Veronica Mars Rocks

One of the best recent new shows was Veronica Mars. I say was because after three years of great shows, it was cancelled. Why talk about this? Well, the acting and storyline writing was right on point. All of the actors are in their early 20's, all unknown, yet, the show's real strength was in its authenticity regarding the High School of today.
Veronica is akin to a very suave, cool, hip private eye for this century, not the Nancy Drew of the 20th Century. She helps solve serious and not so serious issues in a manner that is witty and intelligent. Adding to this success was the soundtrack. Very good rock music, especially the theme song. Its creator was a High School teacher for many years before he burned out and went to Hollywood.

I highly recommend watching all of this series DVDs. Great entertainment if you want to see the youth of today in their element. I would rate this PG most of the time.

Heroic Frenzy: Petrograd 1919

Soon to be released is the new FFG game, Heroic Frenzy Oct. 1919, which covers the closet advance that any White Army had made against the Reds. In this case, Yudenich's tanks and night attacks decimated the Red 7th Army, leaving Petrograd (now St. Petersburg)wide open. Trotsky himself entered the battle to rally his men near Pulkovo Hill, the last obstacle before the city. It is a fast moving game on this pivotal battle!

Islamic Facists

Recent news clearly shows there is a fundamental problem with the extremists in Islam.

 

1. A British teacher names a Teddy Bear the name of Mohammid in the Sudan. She is taken to trial and convicted. At first it was to be 15 lashes, then changed to 15 days in jail. Now, the lunatics are demanding that she be killed! This is so incredible because the stuffed animal was named after a boy in her class, not the Almighty!

 

2. Worse, is what happened in Saudi Arabia. There, a woman had been ganged raped. The brave woman took it to their so called court. That Court convicted the woman! Yes, she was convicted for luring the men by the way she looked or some silly thing and received a penalty of 50 or so lashes from a whip. As to men who ganged banged her, nothing!

 

The West and East are strange bedfellows for economic reasons. We are horrified by these unjust acts in the name of Allah, yet we look the other way. Allah would never allow such injustices occur that have been written in the Koran. What kind of God would this be? Much of the Koran, I am sure, is really some other human person who put their own spin on what the real Koran said. God, Allah would never say some of the things the Koran does.

BBC, Perry Moore, Pakistan-India War 1965, and Consimworld

In a rare action, I had posted my comments regarding the Iranian nuclear situation on the BBC News site. A day later, a woman called from the BBC asking me if I would participate in a round table discussion on the subject.

 

At first, I thought it was a joke, but the woman continued by asking me to elaborate my position. She went on to say that I was contacted by my intelligent analysis and how I had tied it to past history. Later that day, I was on the BBC with a worldwide audience, which is also a podcast. The whole experience remains bizarre.

 

The first ever wargame on the Pakistan-Indian War, 1965, had been published. Entitled, Pakistan Invades India, the game begins with the Indian units already inside of Pakistan in their own offensive. A day later, the unsuspecting Indian units felt the wrath of that region's premiere armor division, the Pakistani 1st Armor, armed with over 200 M-48 tanks. India had only a few Centurions, and obsolete AMX-13, Sherman V!

 

The Pakistanis had planned a "Rommel" type offensive to penetrate deep into the rear of the Indian 11th Corps, cut them off and force them to retreat. It was such a  bold plan supported by their airforce.  If you are interested in this simulation, visit: firefight-games.com.

 

Maybe I am missing something, but....from Consimworld, the premiere wargame site, I received a news alert stating that Richard Berg's Blog is now back! Why is this news? Who cares and why is this more important than any other blog? Yes, I know, Richard is the last of SPI staffers still around (they all must be hitting 60ish), he remains an interesting, non-practicing attorney, with very colorful comments from A to Z, but....is this really that important? I think not.  A visit to the blog will surely tell you otherwise..it reads like a frat blog where stupid, idiotic comments linger about stupid, idiotic things. Entertainment?  Wargame related? Well, sometimes, but why bother...on second thought, I am not missing something at all. I get it...a very slow news day in the wargame world.

