Ardennes '44 [The Battle of the Bulge] - Final Thoughts

[@AdamH75]

As a newcomer to hex and counter games, it’s these Mark Simonitch titles which led to a slippery slope of purchases these past few years. Overall visual appeal, map graphics, clarity of counters and rules really sets them apart from the discovery of far too many (yet popular) poorly written, amateur graphic art, antiquated design and crap component games. This is the series to recommended to people wanting to branch out for a more complex game experience. Really enjoyed the playthrough and summary!

[@WARdROBEPlaysWWII]

couldn’t agree more. Great next step up in complexity.

[@AdamH75]

Subscribed to both of you a while back and based on a few videos have my first GTS title arriving soon: The Greatest Day. Will watch the live learning session you two did when it arrives. Seems like it too is a pretty awesome system and counting the days until GTS Utah and Omaha finally land on our shores…

[@charleslatora5750]

Excellent video, play through, and after action report/review. Well done👍👍

[@WiseGuyHistory]

Thanks Charles!

[@rookieboards5598]

Very well done! Really enjoying your videos.

[@bdp5742]

Once again thanks so much for your play throughs and after action reports. Based on your vids I've migrated from the Eastern Front to the West. I love everything about N'44 and H'44-found them both very fun and nerve-wracking. Just got my copy of A'44 and since it's going to be a cold wet weekend I'll be clipping counters, reading rules and the playbook, and revisiting your Final Thoughts! Just asking: Is there a Hall of Fame for game designers? Simonitch has got my vote.

[@TSimo113]

Regardless of the game title, this is far more often than not a case study of the utter futility of the german offensive. Knowing this, I'm not sure why I'm drawn to Bulge games like no other, but I am. It was my first game title(Wacht Am Rhein in 78) and it's my latest (A Time for Trumpets) Also pre-ordered the Hitler's Last Gamble remake. Possible to win as the Germans? Sure, it's been done but most solitaire games I throw in the towel after short amount of turns because it just ain't happening. Poor initial die rolls are not always easy to overcome. The game I most want to love and in several ways my most disappointing title has been Hitler's Last Gamble by 3W, which is one reason I'm pretty excited about the intended remake. I watch these war game videos often so thank you for showing us your take.

[@BollocksUtwat]

Have you found A Time for Trumpets to be actually playable with all those counters and detail? Or does it seem more like a deep simulation that exists for the sake of making it as granular as possible for the bulge fan who probably won't ever finish playing a game?

[@TSimo113]

@@BollocksUtwat Two years have passed and I still have not played it. It's intimidating for sure. At my age I just don't have time for monster games but I'm still drawn to them. I suspect I am not alone in that. SPI's original Wacht AM Rhein is still my all time favorite, even though it's not the best for historical accuracy, it is very playable for a monster game.

[@przemekbozek]

Thanks, really enjoyed the playthrough and your thougts. A friend of mine has a copy of this one, I wasn't really interested in it too much after trying Normandy'44 (wasn't a fan of fiddly rules and exceptions for different unit types) but I'm tempted to give it a try😁

[@przemekbozek]

@Slarty Bartfast I really liked the core system of N44 and actually found the naval/airborne landing straightforward. What ultimately put me off was all the exceptions for different unit types - no chance for me to persist with this one now as I've traded it away😉 But trying out Ardennes'44 is a different story, as my wargaming buddy is playing it just now and thoroughly enjoying it...

[@przemekbozek]

@Slarty Bartfast Thanks for letting me know, I've missed this one, will check it out

[@kennethkloby2726]

hi nathan, thanks for the review, well done, ken.

[@WARdROBEPlaysWWII]

I dig that couch behind you

[@WiseGuyHistory]

Yeah it may look nice but it's super uncomfortable...

[@marchanna]

late to the party but nonetheless great job. thank you very much!

[@camelxhol551]

Sorry to side bar here, great review though - I'm a full blown subscriber now!. Anyway, can you tell me what your gaming table is and dimensions? thanks!

[@WiseGuyHistory]

Yeah it's 217cm x 149cm [85.5" x 58.5"]. I have a more detailed video on it here: kzbin.info/www/bejne/gXqwfIB8r5qmmtk

[@half-assedgaming6193]

In this game I feel that American artillery was decisive. Didn't you find that to be the case?

[@WiseGuyHistory]

Not in the way this particular playthrough developed, no; by the time they were in position and active, the Germans were already in a difficult position. Much of this likely comes down to my inexperience with the game.