HOW TO GET YOUR WARGAMING FIX AMIDST
A SEA OF GERMAN GAMES
by Neil Carr

      Many gamers who have been playing boardgames for the last twenty years can probably produce a long playlist of wargames that they have enjoyed. While these games are fondly remembered for many, the contingencies of life have made them adapt to the more family friendly German style of games. Not that this is a bad thing but often enough the sentiment is expressed on rec.games.board [newsgroup on the web -ed] as to what titles might bridge the gap between wargames and German games.
       Based on my own experience I've come up with a list of games that might provide a middle ground between the wargamer and German gamer. While most of these could not be described as a true wargame at the very least they offer up a dramatic theme based around historical conflicts but which will still appeal to German aficionado. The middle ground I am looking toward is to suggest games that have a thematic component that would appeal to the wargamer but also particular game mechanics which should provide some similar decision making in more traditional wargames. Typically these will involve tactical positioning and/or resource management.
       I will start with EL GRANDE simply because I have heard countless times "this is probably the closest you'll get to a German wargame." Whether this is true or not I won't debate but its theme and game mechanics tend to work towards the wargamer mentality, if at least on some watered down level. The game revolves around political conflict and control in Spain during the Middle Ages. The game is fairly abstract but it does provide dynamic an interesting gameplay. For the wargamer it offers up a divided Spain broken into several territories, game mechanics based around managing a limited supply of resources, and gameplay that emphasizes tactical maneuvering of your forces.
       Next we find CONDOTTIERRE as another suitable bridge game. This is a quick light game that is for the most part simply a card game. Because of this is does have a fairly high abstraction from the theme but it does still peek through here or there. The game is about political consolidation of power in Italy. Players select a territory on the map to challenge for control and then all the players have the option of participating by laying out cards that represent military, political and religious forces. The first player to make an unbroken chain of territories wins the game.
       CAROLUS MAGNUS is a new release this spring and it has already become a hit with many gamers. It provides a wonderful balancing act between using resources offensively, defensively and whether you should spend your energy in political or tactical control. Players are attempting to consolidate and control various territories within Charlemagne's empire. As with many German games the action is abstracted to resource management but the decision making and components make for a very nice game.
       ANNO 1452 will also work with a group of varied tastes. The game has some similarities to EL GRANDE in its emphasis on distributing resources in various territories which eventually lead into scoring rounds, however this game moves beyond simply outmaneuvering one another and actually takes the gloves off. Players have the option of directly conflicting with others, attempting to dislodge their territories with the peasants and armies available. The game however doesn't devolve into just a slugfest and instead offers up a variety of ways in which players can score victory points.
       VINCI has been quite a hit as of late and definitely should be included here. Players represent succeeding cultures that swarm into Europe, expanding as far as their cultural advantages will take them and then letting the civilization decline to start up a new one. In many ways it could be described as Britannia or History of the World "lite". The game is constant conflict as players send their civilizations rolling over one another, attempting to grab those locations that best suit the advantages that particular culture possesses.
       SERENISSIMA is chocked full of fighting as each player attempts to guild their merchant family to economic supremacy in the Mediterranean during the renaissance. However, as with all of the games on this list, it can't be reduced to just a slugfest. Each player has to manage their resources carefully, building up a fleet that can both effectively trade throughout the Mediterranean and also be prepared to defend themselves against others who might plunder their ships. Thus a balancing act is required, both resource wise and diplomatically with the other players.
       KRIEG UND FRIEDEN is another title worth looking at. Each player is attempting to score victory points through assisting the king in the construction of a cathedral. Each turn a problem needs to be resolved and players bid to see who will be granted the privilege of resolving it. Once this is established players then go at each other, attempting to build up their position for the following round and/or start smashing up their neighbors infrastructure and resources. The game can be quite nasty but it has all of the typical German game mechanics that we have all come to know.
       Going in the other direction towards some of the innovative American wargame designs it is possible that you could convince some of the more flexible German gamers to try a couple of fully fleshed out wargames. The Columbia Block system from Columbia Games is a great starting point with a variety of titles such as QUEBEC 1759, WAR OF 1812, NAPOLEON and VICTORY as simple jump off points. These games utilize wooden blocks over the traditional cardboard counters found in wargames. This provides an elegant system of fog of war and step reduction that removes a lot of the fuss of ponderous rules from your typical wargame. The German gamer will appreciate the quality components and gameplay that emphasizes bluffing your opponent and the hard decisions that come from limited choices made each turn.

