Join Cody as he takes a look at his favorite Block Wargames of all time. Cody Carlson, PhD: / @codycarlsonph.d.5591 Facebook: / thediscriminatinggamer Twitter: / codyk76 Galaxy of Games: galaxyof.games/
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@patrickols6 ай бұрын
One of my favourite block wargame is 1812 by Columbia Games. It’s an older game was publish in 1973 or 74 but I believe it’s being reprinted by a different company now a days
@TheDiscriminatingGamer6 ай бұрын
I haven't heard of that one. Thanks.
@stevenflowers92896 ай бұрын
Yes, I agree that 1812 was a really fun game to play. It's been about 25 years since, but I remember you never had enough forces to fully attack or defend your objectives. Decisions had to be made and bluffing was critical. Easy to learn and get started.
@patrickols6 ай бұрын
@@stevenflowers9289 i think that was to show the reality of the limited ressources for this war for both side. The USA was barely 40 years old with a very small force and the British were busy fighting a global war with France. North America was really just not that important at that time.
@don65386 ай бұрын
Crusader Rex 2d ed. is my favorite Block wargame. Love the ebb and flow of the game. Lots of subtle decisions required. Lovely board too. Shiloh is a lot of fun, and the area command control works better than the hex-based Gettysburg.
@TheDiscriminatingGamer6 ай бұрын
Great game for sure.
@ajlynch1236 ай бұрын
Gettysburg Badges of Courage from Columbia is FANTASTIC! Might be my #1 block war game
@TheDiscriminatingGamer6 ай бұрын
I've got that one, but haven't played it yet. Thanks.
@ajlynch1236 ай бұрын
@@TheDiscriminatingGamer I can’t wait to watch a review from you once you’ve played it. I think you’ll get a kick out of it!
@FalkFlak6 ай бұрын
What I love about the Fog of War (not only Block War Games) is that it feels you can dig ever so deeper with strategies in every game session and that keeps them replayable. I like *Richard III* so much. It may not be as elegant as some games on the list but that's why I still think I just have scratched the surface of it.
@TheDiscriminatingGamer6 ай бұрын
Fog of War brings much tension and fear to any wargame. One of the reasons I love Block wargames. Also great in other types of games as well (like Space Empires 4X).
@FalkFlak6 ай бұрын
didn't know E4X has that aspect. Thx for the hint! Air, Land and Sea captures that feeling also well in a 10min. card game.
@faithlessberserker59216 ай бұрын
I love columbia games. Been addicted to them for a decade now
@TheDiscriminatingGamer6 ай бұрын
Funs tuff.
@robertthurman98666 ай бұрын
Napoleon at Waterloo sounds like a class side project. I just watched a multi player Napoleonic miniatures wargame with limited communication between all the players. Looked like fun.
@TheDiscriminatingGamer6 ай бұрын
It's a wonderful battle to explore in a wargame.
@peterixon87086 ай бұрын
Cody, thanks for the insight into the mechanics behind 'Hammer of the Scots'. Reason enough to buy that game just for that mechanic. Also enjoyed your comparative review of 'Pacific Victory' v 'Triumph & Tragedy'. Finally, loved 'Julius Caesar' & 'Napoleon 4th Ed' too, especially those maps. Thanks for the video. Do love the Commands & Colors range as well, plus their 1/72nd scale equivalents for North America etc.
@TheDiscriminatingGamer6 ай бұрын
Thank you!
@azeriainvestments5540Ай бұрын
@@TheDiscriminatingGameri would have added that the English come at waves as the King cannot overwinter two turns in a row. So you het hammered in those big pushes and then you rebuild quickly your Scott force. Great game indeed!
