Wargamer Weekly: Returning to the Frontlines By Joe Robinson

While I was away on holiday, I recently re-discovered my copy of Rifles, by Mark Urban, a book that traces the history of the 95th Rifles across a period of six years during their time in the Peninsular War against Imperial France. It’s a remarkable book for two reasons; firstly that Urban takes the historical facts and data and puts it into a narrative revolving around six primary individuals, something I always appreciate in history texts.

More importantly, the fact that it’s about the Rifles is in itself quite remarkable – before I purchased this book I did a general search for tomes that cover the fabled regiment. Few existed, although in videogames they get representation when required. Napoleon: Total War had them included as a powerful infantry unit that could skirmish as well as fight in Line. Paradox & AGEOD’s ill-fated March of the Eagles (which started life as Napoleon’s Campaigns 2) featured them as a regular line unit (much to my great upset), and many other Napoleonic titles have them as required too.

Chapter Six is titled ‘Wounded’, and it takes a break from the action to look at what happens when a soldier wounded in battle makes their way through the Army’s medical system. While Wellington found that he had a problem with skulkers and action-shy, many more returned to the front as soon as they were able.

In what future historians will agree is a shocking example of a segue, I too have returned to the front-lines, and stand ready to inform you about what’s been happening in the world of Wargaming…

Matrix Games / Slitherine

While our backs were turned, the God Emperor of Wargamekind decided to release the long awaited strategy title from Shenandoah – Gettysburg: The Tide Turns. Picked up as part of Slitherine’s deal when they purchased the ailing company, GtTT has been in development since 2013. We’re working on our own review of the game as we speak, which should be storming the hill late next week. So far the reports are that the game is fun, but is still a little buggy. Watch this space!

Field of Glory 2 has also been fairly active during our break, publishing a neat Army List for Rome & Carthage, circa 218 BC, as well as a Dev Diary looking at how the AI works in the game.

Finally, another CMANO Live scenario has crested the horizon. Pole Positions, other than being a masterful play on race-car terminology, takes players to cold North as America and Russia butt heads over competing interests around the North Pole. Featuring plenty of tension, uncomfortably plausible scenarios & hardcore military action, we’ll bring you our report on this as soon as we get the appropriate security clearance.

Skulls Sir, Thousands of ‘Em

Games Workshop has conscripted all of their partners for one giant assault on their customer’s wallets in cross-platform event known as ‘Skulls for the Skull Throne’. As an example, HexWar have updated The Horus Heresy: Battle for Tallarn to include ‘Skull Point’, and it is currently 50% (still not really worth it).

Battlefleet Gothic Armada, which we reviewed last year, also received an update in the form of a new celestial object – The Skill Asteroid. It is currently 70% off.

Matrix/Slitherine have also been active – Armageddon & Armageddon: Da Orks are also 50% off, and the Ork faction within those games gets access to a new Looted Baneblade which is adorned with plenty o’ skulls. Sanctus Reach is currently 25% off, and gets a new Space Wolf hero in the form of Njal Stormcaller – a powerful psyker.

They’re also doing a big streaming event on their Twitch Channel starting this evening:

July 21st – 4 pm – 5 pm CEST: Armageddon

July 21st – 5 pm – 6 pm CEST: Armageddon: Da Orks

July 22nd – 5 pm – 6 pm CEST: Sanctus Reach

July 23rd – 5 pm – 6 pm CEST: Sanctus Reach – Legacy of the Weirdboy

There are other non-wargamey games on discount as well via Steam, which you find out about here.

Spotted

We’ve spotted two new games that we’re going to take a more in-depth look at, but we thought we’d highlight them here for you now:

Poseidon – Project Dark Sky (£10.99 | $14.99)

This is a self-styled ‘naval war simulation’ from a company called DP Corp. This appears to be their debut project on Steam, and the game was released this week on July 19th. We’ll try and get someone on this ASAP.

Kursk – Battle at Prochorovka (£9.99 | $12.99)

This was released on July 13th by a company called Yobowargames, who cite old Avaolon Hill/SPI WW2 titles as their main inspiration. As the name suggestions, this game focuses on the Battle of Prochorovka, which is supposed to be one of the largest single tank battles in military history.

It is a turn-based game, and we’ll get you our review as soon as we can.

The Great Wargaming Survey 2017 Edition

Last year we pointed out to you that fellow wargaming & history enthusiasts, Karwansaray Publishers (producers of Wargames, Soliders & Strategy magazine, amongst others) were running their annual Great Wargaming Survey.

In a shocking turn of events, it looks like they’re running it again, almost exactly a year later. This survey is mainly about table-top gaming but if you want to have your say, please do so here.

That's it for this week's regular round-up. We've been processing the results of the recent poll, so we'll have something to share with you on that shortly. Enjoy your weekends!