Hilary Clinton: A Good Choice for the Next President?

Like most Americans, the choice for our next president is a difficult one. Like most, I listen to news, try to get a balance and establish a gut reaction to the candidates. The internet is deluged with info and video, all has an impact.

 

At this stage, none of the candidates really turn me on. There is something about all of them I distrust. I am not swayed by dirt the opposing side brings up about their past. We all have some. Usually, those that bring up the dirt are equally guilty and trying to divert my attention. Like most Americans, I decide for myself. I am neither a Republican nor Democrat, but both parties have good positions and various topics, so I comprise of the "middle of the road" group that can vote either way.

 

Hilary Clinton's only real governmental experience is her few years as a Senator. Sure, she is an attorney, but in all reality, not a practicing one. So what, so am I. She is (or was) the wife of one of America's most popular President's, Bill Clinton. But she is absolutely no Bill Clinton when in public. The charisma is not there. She was in the White House, but left no visible mark. Of course, nobody can read the memos and discussions between Bill and Hilary until long after the election. This begs for a "why"? Hilary was a mom and wife. That could be her only connection with many women out there. Isn't it odd that little to nothing has been asked of Chelsea, their daughter? What kind of parent was Hilary?

 

Hilary's flip flopping on the issues or never providing a detailed answer to questions really bothers me. I was going to vote for her, being a woman had nothing to do with it (there have been many great woman leaders in history), but changing her position on an issue one week and then again a week later only shows she is willing to say or do anything to win. She no doubt's desperately wants to be the first woman president of the US. It's starting to show. She accused the "male" candidates of ganging up on her in a debate and tried to play the sexism card. It reveals a dark side of her character--blaming others when she is responsible for her own mucking up the debate with answers that even she could not keep straight. Hey, it happens to men , too.

 

She continues to play the sexism card, stating how old ladies of 90 yrs come up to her and claim to state they will vote for her because she is a woman. How nice. Tell me, how many of this old timers have you actually seen in ANY of her campaign stops? Zero. First, those women would've been born in 1917, I doubt if they are in any shape to fight the crowds etc. It is obvious she wants and hopes all women will vote for her simply because she is a woman first, and a good candidate, second.

 

Her experience with foreign policy is zero. Condolezza Rice would be far better!  Hilary is really a socialist--the government will be in your life even more than it is now. She has never even been a mayor of a small town, let alone, a city. She has never operated a private business. Never been a governor of a state.

 

Hilary, when it comes to REAL qualifications, has Bill (I am sure he will be her major consultant if she wins), 2-3 years as senator, and the White House years.

Speaking of that, most women would divorce and move from a husband who cheats on them, let alone, how Bill did Monica. Yet, Hilary "stood by her man", the question is: is this a good thing? what were the motives (avoid scandal, personal embarrassment, have different beds yet stick together to brave the storm).

Maybe Hilary did not want to lose what she had, maybe she did not care, she was staying with Bill for her own personal gain?

 

Many women will vote for her simply because she is a woman and they have a problem with men. Other women will vote for her because of her so called qualifications. At this point, no really understands what her positions are on key issues. Her answers seem to evade and cloak a position.

 

However, I think it is in her character to say and do anything to be elected and to enter the history books. Of course, the other candidates do this also but at least you know what they stand for to some degree.

 

Unless she improves, my vote will go elsewhere because my gut tells me not to trust her. Period.

 

 

 

What Britney Spears Needs to Do

Anyone who has been around knows what is happening to Britney. She is like a Marilyn Monroe figure, loves attention and when it does not happen, she acts extreme. This kind of personality usually ends in tragedy.

 

Britney should completely get out of the limelight for at least a year, vanish from LA and NY. Just be a normal woman and chill. Be a mom.  Maybe with her this is not realistic but it would certainly help her and keep her from the edge of the abyss.

