According to the mythic account recounted by the Samguk yusa, written in 1281, the Gojosen Kingdom was founded in northern Korea and southern Manchuria in 2333BC. The Jin State was formed in southern Korea by the 3rd century BC. In the late 2nd century BC, Gojoseon, after a protracted war, fell to the mighty Han Dynasty of […]
Meet Korea: A Civilization of GMT’s Ancient Civilizations of East Asia Read Post »
Designer Blogs
As with its predecessors (Ancient Civilizations of the Inner Sea, GMT Games – Ancient Civilizations of the Inner Sea and Ancient Civilizations of the Middle East, GMT Games – Ancient Civilizations of the Middle East, or ASIS and ACME, respectively), the cards of Ancient Civilizations of East Asia, known as “Karma Cards”, quite literally “rule”
Historical Background The Vietnam War was a long and complex conflict—far too sprawling to model in full within a lane battler board game. Iron Triangle therefore narrows its focus to the struggle between U.S. and Viet Cong (VC) forces during the Military Assistance Command, Vietnam (MACV) driven search and destroy campaigns in III Corps Tactical
Iron Triangle #1: General Overview Read Post »
Designer Blogs
As most of you know, this year’s RevCon was a special one. We simultaneously celebrated our 20th anniversary and the 250th anniversary of America’s Independence by not only enjoying a week of competitive Rev War gaming, but also an agenda complete with special events to mark the occasion. This year there were 22 unique BoAR
RevCon 2026: After Action Report Read Post »
After Action Report, Designer Blogs
By Mark McLaughlin & Fred Schachter The Han Dynasty ruled during what is often referred to as the “Golden Age” of Ancient China. Building upon a base set by the relatively short-lived Qin*, the Han created a Confucian bureaucratic edifice based on merit which gave China its first truly effective centralized government. Han emperors are
Meet The Han: A Civilization of GMT’s Ancient Civilizations of East Asia Read Post »
Designer Blogs
Open playtesting kicked off in mid-February for ARC – The Underworld. Prior to that, the game underwent extensive limited playtesting. That early playtesting greatly helped construct the game and its mechanics. Some impressions and comments: Some thoughts on ARC from a playtester: First off, the game is fun. It can be a challenge from both
ARC – The Underworld Playtest Report #1 Read Post »
Designer Blogs, Playtest Reports
You can’t be successful in Checkpoint Charlie missions without your assets, your Secret Intelligence Service agents. These are the people who move around the map, completing mission objectives and avoiding the KGB while you sit back at SIS Berlin Station. In each mission, you’ll typically start with two assets on the map of Berlin, sometimes
Meet the Assets and Persons of Interest in Checkpoint Charlie Read Post »
Designer Blogs
By Frank Esparrago Introduction by Assistant Designer & Editor, Fred Schachter: There is a question posed during many a Congress of Vienna game at club meetings, conventions, as well as within the annals of BGG. The question is this, that while the game is exciting, fun, and full of challenges for the players, is the
How Balanced is the Congress of Vienna Game? Read Post »
Designer Blogs
by Mark G. McLaughlin (with input from Fred Schachter) As with its predecessors (Ancient Civilizations of the Inner Sea GMT Games – Ancient Civilizations of the Inner Sea and Ancient Civilizations of the Middle East GMT Games – Ancient Civilizations of the Middle East, or ASIS and ACME, respectively), the cards quite literally “rule” the game.
By Mark McLaughlin & Fred Schachter Japan first made its mark on history in the Jomon period of the Mesolithic age – about 10,000 BC (six Millennia before the first era portrayed by GMT’s Ancient Civilizations of East Asia game). The incipient and then initial Jomon Periods were followed by four more of that name,
Meet Japan: A Civilization of GMT’s Ancient Civilizations of East Asia Read Post »
Designer Blogs