tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7799357743004909192.comments2024-01-04T23:48:09.384-05:00Pawnderings on GamesSeth Owenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12206653100499935990noreply@blogger.comBlogger648125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7799357743004909192.post-13215424055783179842014-04-10T22:02:23.110-04:002014-04-10T22:02:23.110-04:00Thanks, Seth. The reason there are two posts from ...Thanks, Seth. The reason there are two posts from me is that the first one didn't show up for a day or two, so I thought it had gotten eaten, and wrote it again but with some additional information added. It looks like they both just got hung up in a queue somewhere.<br /><br />"History book in game form" is a nice way to look at it. That would actually be a fun genre to get into, but it actually evolved into that form rather than being intended that way. It was intended from the beginning to be solitaire, as it was just too hard to imagine anyone wanting to play the Iraqis. In fact, expecting much interest in the game at all was probably going too far, as there was a dismissive sense of, "that was too easy" afterwards. The genesis of the game was when Tom Clancy said to Frank, "we didn't need a whole corps, we could have done it with a single ACR, or a troop of Girl Scouts." Those kind of popular misconceptions derive from the fact that, "making something look easy" is not the same as, "it IS easy," and is a discredit to all of the hard work and professionalism that it required. So the desire to help people see that more clearly, coupled with GDW's position as a Gulf War analyst led to the game. <br /><br />As I was working on it in the year immediately following the war, I had the opportunity to review a large number of returning unit commanders and got a tremendous amount of detail, allowing me to refine and sharpen elements of the game. And then the Schwarzkopf-Franks flap blew up, so we really needed to address that (the game shows that we came down firmly opposed to Schwarzkopf's assertions—which I found disingenuous: he claimed to have gotten over it, but then repeated them in his best-selling autobiography). And before you knew it, the game had the opportunity to address in detail all of these current events, and I thought it would be a crime with all of the relevant primary research to not do so, as the research was already there. So I pushed our budget people to get the second booklet added to allow room to get it all in. That's why the price and UPC were on a sticker, we had to raise the price of the game to cover the added components.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01610853220688539645noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7799357743004909192.post-9816290476781652532014-04-02T15:48:08.325-04:002014-04-02T15:48:08.325-04:00Thanks, Seth. The reason there are two posts from ...Thanks, Seth. The reason there are two posts from me is that the first one didn't show up for a day or two, so I thought it had gotten eaten, and wrote it again but with some additional information added. It looks like they both just got hung up in a queue somewhere.<br /><br />"History book in game form" is a nice way to look at it. That would actually be a fun genre to get into, but it actually evolved into that form rather than being intended that way. It was intended from the beginning to be solitaire, as it was just too hard to imagine anyone wanting to play the Iraqis. In fact, expecting much interest in the game at all was probably going too far, as there was a dismissive sense of, "that was too easy" afterwards. The genesis of the game was when Tom Clancy said to Frank, "we didn't need a whole corps, we could have done it with a single ACR, or a troop of Girl Scouts." Those kind of popular misconceptions derive from the fact that, "making something look easy" is not the same as, "it IS easy," and is a discredit to all of the hard work and professionalism that it required. So the desire to help people see that more clearly, coupled with GDW's position as a Gulf War analyst led to the game. <br /><br />As I was working on it in the year immediately following the war, I had the opportunity to review a large number of returning unit commanders and got a tremendous amount of detail, allowing me to refine and sharpen elements of the game. And then the Schwarzkopf-Franks flap blew up, so we really needed to address that (the game shows that we came down firmly opposed to Schwarzkopf's assertions—which I found disingenuous: he claimed to have gotten over it, but then repeated them in his best-selling autobiography). And before you knew it, the game had the opportunity to address in detail all of these current events, and I thought it would be a crime with all of the relevant primary research to not do so, as the research was already there. So I pushed our budget people to get the second booklet added to allow room to get it all in. That's why the price and UPC were on a sticker, we had to raise the price of the game to cover the added components.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01610853220688539645noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7799357743004909192.post-44540180214426554872014-03-29T00:04:03.890-04:002014-03-29T00:04:03.890-04:00Thanks for the additional insight. I was just maki...Thanks for the additional insight. I was just making my best guess based on the facts presented in the game. It's nice to see I was in the ballpark based on your more direct knowledge.