Next Philboardgamers War Game Meet on August 8, 2009

[Zinegata]

Greetings!

The Philippine Historical Boardgamers Club (Philboardgamers) will have its next official War Game Meet (WGM) on August 8, 2009. The WGM will be open from 10am to 10pm.

This will be a FREE War Game Meet. There will be NO entrance fee unlike our regular WGMs. If you’ve never been to a War Game Meet before, then this is the perfect time to attend your first one!

The War Game Meet is a gathering of war gamers and history buffs from all over the Philippines. It is open to everyone sharing these interests, from the most hardened veterans and professional academics, to first-time war gamers and to people who just like reading history books.

It aims to provide a friendly, comfortable, and easily accessible setting for the following activities:

•   Playing classic war games – the Philboardgamers crew owns an extensive collection of war games, the largest collection in the Philippines. People who go to the WGM can expect to play an enormous variety of games – ranging from timeless classics such as Panzerblitz and Squad Leader, to recent hits such as Here I Stand, Fire in the Sky, and A Victory Lost.

•   Discussing military history, along with strategy, tactics, and combat doctrine. The Philboardgamers crew includes several professional teachers and historians well-versed in this subject, as well as many well-read amateurs with extensive history book collections. Whether you’re interested in the tactics of the Roman Legions, the campaigns of Napoleon, the great battles of World War 2, or even comparing the merits of various modern Main Battle Tanks (i.e. Leopard 2 vs Merkava 4), the WGM is a great opportunity to meet and talk to people who are fascinated by the Art of War.

•   Trading/Buying games and books. The War Game Meet is a good venue for finding books and games that you’d like to add to your collection, or for finding a new home for an old game that you’re about to let go.

The venue is a function room at Residencia 8888, Ortigas Center. It is close to the University of the Asia & the Pacific. It is located centrally in the heart of Metro Manila. It is easily accessible via mass transit, and ample parking space is available in the area. Please e-mail Thomas Ting (the Club President) at zinegata@yahoo.com or call/text him via the number 0929-10-100-19 if you require more details.

The theme for this month’s war game meet is “The World Wars”. Attendees are encouraged (but NOT required) to bring/play war games that are related to either the First or Second World Wars. Some of the games proposed for the meet are:

•   Fire in the Sky (http://www.boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/14083): Covering the entire Pacific War, Fire in the Sky recounts the epic struggle between Japan and the United States during World War 2. Can the Japanese hold on in spite of the overwhelming American material advantage, or can the United States achieve the historical result of obliterating the Imperial Japanese Navy? Designed by an award-winning Japanese designer, Fire in the Sky has been lauded for providing its players a unique insight into the difficulties Japan faced during the war. It’s also relatively simple and elegant to play.

•   Conflict of Heroes (http://www.boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/24800): Representing a fresh new breed of tactical war games, Conflict of Heroes features squad-level battles between Russian and German forces in the Eastern front of World War 2. Easy to learn and play, this game has won the Origins Award for best historical war game for 2009.

•   Europe Engulfed (http://www.boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/6205): A strategic-level war game featuring the Second World War in Europe. The game uses an innovative block game design, which simulates fog of war and allows both players to mask their intentions from their enemy. It can also be combined with its sequel, Asia Engulfed, to create a combined “monster” game that will cover the entire Second World War.

•   Proud Monster (http://www.boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/11122): A grand recreation of Operation Barbarossa: the Nazi war machine’s invasion of the Soviet Union. Simulating the titanic clash of over six million men and twenty-thousand tanks, Proud Monster features battles of an almost unimaginable scale. A quarter of a million troops could easily be lost for the fight for one city, yet the war would still be far from over. However, this game is surprisingly elegant and simple to play, and works wonderfully well if commanded by multiple commanders on both sides. A recent Philboardgamers AAR of this game can be found here: (http://www.tabletopwars.com/bb/index.php?topic=4381.msg19259;topicseen#new)

•   The Great War in Europe (http://www.boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/30216): ”The lamps are going out all over Europe; we shall not see them lit again in our lifetime”. Those were the words that inaugurated the First World War, as millions of men marched off to die in the trenches. Great War in Europe captures this terrible conflict from start to finish. From Tannenberg to Mons, from Ypres to Verdun, no front is left uncovered by this epic game.

If you’d like to propose or bring other games, please also e-mail Thomas Ting (contact details above). Preferably, submit all war game requests/proposals by August 1. This will allow the organizers to contact the owners of the games and to prepare the matches. The final list of games to be played and the schedule for playing will be posted August 2.

We hope to see everyone at the next War Game Meet!

[Rolf]

No entrance fee eh? Hmmmm

[Brel]

Created a quick splash image to help add some visual impact to your announcement.  Hope it's ok else I can remove it if requested.

[Gerald]

I know its a World War theme, but would it be ok to request someone to bring and teach Hammer of the Scots too?  I've been hearing that its a good starting wargame, and since I'm a newbie, I was kinda hoping to get my feet wet with something simple and has a very nice (at least to me) theme.

Oh, just to make it official, barring any unforeseen circumstances, count me in for this meet.  Although, can someone post detailed instructions on how to get there if one's driving? 

[vladsee]

I'm not sure if this will help but I do have Hammer of the Scots and willing to play and teach to people.  However its missing an important block unit without which the game is unplayable.  I'll try to improvise or order it before the wargame meet.  I still have to learn the game though as I haven't played it yet.  I usually arrive after lunch or late in the afternoon as I have work that day too.  If you are still interested and haven't found anyone to play the game with just let me know.   

