WAR ROOM - New Larry Harris Game

[crockett36]

I think YG made some very astute observations toward the end of his last video.  Wizards may have abandoned the creator, thus the creator had to go somewhere else, do something slightly different, innovate and recreate.  Just a theory . . . .  I like to be sympathetic to the guy whose genius made a game, several in fact, that I very much enjoy.  BTW, I will miss the little army guys and will probably come up with some house rule to put them back in.

[Private-Panic]

For anyone who did not receive the Nightingale Games bulletin:

Welcome!
This is the first WAR ROOM Bulletin.  Before the Kickstarter launches this Fall I plan to send bulletins about twice a month, or when something significant happens.  Please let me know at warroombulletin@gmail.com if you find errors in viewing this newsletter or browsing our website: http://www.nightingale-games.com

Help with the Hype Train!
We’ve been working on this game for around 4 years, and we are just this month going public.  Please help spread news of the game as we slowly get up to speed on our hype train.  There will be a boardgamegeek.com listing soon.

A word from the designer, Larry Harris:
“Board games are one of the most social forms of gaming out there.  People actually can see and talk to each other.  All through the development of WAR ROOM I envisioned thousands of basements and spare rooms all over the world being converted into imaginary World War II War Rooms.  The room is transformed into a place where like-minded folks gather and become – for an afternoon-- Generals commanding vast, historically-based armies, fleets and air armadas against each other.  If this theme is up your alley, than check out WAR ROOM.  We had you in mind.”

And now for a teaser bullet list of game features:
• Multiple scenarios based on # of players (eastern Front, War in Europe, Pacific War, and Global War)
• 7 Nations (USSR, UK, USA, China, Germany, Italy, Japan)
• 42" diameter round world map with polar view
• 10 unit types (4 naval,3 air, 3 land) formed in “Command Stacks”
• Simultaneous, secret movement and production orders
• Alliance discussions (where team members secretly discuss plans)
• 3 resource types required for unit production (oil, iron, and OSR - “other strategic resources”)
• Bid oil for Turn Order Rank
• After all movement, players choose a “Hot-spot” in turn order to resolve conflicts
• 2-stage battles: Air Battle then Surface Battle (land/sea)
• Choose unit type “Battle Stances” (for example: dogfight vs. strafe for fighter planes)
• Simultaneous (effectively) combat dice system with custom d12s
• Coastal and Trans-Ocean Convoy raiding
• Rail usage (and disruption)
• Strategic Bombing (affecting new unit production and infrastructure)
• “Civilian Goods” available to counter stress
• Track Medals, Stress, and Civilian Goods on the Morale Board
• As wartime stress compounds each nation faces dire penalties on the “Homeland Status Track”
• Trade resources with Neutrals (or invade and face resistance)
• Territory cards serve as resource income reference and are exchanged when lost
• “Contested Status” for territories cause reduced resource income
• “Port Advantage” (free naval unit repair)
• “Air Supremacy” (extra wild black die)
• “Force Advantage” (to encourage diverse surface forces)
• Soviet-Japanese Non-Aggression Pact
• and more…

Forthcoming WAR ROOM bulletins:
• Details about our experience as game developers.
• More images and details about the game.
• Voting!

Until next time!

Tom,

Nightingale Games LLC
warroombulletin@gmail.com
WAR ROOM Bulletin #1
6-20-2017

[Panther]

That reminds me a bit of “Hearts of Iron” - condensed to a board game. Interesting!

[lozmoid]

@P@nther:

That reminds me a bit of “Hearts of Iron” - condensed to a board game. Interesting!

Excellent! I’ve always wanted this :)  I must admit I am getting more excited about this game by the minute…

[The Big E]

@crockett36:

Wizards may have abandoned the creator, thus the creator had to go somewhere else, do something slightly different, innovate and recreate.

It’s all speculation in a way, but I’m thinking Larry Harris may of felt the need for a fresh start or that AH/WOTC did not want to back this particular project…who knows but Larry and the game companies.

