Antietam Pub Battles Unboxing | US Civil War | Command Post Games

We unbox, examine, and offer some initial impressions of Pub Battles Antietam, Command Post Games' wargame of the US Civil War's battle of Antietam. This is a hybrid miniatures/tabletop game with a small footprint and a friendly pub-like feel to it.
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/ zillablitz
Boom Simple Pub Battles Channel:
/ @solobattles
Command Post Games:
www.commandpos...
This unboxing produced by Zilla Blitz.
Antietam
US Civil War
North South
Civil War Miniatures
#wargaming #commandpostgames #antietam
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Antietam Pub Battles Unboxing | Command Post Games | Wargame Historical Game | US Civil War

[@smellypixles7687]

This is a great, great game, huge replay value. Love this review cause I really enjoy Zilla’s reviews and I’m a huge fan of Pub Battles games...I have nearly every Command Post games title so I guess I qualify as a fanboy...but as a 50 year long time board gamer these games are well worth the cost....subtle rules that deliver an accurate experience. Wonderful.!

[@ZillaBlitz]

Good to hear, smellypixels! That's quite a collection of Command Post Game, then! :) I'm looking forward to getting this one to the channel in the near future. It got bumped by Pirates! but it's working its way back up the pile. :)

[@theodore6491]

The blocks remind me of the battle illustrations in the war gaming magazines (S&T, Command) I got many years ago. I am just getting back to gaming. So, your unboxing and play examples are helpful and enjoyable. Keep up the good work!

[@ZillaBlitz]

Interesting on the blocks! I don't recall those, but I really like the look of how this game sets up on the table. Thanks for stopping in and I'm glad you like the videos. :)

[@CommandPostGames]

All the other games at 7:56 are currently available; EXCEPT for Pirates. This is a new design that is about to be launched on Kickstarter! Similar to Sails of Glory, but set in the Pirate age. Faster playing and easier. Really fun combat system. Lot's of trickery and out foxing involved. =)

[@ZillaBlitz]

Thanks for the clarification and information, much appreciated!

[@Dogo72A]

Well done, sir! And I say this although unboxing videos are normally not my cup of tea. But you do it in a way that is informative and NOT boring. Thank you!

[@ZillaBlitz]

Thanks! Interestingly enough, this game is on my video table right now. I'm hoping to put out a video on Sunday, the anniversary of the battle. :)

[@marshallbarrington4986]

Wow. I usually hate unboxing videos. This one is the best I've ever seen! Most people just say, here is the map. Here are the pieces, etc. Yeah, yeah, yeah. I can see that. Tell me something else. ?? Something worthwhile. You're brilliant at that!!! You actually made this interesting to watch!

[@ZillaBlitz]

Thanks for the kind words, Marshall! I'm glad you liked it, and that you appreciated the added information. I try to provide answers to questions I often have when I am watching an unboxing. :)

[@SoloBattles]

Zilla! You really did a great unboxing. It reminded me of the excitement I felt when I first opened Brandywine, my first Pub Battle. I was so gobsmacked by the map and components that I didn't care what the game played like, I'd be thrilled to just set it up and stare at it, then I read the rules, I was hooked. I didn't realize how authentic it would feel until I had played a few games.

[@ZillaBlitz]

Thanks! I'm glad you liked it. I put the labels on the Confederate forces after that, and it looks soooo good. :)

[@SoloBattles]

@@ZillaBlitz Thanks for the shout, I'm picking up some new subscribers. I'll be sure and ping back your Antietam replay. My videos aren't first impression/introduction, so many viewers will appreciate your take and style.

[@ZillaBlitz]

Sure thing, happy to help! I think your channel is a great way to learn more, for sure. :)

[@nicolascarvacho4998]

Great video as always! Greetings from Chile

[@ZillaBlitz]

Thanks, Nicolas! Glad you enjoyed it! And welcome to Chile, glad you are here!

[@StackingLimit]

Great Overview and components. I look forward to your playthrough. I have played this a couple times and the Union easily smashes the Rebels every time as they are not hindered by McClellan's lack of decisive leadership.

[@SoloBattles]

I hear this often, including from the game's designer, but in my own experience (easilg over a hundred times), I find a Northern victory fairly rare.

