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War of 1812 sets up in five minutes and plays in 1-2 hours. This classic game has been enjoyed by thousands of gamers for over 30 years.

Unit types in this edition include artillery, cavalry, infantry, and navies. The map board is unchanged from previous editions.

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The adventure unfolds in the fief of Falkath, a small manor in northern Kaldor, a feudal kingdom in eastern Hârn. Falkath’s knightly lord, Sir Mayald Vobenor, is looking for able-bodied people to search for a missing child. Can the players find the boy or will they end up buried in a Field of Daisies?

Field of Daisies will be sent automatically to HârnQuest subscribers.

http://www.columbiagames.com/cgi-bin/query/cfg/zoom.cfg?product_id=5951

The ‘grognard’ table began with a ‘prequel’ game of the Spanish Civil War, which carried through to Sept/39 without a decision (Franco held only the populated south, but enough to prevent Foreign Recognition of a Republican win). This triggered the ‘SCW Carryover’ rules and had a profound influence on the EuroFront game that followed.

Under the carryover rules, the SCW continues as a sideshow (with neither power requiring National Supply) until someone Declares War on either side, whereupon the 2 sides join the Allies and Axis respectively as normal Minor Powers (which DO require National Supply). This development is bad news for Franco, as British/French naval power normally cut him off from Berlin and he will quickly fade. The good news for him is that the Allies cannot Declare War on neutrals until Phony War ends (usually with the German attack in the West), and of course the Axis will not trigger this unfavorable development.

The result was that after the Poland/Scandinavian preliminaries, as the battle of France raged the Allies did Declare War on Franco, and his rapid defeat left the victorious red Republicans (with several supporting blue blocks) in control of Spain as French Armistice was negotiated. As red and blue blocks rushed to defend the Pyrenees frontier, Germany contemplated the prospect of Balkan/Russian campaigns with a major Allied bridgehead on the continent. Instead, a major counter-buildup on the Spanish border was followed in the fall by a major effort against Red Spain which enjoyed extremely good fortune, quickly breaking through weak units defending the mountain barrier and isolating the stronger forces defending the coastal rail lines while taking Barcelona (which secured Axis supply until the rail lines were cleared). A quick thrust to Madrid also succeeded and another to Cadiz, preventing British reinforcements from reaching Gibraltar. Meanwhile the Vichy were pressed to join the Axis (by DE) and captured Tangiers from the south, further weakening Gibraltar.

Mud halted operations for the Winter while the Allies attempted but failed to Mobilize the Soviets against Rumania while the Axis main force was in southern Spain. In spring Gibraltar quickly fell to a massive German attack (opening up the supply tap for the Med Front) and Germany began rapidly transferring units east to the Balkans, ending Soviet Mobilization attempts. Yugoslavia fell easily but the Axis wasted too much time taking Greece and the British fell back unscathed behind Suez with a maxed out 8th army, wisely refusing to meet Rommel in the field with 2 extra units shipped from Europe. Rommel’s attack over the canal was decisively repulsed and the Allies also buttressed their defense of E Africa.

This fascinating and unique EuF2 game prompted a modification of the Turkey Cooperates DE allowing this DE to occur when Suez is Axis (expelling the Royal Navy from the E Med), allowing the Axis a ‘back door’ entry by a few units (the MF Expeditions normally used vs Torch) railed through Turkey to support ME Rebellions. The narrative being that with the RN locked out of the Med and the Germans stalemated at the canal by 8A, the Axis offers Turkey the return part of its former ME empire (Syria, Iraq, etc), for simply allowing German rail transit without its having to commit troops to the effort, and Turkey eventually buys into this logic (DE dieroll of 1).

As both sides had committed to a MF campaign without this provision, rather than continue the game or try to reconstruct play to match this revision, the last day of play was devoted to SCW games and several playtests of the new “War In Our Time” what-if scenario involving Czech resistance at the time of Munich (Sept/38). It all starts with a series of Alliance Reactions, as the world finds out who supports Czechoslovakia and who doesn’t, and what other nations jump into the war as a result. In one game no Allies initially supported Czechoslovakia (a “French Honor” DE eventually brings in France and Russia if the Czechs can hold on), in another a chain reaction involving practically every nation in Europe occurred, creating major problems for Germany. Poland’s reaction is key: it can to join the Axis for a piece of Slovakia, but if Rumania comes in for the Allies it is also a longshot to join that side (Poland did have alliance ties to Rumania). If both Rumania and Poland remain neutral, Russia is helpless to aid the Czechs –- it has no way to get there.

MonsterCon, at 5 days, is a perfect venue for EuroFront2, as the full campaign game plays out in about that time (60 hours). It is also a super venue and a super convention put on by John Kranz. Many, many famous designers and publishers of the game world attend and play. Highly recommended.

Our current thinking, however, is a very simple rule change about Neutral power VPs. It needs testing from many gamers and reports of results. Comments are welcome. Read on below:

Victory is attained with 25 VPs but NEUTRAL cities do NOT count for VPs.

There are 10 neutral victory points so the effect is to equal to assuming each side got 5 points worth of neutrals each game.

Neutral cities do still count for building and provide units so its good to have them.

This will also make Sicily work better. As it stands Sicily is too risky for Athens because attacking it puts 4 VPs in Spartan hands immediately. With just 4 BPs at stake it is less of an issue.

Athens cannot afford to play turtle. Sparta starts at 19 so 25 isn’t far away.

Any order, even BIG bundles, ship for one low rate:

USA: $5
Canada: $10 (airmail)
Overseas: $15 (airmail)

http://www.columbiagames.com

Includes every historical wargame currently in print from Columbia Games:

* Quebec 1759
* War of 1812
* Liberty: American Revolution
* Athens & Sparta
* Napoleon
* Hammer of the Scots
* Crusader Rex
* Bobby Lee
* Sam Grant
* Gettysburg: Badges of Courage
* Pacific Victory
* Eastfront 2
* Westfront 2
* Eurofront 2
* Rommel in the Desert

The value of these 15 games is nearly $1000 ($974.73). The bundle is offered at the discounted price of $699.99 for a limited time. Please allow 2-3 weeks for shipping. No substitutions please.

http://www.columbiagames.com/cgi-bin/query/cfg/zoom.cfg?product_id=125

Download the free PDF from:

http://www.columbiagames.com/cgi-bin/query/cfg/zoom.cfg?product_id=3021

Athens and Sparta Vassal Module

Module created by Stan Hilinski with artwork from Columbia Games.

From Consimworld:
Registration for CSW Expo 2008 has now surpassed the 200 attendee count! Beginning May 27 in Tempe, AZ, CSW Expo 2008 is less than a month away and now gearing up as it enters its eighth year with an action-packed venue featuring monster gaming, open-gaming, playtesting, game demonstrations, breakfast sessions, seminars, flea market, game auction, exhibitor sales, publisher updates, and much, much more. Check out the game sign-ups for both monster games and open-gaming, our special events line-up powered by industry luminaries, and register today!