This is for all the wargamers who are hoping to get their female significant other into the genre. Some of what worked for me and what didn't. Here is hoping this might lure some new women into the fold!!!
We started with this because Sean figured I would like playing with the "cute" little figures. I loved the game play but the theme left me cold. Rolling dice, seeing figures fall off the board, and limited movement options all were a great appeal.
When you say "the theme left me cold", are you talking about the fantasy element? I personally like BattleLore better as a medieval game with limited or no Lore and extra fiddly stuff.
We're charging our battery. And now we're full of energy. We are the robots. We're functioning automatik. And we are dancing mechanik. We are the robots
My wife really enjoys wargames. She is not a huge fan of this, though she does love fantasy themes games. Her rating 6.5
When you say "the theme left me cold", are you talking about the fantasy element?
Exactly! I much prefer a theme and/or timeframe I can relate to. Fantasy, Greco/Roman era, sci-fi, etc do not appeal to me since I can't "relate". I'm not claiming that I can relate to WWII but at least I can begin to have a sense of history I at least have an inkling to.
This was the first wargame I asked my girlfriend to play. The theme appealed to me a lot. She enjoyed having "horsies" (and no, she's not 10, she was 22 at the time), but she said the theme/era did not appeal to her. Now I have Memoir '44 and I'm hoping for the best.
What a way to pull out my competetive spirit! I love being able to tear down what you just built up and take command of your region!!! The angst of having to play a card that will benefit you more than me is pure agony and compels me back time and again.
We're charging our battery. And now we're full of energy. We are the robots. We're functioning automatik. And we are dancing mechanik. We are the robots
This took several days to make it through the first play because I had to leave and keep reviewing my strategy. One game got me so involved, I sent us into nuclear winter to end the debacle of my exceedingly failed stategy.
We're charging our battery. And now we're full of energy. We are the robots. We're functioning automatik. And we are dancing mechanik. We are the robots
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One play of this game and I was completely addicted!!! I love the tanks, plastic figures and terrain manouvers. Every expansion now sits on our shelf and this comes to the table as a great filler.
We're charging our battery. And now we're full of energy. We are the robots. We're functioning automatik. And we are dancing mechanik. We are the robots
This is one of the few games that I just didn't get. I have tried a couple of times and am just hoping I need more wargame maturity. The stacking and movement doesn't quiet "gel" with me.
My girlfriend and I have played this for 1.5 times (half for learning). I like it very much, although I cannot see too many strategies. My gf is kinda lukewarm towards it, especially because it takes so long...
And in some cases, the GF winds up completely demolishing the BF... especially when the BF mis-reads the elephant charge rules as well as how sieges really work... not that this happened to ME or anything... no, it was umm...this guy..that i... umm know... or something. yeah...
My girlfriend and I have played this for 1.5 times (half for learning). I like it very much, although I cannot see too many strategies. My gf is kinda lukewarm towards it, especially because it takes so long...
Regards, Alex
For me, I tend to try to out-think my opponent, what his move will be etc. I also tend to play my cards according to what his reaction could be. So it is very much a strategy to win. Maybe I am the minority in thinking that way.
Card driven games are a different experience even if you're a wargamer. There's quite an art to knowing what to use each card for. Placing PC markers is as important at times as conquering territory.
Second. I consider myself a grognard, and a fan of this subject, and yet I traded my copy away pretty quickly. For me, the CDG mechanism violates one of the central conceits of wargaming, that being the idea that the only constraints on the players are those faced by the real generals. Strength of your units, movement allowances, terrain effects, logistics, morale, all of those are proper constraints in my mind. Which cards you hold in your hand is a constraint in Poker, not in wargaming, IMHO.
And it does no good to argue that the cards represent logistical, or weather, or morale constraints, I don't buy it. Real generals did not face a known set of random events, they couldn’t count cards, they couldn’t play cards on each other, they couldn’t keep a card in their hand just to guarantee their opponent couldn’t play it on them. Sorry, CDGs introduce a whole level of cardmanship that has nothing to do with the historical decisions I’m interested in. There are other, better mechanisms.
We're charging our battery. And now we're full of energy. We are the robots. We're functioning automatik. And we are dancing mechanik. We are the robots
I really wanted to like this. Right around the time that I bought it, I also bought Conflict of Heroes. I think at that point I was past wanting to play with the figures and bits. Good game though, have you bought any of the expansions?
We're charging our battery. And now we're full of energy. We are the robots. We're functioning automatik. And we are dancing mechanik. We are the robots
I love this game, though I prefer SoS. My rating: 9, wife rating: 8.5
Since they *are* are called "counters," why is it that when you play a game where you need to randomly pull a counter from a cup, they call it a "chit-pull system."
