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Articles by Paul Glasser

Posted on Jan 17, 2009 in Books and Movies

Defiance – Movie Review

This review of the movie Defiance from director Edward Zwick and Paramount Vantage focuses on the moral conflicts depicted in this film about a little-known but effective resistance movement by a group of Polish Jews in World War II.

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Posted on Mar 28, 2008 in Boardgames, Electronic Games, Front Page Features

Axis & Allies Miniatures: North Africa 1940-1943 – Day 5

Avalon Hill is scheduled to release the latest booster pack, North Africa 1940-1943, for the Axis & Allies Miniatures game today! All this week, Armchair General has published exclusive previews about the units and gameplay, including this last sneak peak.  So, what are you waiting for?  Read on, then go and buy the game! Axis & Allies Miniatures: North Africa 1940-1943 – Day 5 The new M10 Wolverine tank destroyer is good. Possibly too good. The M10 is featured in the Axis and Allies: North Africa 1940-1943 miniatures set and offers the best counter to Rommel’s PzIV tanks. With a 76.2mm main gun, the M10 has slightly better AT firepower than the Sherman. However, it has less armor and is best used when flanking German tanks. The “Flanking” skill gives the M10  extra dice when attacking the rear armor of an enemy panzer. While flanking, it stands a good chance of destroying a PzIV outright at medium range. At a cost of 19 points, the M10 gets all the benefits and none of the drawbacks...

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Posted on Mar 27, 2008 in Boardgames, Electronic Games, Front Page Features

Axis & Allies Miniatures: North Africa 1940-1943 – Day 4

Avalon Hill is scheduled to release the latest booster pack North Africa 1940-1943 for the Axis & Allies Miniatures game on March 28. All this week, leading up to the release day, Armchair General is giving grognards interested in this collectible miniatures combat game an inside preview! We sent our own Paul Glasser under the wire to scope out the new reinforcements to the game, and his reports detail valuable information regarding the new units and maps that are incoming. Read on for his full debriefing, and be sure to report back tomorrow for further details! Axis & Allies Miniatures: North Africa 1940-1943 – Day 4 If they’re lucky enough, players can get their hands on a special promotional version of the new Matilda II tank. The Matilda II is featured in the upcoming North Africa 1940-1943 set for Axis and Allies Miniatures and is available in this month’s Combat Zone promotional kit. Game stores can purchase Combat Zone kits, which include a miniature and stat card. The promotional version includes a special "dazzle" paint job on the mini. Dazzle...

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Posted on Mar 26, 2008 in Boardgames, Electronic Games, Front Page Features

Axis & Allies Miniatures: North Africa 1940-1943 – Day 3

Avalon Hill is scheduled to release the latest booster pack North Africa 1940-1943 for the Axis & Allies Miniatures game on March 28. All this week, leading up to the release day, Armchair General is giving grognards interested in this collectible miniatures combat game an inside preview! We sent our own Paul Glasser under the wire to scope out the new reinforcements to the game, and his reports detail valuable information regarding the new units and maps that are incoming. Read on for his full debriefing, and be sure to report back tomorrow for further details! Axis & Allies Miniatures: North Africa 1940-1943 – Day 3 The first new Allied infantry units for Axis and Allies Miniatures: North Africa 1940-1943 have been introduced! French armies will now be able to draw on the elite Alpine infantry. These hardy soldiers will be tough to kill, with a solid 5/5 defense. However, they lack the firepower of other elite units, such as the SS Panzergrenadiers, US Army Rangers or 101st Screaming Eagles. The Alpine troops offer only mediocre attack strength against enemy...

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Posted on Mar 25, 2008 in Boardgames, Electronic Games, Front Page Features

Axis & Allies Miniatures: North Africa 1940-1943 – Day 2

Avalon Hill is scheduled to release the latest booster pack North Africa 1940-1943 for the Axis & Allies Miniatures game on March 28. All this week, leading up to the release day, Armchair General is giving grognards interested in this collectible miniatures combat game an inside preview! We sent our own Paul Glasser under the wire to scope out the new reinforcements to the game, and his reports detail valuable information regarding the new units and maps that are incoming. Read on for his full debriefing, and be sure to report back tomorrow for further details! Axis & Allies Miniatures: North Africa 1940-1943 – Day 2 Command tanks are another new element introduced in the North Africa 1940-1943 set for Axis and Allies Miniatures. Two new previews have unveiled the M4 Sherman and PzIV Ausf. H tank commanders, and both units represent a significant increase in cost. A normal M4 only costs 22 points, but the command version soars more than 150 percent, to 33 points. However, it provides two useful abilities, giving a +2 initiative bonus and allowing nearby...

