Hello:
Today I purchased the a couple of new DP9 products: "Call to Arms" the new
supplement to Lightning Strike, and "Tactical Space Support" for Heavy Gear.
Here are my reflections on both products:
"Call to Arms" was everything I expected. Most of the new units are capital
ships from previous Jovian Chronicle books translated to LS format. So far,
most of the designs remain true to the originals. There are also some
interesting new rules for magsail vessels (they act as stationary ships for
gaming purposes, but produce some interesting terrain effects) as well as
rules for low orbit battles, mines, and guidelines for vehicle design. As
usual, great graphic design work by DP9. My only beef with it is the overall
lack of counters. Since minis for most of these units aren't going to be out
real soon, I'm going to need all the copies I can get. I thought DP9 said that
they were going to put PDF files of the counters on the web site? (The lack of
minis is also hurting my quest to find LS players. I keep running into
wargammers who hold up there noses and tell me, "I don't play with COUNTERS."
"Tactical Space Support" is a very good guide to space travel in the HG
universe. It's contains lots of information on many of the vehicles and
equipment used in Terranovan space operations. Aside from the information
about gate travel, it seems very scientifically accurate. However, the space
combat rules have one major flaw: THEY DON'T MAKE ANY SENSE! I was expecting,
at the very least, a rehash of the space rules from Jovian Chronicles.
However, it appears that Marc Vezina has decided to take a departure from the
standard Silhouette system... as well as terrain, miniatures, or even
counters. That's right, you play with record sheets and a calculator! Combat
is a massive record keeping game that keeps track of ship emissions and some
abstract maneuvering concepts. Otherwise combat works just the same as in HG,
only range has to be kept track of on paper as well. I'm sure that DP9 thinks
that this is very "realistic." However, it is also very boring.
> --- "Mark A. Siefert" <siefert@milwpc.com> wrote:
Funny, I just played LS for the first time last night. Fun game. Exos are hard
to kill, ganging up is going to be a necessary tactic. The fellow I played
against threw together some 15mm samurai to use as exos (at that scale, its
hard to tell) and did some scratchbuilds for the ships (pictures soon) that
came out so well I'll have to check my bits box and try some myself. I also
tried a quick anbd dirty houserule for vector movement: use the vector marker
as the end point, and allow ships to move it with thrust. Our ships spent more
time worrying about their Avoidance value (I had his BB down to -9 at
one point) than in maneuvers, but the exos were all over the place.
Good game, try it if you haven't yet.
> "Tactical Space Support" is a very good guide to space travel in
Oh darn, that was the only thing that might have gotten me to add HG to my
repertoire. Thanks for the warning. High Guard done poorly? The mind boggles.
> Michael Llaneza wrote:
> Oh darn, that was the only thing that might have gotten me to add HG
Oh I wouldn't let one mediocre product keep you from getting into HG. It's by
far, my favorite ground mecha combat game.
Upon examining the rules a little closer, I think that TSS can by salvaged by
simply adding the Silhouette space movement system from JC into the game. The
destroyers and drones featured in the rules appear pretty cool. They mention
that they have space fighters in the HG universe, but the book gave no stats.
Then they obviously don't play DSII OR Squad Leader, IMHO two of the best
games ever invented. So who needs 'em? *wink*
> --- "Mark A. Siefert" <siefert@milwpc.com> wrote:
(The lack of minis is
> also hurting my quest to find LS players. I keep running into
> (The lack of minis is
> Then they obviously don't play DSII OR Squad Leader, IMHO two
Or Panzerblitz/Panzer Leader, or D-Day, or Stalingrad, or Wooden
Ships & Iron Men, or Ogre/GEV (original), or ..well, the list
goes on and on and on.
If you are really desperate for minis or just want something to use in the
interim,go buy some of the StarWars Ep1 diecast pieces. I picked up several of
the Trade Fed Battleships yesterday for $1.99 a piece at Family Toy Warehouse
and at Meijers. These are about right for SDN's.
Kirk
Well, to each their own. I myself don't mind counters, so long as they
represent miniatures not on the field of battle, which will eventually be put
on the table, or can be under the right circumstances(i.e. hidden units). If a
game had nothing but counters to represent units, I probably wouldn't play it
because:
A. I like painting miniatures, any miniatures, even miniatures I never will
play with. I have a lot of skeletons and other assorted fantasy stuff for
someone who never plays fantasy games.
B. I like how they look and feel on table, lends some concrete, tangibility to
the game.
C. I spend my spare time gaming with miniatures and painting. Sounds better
than, I spend my spare time playing with little cardboard squares.
Jade Tseng, who thinks counters are good for snipers and unit information, and
damn little else.
[quoted original message omitted]