by Mitch Reed
Last month wargamers of every ilk converged at the Institute for Defense Analyses (IDA) facility in Alexandria, for the annual Connections Wargaming Conference. This was the first live event since 2019 due to COVID19 and many people, including myself, were excited to have an in-person event.
By Paolo Paglianti
One hundred twenty players, 20 teams, 60 tables, and everyone was happy. European Team Challenge (ETC) is probably the most important tournament in the world, and for sure it is for the Old World. Every year, hundreds of players train and test their armies for the spectacle of three days of wargaming, not only to see who is the best but, more importantly, to play together.
By David Garvin
In Early July, 2022, Advanced Squad Leader players from the DC Area and beyond gathered in Tysons Corner, Virginia, for the 5th annual tournament to be hosted by the DC Conscripts, an ASL club in the greater DC metropolitan area. Human Wave started by pure will back in 2018 and was almost a disaster.
The room booked for the tournament lost air conditioning and the venue moved to what was essentially a glorified hotel room. That said, the players played on and the tradition of hosting an annual tournament began. The event in 2019 was in a better venue (and coincidentally, the same weekend as ComiCon.) The Pandemic forced Human Wave 2020 to be run virtually using the online tool Virtual Advanced Squad Leader (VASL). 2021 was a hybrid, thanks to loosening restrictions, but this year saw Human Wave back to its original and best form: in person.
“Just…One…More…Turn…”
– Everyone who has played Civilization
By Patrick S. BakerBill Stealey and Sid Meier co-founded MicroProse in 1982 and over the next few years published several phenomenally successful flight and military simulation games, such as Spitfire Ace, Solo Flight and Red Storm Rising. Then, in 1987, the company, at Meier’s insistence, shifted into also producing highly successful strategy and adventure games such as Sid Meier’s Pirates!, Sword of the Samurai and Railroad Tycoon.
In 1990, after completing and releasing Railroad Tycoon, Meier and his protégé, Bruce Shelley turned to working, with a distinct lack of enthusiasm, on an espionage adventure game called Covert Action. At this same time, the newly married Meier was also working on another project on his own time, which would eventually become Sid Meier’s Civilization (Civ I).
Various sources report different inspirations for the game: One source says that Civ I came out of Meier’s enduring fascination with SimCity. Meier thought the “so-called software toy” was a “stunning achievement” and thought he could “gamify” it to make the experience more involving.
By Mike Rafferty
It’s that time again, Germans are getting the spotlight in the Eastern Front compilation book. Battlefront has been consolidating their Mid-War books and personally, I liked the old North Africa and Eastern Front books, so this is a good thing. Eastern Front combines eight smaller books, with the Germans portion combining the two hardcover releases, Iron Cross and Ghost Panzers, and the Fallschirmjager Mid-War softcover release.
Much like the previous releases, Eastern Front focuses on the iconic battles around Stalingrad and Kursk. These are the most well-known battles of the eastern front of World War II and it makes sense for Battlefront to focus on them, especially considering the new starter sets are called Stalingrad and Kursk. Even with the focus on these two iconic battles, the Germans are provided with a variety of formations that should allow a German commander to recreate any historical force
In this jam packed double episode, the Tailsmen Glenn, Tyler and Tom are joined by new player and unanimous vote for favorite opponent in the Blood and Plunder Land Tournament, Andy Hodges, to talk Historicon. Oak and Iron, Blood and Valor, Blood and Plunder Land and Sea all had events, and we break down how they went and who triumphed.
In Part II (Beginning at the 1:40 mark) after a break, we discuss the upcoming tournament at The Calvert Marine Museum, as well as this month’s Trivia winners and questions. https://fb.me/e/1zLmBzcJi (link to the tournament event) – Space is limited so please register soon!
By Jim Naughton
Four years and forty days ago (approximately) Battlefront continued its Mid-War Journey by introducing Enemy at the Gates and Iron Cross, bringing the Eastern Front to life in Version Four. A few short months later these books were complemented by Red Banner and Ghost Panzers. It would take two further years to see Finns, Rumanians, and Hungarians as BF focused on its Late War Journey.
Accompanying those four books were two Firestorm Campaigns. Our group played both campaigns and continued to play East Front Flames of War up to the release of Fortress Europe. It was a good run.
The newest release from Battlefront combines eight smaller books – four for the primary antagonists, 3 allies, and one for German paratroopers. The German paratroopers’ separate book is consolidated into the Ghost Panzers chapter, giving the new book seven chapters. Others will give you an overview of the big volume or focus on the Axis forces. My task is to highlight the Soviets – what’s changed, and what stayed the same. One thing absent from the compilation is the rules on City Fighting and Airborne Assault found in the originals.
By Tyler
Ever since the Scottish nationality made an appearance in Blood & Plunder’s ‘No Peace Beyond the Line,’ players have been asking about the historical validity of kilted Scotsmen clashing broadswords with the pirates and privateers of the New World. And simply put? It didn’t happen. Aside from outliers like the legendary (emphasis: legendary) Redlegs Greaves, the stereotypical Scottish highlander never settled beyond the rocky glens of his homeland. Settlements like the doomed New Caledonia and Stuart’s Town were founded by Covenanters from the lowlands. So if we can’t bring the highlanders to the New World, what if we brought Blood & Plunder, to the old one?
Battlefront is releasing a new compendium entitled Eastern Front for MidWar Flames of War players. Within this massive 361 page book are the previously released v4 books Enemy at the Gates, Red Banner, Iron Cross, Ghost Panzers, Death from Above, White Death, Hungarian Steel, and Brave Romania.
But wait, there’s more, like the North Africa book that was released this year, they’ve included new units and formations which no doubt you’ll want to consider when composing new armies to field.
It’s also filled with the usual unit histories, great artwork, and polish that makes Battlefront sourcebooks a joy to read.
