It’s not a contest, but your Top 10 report was the most informative and valuable to me personally. You clearly demonstrate your understanding of, and love for, the games you play, you are honest in your assessments, and I luckily happen to share many of your views on game design. I would not have discovered Littoral Commander, were it not for you. High-five on Angola! I already bought Italia 1917-1918, because I adore Marne 1918: Friedensturm, feel it is criminally overlooked, and I loved your content on the sequels. Wish I could track down a copy of Somme: 1918! 1812 will be my first Vuca game, thanks to you. You have the same tri-force as me, GCACW, OCS, and BAR, though I do need to pick up Mollwitz. Lastly, getting Weimar, based on your recommendation. Great video as always, Justegarde.
Absolutely amazing list. I'm definitely buying Tanto Monta after listening to your review/critic. Also going to acquire Angola and Littoral Commander, you've sold me on Angola which I had reservations towards and Littoral Commander I had no idea existed until now and you sold me on its concept. Thank you! Amazing job and I look forward to hearing more about your future insights... - James
@@ThoseGift3d That’s lots of fun in boxes! My tip for Tanto Monta: make some notes as you read the rules, and also use the fabulous player aid reminders the BGG community has created. Hopefully you can get a steady group of 4 for both TM and Angola. Two of my favorite multiplayer experiences this year!
I have a copy of Le Bataille de Ligny on my shelf but didn’t know there was a similar series of games! I’ll be watching your other videos for sure. It seems like BAR might be a bit easier to get into. Like you I also have Crimea or part of Third Winter on my playlist for this year (and Forgotten Battles is in the mail 😅)
A really good list, I'll try to get Littoral Commander as I'm a really big fan of the systems as well and like my D20 🤣 But really, we could use some streamlined titles on modern combat along the less streamlined ones😛 We have a lot of overlap with our collections / interest but unfortunately from the titles you've highlighted I've only played Rebel Fury, but it was the biggest hit of last year for me - played all the scenarios and taught other people the game as well. I'm currently playtesting upcoming Steam up for the game and it's a blast as well, helped me to get it to the table again!
Thank you for this list. I have a couple BAR (and its Napoleonic cousin) games from Clash of Arms. Your videos have inspired me to pull them back out and give it another try; and to play more games in general. I just got a copy of Phantom Fury from Nuts! Publishing and hope to play that this weekend. I am really enjoying your channel and I'm glad it popped up in my feed this Fall.
Heh, lots of interesting surprises on this list. Another thing is, my Weimar board was damaged in the exact same way. Clearly not the best idea to have such a small strip there.
Couldnt agree more about BAR - well worth the effort of learning. I have Fontenot, Monmouth and Prague. AWI games like Monmouth have a scale of 1 strength point = 50 men for infantry so even crunchier. I found Melle the fastest of the three, in terms of things happening. Rather like (albeit the units move at about half the speed) as Le Bataille games. Thanks for for the video.
Italia 1917-1918 is a fantastic game. Im actually playing it today, halfway through the Caporetto scenario, great fun. Would love to eventually get the Campaign played and get to use the brilliant Event cards!
Well said on Tanto Monta. I also find it manageable and actually that the religious coversion rules of Virgin Queen are more tortuous and hard to follow. Agree that the online behaviour of some is bizarre, almost as if they are crying heresy!
I had been meaning to do it for years but watching this has given me the motivation to learn the BAR system. Did you learn it using the Primer or did you jump right in? (I'm not sure the Primer is compatible with the version of the rules in Mollwitz, also the learning "exercises" can be a bit tedious).
@@romain2725 I do find the learning exercises a bit overkill for people familiar with wargames. I read the rules and then jumped in, referring to the Primer when needed (mostly around command activation and such). The rules in Mollwitz are the most recent version, so Primer is compatible. Good luck!
@@ericneff9908 I learned with a friend locally, so we started the journey together. If you have a local club or convention, you might be able to find some interest there? I feel like anyone who enjoys GBOH would enjoy BAR.
Game publishers/designers should pay you for thoughtful, insightful, supportive evaluations of their games and players should pay you for helping them avoid spending money on games they would not enjoy....
