tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4836956334020662322.comments2024-03-16T07:55:44.771-07:00Map and CountersJCB IIIhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16490081362549015107noreply@blogger.comBlogger1695125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4836956334020662322.post-74157141582907755512024-01-13T03:07:48.472-08:002024-01-13T03:07:48.472-08:00Ah, for some reason Part 4 wasn’t showing up but f...Ah, for some reason Part 4 wasn’t showing up but found it now! Join me up to the masochists who like the game South Africa, and indeed I’ve just reacquired it. I’m doing that for quite a few of the SPI titles after disposing of them some years ago…including Vera Cruz which I think was a smashing simulation. Happy gaming…Mervynnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4836956334020662322.post-38808837449297516002023-12-30T07:50:51.004-08:002023-12-30T07:50:51.004-08:00Greetings Anon:
Thanks for visiting, I appreciate...Greetings Anon:<br /><br />Thanks for visiting, I appreciate your interest.<br /><br />So far as your question is concerned: I actually did discus SOUTH AFRICA -- if somewhat uncharitably -- in the #IV follow-up Also Rans installment (of five) in my series of thumbnail essays on the games published during the Golden Age of SPI.<br /><br />Best Regards, JoeJCB IIIhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16490081362549015107noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4836956334020662322.post-4586171945404556892023-12-30T06:59:18.765-08:002023-12-30T06:59:18.765-08:00I might have missed it (apologies if so), but what...I might have missed it (apologies if so), but what South Africa? That had some interesting mechanics to reflect the nature of the sides involved and an interesting political slant as the sides were looking at different victory conditions…Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4836956334020662322.post-9981054189055940392023-11-20T15:15:16.534-08:002023-11-20T15:15:16.534-08:00Greetings Nick:
Your recommendations for rules ch...Greetings Nick:<br /><br />Your recommendations for rules changes (and/or adjustments) to the original version of USN -- along with your supporting arguments -- all seem pretty reasonable to me; on the other hand, since it has been a very long time since I have played or even owned the game, I will have to defer (for a final verdict) to those players who have had more recent experience with this JCB IIIhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16490081362549015107noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4836956334020662322.post-61356295720597211772023-11-12T12:44:22.267-08:002023-11-12T12:44:22.267-08:00Have just set the game up after maybe forty-five y...Have just set the game up after maybe forty-five years<br /><br />A number of things have always struck me as huge issues:<br /><br />It's hardly worth attacking non-naval units at low odds, the CRT should have diminishing returns as the odds go up<br /><br />Japanese naval pilots and equipment were vastly superior in 1941 and early 42, yes they should have bombardment 11, but US navy shouldNick Henfreyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01491452720267848683noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4836956334020662322.post-18128451208959066172023-10-23T08:23:55.214-07:002023-10-23T08:23:55.214-07:00Greetings Anthony:
Thank you for visiting and for...Greetings Anthony:<br /><br />Thank you for visiting and for your insightful commentary. It is obvious that you have played this great old Avalon Hill classic extensively, and that your experience and study has given you a deep understanding of the game's rhythm and dynamics. <br /><br />As a final thought, I am hopeful that you are still able to find knowledgeable STALINGRAD opponents withJCB IIIhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16490081362549015107noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4836956334020662322.post-85763129579285923192023-10-22T06:40:02.918-07:002023-10-22T06:40:02.918-07:00I like your defense. It is very interesting and si...I like your defense. It is very interesting and similar in idea to the one I gravitated to using after I came to the conclusion that the "Finnish Gambit" defenses are all wrong and flawed. BTW, I am writing this in 2023. <br /><br />I have always felt that lining up significant forces along the Finnish border gives the Germans the only chance they have of making a quick advance out of Anthonynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4836956334020662322.post-43052085970573597862023-09-09T17:55:23.937-07:002023-09-09T17:55:23.937-07:00Greetings Anon:
I agree that von Manstein's p...Greetings Anon:<br /><br />I agree that von Manstein's post-war book -- despite its obvious blame-shifting and subtle self-promotion -- is still an excellent and quite informative read. Another work that I found quite illuminating was von Mellenthin's "Panzer Battles."<br /><br />Thanks for visiting and for your comments.<br /><br />Best Regards, JoeJCB IIIhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16490081362549015107noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4836956334020662322.post-90586111619623402122023-09-09T15:01:42.479-07:002023-09-09T15:01:42.479-07:00“Lost Victories” by Erich von Manstein is a great ...“Lost Victories” by Erich von Manstein is a great follow on read.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4836956334020662322.post-88144537798587513662023-09-02T20:33:57.885-07:002023-09-02T20:33:57.885-07:00Greetings Karl:
Thank you for visiting, and for y...Greetings Karl:<br /><br />Thank you for visiting, and for your kind words.<br /><br />AFRIKA KORPS has been around a very long time and, probably for that reason (along with the game's dated and somewhat dowdy graphics), a majority of younger gamers seem to have decided to pretty much write it off. This player tendency is -- at least in my opinion -- unfortunate for both the players and theJCB IIIhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16490081362549015107noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4836956334020662322.post-74229281690589509862023-09-02T16:51:31.688-07:002023-09-02T16:51:31.688-07:00Brilliant set of articles on AK strategy. Some of...Brilliant set of articles on AK strategy. Some of the best writing on a wargame I’ve read.Karlnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4836956334020662322.post-56056844959540552872023-08-29T17:15:33.735-07:002023-08-29T17:15:33.735-07:00Greetings All:
