DerTroof
Posts: 87
Joined: 2/19/2012
Status: offline
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Between work and family commitments I didn’t spend as much time playing wargames as I would have liked. Played most of the East Front Panzer Corps GCs last year and the first part of this year, as it’s a game one can get into without investing a lot of time, easy to learn, pretty quick to play. Now I’m pretty burned out on it, though.
One thing I wanted to do, gaming-wise, was get into a new (to me) American Civil War title to honor the 150th anniversary. I picked up AGEOD’s first ACW game last Xmas but found it difficult to figure out. When Gary Grigsby’s War Between the States went on sale in July (Gettysburg 150th week) I picked it up and determined to learn it. I found the learning curve here pretty steep too (more so than need be, IMO), but I stuck with it for the next several weeks. While the individual game concepts were relatively straightforward, putting it all together took some work. The abundant video tutorials and comprehensive manual are great, but do a better job of explaining how the individual parts work than how to put it all together. It didn’t help that I have not played too many (any?) similar “leader-driven” games.
That said, I spent the better part of a couple months playing GGWBTS and thoroughly enjoyed it, absolutely no regrets about the purchase. However, now that I’ve put it down I doubt I will return to it. There are structural aspects to the game that make it frustrating and a slog at times, chiefly related to how maneuver and politics are handled (these issues have been discussed in the game forum too). In short, it plays more like a WW1 western front simulation that the ACW, IMO. But if Gary and Joel ever decide to do a WBTS2, I will be all over it.
I also intend to return to AGEOD’s ACW game (may upgrade to Civil War II when it goes on sale), but I’m currently learning Birth of America 2 first, as it is apparently a better entrée into the AGEOD system, which is unlike any other I’ve played.
Other titles I spent some time with:
Unity of Command – Impressed with the system, disappointed by the gamy scenarios.
Carriers at War – Fun and a (somewhat) unusual topic, but would have liked more control over the action, felt like an observer much of the time.
WITPAE – I don’t actually play this. I just look at it in fascination. It is my digital equivalent of ASL. 
iPad Games – Both Shenandoah titles (I recommend these to wargamers for this platform) and some lighter stuff. Have Battle Academy on iPad, but haven’t had time to play it yet.
Recently been dabbling with Commander The Great War (looks like a blast), and Starships Unlimited 3 (wanted to try a 4X space game, and this looks like a good intro).
I have more unplayed games in my “queue” than I care to admit… to my wife at least. 
This is a fun topic! Eager to read what others have been playing.
Merry Christmas, everybody. 
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