@@WysteriaGuitar I mean you could, but I don’t think it would be nearly as fulfilling as face to face. Part of the game’s core appeal is seeing how your various pre-game strategy stacks up against someone else’s.
I would like to love Weimar. But there will never be a time to have four people ready to play it. Was crushed when I opened it up to see that it is four player only, not up to four, four only. Will never be able to play it no matter how intriguing it may appear.
Tanto Monta I think if you just look at the cards and the amount of text comparatively to Here I Stand it is just a ton. I can get why people are frustrated. I’ve seen people that made notes on rules that had 4-5 pages of notes and have made efforts to learn. I’m not sure that is a great way to on ramp new players and can get the frustration. Couple that with folks that were hoping for a game easier to get to table with 4 than Virgin Queen/HIS I get it
@@cardboardconflicts I don’t think “people have to read a couple more sentences on a card” is a good reason for the ridiculous negative discourse people online are throwing around about the game. People have had a deep personal nerve struck for whatever reason and they’re acting like brats. Poor on-ramp for new players, however, is a legitimate critique, and I think the rules could have been formatted in a more reference-friendly way.
Some comments on the games and your thoughts: Weimar - played once and only the short scenario. My issue with the game is that the 2 radical extremist parties are aligned but the 2 governmental parties are not fully aligned and if they don’t work together the radicals will win. Therefore it forces the government players to help each other and if one of them is inward looking it ruins the game. The end game choices about getting super events which could force all players to lose seems to make that situation worse…. Although, of course I haven’t played that. 1812 - played once. I like what the game is trying to do. However, Smolensk is such a key location and there is no easy way (so far as I could tell) for the French to go around it that it is easy for the Russians to build up the defence there and ultimately the game will only play out one way. Angola - not played but heard so many good things about it. Seemingly a much better implementation of 2 v 2 than shown in Weimar. Tanto Monta - not played. Have played Here I Stand and I agree the religious war is a real pain - it means that Protestants are playing a completely different game to all the other players aside from the Catholics who play 80% religion and 20% war. If the religious players keep each other in check then the winner will be from the other 3 factions and there is nothing the Protestants can do about it (aside from helping the English) and the Catholics are limited in what they can do. Sure you can negotiate around the play of cards….. but whilst interesting, that is not directly impacting the game. I got Tanto Monta as I want to see all 4 players being able to affect each other and whilst the French and the Muslims are less involved with each other, I believe that situation can change later in the game. I don't know too much about the other titles mentioned. As to my best war / historic games played in 2024: 1 Triumph & Tragedy - such a great sandbox for WW2 2 Panzers Last Stand, BCS (Arracourt, Valley of Tears are both great too) 3 Dune - not historic but a great wargame with diplomacy and double crossing
Great choices, I have played all of your top games except Mollwitz. Tanta Monta is a great game, and Weimar is an absolutely fantastic experience. I play the german version that I find slightly better than the US version.
@ as a German speaking Swede it’s just a lot more thematic to have all cards in German (Auf Deutsch) 😁. There are also some minor differences in the English translation of the rules. The German version is more concise and to the point. Its really not that complex but the theme is sometimes hard to get so I tend to present the game with videos and a short introduction to some of the characters in the game to set the tone.
Very informative ride, sir. Thank you for it.
It’s not a contest, but your Top 10 report was the most informative and valuable to me personally. You clearly demonstrate your understanding of, and love for, the games you play, you are honest in your assessments, and I luckily happen to share many of your views on game design.
I would not have discovered Littoral Commander, were it not for you. High-five on Angola! I already bought Italia 1917-1918, because I adore Marne 1918: Friedensturm, feel it is criminally overlooked, and I loved your content on the sequels. Wish I could track down a copy of Somme: 1918! 1812 will be my first Vuca game, thanks to you. You have the same tri-force as me, GCACW, OCS, and BAR, though I do need to pick up Mollwitz. Lastly, getting Weimar, based on your recommendation.
Great video as always, Justegarde.
@@djflippy5 Thank you very much! The Nuts WWI stuff is truly great. Crossing my fingers for a Friedensturm reprint soon.
