Re: Field Marshal Games Pieces Project Discussion thread

@Freddy:

Hey Tigerman,
I don’t think the scope of the game has to be any bigger than D-Day. I just want something that has a more tactical aspect, but still A&A. I felt BOTB got a little too “Not A&A.” I don’t want to learn a whole new game! Thanks, I would totally buy a Historical Board Gaming Theatre game!
Freddy

I agree BotB didn’t seem A&A much at all

I think you are making Block Houses too strong; all infantry defend @ 4? That’s too high. It should be a 3.
Also, if you use the HBG Marines and attack with a flamethrower unit, that should negate the block house advantage.

Sold some more!

Wait you still needing that?

Bump!

i voted Kursk, but stalingrad, north africa and Market Garden would be cool either

From BGG:

I have not yet played this game but thought I would review the components and rules prior to playing. These are my initial impressions which may change after playing the game.

I was intrigued enough to purchase this game for several reasons: 1) the publisher is offering a significant discount on the game - $25.00 plus shipping (wow!), 2) it has 438 component pieces (I love little plastic armies), 3) it plays on a world map, and finally 4) I love Axis and Allies and have been nostalgic for games like Supremacy ever since I dug it out of storage last month.

In summary, I have not been disappointed yet. I feel I got superior value for my money and would recommend this game to other fans of world domination games. I can’t wait to play!

The Components
The main playing pieces come on plastic sprues and should be removed with an exacto knife. Seven colors came with the set: White (use by all players for factories, air defense, generals, nuclear bombs, and leaders), and colors for six players - Gray, Blue, Red, Purple, Green, and Yellow. These pieces represent infantry, tanks, fighters, bombers, battleships (now called battlecruisers), aircraft carriers, artillery, subs, and transport ships. It doesn’t matter which superpower uses which color. The plastic is good quality.

The game actually allows for up to eight players and the rulebook mentions an expansion pack. I am guessing Brown and Orange would be in the upcoming expansion pack.

The pieces are very good and remind me a lot of Axis and Allies pieces. The one drawback seems to be the tanks which are much smaller than those pictured. In fact, they are almost teeny-tiny. I’m not sure if the small size will hinder or help gameplay at this time.

Other components include circle territory markers, plastic poker chips for stacking under the pieces, dice, plastic container trays, plastic bags, and cards for each superpower, development tracking, and conducting battles.

The gameboard is beautifully illustrated on a heavy, large tri-fold board. It reminded me so much of Axis and Allies I had to go back and look at it to make sure it wasn’t the exact same board!

Finally, the box is heavy duty and will hold up for years. Somewhat surprisingly, the game was shipped to me via Fed Ex with a shipping label slapped on the clear shrinkwrap! Most games would never make the journey but my set survived with a minor dent on a corner. However, if you are at all concerned about getting your set “Mint in Box” I’d highly recommend requesting some type of shipping container when ordering your set from the publisher. They may charge you more but it may be worth it to you. I couldn’t care less.

Rules
I think the rulebook could have been written better. You can view a copy of the rulebook on the superpowergames.com website. The website also clarifies some errors in the Errata section.

Play mostly works like Axis and Allies with players attempting to gain control of enough capitals to win the game. There are a few interesting twists that have been created to make the game fit in a more contemporary setting: Alliances can be formed and broken, technology can be researched, and money is eliminated (technically still in the game just not represented with paper currency). Additional minor concepts have been added like Encirclement which allows players to resolve battles without rolling the dice in certain situations. Clearly the designer is attempting to speed play and focus the game on the fun aspects of world domination rather than the tedium of counting out paper money and fighting insignificant battles.

Final Thoughts
Some of the graphics and illustrations lend the feel of an upstart game maker pursuing his passion with an invention created with a low budget in his garage and home personal computer. Part of that makes me instantly like the game even more. In fact, the creator emailed me shortly after purchasing the game asking for feedback. Very nice personal touch!