Ahmadinejad is a Hitler Scripted President

My take on this whole nuclear issue with Iran echoes what I have heard and read. The Iranian president cannot be trusted and is an expert of dodging on point questions using deflective language. He does nothing more than dance around the point regarding nuclear weapons. When the BBC contacted me to be on their round table show recently, I was stunned. My views remain that history repeats. In the 30's, Hitler was rising to power. He was in the "friendly stage", trying to woo others, which he succeeded. The other countries all tried to appease him with concessions or by "ignoring him" thinking the problem would vanish! Hitler would then accept them and not really concede anything but continued to be cordial and nice--reassuring the world that he only wanted what was best for Germany. Time went on. Inside Germany, the military had been building up and training all along. The citizens themselves had little clue what Hitler really wanted at the time (30's). It all seemed "Okay", to anyone who simply casually looked. To others, they saw danger and tried to warn an ignorant world.

 

Ahmadinejad is following the same script Hitler wrote and performed. The world today is smarter.  His goal is to destroy Israel. He does have designs on Iraq in a covert manner. Iran could control some of Iraq through covert activity, for instance, control Basra, key to oil and ports. He is not that dumb to do this overtly with military activity- he is a fox. A sly, cunning leader.

 

If the world waits until Iran does do something with even a tactical nuclear weapon, it is too late. With a nuclear weapon, Iran would be a threat to most nearby countries. Instability would increase dramatically. The problem for the West is that no solution is even a good one. They are all only the best of a bad selection of choices to counter this. It is a "damned if you do, damned if don't" situation. We all know that even with pinpoint bombing is inaccurate if the intelligence of the nuclear locations is incorrect.  The best we could do would be to destroy the obvious above ground nuclear facilities, and of course, Iran would keep such material in this obvious place. At least, serious damage could be made along with destroying their oil refineries. Perhaps the Iranian people would then be angry enough to overthrow the regime, for it is their government which has brought this upon them. The common Iranian is no different than the common American in many ways.

 

French President Nicolas Sarkozy said a nuclear Iran could threaten the world. How true. He is also quite correct that unless Iran proves to the world it is "clean", the West will sooner or later use military force.

 

Iran should allow the inspectors in their country, free access to any location they wish to pursue, stay as long as they want, talk to anyone they want. Anything short of this is akin to a person who knows they are guilty when charged with a crime--they dodge questions, confuse issues, and to a policeman, act suspiciously by refusing to cooperate.

 

A person who is truly innocent has nothing to hide. That is the simple clue. Iran is not this person.

Pakistan-India War of 1965-The Battle of Assal Uttar

Currently being designed is a company\battalion level game on a battle that was the largest tank battle since WW2. The Pakistani armor division, armed with M48 tanks, conducted a surprise attack into India near Khem Karan and for the next 10 days, bitter tank battles occurred as the Pakistanis attempted to cut-off the Indian 11th Corps in a Rommel-like blitz!

Democratic Presidential Candidates

As I watch the 2008 election spin and boil, there seems to be little doubt that Hilary Clinton or Obama will be the Democratic candidates. The next question is, will they form a team with Obama as the VP on a ticket. If this occurs, I think the Republicans will have a tough time winning the election. The Republicans have no clear runner to challenge yet. I am like many Americans, I vote for the candidate and issues, not the party. President Bush has really made it hard for the Repblicans to win the White House again.

Remagen 1945, Kakhovka 1920

Since my last post, two games have come out:

Kakhovka: Wrangel's Kursk, Oct 14, 1920. This depicts the largest use of tanks in the Russian Civil War and also the last major battle! The game is very intesting set piece and really was a kind of Kursk in some ways.

Remagen 1945 depicts the battle of luck using a point to point system. Luck because the US found a bridge over the Rhine and despite the Germans tossing V2 rockets, jet bombers, JagdTiger tanks, and sending SS frogmen to destroy it, it was all unsuccessful. The game shows what happened and could have happened had luck turned, even a little, in the German favor! Very interesting. It is nothing at all like the old SPI game. It is way more accurate and tense.