<br />PLS I think of as a history book in game form more than a game. I think it was wise to make it a solitaire game.Seth Owenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12206653100499935990noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7799357743004909192.post-30616298507711329462014-03-28T18:01:40.049-04:002014-03-28T18:01:40.049-04:00Thanks for the thoughtful and appreciative assessm...Thanks for the thoughtful and appreciative assessment. When the game came out it was not terribly well-received; I think a lot of people assumed this would be something quick and light, rather than an in-depth study. In the years since then it appears that the guys who did want something like this finally got a chance to pull it out and devote the time and attention to it they’d always wanted to, and a number of nice appreciations have popped up on the Internet, yours included. In making this, Frank and I wanted it to be an accurate representation of what actually went into a corps operation to make it turn out so well. With the more recent reviews, it appears that we finally did find the kindred spirits we made this game for, and that is always rewarding.<br /><br />Re: 3d ACR, after 22 years my recollection from talking to people in all three units is that 3d ACR was made OPCON to 24th Mech (not really doctrinal) because of the sense that XVIII ABC did not really know how to use an ACR as a corps asset (logically they would have no experience with this), and that as the (US) mechanized operational know-how was in 24th Mech, give it to them to use properly. Here opinions diverge a bit, including the notion that McCaffrey was a bit of an empire-builder and would snap up all assets offered to him. I think it is fairer to say that as a division, 24th Mech/McCaffrey didn’t really have the ability to oversee 3d ACR operating in a corps-level mission (i.e., as a peer rather than subordinate unit, same level as 24th Mech), so a good compromise was to place 3d ACR under 24th Mech, but use them in a primarily flank securing/screening role. Which is basically what you derived in your analysis, but from another direction.<br /><br />3d ACR’s organization in Desert Shield was fascinating. As one of the first heavy units in theater it served as a magnet for lots of heavy units in case they had to quickly go to war. I don’t have the material in front of me, but like 2d ACR, 3d ACR at one point was a mini-division, with additional armored battalion fragments attached, and at one point even its own MLRS battalion and battery. Obviously not doctrinal, but if the balloon went up without warning they needed some kind of organization. These things mostly got farmed out elsewhere in XVIII ABC (mostly to 24th Mech) when VII Corps closed in theater and allowed 3d ACR to be pulled from the line to swap out their M1s for M1A1s.<br /><br />Thanks again,<br /><br />Dave Nilsen<br />PLS co-designer/developer<br />Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01610853220688539645noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7799357743004909192.post-45260441521680803332014-03-28T02:45:27.661-04:002014-03-28T02:45:27.661-04:00Thanks for the thoughtful assessment. At the time ...Thanks for the thoughtful assessment. At the time it came out I think a lot of buyers were expecting something more fast and light, which was not what PLS was intended to be, so got rated accordingly. It looks like over the years people who were looking for this kind of study finally got a chance to dig into it (it does take time and attention) and enjoyed what was in there. The OB details were a great deal of fun to get into, most of them I got from interviewing participants during the year after the war, poring over their personal and unit papers.<br /><br />Now that it's 22 years later, I believe the opinion at the time was 3d ACR was OPCON to 24th Mech due to a combination of 1) an Airborne Corps didn't know how to properly use an ACR (logically, they wouldn't), so they had to put it under a heavy organization who would know how to operate it, and 2) McCaffrey was a bit of an empire builder and liked having another heavy brigade. I believe the most fair thing to say is that since McCaffrey was already running his division he couldn't readily oversee 3d ACR in an independent corps-level mission at the same time, so operating it as a fourth maneuver BDE focused on flank screening was a practical compromise.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01610853220688539645noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7799357743004909192.post-18937291346161499302014-03-25T01:15:16.222-04:002014-03-25T01:15:16.222-04:00I remember playing this as both a 7 year old and a...I remember playing this as both a 7 year old and as a teenager. Somehow my father interpreted the rules as moving only one dot at a time, which made for some really exciting pursuits. As my reading comprehension improved, I realize the rules allowed for the long sweeps the original post mentions. We played a few games and stopped. Much later, my father mentioned that rule change; "before that, I won now and then. After that I never won again." :)<br />As a teen playing the Avalon Hill games, I went back to Broadside just to experiment. I discovered tactics for Blue so that Red