MGPRP: Strategy & Tactics pocket reviews
Issues 250-259
· S&T #250: Red Dragon Rising
· S&T #251: Cobra, 3rd Edition
· S&T #252: The Civil war in the West: The New Mexico campaign
· S&T #253: Drive on Kursk
· S&T #254: Hannibal's War
· S&T #255: The First Battle Over Britain
· S&T #256: Marlborough's Battles
· S&T #257: Chosin: X Corps Escapes the Trap
· S&T #258: The Santiago Campaign
· S&T #259: Battle for China
S&T #250: Red Dragon Rising
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"I didn't say 250 was bad, just quite a bit reduced from its initial conception, and I liked
much of what it originally had to say better. Right now it's War at Sea. A good game, but much
less to say on the topic than originally conceived. The difference of opinion is mostly in what
it is you want from a wargame." JCo
"It's a fantastic game. I think Bruce & Ty really hit the sweet spot with this
one." JO
"A real gem! I revisited this the other month, and it was as good as I remember
it. Dead simple rules which allows you to focus on the decisions, that are
a real puzzle. Random events can be a bit wild, but I don't mind that.
The game can be a real nail biter, and for every perfect plan there seems
to be another perfect counter plan." EN
"A real catch. A great expansion of the War at Sea system. Tense. Competitive.
Unpredicable. Reasonable in complexity and time investment. I can't say its
a real good simulation of the actual realities of China-US warfare, but the
feel is right. A." DL
"An absolute gem. Excellent treatment of a possible naval conflict between
the US and China in the near future. A very innovative system that plays well.
A." DS
S&T #251: Cobra, 3rd Edition
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"SPI reprint. I'm generally not much for older games with older mechanics,
and in this game, I felt I played the system more than the situation.
I was thinking more abot how to build my chain of ZOCs than maneuvering
divisions. Left me cold." EN
"Solid reworking of the old SPI game, with expanded rules/map/counters to
cover the first days of the D-Day invasion. The rules could have used some
polishing, but otherwise a good game. B+" DS
S&T #252: The Civil war in the West: The New Mexico campaign
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"A simple and interesting game on an unusual topic. I'm not sure about the
combat results that only results in step losses and no retreats or
demoralizations. I think it can lead to gamey tactics. Nevertheless
a fun game, a challenge of the good kind for the Confederates." EN
"This game covers a small but interesting part of the ACW. Map is nice and the
counter art is fine, there is of course a little bit of errata which is important,
it clears up an anomaly that I find hard to believe was missed in playtesting.
It plays quickly enough, very low counter density. Lacks any real 'feel' to it.
It does provide a situating that has a couple of possible strategic options.
Certainly not a bad game. Rating C" CH
"An interesting game on a lesser gamed topic. Felt a little hamstrung for
the Confederacy that you are forced to pursue an almost historical pattern.
Not very forgiving on bad Confederate play. Still easy to play and a
challenge. B+." DL
S&T #253: Drive on Kursk
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"Another gem! Probably the best Kursk game out there. Uses Ty's standard
"Drive on"-system, but even simpler and fast playing than usual. The secret
is that it gives the Germans a very real chance for a win, meaning the Soviets
have to work for and earn their victory. Some might think it overstates
the German potential, but if that's what it takes to make a game out of
Kursk, I'm all for it!" EN
"Covers what used to be described as the greatest tank battle in history. Map and counters
are really good. My most played S&T in the last 25 and very enjoyable as a game. Just don't
worry about how close the Germans can actually get to Kursk, keep telling yourself its just a
game. :-) Not to say its a cake walk for the Germans but a lot of pressure on the Soviet player
to get things right. The system works pretty well and does have a good feel to it, and there
are a couple of options for the German. This was a really good value magazine game and a
credit to the S&T team. Rating B+" CH
"A really good operational game of the campaign. Very traditional in approach,
but has much of Ty Bomba's usual east front chrome. I think it would've
made a better simulation if there was more attention paid to defensive
operations, but that's a small nit to pick. A-." DL
"Ty Bomba's look at the crucial 1943 East Front battle. Plays well and gives
both players a chance to go on the offensive. Another in a long line of great
East Front games from Ty. A-" DS
S&T #254: Hannibal's War
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"Haven't played it. I like the base system, used previously in 1066 and
Holy Roman Empire." EN
S&T #255: The First Battle Over Britain
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"I was really looking forward to this one, but was sadly disappointed. The map is a disgrace. Despite
the fact that the campaign, and Great Britain, is well known, many of the place names are comically
wrong. The game play is fun, but totally out of place. When we played, the whole war was over in
the first year. Zeppelins are almost impossible to shoot down, but the rest of the German air force
are sitting ducks. This is a non-game. Avoid." GaS
S&T #256: Marlborough's Battles
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"I tried and tried to like this system, but I couldn't. No interesting unit
interaction. No interesting maneuvers to make. Combat resolution is weird
and gamey. Maybe battles in this era WERE this dull, but then, no need
to make a dull game about it. Also, lots of errata." EN
"Decent system. A quad-game size treatment of two lesser-known battles
from the 18th century by R. Berg, with plenty of chrome. Beautiful maps,
counters less so. Plays well enough, with good differentiation between unit
types, but with both sides set-up virtually in contact (and running right
up to the map edges), not a lot of maneuver is possible. There's also the
curious decision to use double-sided infantry counters in one game, and not
in the other, for no clear reason. A design choice to go with one or the
other would have been preferable." GF
S&T #257: Chosin: X Corps Escapes the Trap
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"Korea in 1950, and covers the bug out from the Chosin Reservoir by UN (mainly American) forces.
Map looks good and I really like the counter art. The usual errata and there is a 'living rules'
for it. Either the situation, or the system conspire though to not make this a very appealing game
for me. I set it up and aside from the difficulty of finding the named towns to place units,
(why not just use hex numbers?) I just stared at the map. With the Chinese set up virtually on top
of the American's you can see how this is going to go poorly for the UN player.
It seems those first 3 turns pretty well determine whether its worth going on.
So I guess in that sense its a quick game Still I like the art work, and it may be that there
are strategies/deployment options, that will make it more interesting. Rating C" CH
"Companion game to The Gauntlet, which is considered a gem. To me, this game
just shows that The Gauntlet did just the right thing setting the scale and
focus to exclude this part of the battle. Everything is decided on turn 1.
Either the Marines are wiped out, or they march off kicking commie butt,
and the rest is just administration. Not much of a game, and if you add it to
Cauldron, you just add the bad bits to the good bit." EN
S&T #258: The Santiago Campaign
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"I have just tinkered a bit with this one, but i liked what I saw. simple and easy,
with some tough decisions to be had." EN
S&T #259: Battle for China
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"Yet another gem! Most games on this topic shows the Japanese easily walking
over the Chinese forces. So does this, but in addition it shows why this is
beside the point, because the Japanese are still losing the war. Makes both
sides think in terms of control and denial rather than killing enemy troops.
Possibly a bit too hard on the Japanese, but play balance can easily be
adjusted." EN
"Reprint of Brian Train's game of the Sino-Japanese war in 1937-41. Uses
the same system as "Arriba Espana," and I think the Spanish Civil War is
a much better fit for this system. Still, a decent game on an overlooked
subject. C+" DS
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