COIN Series | Monthly Debrief S3E8 | August 2023 | The Players' Aid

[@steveoh9285]

ROOT Canal: The Boardgame. Lead cute furry teeth characters through forest adventures and hope they don’t get drilled!

[@andrisimusmaximus5803]

I love these videos. Thank you! Ramble on!

[@andreford3197]

Grant, great article on COIN games on your blog! A lot of my sentiments exactly.

[@rafiweiss3915]

I’m super excited to see more of Fred Serval’s A Gest of Robin Hood. Thematically, from the art and design, and that it’s easier to get to the table, that one’s got my attention. I’ve still never played a true COIN, but I own Cuba Libre and wish I can play it. Root gives me that feeling of table talk that you guys mention at the end. Very enjoyable in that regard.

[@henriwhitehead]

Great banter! Love the COIN talk.

[@thomasromanelli2561]

My wife tolerates my boardgaming hobby, as it traditionally has not been her cup of tea- until she saw People Power on my shelf (she's Filipina). For a COIN game, the rules and length are fairly approachable, but what amazed me are all the stories she shared about the events leading up to and during the famous EDSA revolution, some of which I had not heard before in the course of absorbing family lore over many years. She was impressed by the historical context and most importantly, this seems to have sparked her interest in some of the other titles that are waiting on the shelf. Great video, sirs. Thanks. 🖖

[@ThePlayersAid]

I don’t remember if we mentioned it here, but we did in the WBC debrief, but I was able to play this with John Sy, from 🇵🇭 and it was a similar experience with the extra layers of stories, connections, and history. A really rewarding experience. So glad you were able to experience that with your spouse!

[@Werdiknight]

You guys are really awesome. I've been watching your videos for some years now. I'd LOVE to have someone with the passion of you two guys to regularly play wargames with. Pretty difficult to find dedicated players over here in Germany, so unfortunately I have to play my games solo.

[@darinleviloff5604]

Hammer is fantastic. A top 10 game no doubt. Love that your breach the barriers of war in these games.

[@jameshiers9679]

Outstanding insight into the COIN series; very helpful. Really looking forward to RDR and Gest of Robin Hood!

[@JM16714]

I have Andean Abyss, Falling Sky, Gandhi and the British Way. I feel like it's a good sampling of what COIN can do.

[@furleyx]

Great discussion! When you guys discuss our rankings of the COIN games, could you include a discussion on the French victory conditions in LIberty or Death? LoD would be my favorite COIN except for the way those victory conditions can force the Patriots down very odd paths (suicide Continentals, avoiding winnable battles, etc).

[@richard-mtl]

As I said on your blog, I love the COIN games, I enjoyed this episode and the overviews. Nice to see the Cube4me tray in Falling Sky! I love my trays too. Looking forward to your rankings!

[@ucarusu]

Always fun to watch you guys from Spain. I got a second hand copy of Verdun 1916, last week, for a ridiculous price. That game is a BOMB, and I feel that it is very thematic regarding the trenches was and Verdun specifically. For me, that game, it is a must have, and probably will never leave my shelf.

[@FancyZling]

Red Dust Rebellion is what I am most excited for!

[@aaronstark5060]

Yeah, me too! I also really look forward to The Pure Land.

[@JoshuaLivie]

Hammer of the is definitely my favorite columbia block game. The asymmetrical sides are fun and the momentum always shifts back and forth so much.

[@klapaucius7339]

Interestingly, it was Red Dust Rebellion that sparked my interest in COIN games. We are big fans of the Three-Minute Boardgame channel, and it was Jarrod's mentioning of his game that put them on my radar. I then saw a used copy of Falling Sky at a game store in Seattle while visiting relatives. I just also recently picked up Colonial Twilight. I have yet to play one all the way through yet, but I should have some more time soon to get some quality game time in with them. And, I adore Root. I would actually love to see you guys do an expanded video on it. I'd be really keen to get the insights of experienced wargamers.

[@kennethatherton568]

New players intimidated by Fire: the Tru’ng bot expansion is excellent & will really help you grasp concepts.

