For solitaire games, I love to play Bolt Action but on my computer with this game called tabletop simulator. I can neither afford nor find the time to paint the figures, but people on the steam workshop have made all the regular armies plus Hungarian, Polish, and French armies, as well as humongous maps. I just wrapped up a game that took almost a week in which I had hundreds of American and British soldiers storming the beach, and paratroopers having skirmishes and firefights in a Normandy farm and village all on one table! With huge maps, unlimited minis, and the ability to be able to play right away without painting figures, it's the best way to go.
Thanks for the video. My wife and I play quite a few wargames solo (both of us play both sides). We've also enjoyed Awakening the Bear and Ambush! we've on our third play through of the Ambush! missions and have found them to be surprisingly replayable, it's the same main plot but the order that enemies spawn and random events occur can make the mission different each time. It's also fun to retry and see what would happen if you approach from a different direction. If you can find a copy to try I'd highly recommend Combat Commander: Europe, it's not designed as a solo game but if you're okay playing both sides then each game creates a great narrative, there's a lot of chaos of battle that can end up pushing the battle in ways you never predicted. For games designed to be solo there's the D-Day at Omaha Beach series (also designed by John Butterfield who did Ambush! and the solo rules for Conflict of Heroes), the game really knows exactly where to fire and when to counter-attack to make your life miserable!
Thank you Trystan. I have owned both CC: Europe and the Pacific module. I really enjoyed them for 2p, but could not find a satisfactory way of playing them solo. How did you manage the opportunity fire? I could not get my head around that op-fire rule, because you need to evaluate if you want to use your fire card for op fire. I´d be very interested to know how you play!
For opportunity fire we try to play assuming that the enemy will always have a fire card in hand (even if we know they don't). So will only make moves into the open if that side is desperate or it's the only way. Because opportunity fire allows you to have a few shots the opponent would usually choose to take op-fire if the enemy was doing a group move, if the enemy was moving through low cover or if they had a +2 against moving targets card. Op-fire is the trickiest point in the system though in my opinion, even in two player. That's certainly one of the strengths with conflict of heroes, they manage to get away without needing op-fire at all. Up Front manages the same thing, because each unit can only either move or shoot the opponent always has a chance on their turn to have a shot, I certainly prefer that style personally.
Yeah, I agree with everything you say. I do really like to CC counters though, and the way you equip squads with SW. So much so, that I may pull the trigger on it again if I can find a used copy. Maybe it is worth looking to tweek op fire and work on something based on your comments. Thanks for the input.
It plays radically different as a 2 player, I agree. I understand that Academy has changed the way COH plays in the next game (Storms of steel 2nd edition). I also agree on the firefight generator, it could do with some work.
Hi Thank you for the kind words. I am still around and cant believe all subs are still here. Lets see, maybe I can find some time - I actually miss the interactions.
@@lnightg It Is time for your return After all there is a new Labyrinth expansion “The Forever War “and we all need one of your brilliant play through videos
cool video man! I went out and got ASL after this video. If you were to considering adding Labyrinth war of terror to this top 10 list, where would that game sit on the list? Higher than CoH and ASL?
Oh congrats, it is truly a great system! Even a new starterkit coming out now, PTO. Labyrinth is a great solo experience for sure, I regard it higher than most of the coin games I´ve tried, mainly because it is designed for two players and flows more easy. The theme is rather heavy in this day and age, but if you can get around that, Labyrinth is super. As a solo experience I would rate it quite high, I haven´t played it two players though. Playing the Jihadist player is not so appealing I think.
The Late Night Gamer gotcha, I'll probbaly give Labyrinth a try as well. I want to play twilight struggle but can't find one other player that can commit 3-5 hours to a game. So I'm looking for a twilight struggle experience while solo, I guess labyrinth is as close as it gets
Have you tried the Leader campaign for ASL? It's in ASL Annual '95 - I just got a copy (bit late, eh?). I used to play the Leader Campaign for Squad Leader, too. Also, have you tried the ELST historical campaign? Nice list - I have Ambush, ASL, CoH and Unconditional Surrender. Not familiar with Bolt Action. I have't yet played Unconditional Surrender...yet. Thanks.
I have not tried that. In fact, I never even heard about that. Must see if it is possible to get a copy somewhere. Do you know if it is compatible with ASL SK? I sold off all my full ASL stuff!
The Late Night Gamer The article is called “Warriors All!”. I’ve still got all my SL and ASL stuff...I’ll hang on to it for a few years yet! Yes, I’d say it would work. In fact, I was recently picking out four scenarios featuring 101st Airborne from SK#1 and SK#1 expansion to try it out next week. I’m on BGG as dacoutts so if you can’t get the ASL ‘95 article pm me and I could scan it through to you.
