Big Wargames
Aug 08 2024
Criteria: bigger game companies, publish a wide variety of games (not a one-game or one-series company; filters out ADG or OSG), most expensive in-stock game (must be $100 or more; filters out Hexasim and Avalanche)
Columbia Games
EastFront 2nd Ed Bundle ($400) - The second editions of EastFront, WestFront, EuroFront with map updated to a big Neoprene mat. Block game, strategic level, doesn't model economics or politics.
Compass Games
The Third World War, Designer Signature Edition ($200) - Reprints design and expands on component quality of GDW's' The Third World War 4-game series published in 1984, so this is a system covering WW3 from the perspective of the mid-1980's-war-starts-today from the Arctic through Europe and into the Middle East.
Dan Verssen Games
Fleet Commander Nimitz 3rd Edition ($110) - Solitaire, strategic-level Pacific War from Jan 1942 to Sep 1945, although as four linked campaigns rather than one grand game.
Decision Games
Axis Empires Ultimate Edition ($330) - This is Totaler Krieg and Dai Senso combined, adding Schiffskrieg (are and naval expansion) and Dice of Decision II (random campaign generator). Big WW2 strategic-level game that can get wildly ahistorical because of random tech advances and politics.
GMT Games
Unfortunately A World At War is out of print so their most expensive in-stock game:
A Time for Trumpets: The Battle of the Bulge, December 1944 ($150) - Battle of the Bulge at the battalion level. Five maps, 2300 counters, 4 turns per day.
Multi-Man Publishing
The Greatest Day: Utah Beach ($330) - Grand Tactical Series (company level) and volume 2 of a 3 volume series on D-Day. Volume 3 is not even on pre-order. A bit of an unusual topic, all of D-Day or Omaha Beach would be more popular I think.
An alternative would have been The Devil's Cauldron + Where Eagles Dare which is all of Market Garden but both games are OOP.
Of the above I'm most interested in The Third World War (for nostalgia even I though never played the old game but 1980's WW3 I find interesting) and Axis Empires Ultimate for a gonzo WW2 experience.
Columbia Games
EastFront 2nd Ed Bundle ($400) - The second editions of EastFront, WestFront, EuroFront with map updated to a big Neoprene mat. Block game, strategic level, doesn't model economics or politics.
Compass Games
The Third World War, Designer Signature Edition ($200) - Reprints design and expands on component quality of GDW's' The Third World War 4-game series published in 1984, so this is a system covering WW3 from the perspective of the mid-1980's-war-starts-today from the Arctic through Europe and into the Middle East.
Dan Verssen Games
Fleet Commander Nimitz 3rd Edition ($110) - Solitaire, strategic-level Pacific War from Jan 1942 to Sep 1945, although as four linked campaigns rather than one grand game.
Decision Games
Axis Empires Ultimate Edition ($330) - This is Totaler Krieg and Dai Senso combined, adding Schiffskrieg (are and naval expansion) and Dice of Decision II (random campaign generator). Big WW2 strategic-level game that can get wildly ahistorical because of random tech advances and politics.
GMT Games
Unfortunately A World At War is out of print so their most expensive in-stock game:
A Time for Trumpets: The Battle of the Bulge, December 1944 ($150) - Battle of the Bulge at the battalion level. Five maps, 2300 counters, 4 turns per day.
Multi-Man Publishing
The Greatest Day: Utah Beach ($330) - Grand Tactical Series (company level) and volume 2 of a 3 volume series on D-Day. Volume 3 is not even on pre-order. A bit of an unusual topic, all of D-Day or Omaha Beach would be more popular I think.
An alternative would have been The Devil's Cauldron + Where Eagles Dare which is all of Market Garden but both games are OOP.
Of the above I'm most interested in The Third World War (for nostalgia even I though never played the old game but 1980's WW3 I find interesting) and Axis Empires Ultimate for a gonzo WW2 experience.