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OK, so I play board games and war games. Often with others. Sometimes on my own. Especially on my own during pandemics.
In lunch breaks and in the evenings, I have a bit of time on my hands. Here goes... @gmtgames @Volko26 #boardgamegeek
In lunch breaks and in the evenings, I have a bit of time on my hands. Here goes... @gmtgames @Volko26 #boardgamegeek
As the lockdown started, I got hold of a game from Cardiff’s superb games shop @rulescardiff. Falling Sky: The Gallic Revolt Against Caesar recreates JC’s campaign in Gaul in the years c.54BC - 52BC. Sound niche? It is.
The game is the sixth in @gmtgames’ COIN system, which simulate counter-insurgency conflicts, from drug-running in Colombia to the Vietnam War to Gandhi’s campaign against the British.
This is the first game I’ve played in that series.
https://www.gmtgames.com/c-36-coin-series.aspx#%5BPageNumber(0)%7CPageSize(50)%7CPageSort(Name)%7CDisplayType(Grid)%5D
This is the first game I’ve played in that series.
https://www.gmtgames.com/c-36-coin-series.aspx#%5BPageNumber(0)%7CPageSize(50)%7CPageSort(Name)%7CDisplayType(Grid)%5D
For context, I played classic @AvalonHill2 board games as teen in the ‘80s with a couple of friends. Those games now live in the loft except when I dig them out for a nostalgia hit.
However, life intervened and the hobby went into cold storage until I discovered @rulescardiff. Starting with the classic game Carcassonne, I’ve built up a collection of modern board games. They are the fantasy space to which I retreat. (...)
Back to Julius. I could use the time provided by isolation to write a novel, landscape the garden, read Crime and Punishment (oh, wait, I am reading Crime and Punishment: it’s extraordinary). Instead I’m going to tweet about me playing a board game. Which no-one will read. (...)
The plan is to play the game turn by turn and log that play on here. Because I can. Before that, I’ll give a swift overview of the rules (I’ve read them so you don’t have to) and what is on that stunning playing area.
The game pits five factions against each other. First up, are the Romans (red) who I shall be playing. They win by subduing individual Gallic tribes, identified by round, named circles on the map. For example, the Treveri tribe, if you can spot it, are currently subdued...
Their pieces comprise Caesar (acts as a multiplier in conflict and facilitates actions), legions (powerful but limited; hard to replace), auxiliaries (less powerful but plentiful), forts (provide a defensive bonus) and allies (which mark tribes that come over to the Roman cause).
The range of actions available are summed up on the pictured player aid. For those of you whose gaming extends to Cluedo, this chart will be the point a neural fuse blows. (Wait till you see the charts governing the actions of the other tribes.)
Ranged against them are the Arverni, lead by Vercingetorix (yes, Asterix readers, that Vercingetorix). In addition to him, they have war bands, allies and citadels (allies with added defensive strength). They win by killing Roman legions. Simples.
The Belgic Tribes (yellow) are lead by Ambiorix. They win by controlling tribes and regions (the larger geographic areas.) Control, indicated by a square marker, comes from having the majority of pieces in a region. Here, Belgic forces control Morini (the tribe and the region).
Still with me? I’ll start playing soon. Next, the Aedui (blue). Interesting. Tacit allies of the Romans, they aren’t strong but they are sneaky. The win by having more tribes and citadels than all others. They sit in the middle of the map, getting in the way.
Finally, we have the Germanic tribes. These are a non-player faction with no victory conditions. The Belgic tribes can co-opt them now and then and events bring them into play at specific points in the game.
Finally, I come to how a turn plays. Event cards are revealed one at a time. Decisions taken to is turn are governed by the card to the right. The card for the next turn is also revealed, which may influence whether a faction chooses to play this turn. Are you following?
It will be easier to demonstrate as I play. For now, here is the scenario I’ll play. I’m the a Romans. I could control the other factions but prefer to use an automated system designed to control their decision-making. Wait till you see those flow charts.
Before I start, I’m excited that @Volko26, the designer of the COIN system and co-designer with his son of this game, has peeked at this thread. Awesome game, Mr Ruhnke. I apologise for the tactical and strategic butchery to which I am about to submit your elegant design.