UNITS are counters that represent some tangible force; be it a rifle squad, a battleship, the Enterprise, whatever. These are the building blocks of the game. They typically have some numbers or symbols that show its abilities and properties.
CHITS are, generally, counters that are not units. They may be drawn from a cup, show a status (e.g. a "pinned" chit), or mark some kind of information.
Blocks! Player aids that are homework by themselves. Memorization was never this much fun in school! While I appreciate this game, it is a bit much for me. I think it is more the time frame than the mechanics though.
I had the same reaction as you when I first played C&CA. There are a lot of unit types each with their own special attacks and abilities which make the game a bit overwhelming. If you're at all interested in the theme of ancient warfare, stick with it--you'll be well rewarded.
One thing that I think is missing on the summary cards is a comprehensive list of the dice results: for example, when can you ignore a flag, a sword, or a symbol hit. The other thing missing is the evasion mechanic which is critical when fielding light troops. I made a Dice Results Summary which you may find helpful if you stick with the game.
We're charging our battery. And now we're full of energy. We are the robots. We're functioning automatik. And we are dancing mechanik. We are the robots
Hidden blocks! The power of intrigue and easy to play ruleset definately adds to the frequency this hits the table. Also playable in for a long evening or short afternoon.
We're charging our battery. And now we're full of energy. We are the robots. We're functioning automatik. And we are dancing mechanik. We are the robots
One of my favorite games my rating: 10, wife rating: 9. I also love Rommel in the Desert but wife hates all the supply rules.
Your game choice exhibits a widely varied set of games with different mechanics and subjects. You aren't going to be bored any time soon.
Good luck to you!!
The above poster neglected to mention though that those supply rules his wife hasn't learned to love yet are also one of the several mechanics that add to the thrill of this game.
If you have to self-teach the game the 3rd edition is spectacularly written and there is a wonderful walk through of the rules in a step by step scenario in the back of its rules book.
Also... there are maybe 8 different scenarios to choose from. From a 2 hours scenario to a 4 plus hour campaign.
Actually, this is a true block game, where the blocks are used to hide game information from the opponent. CC&A is actually a counter/miniatures game that uses wooden blocks to display game information vertically for both players; it's not a block game.
Plastic minis taken to a whole new level. Moving from infantry to world domination. Seeing an entire nation fall to my strategy is an all powerful feeling.
We're charging our battery. And now we're full of energy. We are the robots. We're functioning automatik. And we are dancing mechanik. We are the robots
Me: 6.5 (only played original edition); wife: never played, no interest
Did I say Memoir 44 was the only wargame my wife ever played? Oops... She's tryed that one too. But she absolutaly did not like it: she just can not see the whole picture. She isn't good at games where you take action partly the turn before. Producing units you only get at the end of the turn doesn't work for her!
Still waiting to play but the rulebook has been a great bedtime read that keeps me up much later than I should be. Looking forward to this based on the hidden unit/subterfuge aspect as well as being naval/air based.
We're charging our battery. And now we're full of energy. We are the robots. We're functioning automatik. And we are dancing mechanik. We are the robots
I have this and drool over the rules. Wife is totally disinterested thus far
Its cool to see that you got this game. The rulebook takes a little bit to get your head around. If you have the time then setting everything up and working through the example of play makes everything fall into place pretty quickly.
I've said it many times here before, but one of ASL's best features is that you can forget parts of the rules and still have a great time. However, if you can figure out ASL, you have truly reached "the mountain top!" I applaud you for trying.
Great list...and I was glad to see ASL at the end. Definitely, in my opinion, the paramount wargame. Don't let it intimidate you. Like Peso Pete said, don't be so worried about getting every rule down at the start. Start playing and don't get bogged down if you don't know or understand a rule - play on! I learned full ASL with the massive rulebook and it took eight hours to play my first turn! And my father and I weren't even playing correctly! Strangely, that episode made me more determined to learn the game. What is it about those of us drawn to the most complex and time-consuming games?
My wife and I also really enjoy Up Front, Combat Commander, War of the Ring. She likes maneuver, Paths of Glory (though we haven't palyed this a lot due to its length and complexity). We are currently really enjoying Stronghold, which I consider a wargame of sorts. I would check these out
I second Up Front - a wargame like no other I have played.
Heck. I'd be happy if I could convince my wife to play ANY game with me, let alone a wargame. I think I'd spontaniously combust if she ever played a wargame with me.
Hey, get your stinking cursor off my face! I got nukes, you know.
Blackburn wrote:
Heck. I'd be happy if I could convince my wife to play ANY game with me, let alone a wargame. I think I'd spontaniously combust if she ever played a wargame with me.
D