       QED's BLUE VS GREY is a wargame that has been distilled down into a card game format. If you are a true grognard you should be able to slug through the rules, and once done you can easily teach a German gamer this deep and rewarding card game about the American Civil War.
       Finally I would also like to add that PATHS OF GLORY from GMT Games is another title that may win over a German gamer or two. While it is a fully fleshed out wargame with all of the typical chrome one would expect it nonetheless has a streamlined ruleset that is based around a card driven system. Every turn requires an agonizingly tough decision to be made. You may want to do ten different things but you only are allowed to do a couple of moves at best. This effect is a trademark to many of the popular German titles.

Neil Carr currently resides in Denton, Texas and enjoys weekly get togethers with the Dallas Metrogamers where food, fun and the fellowship of gaming come together.

BUT THEN AGAIN, WHAT DO I KNOW?
by Mark Jackson

       Thanks to Jay Tummelson (the Grand Mogul and Chief Bottle washer for Rio Grande games) I had the opportunity to play a number of the new releases from Nurembreg last month. After I finish doing my Gloating Dance (which consists of me sing-songing "I got to play ‘em before you did" and doing my usual white-guy-with-no-rhythm dance moves, I’ll take a minute to tell you about them.
       (Imagine me dancing here.)
       OK, after you wipe that nightmarish image out of your mind, on to the important stuff. I figure you’ll be hearing plenty about TAJ MAHAL (best with 4, by the way!) and CAROLUS MAGNUS, both games that are already developing fans across the country. So, I’m going to concentrate on those games you may not have heard about.

DILEMMA (FX Schmid)

       Open the box and find a plastic ash tray (large enough to throw cards into), a number of red wooden markers (life blocks), five wooden circles with crossed swords on one side and a handshake on the other (dueling stones), one green wooden hexagon (stumbling block?!), and a set of 10 cards (1-10) for each player.
       In turn, each player takes the stumbling block (a big name for a player turn marker) and throws one of their cards into the ashtray. The first player to throw a "different" numbered card into the ashtray duels with them for the two cards. They take their dueling stone and choose one side, placing it under their palm. The choices are revealed simultaneously and the duel resolved. If both players choose peace (handshakes), they trade cards. If one player chooses war (swords) and the other peace, the warrior gets both cards but loses one life block. If both players choose war, both cards are thrown out of the game and they both lose one life block. (In a 5 player game, you only get 2 life blocks). When a player runs out of life blocks, he can only choose peace in a duel. Finally, if no one throws a second card, the player who started the turn gets to keep his card.
       The objective is to capture the most points worth of cards. Early moves seem obvious (I'll drop my 1, so someone will drop their 2, then we'll trade), but even those moves are better short term than long (if I hang onto my 1 right now, I may be able to force an "ugly" trade later!) What seemed simple at first turned out to be a bit more complicated. Jay called it a party game, and I'm ready to guardedly agree, but it definitely has more going on strategy-wise than most party games. I'd say it'd be better with 4-5 non-gamer friends who want a little more mental challenge than APPLES TO APPLES.
       Rating: 7 out of 10. At the right price, I'd be happy to own this interesting 20 minute filler game.

OHNE FURCHT & ADEL (Hans im Gluck)

       This is one beautiful and enjoyable game. The artwork is as spectacular as the samples indicated... it has a wonderful painted quality to it that enhances the game.
       Each player is attempting to build a city of eight buildings... a few have special powers but most simply have value (both economic and victory point-wise). Each turn, players choose, VERRATER-like, from a series of roles that allow them to acquire money, cards, and/or do damage to other players. You have to balance what other players might do with what you need to do and/or need to defend... very tricky. I'm not sure what the playing time is (pretty short, I think... 1 hour?!... if you cut out all the distractions) but whatever it was zipped by as I was caught up in the parry & thrust of the game.
       There is a small language issue (12 cards with German instructions, plus the need for English player aid cards), but it shouldn’t be a big deal. This game is worth the hassle of jumping the language barrier.
       Rating: 8 out of 10. This is on my "MUST BUY" list!

SCHWEINS-GALLOPP (Abacus/Rio Grande)

       Racing pigs... yep, that's what German games are famous for... those themes that just grab you and say "buy me now!"

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