Being tested now is Operation Westindien 1942- a U-boat game on the battle for the Caribbean. This is also a point to point game and depicts how vital the refineries and oil was in the Aruba area.

Bringing New Blood into the Hobby - Mark Woloshen's Contribution!

I have been a wargamer for over 30 years now, and in that time I have seen the Golden Age of Wargaming, the demise of much beloved companies (SPI, Battleline, GDW, Avalon Hill etc.), and the prophesied demise of board gaming as we know it. As a member of the hobby, how can one, lone gamer influence this downward trend?  The doom-sayers saw that computer war games were going to replace our faithful cardboard and paper companions. The hobby was not attracting new gamers, so how can this trend be reversed?

 

Well here we are, continuing to play wargames of the cardboard and paper variety. The hobby seems as vibrant as I can remember, and the "big" companies (GMT, MMP, Avalanche, Clash of Arms etc.) seem to be offering interesting designs that might attract new gamers. The number of really strong DTP companies (Firefight, Khyber Pass, Schutz Games etc) fills the esoteric void left by the larger companies, and they too might attract new players to the hobby. Is this enough? Well, here is how I have tried to help.

 

As a high school Humanities (integrated Social Studies and English) and history teacher, I am in a unique position to bring new gamers into the fold. How? Not necessarily by what I teach (though that is a bonus), but by starting a games club! That is correct, start an extra-curricular club. On the one hand, it provides a much needed activity for students at lunch or after school - I run mine at lunch. On the other, it gives me a chance to play games with people who may one day want to play more historically accurate board games (more about this later).

 

Our school population is approximately 1600 grade 8 to 12 students in a middle class community. Our lunch "hour" is only about 45 minutes, so getting games that are playable in a short period of time, or the space to store longer play games, become two very important organizational considerations. Assuming you will be using your own classroom, the next steps will help get the club off to a great start.

 

First, you need to get the support of the administration. Usually they will be happy to support (both morally and financially) any endeavor which occupies students during the lunch hour. Second, you need to have a few games on hand to "get things started". Initially, I brought games from my own collection, then augmented those with other games purchased using school funds. After solidifying your initial club game collection, begin to advertise to the school body. This can be done through the school intercom notices, student newsletters, school website, posters, and of course, word of mouth.

 

The third factor to consider is the type of games to be included in the club's collection. Now, I'm partial to hardcore military simulation games. Unfortunately, very few students want to get into those types of games. So, we compromise and bring in games that will appeal to the widest possible student audience. The first games from my collection included: Risk, Axis and Allies, Stratego, Battleship, Shogun (Samurai Swords), Quebec 1759, War of 1812, and Rommel in the Desert. With student government funds, these initial offerings were supplemented with other games like: Carcassone, Settlers of Catan, Civilisation, Age of Mythology, Risk 2210, Lord of the Rings Risk, Star Wars Risk, Monopoly, Clue, Guess Who, Candyland - just to name a few.

 

Finally, you have to consider how you will store games that take more than one lunch period to play to completion. I had a cupboard in my room with four pull out drawers. I could place one complete game on each drawer. After a while, we had to carefully stack more than one game in a drawer because so many games were being played. If you have a dynamic industrial education department in your school, perhaps the student government would supply sufficient funds to have a games cabinet built. It would be a good project for the Industrial Ed. Students and it certainly helps out the games club. Ideally the cabinet should be designed to allow game boards to be stored with all the cards, pieces, dice etc. necessary for play. You'll be ready for action once you have this all set-up.

 

Generally, I keep the club open to any and all students of the school. All grades and both genders are welcome. It has been my experience that the vast majority (98%) of the gamers in our school are male. We do have some girls who show up on a regular basis, which is great! There are also a number of teachers who periodically attend - especially if we have a game of Diplomacy going!! (Recently, three teachers and three students had a game of Diplomacy - the teacher's - very experienced Diplomacy players - got their clocks cleaned by the students! Wait until next year!!)