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Posted on Mar 24, 2008 in Boardgames, Electronic Games, Front Page Features

Axis & Allies Miniatures: North Africa 1940-1943 – Day 1

Avalon Hill is scheduled to release the latest booster pack North Africa 1940-1943 for the Axis & Allies Miniatures game on March 28. All this week, leading up to the release day, Armchair General is giving grognards interested in this collectible miniatures combat game an inside preview! We sent our own Paul Glasser under the wire to scope out the new reinforcements to the game, and his reports detail valuable information regarding the new units and maps that are incoming. Read on for his full debriefing, and be sure to report back tomorrow for further details! Axis & Allies Miniatures: North Africa 1940-1943 – Day 1 The Axis and Allies Miniatures North Africa 1940-1943 set will offer a variety of new units when it hits the shelves at your local game store on March 28. The set will include 60 new miniatures, and vehicles will be molded to fit the new three-inch scale map hexes. Each week, a new pair of miniatures will be previewed, along with the corresponding stat card. Commanders who enjoy playing scenarios or restricted armies will...

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Posted on Jul 8, 2007 in Front Page Features, Stuff We Like

Axis and Allies: War at Sea Strategy

The Axis and Allies: War at Sea game hit the shelves March 16th, and includes 64 units from the Japanese, Italian, German, America, British, French and Australian fleets. Armadas include fighters, bombers, submarines, destroyers, cruisers and battle ships. A complete list of all the units included in the first set has also been published. The starter set includes nine random miniatures, dice, maps, damage counters and a rule booklet. Booster packs contain five figures, such as carriers and battleships (rare), cruisers and seaplanes (uncommon) and fighters and destroyers (common). Armchair General now takes a look at what kind of units War at Sea is sporting. Air Power Battleships Destroyers Cruisers Next: Air...

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Posted on Jul 8, 2007 in Boardgames

War at Sea: Cruisers

The cruiser is the workhorse of every fleet, and a wide range of units are available in War at Sea, each playing a different role. Some ships, like the USS Atlanta, are best suited for air-defense. Armed with 16x5in. guns, 9×1.1in. guns and 21 torpedo tubes, the Atlanta is a cheap gun platform, with a cost of only 12 points. Its main attacks against other surface ships are relatively weak, and its armor is not very thick. However, with the special ability anti-air Specialist the Atlanta can put up a thick cloud of AA fire. During the Air Defense phase, the Atlanta can make two powerful attacks against enemy aircraft and thereby serves as an effective supplement to any strike force. Heavy cruisers, like the Tone, cost almost twice as much as the Atlanta. However, the Tone offers a significant boost in firepower, and two unique abilities that have the potential to devastate an opponent. Armed with 8x200mm guns, 8x130mm guns and 57x25mm AA guns, the Tone can throw...

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Posted on Jul 8, 2007 in Boardgames

War at Sea: Destroyers

Although battleships like the Yamato may be the most formidable units in Axis and Allies: War at Sea, no task force is complete without including destroyers like the Italian Luca Tarigo or the USS Fletcher. Like most destroyers, they sport thin armor and include weak guns, so they are best suited to protecting bigger ships from submarines and engaging other destroyers. The Luca Tarigo has weaker armor, lower AA defense, lower anti-submarine values, and weaker torpedo attack power than its American counter part. However, it costs 1 extra point, offers better main gun attacks, and can use two powerful special abilities. With sub-hunter the Luca Tarigo is able to pursue enemy submarines as they try and escape. It can also lay smoke to protect friendly ships from enemy fire. The Fletcher costs only 7 points, and overall has better stats than the Luca Tarigo. However, it only has one special ability; chase the salvos, which gives it a 1/3 chance to ignore damage from an attack by enemy battleships...

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Posted on Jul 8, 2007 in Boardgames

War at Sea: Battleships

The most deadly opponent in War at Sea are heavy battleships, like the Richelieu, Bismarck, Yamato and Iowa. Obviously, in a standard 100 point game, battleships will require a significant investment, with a cost of 53 points (Bismarck), 54 points (Richelieu), 70 points (Yamato) and 61 points (Iowa) each, respectively. The Bismarck provides a huge amount of firepower, with three strong batteries of 8x380mm, 12x150mm and 16x105mm. This massive battleship will be able to engage several targets each turn, and deal out a significant amount of damage to any opponent in range. Able to withstand more than 300 hits before succumbing to a British task force in May 1941, the Bismarck is protected by a thick belt of armor. With the special ability Torpedo Defense, this sturdy ship is able to shrug off penetrating torpedo hits. In addition, extended range 4 allows the Bismarck to make long-range attacks while undamaged. Similarly, the USS Iowa will be another tough nut to crack. Although sporting a more limited armament than the...

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Posted on Dec 17, 2006 in Boardgames

War at Sea Preview

The call to general quarters will be issued early in 2007 as Axis and Allies Miniatures: War at Sea starts to streak through the water. The new miniatures game will be released in the first quarter of the New Year and includes 64 pre-painted plastic miniatures. A vast armada will be available to players, who will be able to deploy fighters, bombers, submarines, carriers, cruisers, destroyers and battleships. A variety of navy factions will also be available, including the United States, Germany, Japan, the United Kingdom and Australia. Some of the most famous surface ships from World War II can be deployed, including the Bismark, the USS Enterprise, IJN Yamato, the USS Iowa and the HMAS Canberra. The starter set will include 9 miniatures, maps, dice, stat cards, island cards, casualty markers and rules. Booster packs will contain 5 minis and stat cards. Each unit will have a variety of special abilities and strengths. Very powerful pieces, like the Bismark and Iowa will have a high point cost. Both...

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