never won. I wonder now if I could play Red against those tactics and win any. Hmm, Does my 8 year old nephew have any free time and interest?Windy Wilsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01951254236693386401noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7799357743004909192.post-69514549142243662332014-02-08T00:14:11.939-05:002014-02-08T00:14:11.939-05:00Always admired BROADSIDE and all the MB American H...Always admired BROADSIDE and all the MB American Heritage games but the fatal flaw in it's design is that there IS a defense strategy for for the Blue Fleet that makes it a "Can't win" for the Red Fleet.albert52hhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03515835201831531641noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7799357743004909192.post-88656668248769631522014-02-08T00:09:13.287-05:002014-02-08T00:09:13.287-05:00Alas, the game is unwinnable by the Red if Blue is...Alas, the game is unwinnable by the Red if Blue is commanded by an experienced player. albert52hhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03515835201831531641noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7799357743004909192.post-83452779586042143112014-01-03T03:34:20.896-05:002014-01-03T03:34:20.896-05:00thank. that nicethank. that nicechơi cờ trực tuyếnhttp://cothu.vnnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7799357743004909192.post-36011923946743645042013-12-29T07:11:57.269-05:002013-12-29T07:11:57.269-05:00Just played this scenario again today as the Frenc...Just played this scenario again today as the French.<br /><br />Used the grande manoeuvre card to position all artillery in the center. Used a fire and hold and a bombard card to make the thin red line even thiner... and pushed behind the ridge his artillery. Took out 4 units or so by advancing a few troops to finish the job and move back.<br /><br />eventually, my hand contained almost nothing but left flank attacks so I was able to push and push and shoot and charge his troops. 3 more dead units and captured the farm.<br /><br />The French player cannot but win if he is patient enough. I think Napoleon did not have the time... :-)Braxenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09659777580502075412noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7799357743004909192.post-64241009269785193792013-12-25T22:24:50.044-05:002013-12-25T22:24:50.044-05:00Great, thorough explanations on the battle maps!Great, thorough explanations on the battle maps!Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09956925424463017080noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7799357743004909192.post-31543915536990854472013-07-17T15:04:01.241-04:002013-07-17T15:04:01.241-04:00Dungeons and Dragons does have the public name rec...Dungeons and Dragons does have the public name recognition necessary for that kind of venture. In fact, a movie and a TV series by that name were already made, the former in 2000 and the latter in 1983-85. However, I personally doubt that the name could be translated into a successful blockbuster, not because of lack of recognition of the name but because of the negative perceptions surrounding the name for many Americans. D&D is a property that actually has rather spectacular potential as a movie property, as evidenced by the extensive line of books and computer games carrying that brand. D&D campaign settings like the Forgotten Realms were conceived expressly for the purpose of churning out endless storylines, which you would think would jive perfectly with Hollywood's love of sequels. I don't see it happening, though, because it's just considered too geeky to work. Just my view of course.Nate Culwell-Kanareknoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7799357743004909192.post-65257702001685529382013-07-02T19:21:59.660-04:002013-07-02T19:21:59.660-04:00I need to get my Gettysburg game collection in one...I need to get my Gettysburg game collection in one place for a photo. <br /> Nice article Seth.<br /><br />ScottH.ScottH.https://www.blogger.com/profile/08216054812108909100noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7799357743004909192.post-53380360792630713322013-07-02T17:43:28.684-04:002013-07-02T17:43:28.684-04:00It would be interesting to compare all the Gettysb...It would be interesting to compare all the Gettysburg games, but that could be a lifetime job. <br /><br />I play the Tiller HPS Gettysburg a lot, and I find that the Union seems handicapped by poor morale and less effective shooting. Of course, I could be a bad general like Sickles. NXPLhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01366013298228756001noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7799357743004909192.post-903305184646031022013-06-17T15:03:18.505-04:002013-06-17T15:03:18.505-04:00Yeah, my opponent was a little rusty which helped ...Yeah, my opponent was a little rusty which helped my IJN considerably.<br /><br />I like C&C: Ancients. It's a little more involved than Memoir '44, but just a little.<br /><br />The Hold the Line system is also in the same sweet spot as Borg's system, It has some significant differences, but some similarity as well. Like Borg's games, the HOTL system plays fast, so match play becomes a real possibility. Seth Owenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12206653100499935990noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7799357743004909192.post-48793348236873810332013-06-09T20:58:46.938-04:002013-06-09T20:58:46.938-04:00What a great day of gaming. You played two titles...What a great day of gaming. You played two titles that I'm curious about and one (<i>Midway</i>) that is one of my favorite wargames of all.