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Congress of Vienna: Update and Look Back at an Exciting Year

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Introduction by Congress of Vienna (CoV)’s Assistant Designer & Editor, Fred Schachter: December 2020 marks the one year anniversary of Congress of Vienna becoming a GMT P-500 listed game and we once again thank all who’ve placed much appreciated orders for CoV. What a year it has been; not only for us all due to the Pandemic, but for our beloved gaming hobby and the development of CoV.

This monthly update is a retrospective by designer Frank Esparrago, a reminiscence going back to the game’s earliest features. Its particular focus is on the developmental progress of Congress of Vienna since it made its debut as a prospective GMT game during July 2019’s CSW Expo in Tempe, AZ… ah for those wonderful seemingly halcyon days when we could physically gather for a good old traditional gaming convention! Hopefully, those days shall soon return.

In conjunction with this article’s InsideGMT publication, the latest files of sample cards and counters are shared. These replace those posted with CoV’s P-500 listing.  For those, and a host of related Congress of Vienna material, which should provide useful and hopefully entertaining background for this article, kindly reference: GMT Games – Congress of Vienna

With that, take it away Frank!

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China’s Red River Dance — Playing Next War: Vietnam (Part 2)

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Ian M. Sullivan is the Special Advisor for Analysis and ISR at the Deputy Chief of Staff for Intelligence, US Army Training and Doctrine Command.

Disclaimer: All views expressed in this post are the author’s and do not necessarily reflect those of the Department of Defense, Department of the Army, or Army Training and Doctrine Command

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A New Wargamer’s Insights and Impressions from Combat Commander: Europe

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Below is an article featuring Combat Commander: Europe insights and first impressions from first time player and InsideGMT contributor David Wiley of Swords and Chit and Cardboard Clash. You can also find this article on David’s blog. Enjoy! -Rachel

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China’s Red River Dance — Playing Next War: Vietnam (Part 1)

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Ian M. Sullivan is the Special Advisor for Analysis and ISR at the Deputy Chief of Staff for Intelligence, US Army Training and Doctrine Command.

Disclaimer: All views expressed in this post are the author’s and do not necessarily reflect those of the Department of Defense, Department of the Army, or Army Training and Doctrine Command

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Tanto Monta Design Diary #4: The Muslim Player

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On August 21, 1415, the Portuguese seize the North African city of Ceuta in a surprise attack. Many now consider this conquest as the opening salvo in the European era of colonialism. For the Muslim world, the loss of this crucial port city clearly represents a turning point: prior to this time, it had always been the Muslim kingdoms from Africa who had invaded European lands. Over the next fifty years the Marinid Sultanate dissolves and no new Arab power can assert itself in the Maghreb. Wars arise between the splintered clans and tribes. Although nominally the Sultanates of Fez and Tremencen share control of these lands, in practice the power of these sultanates does not extend all the way to the Atlantic coast. Portugal is thus able to gain control of several cities along these shores. Will the Portuguese continue to dominate these port cities?  If so they will suffocate the Arab caravan trade crossing Africa and ensure the safety of their new Portuguese settlements further down the coast of west Africa.

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The Battle & Diplomacy Cards of Congress of Vienna

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Introduction by Congress of Vienna (CoV)’s Assistant Designer & Editor, Fred Schachter – To familiarize the InsideGMT audience of what designer Frank Esparrago accomplished with his fun and exciting Congress of Vienna game, now a GMT P-500 offering which has “Made the Cut” and then some (thank you patrons, thank you so very much!) kindly reference previous InsideGMT articles covering a wide range of CoV topics. These can serve as useful background and context for appreciating this piece. Use the following link to access this material: https://www.gmtgames.com/p-850-congress-of-vienna.aspx

This particular exposition follows an InsideGMT series describing the game’s character cards which can be found using the above-provided link.

The articles and updates provided to date, may have overly focused on Congress of Vienna’s wargame elements. These are included as play options in a single rulebook chapter entitled “Wargame Flavor”. We may have inadvertently conveyed that the CoV Design/Development/Play Test Team lost sight of the simple game originally designed. That is assuredly not the case and we regret anyone having that impression! CoV has a Standard Game which our Eurogame Team members thoroughly enjoy while the “Wargame Flavor” version has proven a delight to the most hardcore of our team’s grognards.

To support this, here’s further explanation from designer Frank Esparrago from a communication to a gamer expressing doubts about CoV’s design intent…

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Drop Zone: Southern France Unit Histories – Part 4: The Glider Troops

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This is the fourth article on the Allied and German units featured in the game. We continue our survey of Allied Airborne units in Southern France in the order of arrival—after pre-dawn paradrop (Mission ALBATROSS) three separate landing were carried out during D-Day (Missions BLUEBIRD, CANARY and DOVE). Let’s take a look at these three missions and the many units involved in detail.

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Factions in Red Dust Rebellion: The Corporations

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The bombing of Maglev-77 was an act of supreme cowardice, directed against hard-working commuters whose only crime was heading to work to make this world a better place. If this was supposed to send a message, it has been heard and understood. We now know who you are.

You are weak, you have failed, and you stand in the way of human progress.

We will rebuild the maglev line, and we will continue our work to terraform this planet. As we battle to bring Earth climate under control, we must also shape Mars into a new Earth. A new future for our people, for all people. Because we must remember that there are no real Martians and no Earthers, we are all one people, we are human.

And as human beings we must grieve for those who lost their lives here today, and we must persevere. We must keep pushing forward and onwards. We must build a future together, on Earth, here and out there, among the stars.

Silveria Kidlat, Mars Corporate council chairperson.
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First Impressions of the Versailles 1919 Solo Variant

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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

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Drop Zone: Southern France Unit Histories – Part 3: The British 2nd Parachute Brigade

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This is the third article on the Allied and German units featured in the game.

The Pegasus Flash, symbol of the British Airborne and the Parachute Regiment. Features the mythic Greek hero Bellerophon mounted on the winged horse Pegasus.

We continue our survey of Allied Airborne units in Southern France in the order of arrival—third to land was the 2nd Independent Parachute Brigade Group, with parachute elements including the 4th, 5th Scottish and 6th Royal Welch Parachute Battalions and the 2nd Parachute Squadron, Royal Engineers. Air-Landing (glider) elements included the 64th Airlanding Light Battery, Royal Artillery (RA); 300th Airlanding Anti-Tank Battery, RA; 2nd Parachute Brigade Signals Company; 2nd Parachute Brigade Provost Section; 127th Parachute Field Ambulance, Royal Army Medical Corps (RAMC); 751st Composite Company, Royal Army Service Corps (RASC); and the 2nd Parachute Brigade Workshops, Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers (REME).