Ardennes II First Look | World War 2 | Multi-Man Publishing (MMP) | Standard Combat Series Wargame

[@thecustardprophet8434]

As always nice work with these first look videos. Always impressive how you are able to explain each game so clearly to the audience, after presumably not a huge amount of time with it.

[@ZillaBlitz]

They are great fun to make, but yes, I always want to try to walk that fine line and not overstate things. :)

[@wayneclingman689]

Glad your feeling better

[@ZillaBlitz]

Thanks, Wayne! It feels great to feel normal again. :)

[@kencusick6311]

I loved Ardennes back when it was first released. I particularly liked the artillery rules.

[@ZillaBlitz]

Good to know, thanks! I think they've refined them a bit in this version, too.

[@Indigorun]

Thanks for explaining how the complexity level of the standard combat series rules. This makes me more inclined to jump in with an expectation of the complexity. Keep up the good work.

[@ZillaBlitz]

My pleasure! This one might be a tough trickier than the typical SCS series game because it has some unique Zone of Control rules and barrage rules are different too. :)

I can recommend Rostov ‘41 as a good start for SCS. Really liked it since it was easy to learn and fast to play.

[@Indigorun]

@ Thanks Markus. I appreciate this.

[@joeyj6808]

Great stuff as usual, sir! Hope to see more on this in future - if you can get to it.

[@ZillaBlitz]

Thanks, Joey! I'm very curious to see how this plays, especially with the new ZOC and barrage rules. I've heard that the original game was quite liked as a Bulge game. I'm interested to see how this one plays out.

[@coyi51]

This is on my wish list, behind North Africa, A Victory Awaits & Panzer Battles 19. Currently learning Autumn For Barbarossa. Excellent an informative as always. Many Thanks.

[@ZillaBlitz]

Thanks, coyi! I'm very curious to see how this plays with the rule changes. I've heard great things about Rostov '41 too.

[@Phalanx11]

I played AHs Bulge '81 against my friend ZACKATTAK (red hair freckles) and was the Americans. He boldly shot across the board where in I Commenced to completely surround his German army near the Schnee with remnants of 1st Army and Patton coming up from the South. He did make it to the Meuse b4 conceding.

[@ZillaBlitz]

That sounds like a grand time and a fun game. :) I've heard this one, at least in its original form, was quite winnable as the Germans.

[@Phalanx11]

Unfortunately not For Zack...his whole German army was surrounded before he realized it was too late.

[@ZillaBlitz]

RIP Zack

[@Phalanx11]

@@ZillaBlitz He's still alive...

[@ZillaBlitzPC]

@@Phalanx11 POW Zack

[@allegedlycaleb]

Anyone who has played this game and Ardennes '44 by GMT, do they play pretty similarly? Ardennes '44 was the first ever hex and counter wargame that I ever bought, so it holds a special place in my heart.

[@ZillaBlitz]

I have Ardennes '44 as well, and at some point (maybe December?) I'd love to do a "Bulge Off", which would look at 5 or 6 of the more popular Bulge games. That'd be a ton of fun to do, I'd think.

[@allegedlycaleb]

@@ZillaBlitz That sounds like a great idea! It would be interesting to see how the different Bulge games in the “Bulge Off“ (containing my inner child right now, intensified by night time whisky) compare in game mechanics, especially those that bring innovative game mechanics into play. And it would be around Christmas time, so added points for the timing lol

[@ZillaBlitz]

Right, it'd be fun to compare play balance, mechanics, rules, sense of history, etc. The tricky part would be limiting the field to say, 5-8 games. There are probably several hundred Bulge games out there. Kind of like the NCAA football playoffs, where a lot of good teams would get left out to start.

[@Indigorun]

@@ZillaBlitz I really like this idea. I've seen @WiseGuyHistory do this a little with two games that cover the same period of WWII and that release relatively close on the calendar. My big question has always been what does "this" game do that "that" games doesn't do. Love the coverage you provide. Keep it going.

[@jobu88]

Just got this in the mail two weeks ago, it looks great but I'm not sure about the new ZOC rules.

[@ZillaBlitz]

Yes, I noticed those as I was working on the first look video. I want to dig into them more, still wrapping my head around them a bit.

[@jobu88]

Supposedly changed how ZOC works to force players to create more realistic lines of units which is fair enough I guess. It will still take some getting used to.

[@ZillaBlitz]

Yes, I saw some comments on the old game that the SCS ZOC system was a bit problematic for this game. So I think this is a way to adjust for that in this battle. :)

[@michaelwelker8759]

Are-Den … not ‘dens’

[@ZillaBlitz]

Thanks!

[@nordicmaelstrom4714]

Zilla I am sorry to inform you of this but I will need to confiscate your Stalingrad 42 and Holland 44 games! I like the BCS rules a lot but do want to give the SCS games a whirl at some point.

[@ZillaBlitz]

Is this because of the whole Covid thing? Fine, just send me your address and I'll ship them right out. Is Stalingrad '42 sold out now? I've heard great things about the BCS series and recently picked up Arracourt. I've heard it's challenging to learn but a great system. SCS is quite straightforward, for sure. Really easy to pick up and run with.

[@nordicmaelstrom4714]

Fortunately no covid. I just want the games hah. Its a shame that these companies do not run some sort of print on demand for these games once they sell out. Would make it easier for people to get them. The first hex and counter game I played was BCS Brazen Chariots so I didn't have a problem with what some call weird mechanics in the game. @@ZillaBlitz

[@ZillaBlitz]

Yes, don't get me started on out-of-print games. And that makes sense about Brazen Chariots and SCS, for sure. :)

[@nordicmaelstrom4714]

It honestly makes someone like me who is relatively new to the hobby annoyed that I can't find these games at non extortion prices. Brazen Chariots is fun! I would like to get The Last Blitzkrieg and Panzer's Last Stand but I don't have table enough for the full games.@@ZillaBlitz

[@jamesgrotto2219]

I just bought this game. I will never buy a mmp game again. Only 13 dg markers, no out of supply markers. I spent a lot of money on this game. Take caution on this game. I'm sticking with GMT