Wargamer Weekly: Man Down By Joe Robinson

Recently, I’ve become a fan and listener of the Ancient Warfare Magazine Podcast, from Karwansaray Publishing & The History Network. I don’t actually subscribe to the magazine itself (not really a subscribing person), but I love listening to the podcast because you usually get some great discussion on Roman Military History, which is a topic I’m a big fan of.

One of my favourite episodes to date looks at the centuria, the century, as a basic building block of a Roman Legion. It also talks about the Centurions themselves. After my second listen, I decided to buy the special issue that it was based on from 2010. I haven’t finished it yet, but so far it’s proving very informative – flicking through there’s’ only one article on actual tactics (personal drawback for me), but taken as a whole you’ve got a pretty comprehensive overview of this foundation unit and the men within.

Had our timings been better, this little intro would have lined up very nicely with the fact that AGEOD’s Alea Jacta Est, the wargame based during the Roman period, was on sale at 50%. Sadly that deal ended yesterday. Oh well – on with the rest of the week’s news…

Matrix Games/Slitherine Update

It’s actually been a relatively quiet week for Matrix & Slitherine, mainly because they’ve been focusing on the release of their flagship title for the year, Battlestar Galactica Deadlock. This was released yesterday, and should definitely read our review if it sounds like something you’d be interested in.

Long story short, it’s a superb tactical space-strategy game, and the best Battlestar Galactica game of all time.

In a rare bit of console-related news, Shenendoah’s Battle of the Bulge was also released onto Xbox One last Friday, which we didn’t get a chance to include in last week’s Wargamer Weekly. This less of a full-on wargame and more of a lighter turn-based strategy experience, so if you’ve been looking for something more cerebral to put onto your home console, look no further!

Finally, Matrix have announced the final update to Operation Flashpoint: Red Storm & Germany Reforged, which takes the game up to Version 2.0.13;

This update brings an already extraordinary wargame to the next level, and to celebrate this important appointment, we are putting both Flashpoint Campaigns: Red Storm and Germany Reforged on sale! Starting from today September 1st to 7th, the series is 50% off! Don’t miss this chance!

You can read more information, including the change-log, here.

Unity

No not the game engine - Unity of Command is currently a whopping 85% off on GamersGate. That includes the two DLC expansions as well; Black Turn & Red Turn. Don't forget, the developer Tomislav Uzelac is currently working on Unity of Command 2. You can read the interview I did with him last September here. Don't dawdle, the discount is only for the next two days!

HexWar is PenninsularWar

HexWar usually have something to say each and every week, which makes padding out this feature a little easier. They’ve not got anything especially new on the horizon, probably not until Command & Colours: Ancients we reckon, but they’ve been slowing porting their back-catalogue to Steam & Android devices so that's been filling up our inbox the past couple of weeks.

This week’s migrant is Penninsular War Battles. Originally released in 2015 for tablet devices, this turn-based wargame features typical HexWar design and mechanics, with acceptable aesthetics.

The full feature list is below. The game is also currently 10% off:

5 Mission ‘Tutorial’ Campaign

3 Mission ‘Invasion’ Campaign

8 Mission ‘Assault’ Campaign

8 Mission ‘Conquest’ Campaign

8 Mission ‘Engagement’ Campaign

8 Mission ‘Hammer’ Campaign

All missions, apart from the tutorial, can be played as both sides

53 different historical models representing 66 different unit types.

Four classes of infantry – Raw, Average, Veteran and Elite

12 different troop classes with infantry, light infantry, riflemen, light cavalry (light dragoons and hussars), lancers, dragoons, cuirassiers, 4pdr, 6pdr, 8pdr, 9pdr and 12pdr artillery and horse artillery.

Detailed Combat Analysis

Map zoom

Flank Attacks

Strategic Movement

Over the Hills

Some months back we wondered why, given that it's fitting and often free, there wasn't more historical music in historical games. The game mentioned in the piece, strategic whaling simulator Nantucket, has expanded its trad playlist. Working with a-capella folk group The Roaring Trowmen, they'll be adding sea shanties to the game which play based on the current mood of the crew. You can even suggest your own favourite shanties via their website. So if you've got fond memories of Black Flag you want to relive, make yourselves known. Courtesy of Matt Thrower.

Like An Onion

It's been 40 years since classic sci-fi wargame Ogre came out. Fitting, then, that its translation into the digital realm is due soon this year. Coming from Auroch Digital on Steam, it's promising to be a feature packed release. It leverages the little-used turn notifications feature on that platform to provide all the things you'd expect of a board game adaptation. But there's more, including a custom built single-player campaign and multiplayer ladder system. Get ready to defend your command post by October 5th. Courtesy of Matt Thrower.

Spartan Games Shuts Down

Finally, we’re sad to report that UK table-top company, Spartan Games, has announced that it is closing down its business. Citing “challenging trading” periods, the company has decided it can no longer keep itself going ceased trading as of Friday 25th August, 2017.

It’s most known for games like Firestorm Armada, Uncharted Seas, Dystopian Wars, and the licensed Halo products, Halo: Fleet Battles and Halo: Ground Command. You can read the original blog post here, as well as a follow up post that may cover some immediate concerns you have, especially if you backed their recent Kickstarter.

That’s all for this week’s update – let us know what you get up to in the comments, and as always, have a great weekend! This article covers games developed & published by members of the Slitherine Group. For more information, please see the About Us page.