@douglasgearhart486 ай бұрын
Thanks for posting! Some very good Columbia Games selected. My favorites that you did not mention are their Borodino, and Shiloh games. Texas Glory is also quite fun. I did have fun with Combat Infantry when it came out but I think overall it was a missed opportunity. It was the most innovative versions of their system in a long time, but I think they underwhelmed on production values and support. The map is just uninspired aesthetically and is flimsy; the art work terrain created out of the box LOS issues galore. I would still play it, but not recommend buying at full price. The other big company for block games I would recommend is Vento Nuovo and their Borodino game, Bloody Monday, and Waterloo 200 game are fabulous. Their WW1 block game Germany at War 1914 is also very good. Finally I agree with another post that We are Coming Nineveh by Nuts! takes it to another level, with a built in solo system that is very challenging. And it is readily available.
@TheDiscriminatingGamer6 ай бұрын
Thanks for the tips!
@wolfdog6 ай бұрын
The Napoleon game looks interesting, I might check that out. I have the Columbia Gettysburg game, which is ok. A block game that I like a lot is GMT's No Retreat: The Russian Front.
@TheDiscriminatingGamer6 ай бұрын
Excellent. Thanks!
@christianvansomeren37606 ай бұрын
You need to play We Are Coming Nineveh! It's the best block wargame I've ever played.
@TheDiscriminatingGamer6 ай бұрын
I haven't heard of that one. I'll look into it. Thanks.
@douglasgearhart486 ай бұрын
Seconded!!
@seangriffith49696 ай бұрын
Bobby Lee, by Columbia Games, is also a really good game that covers the American Civil War in the eastern theater.
@TheDiscriminatingGamer6 ай бұрын
I’ve seen that one. Looks good.
@ericengstrom21386 ай бұрын
Napoleon The Waterloo Campaign is absolute gold. Wonderful game. One of my other fav block games is This War Without an Enemy (the English Civil Wars).
@TheDiscriminatingGamer6 ай бұрын
I’ve heard that one is good, but haven’t played it.
@douglaspearson48536 ай бұрын
Wow so many I have wanted to play but have not. Verdun is another WW1 I want to play. I have and played 1812, Quebec 1759, I have an earlier ver of Waterloo. Rommel I thought the card rules for supply was different. I have the 1st ver of the WW2 Front Series I really enjoyed this. Combining all the fronts for the war in Europe is a real trip. Very long and take up a lot of realestate. This is a great if you have this over the 2nd edition as this its nice for the bigger board spaces but 1st is smaller for the full game. I also am a huge fan of C&C Napoleonics & Ancients. Napoleonics has a slight edge because of my interests. I only wish Battle Cry was blocks.
@TheDiscriminatingGamer6 ай бұрын
As mentioned, I don't consider C&C Napoleonics a "Block Wargame," as you do not rotate the numbers and you do not have fog of war.
@douglaspearson48536 ай бұрын
@@TheDiscriminatingGamer You did say you saw Napoleon. I did want to see it but heard bad things about it. Did you see Waterloo with Rod Stieger? The Battle scenes were great.
@TheDiscriminatingGamer6 ай бұрын
@@douglaspearson4853 I enjoyed Waterloo a great deal.
@wartable2 ай бұрын
I always download these block game maps and get printed as large as possible. Just printed Julius Caesar 33x70….game changer.
@TheDiscriminatingGamer2 ай бұрын
Sounds like a good way to do it.
@azeriainvestments5540Ай бұрын
How do you do that? Can you order map reprints?
@befirmbefair66744 ай бұрын
Thanks for the review. A lot of classics on your list. Surprised that Sekigahara - 5th on BGG “War” list- is not in your rankings. It is one for the ages. PS. T&T is a personal fav - incredibly elegant. Need mature players to make it work.
@TheDiscriminatingGamer4 ай бұрын
I don’t consider Sekigahara a block wargame as I define it in the video. It is indeed a great game.
@jonathanauffarth56466 ай бұрын
Is Sekighara seen as more of an introductory-level block war game? It's the only one in the genre I've played.
@TheDiscriminatingGamer6 ай бұрын
For the purposes of this list, I am including games with rotating pips and fog of war as “Block Wargames.” So Sekigahara is not included.