 

Games that are visually pleasing (such as anything by Days of Wonder, Fantasy Flight, Eagle Games, and Milton Bradley) certainly attract students into the room. Some days there are so many people they have to play their games on the floor! (We average between 25 to 35 students each lunch hour we run the club - Tuesdays and Fridays at lunch.) People (both students and staff) drift into the room and have a quick look before moving on. Some come back, others get a look at a game and end up buying either for themselves, or in the case of some of the adults who come in, their children.

 

At the beginning of each school year, I approach the student government for funds to purchase new games. I usually request between $300.00 to $400.00 for the year. Not surprisingly, this money does not go far, given the price of games these days. But it is enough to add a few titles to the collection. We also get games by donation, so now we have just about every type of Risk ever published (except Godstorm Risk). Currently, there are 65 games in our collection. Popular games this year included: Blockus, Hey, That's My Fish, World of Warcraft, Settlers, Command and Colors: Ancients, Axis & Allies Miniatures, and Memoir '44. A host of other games were also played, not to mention chess, checkers, and great games like Apples to Apples. Next year we will be adding to the collection. Sometimes with modules for pre-existing games, and sometimes new game hot off the press. I might even buy a copy or two of games that I have had published (For Bloody Honor by Firefight Games and Prairie Aflame by Khyber Pass Games), to try and entice students into the more historical realm of gaming.

 

All in all, the club has been a rousing success at my school. The admin are happy because it gives a large number of students something to do at lunch. The students are happy because they get to play games with their friends and school. I'm happy because I get to play games, and some of those gamers have grown up to become wargamers. And that's what it's all about, isn't it! If you are a teacher, try it at your school. You'll be amazed at the results. If you're not a teacher, perhaps check in with your local Boys & Girls club to see whether there might be an opportunity there to begin a club to attract new gamers.

 

The endeavor has been worthwhile and a lot of fun. Maybe we can have another Golden Age of Gaming with all the new blood entering the hobby. I for one hope so.

The War in Iraq and the End Times

Seeing history repeat within my own lifetime is astonishing. I am talking about the mess of the Vietnam war, that I watched as a teenager in High School, and the War in Iraq, that I watch on the TV with the same similar mess. Then, it was President Johnson declaring that we must stop Communism in Nam, otherwise, where will it end? Now, it is President Bush, stopping the terrorists. 

 

In 1983 or so, I designed and published a game called, Locust. It was done based upon a class I had taken on the Book of Revelations in the Bible. I am not a religious person, though I do believe in God, divine intervention etc. Locust is what my instructor indicated would happen in the End Times. I was so fascinated with the subject, interpretations of Daniel etc., I felt the game would be accurate. It was and is. Iran had become a world power because of their nukes. Russian and Chinese interests Iran all were intertwined because of trade agreements, to which all needed and were lucrative. America's reputation had been seriously eroded from past errors. Israel felt isolated, though continued to receive full US support.

 

War breaks out when Iranian nukes are tossed into Israel, igniting the Final War. Russian (the bear in the Revelations) invades Iran to secure its own interests and oil. This action provokes the Common Market nations and the US to counter this thrust and a brief tactical nuke exchange occurs. Arab nations also begin to attack Israel to retake what they always thought belonged to them. The region is ravaged.

 

Of course, Jesus is not used in the game, because all these things are to happen--allowed to happen. One of the most early signs of end times is the weather change globally. The ability to instantly communicate with others across the globe is another. This just recently happen.

 

Anyway, the game was interesting and it should be interesting if it does happen,

Against the Odds Sneak Peek-Paukenschlag U-Boat 1942 Game

This sneek peek is based upon my original never released DTP game, Operation Paukenschlag (Drumbeat)covering the devastating attacks by U-boats off the US East Coast and in the Caribbean, 1942. This is the historical part. The "what if" and the more exciting part is it supposes the Germans had developed some Amerika Bombers and had modified (well within their capabilities)their already exisiting He 177 and FW 200 long range bombers.Further, it supposes that Hitler had decided to seize the Azores (he had seriously considered it in 1940-41)to be used as a launch pad for long range bombing on the US East Coast! It was not that far from reality and actually quite plausible had Hitler demanded it. The German wolfpacks were ravenous against the unprepared and nearly defenseless east coast of America. It was like Pearl Harbor. By May, over 400 transports had been sunk off the US east coast, some two million tons of supplies lost with 5000 lives.

