So here’s an example of the newest games’ counters from Heroes of Normandy on the top, and the 1st Edition of Band of Heroes on the bottom…
…note, you can’t really tell from my picture, but the BoH 1st Edition on the bottom are super glossy in the wrong angle! …that can get annoying under bright light at the table, and more so in photographing games in play.
I decided to dig out my 2nd Edition of Band of Heroes (bottom row), whose counters are not as crisp as the 1st Edition, but don’t have that nasty gloss. So I’ll go with those for now and see what I think. I may switch back to the 1st Editions’.
…I like the 2nd Edition BoH much better than the Heroes of Normandy game counters! …the latter are just so faded looking,
…so I started clipping the 2nd Edition counters today!
It’s sometimes a boon to have multiple editions of a game from through the years!
"Every day when I wake up I don't let the old man in. My secret has been the same since 1959-staying busy. I never let the old man into the house." — Clint Eastwood
When the Lock and Load system first came out did they put out a down loadable game for free? It was about clearing a village shortly after the D-day landings? I think I may have it somewhere amongst my papers. I will have to see if I can find it.
When the Lock and Load system first came out did they put out a down loadable game for free? It was about clearing a village shortly after the D-day landings? I think I may have it somewhere amongst my papers. I will have to see if I can find it.
Yes, they did! I still have my cobbled-together one that I’ve used several times for vacation and business trips! …it is, indeed, one scenario and map, with just the amount of counters needed play that scenario. The good news is, it’s enough counters where you can do some DIY scenarios, and print extra counters off.
…the original was offered for free from their forum. I emailed you another copy just now 😊
Since then, they came out with the Lock ‘n Load Tactical Starter Kit v5.1 (available Here) which gives you a chance to play two scenarios from our World War 2 Heroes of Normandy game and two scenarios from our Heroes of the Nam game….so, a lot more, but it’s gonna cost ‘ya $25! Now the good news of going that route is that, yiu don’t have to print ‘n play build it yourself, as I ncluded in the LnLT Starter Kit are one full color 11.0 x 17.0 double-sided map, one counter sheet with 130 rounded counters 2 mm thick, an 11 x 17 player aid card and links to download your preferred game manual. The only things you will need to provide is a set of 1d6 dice and print off a copy of the rulebook (available for free download or purchase).
Me being me, I keep a copy of a print ‘n play v4.1 pdf (and here’s a link to it), which also includes the rulebook. Yeah, it’s not v5.1, but that version covers all eras, whereas v4.1 is just WWII and all yiu really need!
"Every day when I wake up I don't let the old man in. My secret has been the same since 1959-staying busy. I never let the old man into the house." — Clint Eastwood
Thanks for the copy, will have my sis in law print it off for me.
My pleasure! I printed the counters on SMEAD pressboard folder cardstock (see here) and they hold up super well! I’ve thought about spraying them with a gloss or semi-gloss varnish so the printer ink holds up better under repeated use/wear… I’ll do that at some point and do a tutorial in the War College.
"Every day when I wake up I don't let the old man in. My secret has been the same since 1959-staying busy. I never let the old man into the house." — Clint Eastwood
I needed uo clipping the 1st edition of Band of Heroes and plan to use those first and see how I like the counters. Will use the maps from the 2nd edition, as they are far better than the 1st, which had halos around the hex sides and center dots, which is annoying as hell!
After some scenarios played, maybe I’ll switch up to one of the other versions’ counters… but in the end, whichever counters I feel I like to use best, I’ll use the new Heroes of Normandy games’ maps and scenario book; I may or may not use the gigindo HoN Player Aid Charts (…they’re so friggin’ BIG!)
"Every day when I wake up I don't let the old man in. My secret has been the same since 1959-staying busy. I never let the old man into the house." — Clint Eastwood
Reengaging with Lock ‘N Load Tactical has been a nice reentry… there’s still quite a bit I need to learn on armor (I’ve no clue, currently), but the other mechanics have come back fair enough; I’m sure there’s stuff I’m doing wrong, but I’ve figured out that until you play a LOT of scenarios to flesh it all out, you're just gonna make mistakes.
My intent was to stick with Lock ‘N Load Tactical (LNLT) as my main gaming focus for a bit, with other games (war and non-wargames) supplementing; I want to get a variety in play! But if fell into one of the traps that keeps snaring me… Advanced Squad Leader Starter Kit!
…a gamer friend of mine, who hosts a monthly Gaming Garage (GG) gig in is huge dual garage layout (it’s like the size of a small buddy shop!), also hosts an annual event called, the Garage Bararge, where Advanced Squad Leader is played exclusively (unlike the monthly GG, which is any game, though ASL is typically a staple). I’ve needed to get up to his place, which is over an hour away drive, to pick up a couple used games I bought from him, as well as some models another gamer is shuttling my way… so I invited my friend, Brian (who lives about an hour away west of me) to some Starter Kit action… interestingly enough, he’s been focusing on LNLT with a friend in his area and has been wanting to restart ASLSK, so it all kinda fell into place. I’ll be reviewing Starter Kit 1 over the weekend and maybe get a scenario or three up and played. ….this system just won’t fall off my interest list!