[@ZillaBlitz]

Intersting! I will be curious to see how it plays out for me. Very interesting! :)

[@SoloBattles]

FYI the Pub Battles titles are: (AWI) Brandywine, Germantown; (Napoleonic) Marengo, Austerlitz, Waterloo; (ACW) Bull Run, Antietam, Gettysburg. The next in their development schedule (AFAIK) is PIRATES!, then 2nd Bull Run (which is an expansion of Bull Run, same map, you just buy the blocks and scenario rules). The Waterloo campaign game which adds 3 more maps is requiring more development than anticipated to get the right feel. Lots of irons in the fire.

[@ZillaBlitz]

Oh, very cool, thanks for the heads up and the information! :)

[@SoloBattles]

Pirates! may already be available. If not, it'll just be a few minutes more.

[@ZillaBlitz]

I really need to quit my real job so I can do this full time. :)

[@coyi51]

A really cool game that looks a blast too play. Looking at Little Big Horn as Legion Games one takes some time, although for me enjoyable. Will just have to hope one of the sellers this side of the pond decides to add them to the inventory. Just have to be careful not too throw the game box away rather than the pizza one. Thanks for the review and advising of the company.

[@ZillaBlitz]

Yeah, it'd be nice to see these make it to Europe, it feels like a very unique style that would have some very ardent followers, and a lot of gamers would like to check them out, for sure. I'm not familiar with Little Big Horn, will check it out!

[@Stumptonian1]

Looks interesting. Looking forward to your playthrough.

[@ZillaBlitz]

It's a bit back in the queue, but hopefully in a couple of weeks. :)

[@HissyCat]

such a cool looking game, looking forward to a play thru. =)

[@ZillaBlitz]

I'm looking forward to playing, I added the labels and it looks really good. :)

[@HissyCat]

@@ZillaBlitz awesome.

[@davidbarr9343]

Excellent video! Looks a really good game. I'm with you on blocks. I have Commands and Colors Ancients and most of the expansions (missing No 4) and goodness me, it is so tedious sticking the emblems to the blocks!😞😂All the best from Scotland UK.🇬🇧

[@ZillaBlitz]

Actually, I really like sticking the stickers on the blocks. :) I find it ... cathartic. And I've realized that I like block games if they have stickers on them. It's the stickerless blocks that I've realized I'm not really a fan of. Go figure. Although, yes, I just did the stickers for the main game of C&C Ancients, and yeah, that took a while. :)

[@SoloBattles]

@@ZillaBlitz Waterloo has the most blocks if you want the total Zen experience😁

[@lilesindiecorner]

The map is really, really cool looking. I'm curious to see this in action, the counters looks quite big on the map and I don't have a good idea yet of how this plays, so definitely looking forward to you bringing this to the table!

[@ZillaBlitz]

I think I'm definitely going to need a new brain to learn this one. It feels very different from anything I've played so far. And I totally agree, it's really beautiful, especially when you get the stickers on the blocks and the blocks on the map. :)

[@lilesindiecorner]

@@ZillaBlitz Aaaah, I think your brain will do fine. Just need to relearn!

[@SoloBattles]

The blocks (divisional level) are to scale for the scale of the map. Based on the Prussian Kriegspiel calculations. Kriegspiel uses blocks half as wide on 1:8000 maps.

[@Icarus931]

Do you remember “The Little Tin Soldier Shoppe” on Lake Street and Bryant ?

[@ZillaBlitz]

No, sorry. I got back into wargaming a year and a half ago, but was away from it for 20+ years before that, and not in the area when I first played. Is that an old wargaming store?

[@SoloBattles]

Loved the Little Tin Soldier!

[@kirksellman1999]

Thanks for showing us a Command Post game. I plan to buy Waterloo, but I need to save up a few hundred dollars. Also, they have more maps to go with it that I want, but they're taking a long time to publish them. Other than that, I really like what they publish.

[@ZillaBlitz]

Glad you liked it, Kirk! It's unlike anything I've played since coming back into wargames, and I'm really excited to try it. :) I was putting the labels on earlier today and man, it just looks so appealing. Love the design execution. I'd be curious to hear how you like Waterloo after you get a chance to play it. Looks fantastic!