@jonathanauffarth56466 ай бұрын
Ah ok gotcha. Bought that game based on your video. Love the channel!@@TheDiscriminatingGamer
@TheDiscriminatingGamer6 ай бұрын
@@jonathanauffarth5646 Thanks!
@pokefrosch6176 ай бұрын
Just gonna play Triumph and Tragedy for the first time next Sunday, am really excited. Played Sekigahara before, but I guess that doesnt quite fit your definition of a block wargame
@TheDiscriminatingGamer6 ай бұрын
Yeah, Sekigahara is a great game, but not really a "block wargame" in this sense.
@robertmoffitt13366 ай бұрын
Great list, great vid! 👍 Fields of Despair is excellent.
@TheDiscriminatingGamer6 ай бұрын
Thanks!
@gwggamingwgaravaglia6 ай бұрын
Great list. I need to play Block wargames more. And a few I own are on your list.
@TheDiscriminatingGamer6 ай бұрын
They’re a lot of fun, for sure. Hope you get more to the table.
@plhutchinson5976 ай бұрын
Nice list thank you. While not a block game meeting this lists criteria you must try at least one of Rachel/Bowen Simmons games -incredibly innovative game designs. Recommend her latest game Triumph at Marengo or Guns of Gettysburg - but they are hard to get copies of.
@TheDiscriminatingGamer6 ай бұрын
Thanks for the tip!
@jimmarshall80718 күн бұрын
Nice selection of games. I think I'd put Rommel in the Desert, Hammer of the Scots and in particular Triumph and Tragedy higher up on my list should I make one. I've enjoyed 1812 in the past as per other posters, although I wouldn't put it above Rommel, Hammer, T&T or Napoleon.
@TheDiscriminatingGamer18 күн бұрын
Thanks.
@Lebatron19706 ай бұрын
Julius Caesar was my intro to this kind of game too. Liked so much I learned how to make Vassal modules in order to have a better module to play it with. I have a few others on this list. Really like Pacific Victory. And again, now that I'm pretty darn good at making Vassal modules I'm in the process of making a better module for this one as well. For the war in Europe, I passed on the options you mentioned and instead got into Black Swan. I think it fires both Columbia's one and Europe Engulfed by GMT. EE has chrome that adds nothing of value IMHO and its map design in the Eastern Front is only so so. Black Swan nails it here. Sure, it's a little scipted in the first few turns but then again I don't care. We don't need chrome like tables to determine entry of Axis minors or crap like that. I just prefer to play a game at this level that assumes these things. So, if you want a good clean hidden block game of the European theater of WWII I highly recommend Black Swan. I answer questions on BGG and I made the most recent version of the Vassal module for it. Orange Swan is its cousin and would be the direct competitor to Pacific Victory. I will be putting out a vassal of that one too soon.
@TheDiscriminatingGamer6 ай бұрын
Heard Greta things about Black Swan. Is it still in print?
@mickbeast83712 ай бұрын
Didn’t want to comment until I played…got We Are Coming Nineveh finally …you should check it out…also it was designed out of a university educational effort…one of the authors is a prof at McGill University…solo variant as well
@TheDiscriminatingGamer2 ай бұрын
Very cool. Thanks.
@PMMagro6 ай бұрын
I also like Block wargames. Never tried the West- Eastfront WW2 ones but many on your list are favorites of mine.
@TheDiscriminatingGamer6 ай бұрын
Great games!
@robfranken21586 ай бұрын
I really (!!!) wonder you do not mention East Front of Columbia Games (West Front is also great and plays whole different than the East)!
@TheDiscriminatingGamer6 ай бұрын
Haven’t played it.
@carrickrichards2457Ай бұрын
Columbia seems to be the top block game specialist publisher! Have you tried any VentoNuovo?
@TheDiscriminatingGamerАй бұрын
I have not but I've heard good things.
@faithlessberserker59216 ай бұрын
I would play that ref version of Napoleon with you
@TheDiscriminatingGamer6 ай бұрын
Thanks.
