Category Archives: Solitaire Systems

Posted on

Playing Hitler’s Reich Solo: A Suggested Variant

by

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 .

Posted on

Atlantic Chase Solo Session Report – The Blockade Scenarios

by

In the below article I would like to invite Dear Readers to the fantastic travel into the world of solitaire scenarios and campaigns for Atlantic Chase. This will an after action report saturated with many photos as I think only pictures can reflect what was going on during the session. I used some pointers and arrows so you can see the flow of the action as well as grasp the dynamics of the conflict. Hope you will enjoy it!

Posted on

Automated Player’s Aids for Contending Against the Hitler’s Reich Axis Bot (and a Variant Too!)

by

Introduction by Hitler’s Reich Co-Designer & Developer Fred Schachter: Being a big fan of WWII games and of Vez Arponin’s Axis Bot for playing GMT’s Hitler’s Reich Solitaire in particular, Jan Hořínek was inspired to develop an automated Player’s Aid for assisting a Solitaire gamer navigate the rules and distinct gaming environment this version of Hitler’s Reich provides.

Furthermore, as many veteran wargamers are wont to do; Jan modified the Bot’s options so it would behave just a bit differently than the original.  What did Jan do?  Well, you’ll have to read on and check out the subject links to what Jan created in order to find out!

Thank you Jan for your creativity and wonderful support of Hitler’s Reich: A Card Conquest System Game!  Here’s the relevant extract from the email Jan provided me along with links to both versions of the Player Aids he composed.  Enjoy!

Posted on

Inside GMT One: Evolving Trưng into Tây Sơn

by

The development process for Fall of Saigon’s bots began way back with the development of the Trưng Bot Update Kit. Much of what Bruce Mansfield designed for Trưng eventually made its way into the Fall of Saigon bots, which we call Tây Sơn. The three Tây Sơn brothers united Vietnam in the 18th Century after a century-long civil war. While Tây Sơn owes a great deal to Trưng, there were distinct challenges involved in creating a bot for Fall of Saigon.The four main issues with designing Tây Sơn were: (a) new pieces, (b) the new 2-player scenario, (c) dealing with US Retreat vs War, and (d) ensuring the system works both with Trưng and with the original Fire in the Lake flowchart bots.

Posted on

Inside GMT One: What’s Next for Fields of Fire?

by

Most tactical games start when your units make contact with the enemy, and bullets start flying. While tactical games will occasionally introduce hidden units, and operational games like Silver Bayonet  require players to conduct recon to find the enemy, most wargames start when the action starts. Fields of Fire is different. Because you control an entire rifle company in Fields of Fire, your mission begins in the planning: What is the mission objective? How will we accomplish it? Who will maneuver? Who is in reserve? How will I coordinate with Battalion HQ?

This distinguishes Fields of Fire from every other wargame I’ve played. While the situation starts static in most tactical games, every mission of Fields of Fire will play out differently as the situation evolves and the enemy disposition is discovered. This narrative and the way that the game puts you in the position to attempt to solve the unknown is what drew me to Fields of Fire and is the main reason I wanted to work with Ben on Fields of Fire: The Bulge Campaign. Since the P500 announcement, I’ve been asked a lot what the next steps are for Fields of Fire generally.

Posted on

First Impressions of the Versailles 1919 Solo Variant

by

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

Posted on

An Illustrated SpaceCorp: Ventures Solo Session Report: The Starfarers Era

by

While sheltering-in-place during our present global circumstances, I had the privilege to playtest the upcoming expansion to SpaceCorp, titled SpaceCorp: Ventures. One of my favorite parts of the new game is the updated solo play options, especially the custom competition HQ! This article completes our solo play-through with New Nomads, as we head into the Starfarers Era.

Posted on

Border Reivers Design Diary #17: Border Reivers With Less Than Four Players

by

Below you will find the seventeenth and final installment of an ongoing design diaries series from Border Reivers designer Ed Beach. (The previous installments can be found here.) He regularly publishes design updates on the “Reivers and Reformers” Facebook group, so if you would like to read those as they are released you can do so here. Ed is also about to start a sample solo game of Border Reivers within the Reivers and Reformers Facebook group, so sign up for that group now if you want to contribute to the board of players competing against the new solo game system (or just watch the action). Enjoy! -Rachel

Posted on

An Illustrated SpaceCorp: Ventures Solo Session Report: The Planeteers Era

by

While sheltering-in-place during our present global circumstances, I had the privilege to playtest the upcoming expansion to SpaceCorp, titled SpaceCorp: Ventures. One of my favorite parts of the new game is the updated solo play options, especially the custom competition HQ! In this article, we take our player HQ, New Nomads, out of the inner solar system and see how we fare in the Planeteers Era!

Posted on

An Illustrated SpaceCorp: Ventures Solo Session Report: The Mariners Era

by

While sheltering-in-place during our present global circumstances, I had the privilege to playtest the upcoming expansion to SpaceCorp, titled SpaceCorp: Ventures. One of my favorite parts of the new game is the updated solo play options, especially the custom competition HQ! In this article, we will take a look at how the new player HQ New Nomads fares against the competition HQ D.P. Roberts Ltd in the Mariners era.