Absolutely amazing list. I'm definitely buying Tanto Monta after listening to your review/critic. Also going to acquire Angola and Littoral Commander, you've sold me on Angola which I had reservations towards and Littoral Commander I had no idea existed until now and you sold me on its concept.
Thank you! Amazing job and I look forward to hearing more about your future insights...
- James
@@ThoseGift3d That’s lots of fun in boxes! My tip for Tanto Monta: make some notes as you read the rules, and also use the fabulous player aid reminders the BGG community has created. Hopefully you can get a steady group of 4 for both TM and Angola. Two of my favorite multiplayer experiences this year!
@Justegarde yes Sir, will do. You have an amazing channel and your approach is truly refreshing and insightful. Truly what the Wargaming niche needed.
I have a copy of Le Bataille de Ligny on my shelf but didn’t know there was a similar series of games! I’ll be watching your other videos for sure. It seems like BAR might be a bit easier to get into. Like you I also have Crimea or part of Third Winter on my playlist for this year (and Forgotten Battles is in the mail 😅)
Excellent video and great list. Now I will have to find a BAR game.
Great video, thanks for the detailed overviews.
Thank you very much for your analysis of Tanto Monta.
Liked your take on Angola. Have owned it for over 10 years and still not got it to the table yet; must do it this year
A really good list, I'll try to get Littoral Commander as I'm a really big fan of the systems as well and like my D20 🤣 But really, we could use some streamlined titles on modern combat along the less streamlined ones😛
We have a lot of overlap with our collections / interest but unfortunately from the titles you've highlighted I've only played Rebel Fury, but it was the biggest hit of last year for me - played all the scenarios and taught other people the game as well. I'm currently playtesting upcoming Steam up for the game and it's a blast as well, helped me to get it to the table again!
Thank you for this list. I have a couple BAR (and its Napoleonic cousin) games from Clash of Arms. Your videos have inspired me to pull them back out and give it another try; and to play more games in general. I just got a copy of Phantom Fury from Nuts! Publishing and hope to play that this weekend.
I am really enjoying your channel and I'm glad it popped up in my feed this Fall.
Thank you! That's great!
1812 is the game for me. Thanks for this video.
I for one is very happy to hear that :)
Heh, lots of interesting surprises on this list.
Another thing is, my Weimar board was damaged in the exact same way. Clearly not the best idea to have such a small strip there.
@@ArnoVdVelde yeah. I used some bookbinding glue and fixed it.
Couldnt agree more about BAR - well worth the effort of learning. I have Fontenot, Monmouth and Prague. AWI games like Monmouth have a scale of 1 strength point = 50 men for infantry so even crunchier. I found Melle the fastest of the three, in terms of things happening. Rather like (albeit the units move at about half the speed) as Le Bataille games.
Thanks for for the video.
Italia 1917-1918 is a fantastic game. Im actually playing it today, halfway through the Caporetto scenario, great fun. Would love to eventually get the Campaign played and get to use the brilliant Event cards!
21:15 I’ve considered their version of this system. You may convince me.
It's very good, my favorite of the family.
49:33 oh my GCACw is possibly my top system as well.
Well said on Tanto Monta. I also find it manageable and actually that the religious coversion rules of Virgin Queen are more tortuous and hard to follow. Agree that the online behaviour of some is bizarre, almost as if they are crying heresy!
I had been meaning to do it for years but watching this has given me the motivation to learn the BAR system. Did you learn it using the Primer or did you jump right in? (I'm not sure the Primer is compatible with the version of the rules in Mollwitz, also the learning "exercises" can be a bit tedious).
@@romain2725 I do find the learning exercises a bit overkill for people familiar with wargames. I read the rules and then jumped in, referring to the Primer when needed (mostly around command activation and such). The rules in Mollwitz are the most recent version, so Primer is compatible. Good luck!
I'm curious whether you've had any luck finding BAR opponents, and if so where? They seem hard to find.
@@ericneff9908 I learned with a friend locally, so we started the journey together. If you have a local club or convention, you might be able to find some interest there? I feel like anyone who enjoys GBOH would enjoy BAR.