I also have Crusader Rex, designed by the same guy who did Hammer of the Scots, which is complete and playable.  I've played it before (with CP) and willing to teach the game to new guys.  CP also has a bunch of Columbia block games with low complexity that you might be interested in too.   

If you are interested in any other games, please feel free to post here or at the philboardgamers mailing list where more wargamers could answer your queries.   

[Adrian (the other one)]

Count me in for this one as well. 

Oh ayan gerald, may fellow noob ka na na kasama.  Let's team up against the veterans.   

[Brel]

Temporaily removed this from the Headlines.  Will bring it back after the OGM event this month.

[benjie]

What block are you missing Vlad? Have you tried emailing Columbia Games about it? Hammer of the Scots is a great game and it would be a shame not to play it because of one missing block.

[thegr8mirror]

This seems like the perfect place to try out a game I just added to my collection:
Combat Commander: Europe

I have read through the rules, but that's as far as I've explored the game. If anybody would like to play I think you can the rules from the GMT site. I'll bring the game that day.

Later,
Steve

[Zinegata]

Hi guys,

Gerald-> The theme for the Wargame Meet is only a suggestion, not a requirement. In fact, I've made a few calls and we have another member who has a complete copy of Hammer of the Scots.

Who are you planning to play the game with? So that I can prepare the schedule.

Adrian-> Would you have any preferred games? I'm currently compiling all of the preferred games so we can have a solid schedule for the event itself.

Steve-> Glad to hear that you'll be coming and bringing along Combat Commander: Europe. I believe we have one member (Gilbert Liu) who expressed interest in a game similar to Combat Commander. I'll text him and see if he's interested.

Please encourage your friends who are coming to post here or contact me so we can have the games properly announced and scheduled. The more the merrier .

[Zinegata]

Created a quick splash image to help add some visual impact to your announcement.  Hope it's ok else I can remove it if requested.

It looks great. Thanks Brel!

[vladsee]

Benjie,

I can't remember now but its one of the red blocks - one of the English nobles I believe.  I got it second hand so I'm not sure if I qualify for a free replacement.  I always forget or postpone to get the blocks and sticker but I'll do it within the week.  

Steve,

I've played Combat Commander: Europe a few times before.  I'll play it with you or help you figure out how it plays with others if I get the chance at the next wargame meet.  

Thomas,

I'm willing to teach/referee the new guys.  Could we get a list of new guys who are going and what kind of game they are interested in so we can prepare?  Thanks. 

[Zinegata]

Thomas,

I'm willing to teach/referee the new guys.  Could we get a list of new guys who are going and what kind of game they are interested in so we can prepare?  Thanks. 

I'm currently getting a list of all game requests and new guys asking for games. I'll post it in a formal WGM update by tomorrow or Friday.

[Gerald]

I'm not sure if this will help but I do have Hammer of the Scots and willing to play and teach to people.  However its missing an important block unit without which the game is unplayable.  I'll try to improvise or order it before the wargame meet.  I still have to learn the game though as I haven't played it yet.  I usually arrive after lunch or late in the afternoon as I have work that day too.  If you are still interested and haven't found anyone to play the game with just let me know.   

I also have Crusader Rex, designed by the same guy who did Hammer of the Scots, which is complete and playable.  I've played it before (with CP) and willing to teach the game to new guys.  CP also has a bunch of Columbia block games with low complexity that you might be interested in too.   

If you are interested in any other games, please feel free to post here or at the philboardgamers mailing list where more wargamers could answer your queries.   

Oooohh... both Hammer of the Scots and Crusader Rex seem really nice (at least thematically) and since both are block-based, it might prove to be an easier transition.  It'd be nice to get to play both, but I'm not sure how long each game would take.

I really don't have anyone particular in mind to play with Zinegata.  I'd prefer if I could actually play with someone with alot of experience who could both teach the rules and the nuances of the games.  So I can learn not only how to play, but how to play right (or in a less subtle way, play to win).  Hehehehe... but, if everyone's busy, I'm open to playing with whomever naman. 

[Zinegata]

I'm not sure if this will help but I do have Hammer of the Scots and willing to play and teach to people.  However its missing an important block unit without which the game is unplayable.  I'll try to improvise or order it before the wargame meet.  I still have to learn the game though as I haven't played it yet.  I usually arrive after lunch or late in the afternoon as I have work that day too.  If you are still interested and haven't found anyone to play the game with just let me know.   

I also have Crusader Rex, designed by the same guy who did Hammer of the Scots, which is complete and playable.  I've played it before (with CP) and willing to teach the game to new guys.  CP also has a bunch of Columbia block games with low complexity that you might be interested in too.   

If you are interested in any other games, please feel free to post here or at the philboardgamers mailing list where more wargamers could answer your queries.   

Oooohh... both Hammer of the Scots and Crusader Rex seem really nice (at least thematically) and since both are block-based, it might prove to be an easier transition.  It'd be nice to get to play both, but I'm not sure how long each game would take.

I really don't have anyone particular in mind to play with Zinegata.  I'd prefer if I could actually play with someone with alot of experience who could both teach the rules and the nuances of the games.  So I can learn not only how to play, but how to play right (or in a less subtle way, play to win).  Hehehehe... but, if everyone's busy, I'm open to playing with whomever naman. 

Hi Gerald,

So far (based on my "interested attendees" sheet) we'll have a good mix of first-time players and experienced wargamers who'll be attending the WgM. So we can pair you up with another newbie while a more experienced player teaches/officiates, or you can go head to head with a more experienced player.

I'm going to put up a list of interested players later tonight so we can start scheduling the games and preferences.

BTW, hope to see you all at the OGM tomorrow (assuming the country is still above water >_>)