The game is the most innovative and accurate, yet playable, sub-air game ever. Sea and submarine movement is actually based on how German U-boat commanders plotted and tracked surface ships. Very cool!

The game was never released as a DTP because ATO secured it right off the bat, seeking to diversify their gaming line. Sub games, by their nature, are difficult to make interesting and fun (computer sub games excepted). Most sub board games have almost always sunk in their popularity--so, hopefully, this game will change it when Issue 22 comes out.

The counters shown are from the DTP game. The final ATO game will no doubt be more artistic and polished. Each strategic square is 550-600 miles. Each operational square is 55-60 miles. Each tactical square is 6-7 miles. Each turn is three days. Each sub is one submarine. Each convoy is between 10-50 ships. Each US DD, ASW, Cutter naval unit is two ships. Air units are squadrons of 6-12 aircraft. Each US CV, BB is one ship. Each turn is a week.

Excerpts from the Movement Rules:Movement on the Operational or Tactical Grids only applies to those opposing naval units in the same Strategic Zone (on the game map). The rates are the same per square, either 1 or 2 squares. Some ships (DD 11, 12, BB, CV) may move 3 squares. Prior to moving a sub, the German must decide whether it is submerged or surface. A submerged sub moves one square, a surfaced sub-two squares on the OSL\TSL grids. Only the final zone where movement ends and the presence of enemy ships determines if the OSL or TSL grids will be used. If the ending zone has none, nothing more happens. If it does, the involved units are removed and placed in the OSL and each player determines their precise location and units alternate moving until either opposing ships end in the same square or not. If they do, the TSL is used and the same procedure occurs. When opposing naval units end movement in the same square on the OSL, movement continues on the TSL. If the convoy exits the OSL before any subs have intercepted and ended movement in the same box on the OSL, nothing more happens…the convoy has escaped for this turn only.

German long range bombers may also conduct missions against various industrial targets along the East coast.

Aircraft IssuesThe reality was that had the Germans acted upon their first Amerika plans in 1940, the Me 264 long range bomber could’ve been operational by 1942, historically, only a few were done by late 1942. The He 177 was operational in March 1942. While the FW 200 had been modified. All three faced the same problems with aircraft engines being unreliable over the long flight (2-4,000 miles to the East Coast from either island) weather, pilot fatigue, and target recognition were major issues!
The He 177 and FW 200 suffered a 50% chance rate that the engines would catch fire during flights. A rather humbling event.

Flight times would average 7-8 hrs, thus, pilot fatigue would be an issue. Target ID would’ve been almost none existent, as even the U-boats had inadequate maps and generally used tourist maps to sail by along the coast.

Historically, the Uboats totally missed the CV Hornet being escorted from Key West to Norfolk in January 1942. In the game, you can go for it, if you fail, the American player can use it to attack the Azores where the Luftwaffe is based! It could've easily happened. Historically, the Hornet was sent to Pearl Harbor after being prepped in Norfolk.

Hopefully this sneak peek will still your interest!

VOTING RESULTS ON FIREFIGHT GAMES

Interested in seeing what others think of FFG games, click on the link.

 

http://htmlgear.tripod.com:80/poll/control.poll?a=vote&u=perry95403&i=3

Neat item on this ATO Magazine page

 

Hi: You may want to check out this webpage on the Against the Odds Magazine site: http://www.atomagazine.com/game_22.html

OPERATION FISCHFANG AT ANZIO 1944 and KOLTOV CORRIDOR

Both games are now released! Koltov uses a unqiue system where both players issues commands to formations and then are revealed, thus, truly capturing the sense of war without using hidden movement or inverted counters.

