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So, I was looking at the FFG website last night (never seen it before) and was absolutely blown away.

The quality of the games looks really good, but as they're all quite pricey, I'd like some advice before buying.

The 3 games that caught my eye were Starcraft, Storm of Iron and Tannhauser. Has anyone played any of these and if so what are they like?

More importantly, if I only buy one which should it be

Thanks in advance for any info,

C_C

I've played a little bit of the starcraft game, and thought it was cool, but I didn't get to finish the game.

Tannhauser's gotten a lot of attention lately. If you check out www.thed6generation.com, episode 2 of their podcast had a nice detailed review. I've the game in play and it definitely looks like a lot of fun. The components, like those of most FF games, are gorgeous.

I own Runebound and quite enjoy it, though it takes some time, and I think the replay value is kind of limited unless you buy the expansion card decks.

I've also played Descent, and it's quite good too. It's a bit videogamey but really captures the excitement of an old-school dungeoncrawl-style D&D game, but with its own unique mechanics, great figures, and an adversarial relationship with the game master.

Game of Thrones is a ton of fun in the plotting/scheming betray your friends school of strategy games. If you've read the books and know the characters involved it gets even more awesome.

FFG rules the school, overall.

You can also check out www.boardgamegeek.com for more detailed reviews. The FF games pretty much all get a lot of attention over there.

I run a gaming group at my workplace, and among the bunch of us we own a ton of FFG stuff. They're definitely one of the higher-quality operations out there. If you're looking to save some money, thewarstore.com stocks most of their stuff, if not all, or you can try thoughthammer.com, which has a much broader stock of board games but usually not quite as good a discount.

Of the 3 games you mentioned, Tannhauser's the only one I've played (and own). It's a very nice game- my only quarrel is the terrible layout of the rulebook makes it a real struggle to look anything up.

Also, for any board game purchasing, I second that you should be sure to check out boardgamegeek.com- lots of good Reviews and other useful info on almost any game.

Fantasy Flight Games is quite the quality outfit.

They are a developer and publisher of Boardgames. Starcraft and i'm assuming you meant TIDE OF IRON (you wrote storm of iron) were developed in house by FFG. Tannhauser was simply published in English by FFG (it's a French design IIRC...not sure of developer though).

Anyway, Starcraft is a strategic level game with a nifty turn order/sequence going on for it. I haven't played it though.

I've heard good and bad things about Tannhauser. Personally based on what i've read i'm not interested.

I do own Tide of Iron. Personally, I think the system in Tide of Iron is actually really great. It's a fairly simply tactical ww2 game designed for those who want some depth but who also demand nice bits (play pieces). That said, ToI is a typical FFG design in that it is filled with plastic pieces and very nice thick cardboad counter/chits. ToI also makes use of some cards as well.

My only problem with ToI is that the scenarios included in the game are lackluster. They feel VERY generic and aren't all too great (they aren't bad though, some feel they aren't very balanced). The game also ORIGINALLY shipped with only SIX yes, SIX! scenarios which by traditional hex and counter wargaming standards is a JOKE. Somewhere in the neighborhood of 10-15 would have been better. It's only made worse because the original 6, as I said, were somewhat lackluster. Anyway, FFG has released some new scenarios online which is nice, plus there is a scenario creator available and a bunch of user created stuff on FFG's website. So scenarios really aren't a problem anymore.

The first expansion to ToI features the Africa Campaign as well as introducing some new units (Anti-Tank guns). AT Guns were left out of the base game due to cost reasons.

I could go in to more depth about Tide of Iron, but first i'd like to know if you are familiar any other Tactical WW2 boardgames? What other boardgames (if any) do you play?

OR, if you'd like on the FFG website the COMPLETE RULES for all of their games are posted, so you can go ahead and download them and read them.

Bear in mind that FFG is NOTORIOUS for their (generally) not so hot rule layout. Basically the rules are very easy to read (they're in a conversational style) but using the rulebook as a reference can be a pain. They've gotten better of the years, but ToI is definitely a longer read.

Personally, I'd do a straight up trade of ToI for Combat Commander: Mediteranean, as I prefer that system (and i've already too many tactical ww2 games) and still haven't picked up that expansion...but ToI is still a good game.

Descent is my favorite FFG game. It's just so great, and the newest Campaign Expansion is a thing of sheer awesomeness.

FFG's remake of The Fury of Dracula is also a great game.

I also really enjoy Arkham Horror (FFG remake) as well.

FFG publishes WAR OF THE RING, which was developed by the Italian company Nexus. It's a great game. Nexus puts out really good stuff. War of the Ring, Wings of War, and i'm REALLY excited about their upcoming game series "Battles of Napoleon."

