A Hitler’s Reich Axis Bot Variant for a More Historical Balkans’ Experience

Introduction by Hiter’s Reich Co-Designer Fred Schachter: One of the fun aspects of our beloved hobby is the ability to “tinker” with a game to suit our perception of history or to simply introduce a new fun element into play. Here’s such an alternative for Hitler’s Reich: A Card Conquest Series Game from Rich Kimmel.

Having knowledge of the game and its solo Bot designed by the talented Vez Arponin should enhance readers’ appreciation of Rich’s article. For that background, please consult GMT Games – Hitler’s Reich. With that, “take it away Rich!”.

Playing Hitler’s Reich Solo: A Suggested Variant

Introduction by Hitler’s Reich Co-Designer Fred Schachter: An admonition of my fellow Hitler’s Reich design partner Mark McLaughlin and myself, for every GMT game we’ve worked or are working on, is to encourage players to feel free to modify a game if it enhances their enjoyment of it. Our refrain of “Hey, it’s your game!” has been consistent over the years.

When Hitler’s Reich fan Robert Baynosa introduced himself to me with his suggestion to modify Vez Arponin’s solitaire version of Hitler’s Reich; his ideas to modify Vez’s creation, which so many have enjoyed puzzling out and being entertained by, seemed too good to keep just to ourselves. Hence, it is here shared with InsideGMT’s audience. Give it a whirl if you’re so inclined!

Incidentally, some knowledge of how the Hitler’s Reich game system works, as background for fully appreciating Robert’s presentation, is available at: GMT Games – Hitler’s Reich .

All Bridges Burning: Some Post-Publication Rules Variants

Until you have a community playing you don’t know how good of a job you’ve done.

Richard Garfield

A good half a year has passed since the publication of the COIN Series Volume X, All Bridges Burning. The reception has been amazing. The game was nominated for the Golden Geek Award, several good reviews have appeared (see here for a selection), and generally the feedback has been really positive. It seems that All Bridges Burning was able to bring something new and captivating on the table in the tried and tested COIN Series.

First Impressions of the Versailles 1919 Solo Variant

Below is another great article from The Boardgames Chronicle, this time discussing his first impressions of the solo variant for Versailles 1919. If you would like to read this article on his blog, you can find that here. Enjoy! -Rachel

Enhanced Competition in Solo SpaceCorp

Like its parent game, our forthcoming SpaceCorp expansion, SpaceCorp:Ventures includes a dedicated solo version with its own rules. For Ventures, designer John Butterfield tweaked the Solo AI to make it tougher to beat, by enhancing the competition’s responsiveness to the strategic situation on each era’s board. Players who enjoyed the original SpaceCorp solo game and want a more challenging AI will be pleased to know that the Ventures solo enhancements can also be applied to original solo SpaceCorp.

This post introduces official solitaire enhancements compatible with original SpaceCorp. The enhancements refine competition site actions, so we have a downloadable Solitaire Player Aid that includes these changes linked to this post (and on the SpaceCorp game page on the GMT website).

The Last Hundred Yards Mission 24.0: All That for a Piece of Dirt

Today, we have a surprise for you players of The Last Hundred Yards! Designer Mike Denson has graciously created a new FREE downloadable scenario for the The Last Hundred Yards! Feel free to check it out here in InsideGMT. When you’re ready to download and print the PDF file, just click the link at the bottom of the article. We hope you enjoy this new scenario for The Last Hundred Yards. Thanks Mike!

Legend of Rostam: Bonus Scenario for Ancient Civilizations of the Middle East

Rostam is the hero of the Persian national epic, Shahnameh (which translates as Epic of Kings), which was written by the poet Abolqasem Ferdowsi around 1000 AD. It is set in a semi-mythical era that loosely resembles the Parthian period (247 BC – 224 AD). The central conflict is between the Persians and the Turanians, invaders from Central Asia whose homelands are situated on the far side of the Oxus River and the eastern shores of the Aral Sea. Rostam is repeatedly called upon to save the kingdom (and its hot-headed, selfish and incompetent king). This scenario is set at the period in the book where the Turanian king, Afrasiyab, sets forth on the first of his many invasions.

A Little Less Chaos; A Little More Planning: Optional Rules to Calm the Waters in Ancient Civilizations of the Inner Sea

Introduction by ACIS Developer Fred Schachter: The Designers, Mark McLaughlin and Chris Vorder Bruegge, as well as myself, would like as many of our fellow hobbyists as possible to enjoy playing ACIS. We appreciate some gamers sharing how they’ve mitigated the game’s chaos through a variety of house rules and it is grand learning how those customized changes result in more folks having fun with the game and consequently playing it repeatedly.

Upon reading of gamers modifying ACIS, Mark responded… “If they are playing the game and are happy, I am happy… if they are playing the game and making it their own, I am even happier.”

These positive developments inspired Designer Chris Vorder Bruegge to make recommendations of his own, recommendations which mitigate Ancient Civilizations of the Inner Sea’s chaotic game environment with a menu of choices. For those interested in experiencing this different ACIS milieu, a more merciful environment than the game as published offers, we hope you’ll appreciate and enjoy Chris’ offerings…

Space Empires Close Encounters: A New Way to Add Amoebas

The method used in the Close Encounters scenario book for adding amoebas gives you a predetermined placement for the amoebas, which is great for balance and planning. The method mentioned in the rulebook where you mix the three “No Mines” counters in with the deep space ones and use them to trigger the appearance of an amoeba is random and therefore exciting—but there are only three such markers, and depending on your print runs, observant players may be able to see the slight difference in the color/finish of these markers and know them for what they are.