Posted on Jul 28, 2024 in Boardgames, Front Page Features
Western Front Ace: The Great War in the Air, 1916-1918. Publisher: Compass Games. Designer: Gregory M. Smith and Ian Cooper. Price $109.00 Passed inspection: A solid game that produces plausible encounters and engagements while conveying the experience of a Great War fighter pilot. Failed basic: Rules organization could be...
Posted on Aug 2, 2023 in Boardgames, Front Page Features
Sleepwalkers: Imperial Rivalries and the Great War. Publisher: Dr. Richter Konflictsimulationen. Designer: Dr. Benjamin Richter. Price: 14.95 Passed inspection: A compact, multiple player game that highlights European competition and diplomacy while still conveying the impact of conflict between great powers at the dawn of the 20th Century. Failed basic:...
Posted on Jul 9, 2023 in Armchair Reading, Books and Movies, Front Page Features
Digital Influence Mercenaries: Profits and Power through Information Warfare Author: James J.F. Forest. Publisher: Naval Institute Press. Price $ 39.95 Use the term ‘mercenary’ and you likely conjure a visage of fourteenth century condottieri contracting with Italian princes or more recently the activities of the Russian-based Wagner group. Outlawed...
Posted on Jun 4, 2023 in Armchair Reading, Books and Movies, Front Page Features
Uniting America: How FDR and Henry Stimson Brought Democrats and Republicans Together to Win World War II. Author: Peter Shinkle. Publisher: St. Martin’s Press. Price $ 32.50 Students of World War II history, both professional and casual, are familiar with the grand sweep of the military scope of the...
Posted on Apr 27, 2023 in Boardgames, Front Page Features
Schnell Boats: Scourge of the English Channel Publisher: Compass Games Designer: Joe Carter Price $69.00 Passed Inspection: Nice looking components, game weaves a strong and immersive narrative, one mission can be played in 1 to 2 hours, tons of replayability, great value for the price, can be played...
Posted on Mar 14, 2023 in Boardgames, Front Page Features
By Ray Garbee Aces of Valor. Publisher: Legion Wargames. Designer: Eric Von Rossing. Don Hendon. Artist Mark Mahaffey. Price $72.00 (current sale price $55.00) Passed inspection: Solid rules and quality components deliver what the box promises. Highly abstracted air combat model allows you to quickly spin through engagements over...
Posted on Mar 12, 2023 in Boardgames, Front Page Features
Depths of Courage Attack on Alexandria Harbor Publisher: High Flying Dice Games Designer: Paul Rohrbaugh Price $9.95 non mounted counters or $17.95 with mounted counters Passed Inspection: Great looking game, tense game play, tons of replayability, small footprint, great value for the price, extremely challenging, solo game, can be...
Posted on Feb 20, 2023 in Boardgames, Front Page Features
By Ray Garbee Skies Above Britain. Publisher: GMT Games. Designer: Jeremy White and Gina Willis. Price $99.00 Passed inspection: An immersive solitaire experience that captures the feel of the air war over Britain in 1940. The well-crafted rulebook and charts make finding rules references a snap. Failed basic: Not...
Posted on Feb 5, 2023 in Books and Movies, Front Page Features
Dark Horse: General Larry O. Spencer and His Journey from the Horseshoe to the Pentagon. Author: General Larry O. Spencer, USAF (Ret.). Publisher: Naval Institute Press. Price: $ 26.95 The military is by default viewed as a warrior culture. Warfare and combat are, of course, the core of why...
Posted on Jan 30, 2023 in Boardgames, Front Page Features
Tor Andersson’s online gaming project continues to grow. The experience of playing tabletop board games has been primarily a physical, face to face experience. But in the 21st Century, board games began migrating into the digital space. Well known examples of this shift include the VASSAL engine, Steam and...
Posted on Jan 7, 2023 in Books and Movies, Front Page Features
War of Supply: World War II Allied Logistics in the Mediterranean. Author: David D. Dworak. Publisher: University Press of Kentucky. Price $ 40.00 During World War II, the Allied powers (primarily the United States and the United Kingdom) engaged in a number of campaigns in the Mediterranean region, including...
Posted on Dec 27, 2022 in Boardgames, Front Page Features
303 Squadron. Publisher: Hobbity.eu Designer: Michal Kohmann Price $79.90 Passed Inspection: Beautiful components, tense game play, solo or multiplayer, tons of scenarios, full campaign mode with legacy game aspects, tons of replayability Failed Basic: some lack of clarity in the rules leading to having to re-read a section...