"Every day when I wake up I don't let the old man in. My secret has been the same since 1959-staying busy. I never let the old man into the house." — Clint Eastwood
The ASL bug will never let you rest as it's biting you again as soon as you begin to forget it...
Yes indeed, that is unfortunately (or fortunately, as I clearly can’t decide) true! It’s *that* system that offers enough fun to merit it’s staying in the collection, but annoying enough that it makes your teeth cringe.
"Every day when I wake up I don't let the old man in. My secret has been the same since 1959-staying busy. I never let the old man into the house." — Clint Eastwood
Post by Whiterook on Sept 16, 2023 17:33:57 GMT -5
ASLSK is starting to gel… I’d noticed it was back when I played it last year at Compass Game Expo in November, it it seems even more “down pat-ish” now… it’s all those little bits of rules that need to be remembered in sequence. I truly see the appeal of the game to those that are rabid about it, as it is very detailed and thought out. a big part of the issues for me are the rulebooks, which are not written real well…I’m thinking of re-writing them; more like, reformatting into two column pages and some clarifying edits.
"Every day when I wake up I don't let the old man in. My secret has been the same since 1959-staying busy. I never let the old man into the house." — Clint Eastwood
Yes, the rules is vast but I agree that the rulebooks isn't well written. They could market ASL rulebooks towards people suffering of insomnia...
Fortunately, the Starter Kit rules are drastically condensed, and the overall rules are simplified to a degree by taking out fiddly things like Bypass movement… still, there’s a lot to remember. Full system ASLers say that its a hop skip and jump from Starter Kit to full system, but I was skeptical of that; still am, ‘cause how do you go from 40 pages (by the time you’re at SK 3 or 4) to full systems’ 3” binder of hundreds of pages?
Starter Kit is much more manageable to learn, and indeed offers a back door into the full system, but I also worry about “Bad Habits”… it’s harder to unlearn and adapt from one skill to another related skill; that’s what ASL vs ASLSK is, two differing skill sets. It’s one of the reason it’s so annoying playing SK with a. Full system aficionado… the SK players is always saying, “…can’t do that in Starter Kit”, followed by the ASLers saying something like, “Hmmmmmmm”, as they scratch their head.
"Every day when I wake up I don't let the old man in. My secret has been the same since 1959-staying busy. I never let the old man into the house." — Clint Eastwood
Post by Whiterook on Sept 17, 2023 19:08:01 GMT -5
Picked this up off of Noble Knight Games for $15!!! I couldn’t believe it, actually…the price, I mean. It was listed as Very Good+ and it very much was, with just a small crease in the box top, some wear in the bottom corners, and chipping paint on th Formula 1 cars; but the log sheets are crisp appear like not one was ever ripped off; the hard mounted maps are gorgeous, only one having a little wear marks on a couple spots; and the rules are crisp and not yellowed. Best of all, it has the early production metal cars (this is a 1977 copy, not the 1971 or later)!
I’ve a friend named Victor, who’s wanted me to play his copy forever…literally, for over a decade! I pushed back because he mentioned calculations are made for things like tread rubber wear and such…and pics I’d seen showed people hunched over game logs doing annotations that just looked too intense for me. But after having researched the game more, found that it really is a cool game. It gives me the same positive vibe I’d always gotten for Circus Maximus’ chariot racing. I’ll be going to his house next week for a game with at least three of us in attendance, so I’ll get a good tutorial and play in.
I plan to bring it with me to Compass Games Expo in November, as a possible evening multiplayer offering. Seems to be a game you can play in a short 3 hour block, maybe even a couple times.
"Every day when I wake up I don't let the old man in. My secret has been the same since 1959-staying busy. I never let the old man into the house." — Clint Eastwood
Nice to have someone to show you how a game plays. People like to complain about prices from NK but if they had to pay their overhead I bet they would understand their prices a lot better.
Nice to have someone to show you how a game plays. People like to complain about prices from NK but if they had to pay their overhead I bet they would understand their prices a lot better.
Some of their games are indeed, very high priced, but where are they not these days?!? The fact of the matter is, they often can pull through with a game that’s near impossible to find elsewhere, and more than often in great condition! That’s where I got my copy of Phantom Fury from…well actually, Karen (wife) bright it as a present for me, and it’s in amazing shape!
…I need to get that on the table this Fall!!!
"Every day when I wake up I don't let the old man in. My secret has been the same since 1959-staying busy. I never let the old man into the house." — Clint Eastwood