At first glance, The Barracks Emperors seems to be a bit of an unusual game to appear on the GMT Games website. It’s not a wargame, although it does feature player conflict. It’s not a historical simulation, although it is historically themed. And it’s not part of a great series, although it does share its setting and some […]
The Barracks Emperors: Trick Taking, Weaponized Read Post »
Designer Blogs, Strategy ArticlesFAB Crusader has turned into being several games within a game design. There are the overall operations, which can best be likened to a combination of three seashells combined with roulette. You have to bluff, feint, and maneuver to be strong where your opponent is weak and take victory points in sudden rushes to push
Introduction to FAB: Crusader Part 2 – Use the Right Tools for the Job Read Post »
Designer BlogsThis is the last of six installments describing the characters represented in the historic “at start” cards. Over the following weeks, I will describe each of the six cards that are shuffled into the deck at the beginning of the game, representing characters that rose to prominence after the initial group did their work in
Historic Characters in Banish the Snakes: Secundinus Read Post »
Designer Blogs, Inside the Game as HistoryAncient Civilizations of the Middle East offers gamers the opportunity to play – and play against – 16 nations, peoples, kingdoms, and empires which rose, fought, prospered, and perished over the course of 4,000 years. As many as six – or as few as two – of these civilizations may be present in a single game.
The 16+ Civs in Ancient Civilizations of the Middle East Read Post »
Designer Blogsor Why spend your precious game time researching pottery when you can defend an empire? There are no shortage of civilization building games out there. Ancient Civilizations of the Inner Sea, however, is MORE than just another Civilization BUILDING game – it is a Civilization SURVIVAL game – and one with an elegantly built-in, if subtle,
Any Fool Can Build an Empire – It Takes a Great Ruler to Keep It Read Post »
Designer BlogsThe Weimar Republic was a complex and dynamic period in German history. The years between the Great War and Hitler’s appointment as chancellor witnessed both economic collapse and severe political violence – some of which almost led to civil war – but also major cultural and scientific achievements. The fledgling democracy was under constant attack
Introduction to The Weimar Republic: Factions Read Post »
Designer BlogsIntroduction by Fred Schachter: I’m having a Game Developer’s blast working with Designers Chris Vorder Bruegge and Mark McLaughlin on Ancient Civilizations of the Inner Sea (ACIS)’s successor, Ancient Civilizations of the Middle East (ACME… yeah, we’re aware of the Coyote/Road Runner cartoon alliteration, seems worth a guffaw or two, eh?). The purpose of this
Welcome to my third and final part of the Commands & Colors Medieval and Commands & Colors: Ancients series. In my effort to compare the two series, I have focused my first two publications on major changes (here) and minor changes and subtleties (here). But enough of looking into the rules and paragraphs–what better way
Commands & Colors: Medieval vs Ancients Comparison Part 3: Comparative Play Read Post »
Strategy ArticlesLike Patrick, Iserninus was born in Roman Britain, but he was apparently a fluent Celtic speaker; perhaps his family stayed with the old language of the Britons instead of fully adopting Latin as their language at home. Tradition says that he was ordained as a deacon at Auxerre in Burgundy along with Patrick and Auxilius.
Historic Characters in Banish the Snakes: Iserninus Read Post »
Designer Blogs, Inside the Game as HistoryThe three Operational scenarios, WESERÃœBUNG (the initial invasion), SICKLE (Allied counter-landings and evacuation), and JUNO (the final Allied evacuation), allow players to refight three key episodes in the Norway campaign that were hotly contested. To really appreciate the difficulties and decisions faced by the opposing sides, however, players can essay the Campaign Scenario. Unlike the extended
Norway 1940 Campaign: Nobody Expects… Read Post »
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