got his early by sinking a lot into the Kickstarter.
@@andrewchoong2895 thanks. Just wondering
Why you didn't use Ammo or Grenade?
Poor play on my part, unfortunately 😅. I over-fixated on one aspect of the battle and in the heat of the moment forgot my ammo and grenades!
This game looks so replayable,. Randomly, well played,,🪶
Thanks a lot :). I have loads of time for the HoN solo system 🙂