[@ElGrandoCaymano]

59:08 Aren't the GMT codes the serial number of the release? 1920, would mean a 2019 release, the 20th game published by GMT that year. Not sure where the week comes from.

[@coyi51]

A very enjoyable debrief that has just flown by, some games I have and some more added to the wish list. Thoroughly enjoyed the coin Series review & Completed my collection of Coin with the arrival of People Power & Ariovistus. The series is very addictive and Grant hit the nail on the head with his comment on one series "if he could play for the rest of his life"

[@MoragTong_]

Tonights feature film....Root Canal: A Bridge Too Far

[@derekrledr5955]

I really enjoyed the Debrief... more than a few laugh-out-load moments. In fact, I interrupted my viewing yesterday to comment... but I either hit Cancel by mistake... or YT is having fun with my head. I did thank you for introducing me to Endurance... I knew a guy who knew a guy that was on the Shackleton expedition... so I need to track that one down. I was aware of the GMT code system... but I just discovered something that has broken the mold. My copy of the 2nd edition of Pursuit of Glory has just arrived. I also own the first edition, which has the code 0810. For some reason the 2nd edition has the code... 2313... in effect, not acknowledging the existence of the first one. Strange! (Now i am going to carefully push to Comment button to see what happens.)

[@wmarclocher]

Great episode, not sure how I've missed this one up until now. Really informative. Being someone who started with Cuba Libre and not coming to Andean Abyss until later and finding LoCs the hardest part to understand I have to wonder if that is why they were replaced with EC's in CL.

[@malexander4094]

"District Commander: Maracas, Virtualia 2019" is thinly veiled as Caracas, Venezuela 2019. I love the series, and the classic Brian Train humor (Jesus Shaves) in the writing. What's unique about Maracas isn't really that it's (barely) fictional, but that it's the only urban setting in the series. But I also love Kandahar, for the intriguing spatial problems on its map, of low populations across its sparse desert.

[@vincec5260]

Man, listening to you guys gives me soooo much insight as to why women like shopping so much ;) ;) :)

[@garybraddick5042]

Thanks guys. Not much of a war gamer but I’m fascinated by the COIN concept. I have only played Gandhi, All Bridges Burn and British Way Palestine. Finally found two other guys interested in war gaming. We played Maria last week and all I can say is Wow,and would like to hear your comments on that one. Next time we’re planning on Brotherhood and Unity, and of course as much COIN as possible. Any way it’s fun and inspirational to watch your videos.

[@robertmoffitt1336]

One word on custom dice. I did the same thing as far as buying the Flames of War and Bolt Action dice , and replacing the dice in games with them. It was great thematically until I played a game with lots of dice rolling (can't remember the game), and one "set" of dice rolled fantastically, and the other "set" rolled horribly. Purely coincidental, but from that point forward, to avoid the awkwardness of that particular situation, I began to revert to using the same dice for both players. Both players using the same dice just eliminates the question of the dice as an issue.

[@Mopar66VC]

I really enjoy the monthly debriefs, thanks for another great video. I did have one question though, what is the motivation behind each of you having a copy of the same game? It seems like with how often you see each other, play together and good relationship it would make more sense to divide and conquer with your collections to cover more ground.

[@ThePlayersAid]

Some games are just so choice I want to have them in a collection. Our crossover isn’t very large though, compared to how many other games we have available..😅

[@russsandbags1967]

You see Werewolf the WW2 Coin from Legion board games is on their P500?? Looking forward to Red Dust Rebellion

[@ThePlayersAid]

There’s a bunch of articles on our blog about Werewolf.

[@TimeAndTactics]

For the Irregular Conflict Series, there is also Cross Bronx Expressway in the works. Available in P500 'Art and Final Development' "Players control one of three asymmetric factions working in the South Bronx between 1940 and 2000, pursuing their own goals while cooperating to keep the borough viable."

