I may have to get this one because I have a personal interest in one of the battles (2nd Bull Run) because my great-grandfather was captured there. (He was in the 5th West Virginia in Milroy's brigade of the Union army.) Fortunately for me and the rest of his descendants, he was among the prisoners who were exchanged sometime after the battle. (Later in the war prisoners were no longer exchanged.) I haven't played any of the previous Clash of Giants titles either, so your review was very helpful. Thanks again, Marco, for another great review.
I'm just playing through Guns of Gettysburg at the moment and suddenly looking back at a hex and counter intrepretation of Gettysburg just feels so strange. Don't mind hex for more modern conflicts or a grander scale (US Civil War, etc). But yeah, for this era and earlier think Rachel Maddow has just spoilt me. Now to save up for the Napoleon games! And seriously, don't understand how inconsistent GMT is with their designs at times. At least the VGA coloured clip-art covers are dying out.
I've always been fond of Marco's reviews (and own a lot of game because of him!) My cat also knows to come when he hears Marco's voice, as it means a 20 minute brushing... I have this game, and am learning the system, but will never play it again on the current Gettysburg map. Simply too many things 'wrong' with it, no matter the rules or level of abstraction. I tend to be a bit 'territorial' about this particular field. A lot of good things in the rules, but I'll have to see how they all play out. Hate the double sided maps, though, as that really limits things just to save GMT a few cents in production.
I personally really enjoy Clash of Giants I so I am looking forward to playing this. I'd like to mention the obvious solution to the strange feeling of rolling for combat effects on your own guys - don't! Simply have the other player roll for damage against your forces and you roll the dice for damage against his forces.
Army of "the" Northern Virginia (10:55)? No proofreaders at GMT? Sorry, but this looks like a real loser. Map and counter art is bland and cookie-cutter, there's nothing particularly applicable to the Civil War, chit pulling may be exciting but it puts randomness in the driver's seat, and there is no real opportunity to exercise battlefield leadership. It appears to be a virtual transplant of the WWI system which is as relevant to the ACW as to any other war--you could make a few small changes and do it on Frederick the Great, for example. There are several much, much better Gettysburg games at the brigade level out there. Bull Run too.
Careoran I believe "Stonewall Jackson's Way" is a campaign and not a battle game, with 1 mile hexes and concentrating on operations. For brigade level battles I would recommend The Gamers' Civil War Brigade series--see the Multiman Publishing website for details. They are much more accurate and complex than this system, which was probably published only because it's a retread by a well-known designer. Look on Marco's Playlists for reviews of other brigade level ACW games. Gilbert Collins' YT channel has most of the brigade games, and Calandale has posted playthroughs and reviews of many of them.
I may have to get this one because I have a personal interest in one of the battles (2nd Bull Run) because my great-grandfather was captured there. (He was in the 5th West Virginia in Milroy's brigade of the Union army.) Fortunately for me and the rest of his descendants, he was among the prisoners who were exchanged sometime after the battle. (Later in the war prisoners were no longer exchanged.) I haven't played any of the previous Clash of Giants titles either, so your review was very helpful. Thanks again, Marco, for another great review.
Thank you Marco, helpful review as always.
thank you for a great intro to this game!
I'm just playing through Guns of Gettysburg at the moment and suddenly looking back at a hex and counter intrepretation of Gettysburg just feels so strange. Don't mind hex for more modern conflicts or a grander scale (US Civil War, etc). But yeah, for this era and earlier think Rachel Maddow has just spoilt me. Now to save up for the Napoleon games! And seriously, don't understand how inconsistent GMT is with their designs at times. At least the VGA coloured clip-art covers are dying out.
That would be Rachel Simmons, just to be pedantic... ;-)
I've always been fond of Marco's reviews (and own a lot of game because of him!) My cat also knows to come when he hears Marco's voice, as it means a 20 minute brushing... I have this game, and am learning the system, but will never play it again on the current Gettysburg map. Simply too many things 'wrong' with it, no matter the rules or level of abstraction. I tend to be a bit 'territorial' about this particular field. A lot of good things in the rules, but I'll have to see how they all play out.
Hate the double sided maps, though, as that really limits things just to save GMT a few cents in production.
The town graphics make GB look like a city.
"Falling on their bayonets"😂
I personally really enjoy Clash of Giants I so I am looking forward to playing this. I'd like to mention the obvious solution to the strange feeling of rolling for combat effects on your own guys - don't! Simply have the other player roll for damage against your forces and you roll the dice for damage against his forces.
Merci Marco.
Army of "the" Northern Virginia (10:55)? No proofreaders at GMT?
Sorry, but this looks like a real loser. Map and counter art is bland and cookie-cutter, there's nothing particularly applicable to the Civil War, chit pulling may be exciting but it puts randomness in the driver's seat, and there is no real opportunity to exercise battlefield leadership. It appears to be a virtual transplant of the WWI system which is as relevant to the ACW as to any other war--you could make a few small changes and do it on Frederick the Great, for example. There are several much, much better Gettysburg games at the brigade level out there. Bull Run too.
Careoran I believe "Stonewall Jackson's Way" is a campaign and not a battle game, with 1 mile hexes and concentrating on operations. For brigade level battles I would recommend The Gamers' Civil War Brigade series--see the Multiman Publishing website for details. They are much more accurate and complex than this system, which was probably published only because it's a retread by a well-known designer. Look on Marco's Playlists for reviews of other brigade level ACW games. Gilbert Collins' YT channel has most of the brigade games, and Calandale has posted playthroughs and reviews of many of them.