Monthly Archives: December 2024

Posted on

The Effect of Troop Quality in Illusions of Glory 

by

The second edition of Illusions of Glory: The Great War on the Eastern Front (“IoG”) is currently on the P-500 list. Links to prototype unit counters, player aid cards, mapboard, and playbook can be found on the IoG webpage. The following discussion includes rule references in parentheses. The rulebook can also be found on the IoG webpage. 

One big difference between IoG and the CDGs “Pursuit of Glory” or “Paths of Glory” is the operation of Troop Quality (“TQ”). This is a measure of combat effectiveness, as shown by the downward (negative) movement of Russian (“RU”), German (“GE”), Italian (“IT”), and Austro-Hungarian (“AH”) Troop Quality markers on the General Records Track. 

Posted on

How to Play with Each Major Congress of Vienna Game Power: Britain (2024 Edition)

by

Introduction by Congress of Vienna Assistant Designer & Editor, Fred Schachter: Game Designer Frank Esparrago here concludes his four parts “How to Play” treatise, one for each Congress of Vienna Major Power: France, Austria, Russia, and now Britain which readers and prospective players of the game will hopefully find edifying and enjoyable.

The goal of these expositions is to give CoV players, particularly “newbies”, insights as to how to exploit the advantages and defend against the weaknesses of each Major Power.  These articles are provided in recognition that our beloved hobby has so many titles to choose from that there’s little time to repeatedly play a given game to learn all the nuances not revealed by a rulebook.

When Frank or I host a Congress of Vienna game at a club meeting or convention, we’ll sometimes warn an inexperienced player not to do something which could impede an opportunity for success or result in potential grievous damage to that player’s pursuit of victory.  Well, Frank and I can’t be at your Congress of Vienna gaming table to provide that kind of advisory help… therefore, these articles are intended to be “the next best thing”.

For more regarding Congress of Vienna, with the referenced “Strategies” articles as well as pieces conveying Scenario Set-Ups, Optional Rules (such as the Tactical Battle Resolution Matrix and those not provided with the published game), after action reports, a compendium exploring all the game’s cards, designers notes for the Solitaire and Two Player games, as well as presentations of this fascinating Napoleonic era history in terms of the game, etc., see: GMT Games – Congress of Vienna

Incidentally, please note these “Strategies for” articles are based on a Congress of Vienna Standard Rules Full Campaign Game of potentially ten turns duration.

With that, take it away Frank!

Posted on

Solitaire TacOps: Ortona — The Campaign Game as a Roguelike OODA Loop

by

In the previous series of InsideGMT articles for Solitaire TacOps: Ortona, I shared some of the inspiration for the design, discussed the role scale, effectiveness and maneuver play in the game, the structure of play from turn to turn, and what differentiates it as a hex and counter game. This article introduces the next series which aims to provide insights on what it feels like to play the game at both scales, as facilitated by the campaign system. The design goal was quite simple – players should feel like they are making impactful command decisions, over the course of a full campaign.

Players begin the campaign in command of the Canadian First Infantry Division whose mission is. Historically it took the division 23 days to push the allied line, on the Adriatic coast of Italy, from south of the Moro River to the sea town of Ortona. The open campaign challenges players to achieve this objective in 25 days or less.

The campaign explores how essential operational management is to success. Two frameworks which have had a heavy influence on how the game orients players for the campaign, are roguelike videogames and the OODA loop. Roguelike games have an operational framework that contextualizes the tactical play. OODA loops are situated tactically to sustain operational effectiveness. They do not perfectly define the TacOps experience but what they share parallels what it feels like to play the system.

Posted on

 The National Will Death Spiral in Illusions of Glory

by

The second edition of Illusions of Glory: The Great War on the Eastern Front (“IoG”) is currently on the P-500 list. 

Links to prototype unit counters, player aid cards, mapboard, and playbook can be found on the IoG webpage. 

The following discussion includes rule references in parentheses. The rulebook can also be found on the IoG webpage. 

One big difference between IoG and the CDGs “Pursuit of Glory” or “Paths of Glory” is the operation of National Will (“NW”). This is a measure of popular support for the war effort, as shown by the upward (positive) or downward (negative) movement of Russian (“RU”), German (“GE”), and Austro-Hungarian (“AH”) National Will markers on the General Records Track. National Will is reduced by Victory Point (“VP”) space losses and by playing Event cards (23.2).