Post by Whiterook on Apr 8, 2022 9:32:35 GMT -5
The predecessor to this game, “Fields of Normandy”, caught my attention on Facebook’s solitaire group a short while ago, and after I saw it again yesterday morning and checking it out with a deeper dive, not only did I order that title, but this one as well! I saw enough that I was convinced that this was different enough to warrant a purchase.
As part of the D-Day landings in Normandy in 1944, the British 6th Airborne Division took part in Operation Tonga, to capture and destroy several bridges on the Orne River and Caen Canal and to secure important villages in the area. Bad weather and difficult landing conditions meant that units were scattered and often had to fight in smaller, weakened forces. Fortunately, the German resistance was, on this occasion, inefficient.
In Battles of Normandy, you will be commanding whatever British units happen to be available in order to take strategic positions on the map. German forces may not act with the full efficiency that the German army was known for, but they will nonetheless put up a fight.
This book builds on my previous book-based game, The Fields of Normandy. It is not a sequel, and the rules are different, but it is aimed at the same audience – those who are relatively new to wargaming and would like to “dip the toe” and those who, like me, would rather play something than have time for nothing.
The aim here was to produce a fairly traditional hex and counter wargame experience with simple rules and a manageable “opponent” which will not take up too much time or effort to operate, especially once you have grasped the basic system.
— BGG
In Battles of Normandy, you will be commanding whatever British units happen to be available in order to take strategic positions on the map. German forces may not act with the full efficiency that the German army was known for, but they will nonetheless put up a fight.
This book builds on my previous book-based game, The Fields of Normandy. It is not a sequel, and the rules are different, but it is aimed at the same audience – those who are relatively new to wargaming and would like to “dip the toe” and those who, like me, would rather play something than have time for nothing.
The aim here was to produce a fairly traditional hex and counter wargame experience with simple rules and a manageable “opponent” which will not take up too much time or effort to operate, especially once you have grasped the basic system.
— BGG
I was a tad worried at first that since they are both D-Day specific, maybe this would be just a little too retread, but in the words of the game designer himself…
Yes, they’re actually quite different. BoN has larger maps and the AI units move around. This is more of a traditional war game. It’s less of a “puzzle” than FoN, although it uses a loosely similar restricted order system as that game. It’s a little more historical too, if you like that sort of thing. There are 8 maps and they are very replayable due to random set up.
— Mike Lambo
— Mike Lambo
…ah yeah, I like historical! And I like how this seems to be a bit broader in scope, too…less of a “puzzle” play (quick, solve the tactical situation with a quick tactical solution). I like that it continues the Normandy slant, though it is a battle that see’s an awful lot of the majority of focus…maybe as it should.
And as with the other game, there are some more intriguing possibilities for how to play this game… in the following pics case, with blocks!
I got a ton of blocks with a DVG KickStarter pledge purchase, and I also have a bunch from my 1959 version of RISK. It’s always good to hint outside of the box!