If you're familiar with the old Avalon Hill game 1776, the color palette for the Continentals, Rebel Militia, Loyalist Militia, and British regulars in that game is exactly the color palette in this game. Except for the French, looks like they're white here. They were a deep blue in 1776
Excellent unboxing, somewhat disturb by the amount of errata with the contents. Poor quality control might put some people off buying. Looking forward to a play through if you provide one.
Maybe in 2025 play the 20 hours full Campaign (in Revolutionary theme month in 2025, where you play other small Revolutionary games in the same month [like your Guns of August event]). And just play short campaign this year. Sorry, I know the Guns Of August event was hard. Just a thought though.
Similar experience to yours. Was in a class when the instructor asked the name of Alexander the Great's horse. And I was the only one who happened to know. Bucephalus
Oddly enough the map Gilbert used for this game was the exact same map I used to design my AWI Miniatures Campaign. I believe the original map had indeed Pensilvania on it. When I say the same map I mean the original map this was designed off is a legit map from 1775 I think of the Colonies in NA.
www.loc.gov/resource/g3300.ar005400/?r=0.36,0.147,0.425,0.638,0 Here is an example of part of the original map design for this map. Right there in massive writing on that map is clearly shows the spelling as Pensilvania which Gilbert clearly copied and kept it true to the map it was based off.
i really like Gilbert as a reviewer and how he talks about wargames in general, I realize that the graphic design and the kickster were probably out of his hands... but that kickstarter just wasn't inspiring at all (no offense to anyone, especially Gilbert who I admire a lot). I look forward to seeing the review here and if possible acquiring the game at a later date.
I've noticed that all of Compass' Kickstarters are like that (and I've bought 3 so far...including Test of Faith which I just backed). I get the sense that they've already printed the game and just want to run the Kickstarter to offset some of the cost, so they present the components, set the goal low so it's easy to clear, and the people that are interested in the subject will buy it. The 2 minute unboxing videos that serve as the Kickstarter campaign videos need to be longer and more detailed. There are no stretch goals because the games are already printed. It's an odd way of doing it, that's for sure....but at least it means we get the games in 6-8 weeks instead of a year.
The rules have been amended now with the errata included. People worked with Gilbert to sort it. At first he was off with people however he came around and I think the rules are now in a 3rd version from the first. Therefore the mishaps have been mended and plus this game is fairly new still. There are many games out there that have been out for years and never amended things offically. Gilbert worked with a small team to have it sorted and tbh a lot of the hate for the game was fairly nonesense. People complaining about the box art even though Gilbert explained the picture meant something to him as it was from the Saratoga Campaign I think and the original was blurred to begin with. Someone complained about the fact the dice were white and black... I mean, when you pay £80 for a game are you really bothered about die colour. That was a Compass Games thing too bit Gilbert got the blaim for that as well.
Even putting the production errors and rules miscues aside the game is fundamentally flawed by being too scripted. Certain events "must" happen such as the promotion and removal of general officers regardless of events in the game or their own performance. General Montgomery has to be removed in 1776 regardless of whether he ever sets foot in Canada and dies at Quebec. The French must enter the war in 1778 regardless of how well the Americans are doing to that point. An accurate game that tries to replicate the entire war can have random events but must allow players to test alternative approaches. Why should Burgoyne and a large army go to Canada if the best strategy would be to land them in New York or Boston instead. Another flaw of the game is the lack of scenarios for each year...there should be separate setups for every year reflecting the political and military situation at that point. It would allow for shorter games.
You could adjust the rules with some in-house which easily takes this away. That's not how it was designed, I personally agree to an extent but I'm sure in-house there is a way around it. I do like the addition where he has Arnold potentially switch sides. He could keep failing the die roll and never change sides. Plus the game is primarily played from the British perspective, I can only assue he designed it this way so the players fave the same challenges the British had to face. It even says on the back of the box it's from the British perspective as most games ar emore leaned towards the Americans.