Oh, FYI: If you are weary about the FFG Big Box prices you can always buy online (I reccomend Thoughthammer.com) and get them for around 55-60USD. Of course FFG reccomends you buy from your FLGS...so keep that in mind. That said...I buy all my FFG stuff online I do buy tons of GW stuff from my FLGS though as well as other board games.

Wow, thanks for all the info Lagduf

I must admit I've been put off Tannhauser (I already own Hybrid and one french-designed dungeon-game with guns is enough I think!)

Starcraft looks like a great game but it also looks like the sort of game where if you don't have at least 4 people you'll lose interest fast. Is this correct? Has anyone played it with just 2 people?

I don't own any WW2 board games, but I have a couple of friends who are nuts over the period (one's a fallschirmjaeger re-enactor) so I could at least guarantee an opponent (as long as I don't mind them playing the germans...)

The only things that puts me off are the lack of scenarios (my regular gaming buddy has PanzerBlitz and there's a ton of scenarios in that in a much smaller box) and the fact that it loooks a bit abstract. There's no way that the 12 shermans you get in the box could cope with 6 panthers and 6 tigers. How does the game represent the differences between the armies (superior german technology vs superior allied numbers and resources)?


P.S. I do mean Tide of Iron, sorry for the typo :(

Chimera_Calvin wrote:
I don't own any WW2 board games, but I have a couple of friends who are nuts over the period (one's a fallschirmjaeger re-enactor) so I could at least guarantee an opponent (as long as I don't mind them playing the germans...)

The only things that puts me off are the lack of scenarios (my regular gaming buddy has PanzerBlitz and there's a ton of scenarios in that in a much smaller box) and the fact that it loooks a bit abstract. There's no way that the 12 shermans you get in the box could cope with 6 panthers and 6 tigers. How does the game represent the differences between the armies (superior german technology vs superior allied numbers and resources)?


P.S. I do mean Tide of Iron, sorry for the typo :(

Sorry for my slow reply.

As far as a WW2 boardgame - are you set on getting one with nice plastic pieces or are you ok playing a game with cardboard counters ("chits")? I'd personally reccomend a different game system over ToI unless you really have to have Plastic Pieces.

12 Shermans in game will never have to face off against 6 panthers and 6 tigers - that'd be heavily out of balance, unless the scenario was designed in such a way that it actually was fair.

Tide of Iron is fairly abstract in how it deals with Squad types. Other wargames have more diverse unit types.

ToI gives you the following:

Infantry (regular line soliders)
Elite Infantry
Officers
Machine Gun Teams
Mortar Teams

Basically the only difference between Regular Infantry and Elite infantry are that Elites are stronger (roll more dice when attacking). Officers I think are just as powerful as regular infantry but can confer some type of bonuses (i forget exactly what).

Machine Gun teams are heavy MGs and are pretty useful.

Mortars are mortars and allow for longer ranged attacks. I think they can attack only in their LOS unless a Unit with an officer spots for them. Again, i can't recall exactly how it all works.

Basically in ToI each "Squad" is composed of a Squad base and a number of figures. Each base, has 4 holes on it. Each unit type has a peg or pegs on it that attach to the base. So in this way you can create squads with varied types of units.

Officers, Infantry, and Elites each take up one peg, while MGs and Mortars take up two pegs.

Make sense?

I think it's kind of a neat system getting to make your own squads. The begining of a scenario simply tells you how many squad bases you get and what units you get then you get to assign the units to their bases.

Squads can also have specializations such as a medic, engineer, or flamethrower. Basically the squad bases have little hooks on the rear that a Chit w/ the specialization on it clips on to. It's a cool idea I think.

As for the differences in technologies?

Obviously German Armor is better than American armor and that is reflected in the German tanks abilities.

Typically the allies will outnumber germans with shermans in scenarios featuring many tanks.

I think the German MG is more powerful than the American one.

I believe the infantry, elites, and mortars for both sides have the same stats.

ToI has a neat system where you can battle it out for initiative, and you get some kind of control points for holding objectives and you can spend these things on a variety of things, such as drawing and playing cards.

Usually these cards are support in nature and are stuff like artillery, air strikes, or reinforcements.

Probably the best way to see if you like it is to sit down and read the rulebook.

Once I started playing boardgames as hobby I found that I could sort of determine to some extent whether i was going to like a game or not based on reading the rulebook. I still buy games without doing so (damn companys who don't release their rulebooks for free, miniature rule systems and ASL excepted,) but i usually go by reviews.

Ultimately ToI doesn't necessarily feel like WW2 to me. I think it has a very solid core game/rule system but I can't help but feel that had they applied this system to a different setting (perhaps one they made up, or a sci-fi setting) that it would have been a better game. Basically ToI feels like a generic tactical battle game, and not necessarily a WW2 game. The WW2 stuff just feels, in a sense, that it's tacked on because you really don't get a lot of the "uniqueness" of the different armys (ie, they're largely similar).