There are many designers who do work with and release through different companies. AH/WOTC may still have a good relationship with Larry…

One other thought of mine was that with it being put on Kickstarter, I wonder what kind of add-ons and or stretch goals may or may not be available. That may be a way for guys who want them to get their plastic dudes…

[Panther]

@The:

…
There are many designers who do work with and release through different companies. AH/WOTC may still have a good relationship with Larry…
…

Indeed they have, at least according to Larry.

[Private-Panic]

@The:

One other thought of mine was that with it being put on Kickstarter, I wonder what kind of add-ons and or stretch goals may or may not be available. That may be a way for guys who want them to get their plastic dudes…

So what is kickstarter exactly?

[Panther]

@Private:

@The:

One other thought of mine was that with it being put on Kickstarter, I wonder what kind of add-ons and or stretch goals may or may not be available. That may be a way for guys who want them to get their plastic dudes…

So what is kickstarter exactly?

It’s a a sort of crowdfunding. See www.kickstarter.com

[Private-Panic]

Thanks very much P@nther.

[DessertFox599]

I personally am looking forwords to it. The plastic minis is something we can get around. Secret movements? Convoys? Railroads? This is everything  we ever wanted!!!

[General 6 Stars]

Ha. Somebody will figure out away to implement the plastic aa pieces. Me ? Ha  :?

[Narvik]

Its the plastic miniatures that makes the game fun to play. With counters you may rather play a pc game. Would chess be fun with out figurines ?

[Imperious Leader]

Something tells me the “pieces” will end up as cardboard. The weight of any game that has “Italian army #140” Means 140 thick plastic tokens times 7 players. Shipping would be cost prohibitive, so enjoy round and stacks of cardboard chits.

[Wolfshanze]

@Narvik:

Its the plastic miniatures that makes the game fun to play. With counters you may rather play a pc game. Would chess be fun with out figurines ?

Chess… being played with tiny thumbnail-sized cardboard chits since the Middle Ages…

[Karl7]

For all of you wondering about Larry’s relationship with the Wiz, I asked him about it (albeit obliquely) on his forum, which elicited a vigorous response from Larry, to wit:

Response to Kjrunft:
Hate Mail? Krieghund and I Worked with Wizards over this past winter upgrading and preparing for this Anniversary re-launch. We are very excited about this. Over the years I have had games published by companies other than Wizards of the Coast. Larry Harris and Wiz are tight! War Room is not Axis & Allies. I�m not even sure they compete with each other. They are two of my children from two different mothers, and I love them both. Where do some of these assumptions come from?

So, according to Larry, War Room is not necessarily a rebuke of or departure from A&A or Avalon Hill.

[calvinhobbesliker]

So the first demo was yesterday. Does anyone have news from that?

[IWillNeverGrowUp]

@Narvik:

Its the plastic miniatures that makes the game fun to play. With counters you may rather play a pc game. Would chess be fun with out figurines ?

Wargames have been played, and found entertaining, for decades with cardboard chits.
PC Games are not interactive (playing against the computer or a player that you can’t sit across the table from) defeating the biggest draw to board games.

A game should never rely on it’s components to be fun. It’s the game play and the opponent(s) that make a game fun. Plastic minis is an aesthetic bonus.

[GeneralHandGrenade]

Nope. I likes my little plastic army men. You can have your chits.

[Imperious Leader]

Actually a demo was done last may at some army museum / base if not mistaken.

https://www.meetup.com/en-AU/CentralPAGameClub/events/231096495/

[Young Grasshopper]

There seems to be a lot of information management involved, which can be a good thing or a bad thing depending on whether or not the game mechanics can flow together and work off each other, or if they operate individually from one another without consequences. I’m past the whole chit block thing, I’m very intrigued to play just because of that cool looking map, the graphics remind me a lot of HBGs 1936 map…