Game publishers/designers should pay you for thoughtful, insightful, supportive evaluations of their games and players should pay you for helping them avoid spending money on games they would not enjoy....
👍 #2 Battles of the Age of Reason. Clash of Arms Games.
ty
Can you play Littoral Commander solo? If so, how is it? Thanks
@@WysteriaGuitar I mean you could, but I don’t think it would be nearly as fulfilling as face to face. Part of the game’s core appeal is seeing how your various pre-game strategy stacks up against someone else’s.
Aboslutely love Weimar!
I would like to love Weimar. But there will never be a time to have four people ready to play it.
Was crushed when I opened it up to see that it is four player only, not up to four, four only.
Will never be able to play it no matter how intriguing it may appear.
Tanto Monta I think if you just look at the cards and the amount of text comparatively to Here I Stand it is just a ton. I can get why people are frustrated.
I’ve seen people that made notes on rules that had 4-5 pages of notes and have made efforts to learn. I’m not sure that is a great way to on ramp new players and can get the frustration. Couple that with folks that were hoping for a game easier to get to table with 4 than Virgin Queen/HIS I get it
@@cardboardconflicts I don’t think “people have to read a couple more sentences on a card” is a good reason for the ridiculous negative discourse people online are throwing around about the game. People have had a deep personal nerve struck for whatever reason and they’re acting like brats. Poor on-ramp for new players, however, is a legitimate critique, and I think the rules could have been formatted in a more reference-friendly way.
Use links please...geez.
Some comments on the games and your thoughts:
Weimar - played once and only the short scenario. My issue with the game is that the 2 radical extremist parties are aligned but the 2 governmental parties are not fully aligned and if they don’t work together the radicals will win. Therefore it forces the government players to help each other and if one of them is inward looking it ruins the game. The end game choices about getting super events which could force all players to lose seems to make that situation worse…. Although, of course I haven’t played that.
1812 - played once. I like what the game is trying to do. However, Smolensk is such a key location and there is no easy way (so far as I could tell) for the French to go around it that it is easy for the Russians to build up the defence there and ultimately the game will only play out one way.
Angola - not played but heard so many good things about it. Seemingly a much better implementation of 2 v 2 than shown in Weimar.
Tanto Monta - not played. Have played Here I Stand and I agree the religious war is a real pain - it means that Protestants are playing a completely different game to all the other players aside from the Catholics who play 80% religion and 20% war. If the religious players keep each other in check then the winner will be from the other 3 factions and there is nothing the Protestants can do about it (aside from helping the English) and the Catholics are limited in what they can do. Sure you can negotiate around the play of cards….. but whilst interesting, that is not directly impacting the game. I got Tanto Monta as I want to see all 4 players being able to affect each other and whilst the French and the Muslims are less involved with each other, I believe that situation can change later in the game.
I don't know too much about the other titles mentioned.
As to my best war / historic games played in 2024:
1 Triumph & Tragedy - such a great sandbox for WW2
2 Panzers Last Stand, BCS (Arracourt, Valley of Tears are both great too)
3 Dune - not historic but a great wargame with diplomacy and double crossing
4:39 here’s a game I will never play.
I like fantasy, just not fantasy that I have to pay a tax for.
Great choices, I have played all of your top games except Mollwitz. Tanta Monta is a great game, and Weimar is an absolutely fantastic experience. I play the german version that I find slightly better than the US version.
@@ThePettho Does it have different rules in German?
Yeah, you have to tell us non-German speakers what we're missing!😄
@ as a German speaking Swede it’s just a lot more thematic to have all cards in German (Auf Deutsch) 😁. There are also some minor differences in the English translation of the rules. The German version is more concise and to the point. Its really not that complex but the theme is sometimes hard to get so I tend to present the game with videos and a short introduction to some of the characters in the game to set the tone.
This one is thematically very nice: ua-cam.com/video/XAvSMzTG4cU/v-deo.htmlsi=V_n6Nf9cRRE9dDdj
Very informative ride, sir. Thank you for it.