[@ThePlayersAid]

That's right! Forgot about that one. Feels like that was announced forever ago and haven't heard much since, at least in the 'main stream'

[@88Boylemaker]

I don't really play wargames but still really enjoy your videos. I aspire to one day play as many as you guys do. Keep up the great work!

[@ThePlayersAid]

Love this!

[@janofe2232]

The code on GMT boxes is on the side (below the logo). E.g. my printing of A Distant Plain has 1310-18 meaning the original was published October 2013, and I have the 2018 reprint of it :) Edit: I seee you spotted it minutes later :-P

[@johnsy4306]

You guys know that PURSUIT OF GLORY has been reprinted and has started shipping right?

[@jameshenderson4876]

Agree on custom dice. This last weekend I was GMing the tabletop roleplaying game "Wandering Heroes of Ogre Gate" which is about Chinese martial artists (wuxia). Game uses pools of ten sided dice. I found some dice with Chinese numerals in a dice store online to use with it. Gave a nice thematic touch at the table. Custom dice are fun!

[@sgjjamie73]

Troubles with the Troubles...sounds like a Star Trek episode

[@Skyrider68]

Will your pilgrimage to NKG include a special transport vehicle...and maybe a forklift? 😛 You might need to allow extra time to pull into the truck scales!

[@ThePlayersAid]

For real we’re taking the biggest car we can get our hands on.

[@barngames1785]

CAR DRIVE TOPIC. I came across a GREAT topic for Car drives. What 5 games would you choose to help train a modern Army Officer on warcraft. So that would need to teach them about supply, different system integration, tactical ability or whatever you think would be useful to teach.

[@michaelwelker8759]

For emotion? Breakout Normandy is up there I think

[@GrandPa_BBQer_Game_Cat]

Alexander during your couple of car videos next week can you remember to get some footage of Grant with his blankey, sorry "jacket" over his knees. 😂

[@ThymeKeeper]

You can't give a debrief on August until August is over and you have had time to gain context, after all :).

[@timk3539]

Oh man Endurance automatically goes on my wish list. It's a gripping story.

[@ianlight5158]

Space Empires is on BoardGameArena, so is Band of Brothers and Unconditional Surrender

[@ExLibrisbyMikeBooklover]

Great video guys! Loved nearly all the games you presented. FitL is one of my favourites despite of playing mainly solo and ABB is very interesting and I agree it is underrated. I would love to get Ghandi, Pendragon and A Distant Plain as well (if I ever get enough hobby money saved). I am also very curious about The Troubles.

[@thomaskaplan4898]

What application are you playing wilderness war on? Vassal? Table top simulator?

[@BroockPhilipp]

Rally the troops I guess

[@ThePlayersAid]

www.rally-the-troops.com

[@ElGrandoCaymano]

What does Alex(?) mean when he says the "game shows its age"? He's said that in the car video too, and it's not clear what he means. Is it the IGO HUGO format? Chit pull seems quite contemporary compared to the 1970s and 1980s SPI / AH / Yaquinto and even Columbia Games.

[@ThePlayersAid]

Game design has improved over the decades, so typically when I say that kind of thing it's a mixture of having a poor rule book, or graphically deficient components, or overly complex mechanics often with much bookkeeping, or mechanics that have fallen out of favour like player elimination etc. It's a pretty loose term.

[@ElGrandoCaymano]

@@ThePlayersAid Cool thanks!

[@JasonWeitzelPhillies]

I have Lake, Cuba, Abyss. I love Lake. I respect Cuba and Abyss. I love this channel. I also respect it.

[@wolfdog]

I'm glad to see GKR didn't get cut. I kind of love that game.

[@ThePlayersAid]

GKR will never get cut, haha

[@gregsaldi1292]

I saw someone say they were playing a coin game solo. I understand that this is not what these games are meant for, but is there any way to actually solo play a coin game? If so are there aides for that? Which is doable? Is it actually worth the experience?

[@chinapoliticsfromtheprovin6133]

Safe travels next week to Noble Knight. Hoping that they'll allow you to do an onsite video.

