In Downfall Preview 2 the Soviet faction began the game by playing their “Operation Uranus” action card to resolve a free attack order. Since doing so had no initiative cost, the Soviets retain the initiative and may now select a Soviet order marker. As previously stated, the Soviet Partisan Warfare order and STAVKA order are available on the Action Track, as is the Attack order in the Soviet Planning Box.
In our first article we introduced the design features of Chad Jensen’s strategic game on the three years that ended World War II in Europe. Now we will zoom into the mechanics of Orders, Action Cards and Combat by walking through a typical game opening. The Soviet faction begins the game with the initiative and so will go first.
Shown here is a portion of the map, with the initial set up reflecting the situation on the eastern front in November 1942. Red units are Soviets. All other units are the German and Axis-Allied nations making up the OKH faction.
Currently on the P500, Downfall is Chad Jensen’s strategic-level two-player game on the final three years of WWII in Europe. He evolved the design over several years and left its parts in various stages of completion. I was honored to pick up the project and see the design through.
The game begins at the high-water mark of Axis expansion. One player controls the Western Allies while the other commands the Soviet Union, in their joint effort to destroy the Axis. Though sharing the goal of defeating the Reich, each player seeks a victory that favors their dominance in post-war Europe.
Shown here is Chad’s 34” x 44” map for the game, with design finishes by Mark Simonitch.
Downfall’s innovative game system and play features are evident in the map and counters.
Let’s take a tour!
Today we are making a revised Third Edition series rulebook available for Fields of Fire as a digital download, free from the GMT website. This high resolution PDF contains new diagrams and examples, has been reorganized, has all clarifications and errata integrated, and has a complete index of examples and topics (plus the PDF has bookmarks!).
Additionally, we are releasing a revised Enemy Activity Check Hierarchy Player Aid. These materials can be used with Fields of Fire Volumes I and II, and The Bulge Campaign. A few notes for players who are diving into the game with these rules and PAC:
Since our last update of Congress of Vienna (CoV)’s components: specifically focusing on its gameboard; 0ur efforts were driven to provide Terry Leeds, our graphic designer, with the best raw material for him to do an excellent job taking our play test version and converting it into a “production worthy” piece of functional art adapted to the game’s mechanics.
We already had some knowledge of what Terry Leeds was professionally like. His “Imperial Struggle” work is prominently displayed in my collection of games as a wonder that I find difficult to play, but whose graphics complement the design and made it easier for me to enjoy this well-envisioned game.
Furthermore, for Congress of Vienna, Terry depicted many of the game elements (cards and map board) with a series of different figures, a variety of indicia, so color blind players can play CoV in a much more intuitive way. This proved a success, which pleasantly surprised us, because honestly it was a situation which we had not thought of when we initially designed the basic components of the game for its first prototypes!
In the nearly thirty years, (twenty-eight to be exact), since GMT Games published the 1st and only edition of the IVth Volume of Richard H. Berg’s and Mark Herman’s, Great Battles of History series, other series entries have received reprints and major updates. SPQR for instance, is on the 2nd Printing of the its Deluxe Edition, encompassing four Rule Change editions over several reprints and edition publications. Caesar: The Civil Wars, interestingly, long out of print has seen its sister volume, Conquest of Gaul receive a reprinting but it took a little while longer for the original Caesar title to get there. So, when GMT announced a new deluxe treatment of both The Civil Wars and Conquest of Gaul together in a new dual package, I immediately contacted them to volunteer to build the official GMT Vassal module and was thrilled when Alan Ray contacted me back to let me know it was going to happen. For me, it represents a dream project that I hoped to see come about ever since building my first basic module, after viewing Joel Toppen’s helpful video series on how to build a Vassal module several years ago now.
Production art for Inferno is well underway from artist Robert Altbauer. Volko takes us on a gallery walk, along with a little introduction to the historical setting and how Levy & Campaign brings it to life.
Two warring parties divide 13th-Century Tuscany. One favors the Pope, the other, the Empire. Inferno players muster up to six armies for each. Here, Levy & Campaign imbedded artist Robert Altbauer displays heraldry on the inside panels of the screens that hide Lord mats—Guelphs along the top, Ghibellines below.
Those following the progress of the Musket & Pike Battle Series (MPBS) Dual Pack on P500 will have noted that the game has progressed into the “Made the Cut – In Art and Final Development” category. Many are asking for some peeks at the new artwork, and I wanted to give an update to the project overall.
To be plain, this project is much more than a reprint. Though it is hard to believe, it has been 20 years since This Accursed Civil War was released. There have been 5 more volumes of the series released since. It all started with the Desktop Published (DTP) version before that. The original 16-page rulebook is now 32 pages (which includes graphics) and has been carefully honed over the years to provide a solid base. The design had strong roots in Great Battle of History and Rob Markham’s games. When published, it was very much representative of the state of the art at that time.
When we embarked on the Dual Pack project, it was clear that it was going to be much more involved than just a reprint. Not only did the graphics for all the components need to be brought up to the current state, but I wanted to add new battles and incorporate new scholarship into existing battles. That drove a comprehensive review of the orders of battle, setups, and victory conditions. Combining the first two volumes made for a mountain of work, which is one of the causes for the long time it has taken to get this far.
During the last six months we continued adjusting Congress of Vienna (CoV)’s components to try to make them as functional as possible. This effort included minor corrections to the rules: for example, when a rule was moved from being an optional rule to becoming a standard one or vice versa.
This always seems a problem when you carry out a game’s extensive playtest program with participants contributing many ideas and feedback regarding rule development as well as victory conditions. What’s gratifying is that through it all, the core design/development team takes a considered approached to weighing the merits of all this much appreciated input; and in the case of this November 2021 update, we’ll focus on the latest Congress of Vienna map and its rule references upon the gameboard.
This means we’ll share game board modifications made since the last published overview concerning the map as play testing proceeds. New Readers about Congress of Vienna, or those needing reminders of what this upcoming GMT P-500 listed game is about, may benefit through obtaining background regarding this game through the material deposited herein: GMT Games – Congress of Vienna and to learn more of the optional rules specifically mentioned within this update kindly reference War or Diplomacy? The Struggle Between the Wargamer vs Eurogamer Soul in the Design and Development of Congress of Vienna | Inside GMT blog
With this article, we present the latest gameboard which incorporates a variety of aids intended to facilitate play of both the Standard Game and its Optional Historical Rules for players with a grognard soul (these were referred to in previous versions as “Wargame Flavor Rules”).
As with the prior posted April ’21 update, we do not have this latest gameboard extensively in-person tested since most playtesting is conducted by Vassal for self-protection measures against COVID-19 . This results in our testing teams having representatives from Europe, the States, as well as a recent addition from the Philippines (what wonderful and talented multi-national group I’m privileged to have!). We incorporated modifications from Vassal play testers who found help them helpful to avoid needing to take time to reference, or perhaps overlook, certain key rules during play of an exciting and fun game of Congress of Vienna.
Like my occasional reviews tend to be, I am focusing on a game I enjoy which has little knowledge or coverage and one I’d like to draw people’s attention to. In this case, it’s a game that isn’t released, but is due shortly. This game is “Conquest and Consequence” (CnC), the Pacific Theatre sequel to Craig Besinque’s 2015 hit “Triumph and Tragedy” (TnT).
I note that I am the developer on this game, but will temper this possible bias by noting that I make no money from my role and only aim that people have an enjoyable gaming experience. So, while the following preview is my honest opinion, it’s only fair you have this context in mind.