If you like Axis and Allies, I think this game may be for you. It looks fun, the components are great, and for $25.00 you are getting a tremendous value. There might be some minor polish issues here and there but it’s got all the goods where it really counts.

I will do another review after I have a chance to play!

German Forces:
Unit Type Movement Attack Defense Notes

Tiger Tank 2 9 9 Takes 2 hits, attacks are preemptive  against enemy Tanks first
Panzer tank 3 6 7
Panzer Grenadier
(Mechanized Infantry) 3 4 6
Tank Destroyer 2 7 8 All hits go against enemy armor first
Volks- Grenadier 1 2 4
Fallscirm- Jager (airborne) 1 5 5
Artillery 1 4 4 1  Hex range
Heavy Artillery 1 6 4 2 Hex range
Neberwerfer Rocket 1  + +  +/1 Hex range, each enemy rolls one d6 1=hit, 2-3= unit shocked.
Fighters any 6 8
Jet Fighter any 6x2 10 No interception
Bomber any 8 2 Preemptive attack, ground forces cannot fire back (except Artillery)
Jet Bomber any 6 9 No interception

Allied Forces:
Unit Type Movement Attack Defense Notes

Tank 3 4 3
Mechanized Infantry 2 3 3
Tank Destroyer 3 4 3 All hits go against enemy armor first
Anti -Tank Gun 1 3 2 All hits go against enemy armor first
Airborne 1 2 2
Artillery 1 2 2 1  Hex range
Heavy Artillery 1 4 2 2 Hex range
Fighters any 2 3
Bomber any 3 2 Preemptive attack, ground forces cannot fire back (except Artillery)

all combat is one round duration. all air combat occurs first. if any extra planes are availible they can go against land targets. only artillery can hit planes.

Artillery Guns Anti-Air Defense
Artillery (both regular and heavy Artillery) units may fire at each air unit entering or flying across the air space of its territory during attacking combat movement. Each defending artillery unit rolls against each plane and a result of a 1 on a D12 results in a hit. The maximum number of Artillery units that can roll against planes in this fashion is limited to two. Note: each plane is rolled separately by type and can only be attacked preemptively. Example: 2 Allied Bombers and 2 Fighters attack a hex with German forces including one Artillery unit. The two Bombers are rolled together, yielding results of 3 and 5 (both misses). Next two fighters are rolled with results of 1 and 2 (one hit). One fighter is destroyed with the remaining planes able to perform their combat mission. Remember: each defending Artillery unit has one first shot attack at each air unit. Losses are removed immediately before the air units’ fire back. Attacks by the surviving planes can then proceed in the normal fashion.

I will adjust values for d12 dice. Note: allies not finished.

still need some good supply rules but i need more information on the OOB supply rules. might just use them.

each ammo chit allows one combat action
each fuel drum chit allows one hex of units to move full movement

germany starts with x number of chits in each catagory

allies do not have a limit but some limit on combat actions.

use OOB air power rules but add some rules for jet power say one plane for germany is jet.

also need some optional rocket rules V weapons:

V-2 Rockets
Allow the German player to conduct one V-2 attack per turn. This may be in addition to a similar event from an action card. The attack can be conducted into any Allied hex and each ground unit rolls with 1-2 counted as a hit, 3-4 unit is “suppressed” and cannot move that turn , and 5-6 no effect. The German player has six such attacks per game. Attacks can also be conducted against Allied fuel depots again hitting on a 1-2.

Jet Power
Allow the German player to substitute up to two of his daily air power allocations for one Jet fighter (Me-262) and one Jet Bomber (Ar-234) each turn till the end of the game. They can “save” this allotment until a specific turn and launch the balance of what was withheld until a turn of their choosing. Air Interception missions cannot be performed against Jet planes. They also cannot conduct Paratrooper drops. During aerial combat each Jet Fighter rolls twice against enemy planes. Secondly, allow the Allied player one Jet Fighter (Gloucester Meteor) each turn which performs like any other fighter except it can also avoid all enemy air interceptions.

using jet power may involve using additional air units for allies.