I was a little surprised to see th...Greetings All:<br /><br />I was a little surprised to see the renewed interest in this short STALINGRAD essay of mine, especially since it was published quite some time ago. Nonetheless, I find it more than a little gratifying to see that a surprising number of visitors still seem to appreciate the chess-like appeal of this venerable old "classic" Avalon Hill title.<br /><br />In JCB IIIhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16490081362549015107noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4836956334020662322.post-27067422097935228542023-08-11T20:14:15.345-07:002023-08-11T20:14:15.345-07:00This was a loovely blog postThis was a loovely blog postKevin Daughertyhttps://kevinrdaugherty.blogspot.com/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4836956334020662322.post-36509517253638698222023-07-28T08:54:42.876-07:002023-07-28T08:54:42.876-07:00Greetings Kevin:
Thank you for your interest and ...Greetings Kevin:<br /><br />Thank you for your interest and your generous offer. As it turns out, my internet provider just switched over to a new email platform, so I have been trying to catch up on my messaging. That said, I will try to get back to you via email over the next day or two.<br /><br />Best Regards, JoeJCB IIIhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16490081362549015107noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4836956334020662322.post-2801884382720857152023-07-26T21:22:26.625-07:002023-07-26T21:22:26.625-07:00Been a few years, I hope you are well. If you are ...Been a few years, I hope you are well. If you are no longer working on the site, as a long time wargamer I would love to offer to keep the site maintained and operational. So much wonderful reading here. Please let me know if I can help kevsharp@writeme.com is my email.Kevin Sharpnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4836956334020662322.post-70713548336998877342023-07-17T15:53:29.662-07:002023-07-17T15:53:29.662-07:00Greetings MGUTH:
Thanks for visiting and for your ...Greetings MGUTH:<br />Thanks for visiting and for your comments regarding some of the other titles that were published at about the same time as Dunnigan's game, but that tackled the topic of the Battle for France -- while being somewhat similar in scale -- yet did a better job in both the play-ability and historicity departments. <br /><br />I confess that I had completely forgotten about JCB IIIhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16490081362549015107noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4836956334020662322.post-46206684027904377992023-07-17T13:49:52.569-07:002023-07-17T13:49:52.569-07:00Dana Lombardy's Dunkerque came out at about th...Dana Lombardy's Dunkerque came out at about the same time, by the long lost SDC publications. THAT game was innovative and much more balanced. Don Lowry of Panzerfaust Publications published Dunkirk at about the same time; and somehow got a more balanced game. Well, this is all old news except that Dana Lombardy is still alive and publishing and keeps promising a new version of Dunkerque. MGUTHnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4836956334020662322.post-50886656084815629122023-05-15T15:22:03.514-07:002023-05-15T15:22:03.514-07:00Greetings Sean:
I personally still think that the ...Greetings Sean:<br />I personally still think that the game holds up fairly well, even after all these years. That said, purely from a military history standpoint, you are quite correct when it comes to the limitations that were imposed by the comparative dearth of information regarding the Battle of Smolensk that was actually available to Dunnigan back in 1976. On the other hand, Glantz, et.alJCB IIIhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16490081362549015107noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4836956334020662322.post-35058594877853137052023-05-07T06:11:17.975-07:002023-05-07T06:11:17.975-07:00Greetings Aaron D.:
Thank you for the heads up on...Greetings Aaron D.:<br /><br />Thank you for the heads up on the two additional scenarios. I don't know how I managed to miss them back in the day, as I subscribed to MOVES right up until the bitter end, but I'm glad that you, at least, remembered them and were thoughtful enough to share.<br /><br />Thanks for visiting and<br />Best Regards, JoeJCB IIIhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16490081362549015107noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4836956334020662322.post-86377750371054986222023-05-06T09:20:41.022-07:002023-05-06T09:20:41.022-07:00There were two more "official" scenarios...There were two more "official" scenarios written by Mark Herman for October War in Moves 33: https://www.spigames.net/MovesScans/Moves33/ERROW.pdfAaron D.noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4836956334020662322.post-19094203550117604012023-03-20T09:56:23.127-07:002023-03-20T09:56:23.127-07:00I literally just found it after I posted that ques...I literally just found it after I posted that question, thanks! And they work just great.James Kighthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08021521079458394829noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4836956334020662322.post-50609604753268458402023-03-20T09:25:02.634-07:002023-03-20T09:25:02.634-07:00Greetings James:
I suggest that you visit Boardga...Greetings James:<br /><br />I suggest that you visit Boardgamegeek.com and then select the BULGE '81 game folder. There you should find pretty decent screen shots of the game's counter sheets.<br /><br />Good luck and Best Regards, JoeJCB IIIhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16490081362549015107noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4836956334020662322.post-72500081366056235852023-03-20T08:56:35.119-07:002023-03-20T08:56:35.119-07:00Hello! Recently acquired a copy of this 1981 vers...Hello! Recently acquired a copy of this 1981 version of the Battle of the Bulge, unfortunately my copy has writing on a lot of the counters, and they are loose (which is fine). Is there a way you might be able to post a higher resolution scan or pic of the counter sheets? I have everything else i need for the game itself. Thanks!James Kighthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08021521079458394829noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4836956334020662322.post-72251468949895742622023-02-03T06:03:34.099-08:002023-02-03T06:03:34.099-08:00SuperbSuperbAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4836956334020662322.post-48672039000687097482022-11-25T14:47:14.308-08:002022-11-25T14:47:14.308-08:00Hoi again Joe-(GROGnads here) as there that WERE n...Hoi again Joe-(GROGnads here) as there that WERE now https://www.armchairdragoons.com/forum/index.php?topic=4667.0 I'm unaware upon HOW to make this a LINK here, so, feel free to implement thus!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com