The ww2 theme just feels tacked on to me.

Of the three options you've suggested, I've only played Tannhauser. I wasn't impressed, the idea was good, but the balance between the sides seemed way off depending on which scenario you are playing.

If you are only going to buy one game from FFG, I highly reccommend Arkham Horror. It is one of the best games I've ever played. It never plays the same way twice and is one of the very few truly cooperative competitive games.

Give it a shot, you won't be dissapointed.

Chimera_Calvin wrote:So, I was looking at the FFG website last night (never seen it before) and was absolutely blown away.

The quality of the games looks really good, but as they're all quite pricey, I'd like some advice before buying.

The 3 games that caught my eye were Starcraft, Storm of Iron and Tannhauser. Has anyone played any of these and if so what are they like?

More importantly, if I only buy one which should it be

Thanks in advance for any info,

C_C

Tellerium wrote:Of the three options you've suggested, I've only played Tannhauser. I wasn't impressed, the idea was good, but the balance between the sides seemed way off depending on which scenario you are playing.

If you are only going to buy one game from FFG, I highly reccommend Arkham Horror. It is one of the best games I've ever played. It never plays the same way twice and is one of the very few truly cooperative competitive games.

Give it a shot, you won't be dissapointed.

Chimera_Calvin wrote:So, I was looking at the FFG website last night (never seen it before) and was absolutely blown away.

The quality of the games looks really good, but as they're all quite pricey, I'd like some advice before buying.

The 3 games that caught my eye were Starcraft, Storm of Iron and Tannhauser. Has anyone played any of these and if so what are they like?

More importantly, if I only buy one which should it be

Thanks in advance for any info,

C_C

Yeah, Arkham Horror is an excellent game. You don't even need be a Lovecraft/Cthulu fan to like the game either.

I'd also reccomend Fury of Dracula, which is actually a revised/updated printing of the old GW game of the same name.

It's great. I love playing as Dracula.

Arkham horror....best...boardgame....ever.

Period.

End of story.

Don't argue because I will just have to smack a B!+[#

Other FFG games are great, in fact a bad one doesnt even readily come to mind. But you cant go wrong with arkham horror.

everything they have released so far has been amazing

Hellfury wrote:Arkham horror....best...boardgame....ever.

Period.

End of story.

Don't argue because I will just have to smack a B!+[#

How embarassed are you if I reply: chess.

Not yet mentioned is FFG's best game, Twilight Imperium. It's pricy, and I would rccomend getting the expansion too, but it is a blast.

Descent is a fun dungeon crawler.

I didn't really get into Tannhauser. Starcraft is pretty fun.

ARKHAM HORROR!

Undoubtedly the best FF game there is. Me and my mates play it with all of the expansions - gets very complicated!

Tannhauser is a pretty good game - being able to customise your squads loadout is great. I'm waiting for expansions for it though, as it can get boring fast.

Twilight Imperium is an awesome game, but it will take a whole day to play. Also, it's best played with as many people as possible (6) so it can be hard to get enough people together, teach them the rules, and then get them to commit a whole day to it.

Very unimpressed with Runebound, very generic fantasy game - playing Runebound put me off buying Descent.

My next FF purchase will probably be the Game Of Thrones boardgame - anyone played that?

I would stay away from Descent unless you have played the DOOM board game and LOVED it. They are very similar in that you are mostly just trying to hack through things most of the time to little accomplishment.

It is HeroQuest on steroids, with a lot of extra frustration.

Tannhauser is OK, but I have never seen the Germans lose...

Twilight Imperium is AWESOME. As is Arkham Horror.

Tide of Iron is not bad, it seems overly complicated to me. It could be greatly simplified and made a much faster game to play.

StarCraft actually can play pretty quickly with 3 players, maybe 3 hours total. It gives good StarCraft flavor, without too much complication to make everything too unique. It is a good balance between rules and playability.

Can't say enough good things about FFG (although I wish they still supported the Midnight RPG setting!)

In line with just about everyone else....Arkham Horror is a blast. It's a bit part intensive and it might scare new players a little at first, but it's Arkham Horror...it should!

We've had a great time with Tide of Iron too. Somewhere between ASL and Memoir '44.

They also now have the BattleLore line which is a GREAT game.

For something on the cheap, try Cave Troll, Mag Blast or Citadels. Allare really fun, fast-paced and easy games.

Finally - I'd recommend the Battlestar Galactica board game. I am on the fence about this show as a whole, but I did really enjoy the first season and this game captures the feel of the first season perfectly. Lots of interesting game mechanics and as always, FFG's top notch production values.