 

For details go to:

 

http://firefight-games.com/koltov.html

 

http://firefight-games.com/fischfang.html

 

Feldgrau, Casemate Publisher, Axis History

As a designer, one of the best resources when researching for a game are others!  Some of the most knowledgeable people post on various forums who provide valid, accurate information. The two best are:

 

Feldgrau.com

 

http://feldgrau.com

 

Axis History.com

 

http://forum.axishistory.com 

 

My Goodwood book is available in the US from:

 

http://www.casematepublishing.com/cgi/titleinfo.pl?sku=9781874622734

Agel Vitamins

I recently tried a new product, Agel vitamins. The selling point is that the vitamins are suspended in a gel and a foil pack. They are supposed to be absorbed quicker and stay fresher in this manner. While it is a different method of taking a vitamin, it is not at all new. Vitamins in gel have been a round since the 70's, usually taken by those who cannot swallow a pill. While it is true that the vitamins are absorbed faster, that is the only benefit.

Agel's drawbacks are many. Expensive, a carton of 30 packs for $60 retail or $30 wholesale. The are much larger than a tiny pill one can put into a pocket. The variety is very limited into not more than 10 assortments. You are stuck with vitamin proportions as you cannot simply have 1000mg of Vitamin C, or a specific amino acid etc. While the taste is OK, their appeal is limited despite the launch and money promoting it as a new MLM where one can make unlimited residual income, like Mary Kay, Cookie Lee etc. The other drawback is that while you can buy them on Ebay, usually you can only buy them through a rep who has joined the MLM at the retail price. They are not sold in vitamin-health stores.

Agel has a stiff competition from hundreds of vitamin companies on the internet, mass mailings, companies with hundreds of vitamins to select from such as Puritan or Swansons, to name only two. Their prices are WAY less than Agel's. Yet,Agel is thriving on the wannabe millions in hopes that millions can be made.

Hey, remember the Pet rock? Who would have thought?!.......

Rome's Greatest Defeat-The Battle that stopped Rome in the Teutoburg Forest at Kalkriese, Germany

Firefight's latest, Wicked Narrows, is out and ready for your enjoyment!  The game really captures the whole devastating battle that fateful day in September, 9 AD. The most unique aspect is that the German player decides when the game (the battle) begins. Until it happens, the Roman legions simply march onto the map in total oblivious to their surroundings! Combat is in rounds, with certain types being able to do certain things while others may not. The game, according to playtesters, usually ends within eight turns (eight hours) or sooner, depending on how well the Roman player handles the surprise attack. Moving into the dark foreboding forests is an option for the Romans, but one  steeped in other dangers. Moving through Narrows is truly a "wicked" affair, a mountain and forest on one side and swamp on the other!

 

Check it out: http://firefight-games.com/wicked.html

 

NEW RELEASE INFO

The following games are near ready for release:

The Koltov Corridor July 1944 - Covers the dramatic tank battles between the German Panzer Divisions and the Russian Tank Armies moving through the narrow gap at Koltov south of Brody. A unique game where players issue orders for formations and hope they chose the correct one!

Wicked Narrows - The Roman disaster at Kalkreise, Germany in September, 2 A.D. It was at the Narrows where the most wicked bloody battle occurred between four German tribes and three legions. The German attack destroyed all three legions!

Operation Fischfang, February, 1944 - Covers the only near successful German Panzer attack to crush the Allied landings at Anzio. The elements can either be a friend or for in this game at the right or wrong time.

Storm Over Taierzhuang 1938 - Covers the almost forgotten Stalingrad-like battle for the town between the Nationalist Chinese and Japanese forces. This is an area movement game designed by Terence Co, a great design and his first! Most Westerners have not even heard of this battle. It was decisive with aircraft and tanks as the Japanese drive inland seemed unstoppable!

NEWLY RELEASED GAMES:

One German, One Bullet August-Sept. 1944 This is a two map game!