[@SoloBattles]

Kirk, I expect you will find Waterloo worth every penny. I have played this battle over 200 times and the chit draw pretty much guarantees a different game every time. Even using the exact same strategy, it plays differently. Sometimes hougomont will hold all day, sometimes it falls quickly. Usually, it's somewhere in between. If you do check out my channel, I am happy to answer any questions. I'm not part of the company, but I am the lead playtester.

[@SoloBattles]

Kirk, the maps are basically done, but they've has to go back to the drawing board several times trying to get the feel right for the campaign. But I feel your pain.

[@erichchaves]

Great looking game

[@ZillaBlitz]

With the stickers on the blocks, and things on the map, it looks really cool, yes. Very well executed thematically.

[@erichchaves]

I noticed they have a Dracula game that looks fantastic too.

[@ZillaBlitz]

Yes, that Dracula caught my eye as well. When I saw the flyer I thought they were games in development, but I think some (or all) of them already exist. I mean, how do you play Dracula? But it's definitely got my attention. :)

[@SoloBattles]

The Dracula game has the same cool map style, and different sized wood blocks. The game is different. It uses area movement. It is very immersive.

[@ZillaBlitz]

Very interesting, thanks! (Wallet danger level.)

[@erichchaves]

@@SoloBattles looks gorgeous

[@YOUPIMatin123]

Nice :D

[@ZillaBlitz]

Thanks, Valentin!

[@dragonade85]

I've never seen a Pub Battles game come in anything but a tube before.

[@ZillaBlitz]

Maybe those are the ones with the canvas maps?

[@dragonade85]

@@ZillaBlitz Could be. All my games came with the canvas maps.

[@eprohoda]

How’s everything going?. Zilla,you ccreated outstanding ~ catch you later!=))

[@ZillaBlitz]

Thanks, things are going well! I hope all is well with you too! :)

[@ReedCBowman]

Are the blocks actually wood? It would never have occurred to me they would be plastic, but the photo you included makes them look possibly 3D printed, which seems silly. The Command Post website doesn't say a thing about their composition or manufacture. I love block-based games, and always loved the feel of the original AH Gettysburg with its wide infantry line counters, so this sounds glorious. But if they're plastic, I think I'd buy dowels and square wood trim and make my own the proper way. I thank you, though my shelves and wallet do not, for bringing this set of games to my attention.

[@ZillaBlitz]

Oh, my apologies if the video wasn't clear! Yes, the blocks are definitely wood, and I love the texture that they've given them. There is a slight granularity and matte finish that I think works really well with the theme. And sorry about your wallet, but glad you are enjoying the channel, Reed! :)

[@ReedCBowman]

@@ZillaBlitz Oh, good. Much more immersive, then. I'm sure everyone assumes they're wood as I did, but the photo and comments on the texture had me wondering. I look forward to your actual rules and play video; the Boom channel's videos are cool, but they don't tell me anything about gameplay.

[@ZillaBlitz]

I think at one point I said something like, "It feels like real wood" which I totally get is misleading. I think in my head it was supposed to come out as "It doesn't feel like wood that has been processed and sanded and glossed over, but rather feels like you're picking up a hunk of real wood, which for a series like this, I feel is appropriate."

[@SoloBattles]

@@ReedCBowman Reed, I'm glad you like my videos. My latest Gettysburg video coming out soon (Gettysburg4) has more rules explanation in a few parts. I was debating whether to leave them in, or cut them and make the video shorter. Since you made this comment, I'll leave them in.

[@farpointgamingdirect]

I looked at Pub Battles a few years ago at the WBCs but I didn't pull the trigger because I loaded up on Sergeants the Miniatures Game...

[@ZillaBlitz]

So many choices and so many great games! :)

[@farpointgamingdirect]

@@ZillaBlitz "Gotta catch 'em all!" 😁

[@ZillaBlitz]

Now that would be something! :)

[@mrV69]

Can I find this on Amazon?

[@ZillaBlitz]

Hi Mr. V - Happy to help. I don't see them on Amazon. I think they are currently only available via the company website. It's linked in the video description.