Hey man, I noticed your counters are really nice and smooth. Mine are square and has splinters poking out. Some counters also get damaged as I punch them. Can you do a video on how to punch / remove counters and how to trim afterwards?
Hi, sorry for the late reply. Yep I agree, it is easy to damage the counters when you punch them out. Done it often, and it irritates me. Some companies have better card stock, I generally feel that GMT is on top of that, some counters are also rounded corners on the sheet. COIN games are like that, I can not remember if the USE has that or not? But the solution is a corner clipper and lots of patience. 4 clips pr. counter can take some time. I usually put on some YT videos and poor me a glass of something nice. This is what I use www.amazon.com/Radius-Deluxe-Corner-Rounder-Cutter/dp/B00G08PEXO/ref=sr_1_2?keywords=oregon+clipper&qid=1554028280&s=gateway&sr=8-2
@@lnightg nice! thats helpful thanks! damn...this cutter is the same as the game =S might be worth it if i own more war games. Do you just punch the counters out of the board with hands? or do you use knife or scissors?
No. Just no. You don’t consider games like Twilight Struggle (about Conflict within the Cold War a “War” game or Labyrinth: The WAR on terror) or the COIN series, which ar phenomenal games about war and counterinsurgency with direct conflict but then you immediately pick a tabletop miniatures game? Nah... but it’s your list so enjoy.
If you enjoy Bolt Action, I would suggest checking out Chain Of Command. I think personally it plays solo better than Bolt Action. Also Nordic Weasel games produce solo fantasy/sci-fi wargames. toofatlardies.co.uk/product/chain-of-command-pdf-rules/ www.wargamevault.com/product/280863/Five-Leagues-from-the-Borderlands
For solitaire games, I love to play Bolt Action but on my computer with this game called tabletop simulator. I can neither afford nor find the time to paint the figures, but people on the steam workshop have made all the regular armies plus Hungarian, Polish, and French armies, as well as humongous maps. I just wrapped up a game that took almost a week in which I had hundreds of American and British soldiers storming the beach, and paratroopers having skirmishes and firefights in a Normandy farm and village all on one table! With huge maps, unlimited minis, and the ability to be able to play right away without painting figures, it's the best way to go.
I wish someone would do an updated version of Ambush with improved map board , cards and components.
just got my mounted map of UC. I play BA and Flames of war and Team Yankee! Great Job
Thanks for the video.
My wife and I play quite a few wargames solo (both of us play both sides). We've also enjoyed Awakening the Bear and Ambush! we've on our third play through of the Ambush! missions and have found them to be surprisingly replayable, it's the same main plot but the order that enemies spawn and random events occur can make the mission different each time. It's also fun to retry and see what would happen if you approach from a different direction.
If you can find a copy to try I'd highly recommend Combat Commander: Europe, it's not designed as a solo game but if you're okay playing both sides then each game creates a great narrative, there's a lot of chaos of battle that can end up pushing the battle in ways you never predicted.
For games designed to be solo there's the D-Day at Omaha Beach series (also designed by John Butterfield who did Ambush! and the solo rules for Conflict of Heroes), the game really knows exactly where to fire and when to counter-attack to make your life miserable!
Thank you Trystan. I have owned both CC: Europe and the Pacific module. I really enjoyed them for 2p, but could not find a satisfactory way of playing them solo. How did you manage the opportunity fire? I could not get my head around that op-fire rule, because you need to evaluate if you want to use your fire card for op fire. I´d be very interested to know how you play!
For opportunity fire we try to play assuming that the enemy will always have a fire card in hand (even if we know they don't). So will only make moves into the open if that side is desperate or it's the only way. Because opportunity fire allows you to have a few shots the opponent would usually choose to take op-fire if the enemy was doing a group move, if the enemy was moving through low cover or if they had a +2 against moving targets card.
Op-fire is the trickiest point in the system though in my opinion, even in two player. That's certainly one of the strengths with conflict of heroes, they manage to get away without needing op-fire at all. Up Front manages the same thing, because each unit can only either move or shoot the opponent always has a chance on their turn to have a shot, I certainly prefer that style personally.
Yeah, I agree with everything you say. I do really like to CC counters though, and the way you equip squads with SW. So much so, that I may pull the trigger on it again if I can find a used copy. Maybe it is worth looking to tweek op fire and work on something based on your comments. Thanks for the input.
Would you keep uploading videos? I reallly want to play solo war games and know more about it.
Great choices...just cant stand the card tiles...with some of these titles is why I haven't purchased yet...love miniatures over tiles
CoH is amazing with the solo module but not so hot without it. The Firefight generator needs tweaking if is to be used with the solo game.
It plays radically different as a 2 player, I agree. I understand that Academy has changed the way COH plays in the next game (Storms of steel 2nd edition). I also agree on the firefight generator, it could do with some work.