<br /><br />I don't know much about <i>Hold the Line</i>, but I notice that Worthington keeps releasing new games in the "Hold the Line" series, which makes me wonder what it is about the mechanics of the game that makes it so appealing and translates to so many other Worthington titles.<br /><br />I'm a fan of the card-driven wargames of Richard Borg, and I used to play ancients miniatures, so I'm really curious about <i>Command and Colors: Ancients</i>. How do you find that it compares to <i>Battle Line</i> and <i>Memoir '44</i>?<br /><br /><i>Midway</i> was my first wargame as well, and it has been a long-standing favorite that I've <a href="http://paulowengames.blogspot.com/search/label/Midway" rel="nofollow">blogged</a> about frequently. Lately I'm finding that the Americans tend to win, so I was especially interested to read your account of what appears to be a decisive Japanese victory. Great stuff!Paul Owenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02260814589584723033noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7799357743004909192.post-88455653746146839972013-05-30T13:28:44.719-04:002013-05-30T13:28:44.719-04:00I really enjoyed this game the couple times I got ...I really enjoyed this game the couple times I got to play it, and I look forward to hearing more of your thoughts on it.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7799357743004909192.post-37772356583281989852013-05-25T13:41:51.594-04:002013-05-25T13:41:51.594-04:00Another excellent post Seth. I enjoy your take on ...Another excellent post Seth. I enjoy your take on our hobby.I also respect and appreciate your service. Those of us who did not serve or lose a loved one cannot appreciate the perspective.<br />Thank you for sharing yours.Kevin S./TheBigBoardhttp://www.meshtime.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7799357743004909192.post-60200755192566120932013-04-08T17:36:59.287-04:002013-04-08T17:36:59.287-04:00SSN-593, still on patrol. Thank you for the comme...SSN-593, still on patrol. Thank you for the comments and reminders.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7799357743004909192.post-84465548533303991642013-03-31T22:30:08.552-04:002013-03-31T22:30:08.552-04:00Thank you for the interesting post, and thank God ...Thank you for the interesting post, and thank God their are people like you from the military waking up, and prepared to speak out.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7799357743004909192.post-71905011870272570712013-03-21T16:29:42.660-04:002013-03-21T16:29:42.660-04:00Thanks for your service, and thanks also for this ...Thanks for your service, and thanks also for this post. The reflection & personal analysis is meaningful for people like me who don't have the same firsthand experience.Mark Johnsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11318307698031631051noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7799357743004909192.post-48798385217877866982013-03-21T05:17:03.470-04:002013-03-21T05:17:03.470-04:00Seth, thank you for your service. May your next h...Seth, thank you for your service. May your next hex crossing land you in a good place. God Bless you, I enjoy reading your blog. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7799357743004909192.post-36074092818359336062013-03-21T01:39:49.919-04:002013-03-21T01:39:49.919-04:00Interesting piece, and one that I agree with. Unfo...Interesting piece, and one that I agree with. Unfortunately, I never really believed the backstory from the beginning; call me a cynic.<br /><br />Appreciate your service. Like you, I wanted to be a part of something while I was in, but it did not happen. Probably better that it did not. Some boyhood dreams are not meant to be fulfilled.<br /><br />I hope you are right about learning a lesson. I doubt you are, however.Dalehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13667428218897971037noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7799357743004909192.post-31082392179619930812013-03-16T00:00:13.650-04:002013-03-16T00:00:13.650-04:00I did not know you had interest in those rules too...I did not know you had interest in those rules too. We tried them out once, but lost momentum to something else (gamer burn-out, I think). We probably need to pull them out again and give them a proper try.<br /><br />My only complaint was the fiddliness of pulling the figures in and out. If I got serious about the game, I would probably have to figure something out with magnets.Dalehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13667428218897971037noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7799357743004909192.post-30435766710386245772013-03-14T18:38:51.253-04:002013-03-14T18:38:51.253-04:00I just noticed they changed the tour reward. Now i...I just noticed they changed the tour reward. Now it's just $295 and is a DEPOSIT for the Tour, with the balance due in 2015. And I see quite a few people sighed up now. That seems like a much better deal -- I guess I have another month to figure out if it's at all doable. Seth Owenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12206653100499935990noreply@blogger.com