[@tigermuppetcut]

Can you please rank your COIN games by which are best if you only have 2 players, and don't want bots?

[@ThePlayersAid]

The British Way, Liberty or Death, Colonial Twilight. Others are doable, but you lose out on what makes COIN great.

[@alanshackelford6450]

Two words required in every COIN review: opportunity and cost.

[@calebbarton5697]

Have you guys ever done a top 10 or top 100 best war games? Been looking on your channel, but don’t see a wholistic list from the entire co-collection. Thanks!

[@ThePlayersAid]

Not really, but we will one day

[@tommloye4626]

Stop by Racine on the way to Madison. I’ll treat you boys to some fine Kringle.

[@manuelkooijman5757]

Backed Battle Card series 1 immediately. What is not to like about 5 small games for only 4 euro which I can take on my business travel. Market Garden, the free to download, is really tough to win.

[@clarklewis]

Ima need a whole bunch more people to go sign up for the P500 Wilderness War 4th edition printing, mmmmmK?

[@ThePlayersAid]

For Real.

[@carterjburke3345]

Before taking your games to Noble Night, please tell me you checked the back of Alexander’s boxes to ensure they are the correct orientation. 😜 oh the humanity!

[@ThePlayersAid]

Just think, if they ever deliver you a game and the box isn't oriented correctly, you can tell yourself: "This used to be from TPA!"

[@billyriley492]

Yeah...ibuprofen isn't a pain killer. It's an anti inflammatory 😂

[@Rohan-r8c5s]

tally counter

[@schrankp]

My biggest problem with DVG is that their games are so bloated. Why put out (xx) Leader with so many expansions (which cannot fit in the box) when the base game is borderline unplayable (or at least doesn't have as much replayability) without the expansions? My favorite DVG games are Field Commander Alexander which is a relatively small game that is great without any expansions and Thunderbolt Apache Leader, which is also great sans expansions. I once had all the expansions, but got rid of them because it became too bloated.

[@andrewshaw3703]

OK What is a COIN game?

[@born2bwildne744]

COunter INsurgency....

[@OroborusFMA]

You spend pennies on them and get dollars worth of value hahaha. No, seriously, its shorthand for COunter INsurgency. Starts around 53:16.

[@DonBuonasera]

Yea, for me Falling Sky is better than Fire in the Lake and Pendragon (these are the ones I own).

[@JoshuaLivie]

I feel the same way.

[@JM16714]

Root for me is more like a game of "Here I Stand" not COIN.

[@JoshuaLivie]

It is a very light version of it.

[@michaelwelker8759]

1,000-ish games? Ah, padowans…

[@saidandathrohan3119]

I feel like y’all should be a bit less censored on what you don’t like about games, Falling Sky is obviously not appealing to you both and I want a straight up reason why it’s not up to snuff, I got the similar feeling when y’all did C&C:Medieval video

[@ThePlayersAid]

C&C medieval was more about what our expectations were for the game. I wanted crusades era, or something like that and it was suuuuper early medieval late ancients. Falling Sky is harder to put a finger one.. it's both complex in it's combat resolution, but also.. just not gripping in it's theme. Not that it's a bad game, it's just.. *shrug*

[@chinapoliticsfromtheprovin6133]

@@ThePlayersAid I appreciate the nuance you both bring to your reviews, especially in an era when invective and slashing dismissals are the norm. I read your reluctance to lash out as respect for the designer and publisher. Thank you.

[@ThePlayersAid]

@@chinapoliticsfromtheprovin6133 thanks, we’re also very aware that just because we didn’t like it doesn’t necessarily make it a bad game (although some are, haha).

[@danddjacko]

I have Hammer of the Scots, but prefer soo much more, Napoleon: The Waterloo Campaign, 1815

[@ThePlayersAid]

Not played that one, will have to give it a go.

[@rttakezo2000]

Please, for the love of god and all that is holy, when you're in Wisconsin say; "Wih-sconsin"....NOT "Weh-sconsin".

[@ThePlayersAid]

beeeg