A Question

[Ed Anger]

GBOH has a weird feel to it that I don't like... I have the Cataphract game and IIRC the basic rules are way too basic, and the advanced rules are way too complicated.  I think Richard Berg was involved in the game as a designer or developer, and I don't typically like his game designs, so that might have something to do with it... he has a tendency to throw weird bits of esoterica into his rules which I always assumed was some way of showing off his MAD LEET history knowledge.

OTOH his Geronimo! game is one of my all-time favorites, so he has done some excellent work.

I liked the Gringo Davey Twiggs Diarrhea rule. But yeah, too much chrome in most of his games.

[Caliga]

It's not just that aspect of his designs that annoys me... there's something about his writing style that often confuses me.  I guess I may just be on a different wavelength, but I often find his base rule definitions unclear, and need a playthrough example to understand what he means.

[Jacob]

There are also a couple of ancients miniatures systems out there, none of which I am familiar with.

Malthus, if you're into the miniatures stuff let me know and I can give you a few pointers.

[Queequeg]

Have you tried Europa Barbarorum?  It is a mod for R:TW, totally changes it.  Insane historical accuracy, about as much as you can get out of the engine.  Link.

Obviously the period is quite a bit different, as you will find that trying to stave off a Parthian cataphract force as the Common Hellenes will be....difficult, no matter the terrain. 

[CountDeMoney]

GBOH has a weird feel to it that I don't like... I have the Cataphract game and IIRC the basic rules are way too basic, and the advanced rules are way too complicated.  I think Richard Berg was involved in the game as a designer or developer, and I don't typically like his game designs, so that might have something to do with it... he has a tendency to throw weird bits of esoterica into his rules which I always assumed was some way of showing off his MAD LEET history knowledge.

Richard Berg is the smartest man he knows, and don't you forget it or he'll remind you.

OTOH his Geronimo! game is one of my all-time favorites, so he has done some excellent work.

One of the only games I've ever bought and promptly sold fast as I could.  Gack, what a snoozer.

[CountDeMoney]

I liked the Gringo Davey Twiggs Diarrhea rule.

I always preferred the Captain-Jack-Shoots-You-Point-Fucking-Blank-At-The-Treaty-Table-And-How-Do-You-Like-Them-Apples-Paleface action card.

[Caliga]

One of the only games I've ever bought and promptly sold fast as I could.  Gack, what a snoozer.

I really liked the game dynamics (i.e. the side switching and all).  Also, gradually wiping out the Red Menace warmed my heart.

[dps]

GMT is apparently releasing a game of ancient chariot battles that includes scenarios like Troy

I seem to recall that there are a couple of old games on the Trojan War (and in this instance, by "old" I mean mid-to-late seventies vintage) but I can't remember the names.

[Threviel]

Have you tried Europa Barbarorum?  It is a mod for R:TW, totally changes it.  Insane historical accuracy, about as much as you can get out of the engine.  Link.

Obviously the period is quite a bit different, as you will find that trying to stave off a Parthian cataphract force as the Common Hellenes will be....difficult, no matter the terrain.

What happened to the supposed Europa Barbarorum for EU:Rome anyway?

[The Minsky Moment]

This game looks pretty promising: http://www.gmtgames.com/p-142-hellenes.aspx

The examples of play seem intringuing and the designer has a good track record.  And you can sacrifice to the gods.

I also think the Pelo War is a very suitable subject for wargaming as well - there are land and naval actions; a breadth of potential alternative strategies; contrast of different capabilities; interesting leaders.

[Caliga]

This game looks pretty promising: http://www.gmtgames.com/p-142-hellenes.aspx

block games

[Ed Anger]

This game looks pretty promising: http://www.gmtgames.com/p-142-hellenes.aspx

block games

I'm a convert to block games mister! 



Hopefully Hellenes will be better than Columbia's Athens and Sparta out of the box.

[Caliga]

I'm a convert to block games mister! 

They anger me.  For one, alot of them require you to rotate the block to reflect unit damage, and inevitably some clumsy fuck bumps the table and screws everything up.

[The Minsky Moment]

Hopefully Hellenes will be better than Columbia's Athens and Sparta out of the box.

This is the guy who did all the Front games.

[The Minsky Moment]

I'm a convert to block games mister! 

They anger me.  For one, alot of them require you to rotate the block to reflect unit damage, and inevitably some clumsy fuck bumps the table and screws everything up.

That's the problem with Kentucky gamers - the whiskey to gameplay ratio is too high to handle anything that isn't nailed down.