I’m playing BA in 15mm and just spent 3 hours painting faces, wood and bases.
Oh wow, you must have vision like a hawk!
I also play Napoleonic Command and Colors solo it is a blast!
Yeah I wanted to try that! Seems to be OOP in this country anyways but it seems better than Memoir 44, which I didn´t like.
Where have you gone? :) Love your videos
Hi Thank you for the kind words. I am still around and cant believe all subs are still here. Lets see, maybe I can find some time - I actually miss the interactions.
@@lnightg you were really good playing the games. What about less time like best games, what have you playing and so on...
The Late Night Gamer we are still here! I just started learning ASL because of you starter kit play through.
@@lnightg here and waiting :)
@@lnightg
It Is time for your return
After all there is a new Labyrinth expansion “The Forever War “and we all
need one of your brilliant play through videos
cool video man! I went out and got ASL after this video. If you were to considering adding Labyrinth war of terror to this top 10 list, where would that game sit on the list? Higher than CoH and ASL?
Oh congrats, it is truly a great system! Even a new starterkit coming out now, PTO. Labyrinth is a great solo experience for sure, I regard it higher than most of the coin games I´ve tried, mainly because it is designed for two players and flows more easy. The theme is rather heavy in this day and age, but if you can get around that, Labyrinth is super. As a solo experience I would rate it quite high, I haven´t played it two players though. Playing the Jihadist player is not so appealing I think.
The Late Night Gamer gotcha, I'll probbaly give Labyrinth a try as well. I want to play twilight struggle but can't find one other player that can commit 3-5 hours to a game. So I'm looking for a twilight struggle experience while solo, I guess labyrinth is as close as it gets
Thank you for the detailed presentation. :-)
My pleasure and thank YOU for watching :)
bolt action..buy books and just use counters...I use heroes of Normandy large counters...it works!!
Yes you can absolutely proxy models, even use 1:72 soldiers.
Excellent reviews .
Have you tried the Leader campaign for ASL? It's in ASL Annual '95 - I just got a copy (bit late, eh?). I used to play the Leader Campaign for Squad Leader, too. Also, have you tried the ELST historical campaign?
Nice list - I have Ambush, ASL, CoH and Unconditional Surrender. Not familiar with Bolt Action. I have't yet played Unconditional Surrender...yet. Thanks.
I have not tried that. In fact, I never even heard about that. Must see if it is possible to get a copy somewhere. Do you know if it is compatible with ASL SK? I sold off all my full ASL stuff!
The Late Night Gamer The article is called “Warriors All!”. I’ve still got all my SL and ASL stuff...I’ll hang on to it for a few years yet! Yes, I’d say it would work. In fact, I was recently picking out four scenarios featuring 101st Airborne from SK#1 and SK#1 expansion to try it out next week. I’m on BGG as dacoutts so if you can’t get the ASL ‘95 article pm me and I could scan it through to you.
Hey man, I noticed your counters are really nice and smooth. Mine are square and has splinters poking out. Some counters also get damaged as I punch them. Can you do a video on how to punch / remove counters and how to trim afterwards?
Hi, sorry for the late reply. Yep I agree, it is easy to damage the counters when you punch them out. Done it often, and it irritates me. Some companies have better card stock, I generally feel that GMT is on top of that, some counters are also rounded corners on the sheet. COIN games are like that, I can not remember if the USE has that or not? But the solution is a corner clipper and lots of patience. 4 clips pr. counter can take some time. I usually put on some YT videos and poor me a glass of something nice. This is what I use www.amazon.com/Radius-Deluxe-Corner-Rounder-Cutter/dp/B00G08PEXO/ref=sr_1_2?keywords=oregon+clipper&qid=1554028280&s=gateway&sr=8-2
@@lnightg nice! thats helpful thanks! damn...this cutter is the same as the game =S might be worth it if i own more war games. Do you just punch the counters out of the board with hands? or do you use knife or scissors?
No. Just no. You don’t consider games like Twilight Struggle (about Conflict within the Cold War a “War” game or Labyrinth: The WAR on terror) or the COIN series, which ar phenomenal games about war and counterinsurgency with direct conflict but then you immediately pick a tabletop miniatures game? Nah... but it’s your list so enjoy.
If you enjoy Bolt Action, I would suggest checking out Chain Of Command. I think personally it plays solo better than Bolt Action. Also Nordic Weasel games produce solo fantasy/sci-fi wargames.
toofatlardies.co.uk/product/chain-of-command-pdf-rules/
www.wargamevault.com/product/280863/Five-Leagues-from-the-Borderlands
Unconditional Surrender is soooooo goooood!
Agree! Do you play it solo?
Yessir!
I keep hearing about US, but not sure.
Har to tell. I´m the same with GTS. I really really really want to try - but the investment and is it really something that last.. :)