@JeffreyCornett6 ай бұрын
Napoleon 3rd Edition was my favorite. It had much more strategic map maneuvering. Do you feint the French invasion on the right flank, but then quickly shift the attack to the towns on the left? Or vice versa? Or maybe concentrate in the center if the British have both flanks well defended.
@TheDiscriminatingGamer6 ай бұрын
Interesting.
@thomassamson14326 ай бұрын
Love Columbia and would include their Front series (West/East/Euro) and if you haven't tried yet give VentoNuovo games a try from Italy. I think you'd like Black Swan and I enjoy Kiev and Leningrad
@TheDiscriminatingGamer6 ай бұрын
I've heard good things about those games. Thanks.
@tomw3246 ай бұрын
Columbia's War of 1812, first block game I played and still the best IMHO.
@TheDiscriminatingGamer6 ай бұрын
Heard good things. Thanks.
@carlossteffens76596 ай бұрын
Superb episode.
@TheDiscriminatingGamer6 ай бұрын
Danke
@MaxwellSchmalzried6 ай бұрын
Have you tried Holdfast Russia (I’ve played the original edition)? I haven’t played too many block games, but it’s probably my favorite of what I have.
@TheDiscriminatingGamer6 ай бұрын
I haven't but I've heard good things.
@Carlos-ok4rv6 ай бұрын
Are you gonna do a top 10 hex&counter list too?❤😊
@TheDiscriminatingGamer6 ай бұрын
I plan to at some point.
@inwyrdn36916 ай бұрын
The best block wargame is the pair of Barbarossa & El Alamein by Japanime Games - whenever I post pictures from it in game groups online, I get blocked. All right, I'll show myself out.
@TheDiscriminatingGamer6 ай бұрын
Ha!
@faithlessberserker59216 ай бұрын
Good list
@TheDiscriminatingGamer6 ай бұрын
Thank you.
@romandacil39846 ай бұрын
Wonder if you ever played the War of 1812 by Columbia games?
@TheDiscriminatingGamer6 ай бұрын
I haven’t. Good?
@romandacil39846 ай бұрын
It's built just like the French Indian Wars but has a smaller board. Control of the gReat Lakes as opposed to control of the Atlantic. Easy to play. @@TheDiscriminatingGamer
@pauladams56696 ай бұрын
East Front! (Columbia Games)
@TheDiscriminatingGamer6 ай бұрын
Thanks!
@beckerdo6 ай бұрын
I tend to not like block wargames for either hiding information or changing unit stats during a game. As far as hiding info, people with good memories can keep track of this, and I don't like memory games. For changing stats during a game, I thought the Hero Clix system did this much better than blocks with rotating bases that can have 3 or 4 stats on the base (for example hit points, attack, defense, morale) with 12 to 24 changes, and I like changing stats. Some of these block games I like, but not for the hidden block feature.
@TheDiscriminatingGamer6 ай бұрын
Fair enough. I enjoy the fog of war aspect.
@BrianMarcus-nz7cs6 ай бұрын
Yeah the game's master needs a master copy whith the current situation, and the player has only the Information of his situation,,,, would bring my copy over n play , have u tried the cards as well?!? , so really 4 copies of game would work, one for each army and one for the Gm ,,,🌏✍️🌿👍
@TheDiscriminatingGamer6 ай бұрын
Yikes!
@sgtNUKEtroop6 ай бұрын
do any of the games NOT require stickers
@TheDiscriminatingGamer6 ай бұрын
Pretty sure they all do.
@joncomeaux52226 ай бұрын
Napoléon: The Waterloo Campaign, 1815 Avalon Hill second edition. Does not require stickers.
@don65386 ай бұрын
Second the Avalon Hill version of having info already on the blocks. I also have a early Gamma Two (old name of Colimbia) release of Quebec 1759 with info already on the wooden blocks in gold leaf. In elongated box too.