Great Battles of Julius Caesar Unboxing | GMT Games | Wargame Historical Game | Deluxe Edition

[@KitsuneBleu]

This really is a beautiful collection, I have the deluxe SPQR set up now and am going through it so slowly to get the system down, and I'm sure that will help so much when I get to Caesar and speed up that learning process. What I really liked is that in the Scenario Book GMT seemed to put more care into the explanation of which counters go with which battle, and the counters on the sheets are better labeled than they were in SPQR. It can be a real pain to organize but Caesar, while still a big job, looks to be easier. I love your channel, presentations, productions, and unboxings. Your taste in historical games seems to parallel mine and I'd love to see your play though of these conflicts if you ever feel like filming those. I know the editing there would be a nightmare, but even a raw unedited feed would be great. It's just both relaxing and educational ... even the mistakes which *always* happen. Those help teach the game too.

[@ZillaBlitz]

Yes, I think the thing that I like about this game is that there is a lot of overlap, as you mention, with SPQR and Great Battles of Alexander too. So you learn one system and are a good ways toward learning the other game. And thanks for the kind words on the channel I think games of this size can be done AAR style, like I did with Save South Vietnam. It's not quite the same as a full live playthrough, but for games that take 5+ hours, creating a video series of the live play would be really long. I want to lean into the AAR format a bit more in 2023. :)

[@superscion8108]

You did a great job on this inbox. Great gaming to you and continued success ahead. ~True

[@ZillaBlitz]

Thanks for the kind words, Super. Much appreciated, and glad you liked it.

[@joeyj6808]

This is an amazing series of games, I have a few. The problem is finding a nearby opponent. For the investment, I have had few occasions to play Alexander, SPQR or Cataphract. Oh well you did a great job of an unboxing video - as usual!

[@ZillaBlitz]

Thanks! :) I'm looking forward to it, looks like a bit more complex than Men of Iron, but similar enough that knowing how to play that will help me learn this. And so much stuff in the box, my goodness!

[@nordicmaelstrom4714]

Playing solo is a fun alternative.

[@ZillaBlitz]

Seems like a great 2-player solo system.

[@nordicmaelstrom4714]

@@ZillaBlitz I think it will be a great solo system. It sits pretty high on the solitaire level.

[@joeyj6808]

@@nordicmaelstrom4714 I'm embarrassed to say I never considered solo for SPQR...I will look into that, thanks.

[@SoloBattles]

Loving this review! Ancient warfare was mostly fought on clear terrain (literally, a "field" of battle), so it makes sense that the maps are very open and just bounded by terrain features. Pub Battles Ancients doesn't even have a map, you just play on the table!

[@SoloBattles]

The point I meant to make is that I agree with you on game maps. They should be functional above all else. On a game as detailed as this, you don't want anything adding to the confusion. Just give it to me straight, pardner.

[@ZillaBlitz]

Yes, this makes total sense. I do think, however, that maps as art can really draw the player in to the game. Antietam, for example, just breathes atmosphere because of the map. And I think even clear terrain can really shine artistically.

[@HissyCat]

Awesome review as usual, Sir. Thanks for sharing your thoughts.

[@ZillaBlitz]

Glad you liked it, thanks! :)

[@nordicmaelstrom4714]

Hey an unboxing of a game I actually own! You hit the nail on the head. This set is value for your buck for sure. The naval rules would make a great framework for using actual miniature ships of the period to game with too. Hundred hours later and the counters are clipped lol.

[@ZillaBlitz]

There really is so much in here! You like the gameplay? And yes, Wrist vs Counter Clipper vs Counters, one of them will fail.

[@nordicmaelstrom4714]

@@ZillaBlitz I have not gotten it on the table yet. Its in the line behind Musket and Pike, Hitler's Last Gamble and Victory in the West 1940. Right now my gaming table is my model building table with the Trumpeter 1/350 HMS Hood on it.

[@ZillaBlitz]

Ah, makes sense. Mine will be a bit, too, but after seeing the overlap with Men of Iron's mechanics, I've nudged this up the list.

[@nordicmaelstrom4714]

@@ZillaBlitz Men of Iron Tripack is on my short list of games I really want to get.

[@ZillaBlitz]

One of my desert island games. :)

[@MadNerdWorkshop]

This is a great game, nice look inside. Well done.

[@ZillaBlitz]

Thank you sir, it seems like there is so much gaming in the box. :)

[@coyi51]

Nice to see you have the same contents as me and I am currently sifting the counters into the C4me trays, but will not get that completed until after Christmas. Have not looked at the rule book yet, but will more than likely have a similarity to SPQR, while Conquest of Gaul game also has a naval rules booklet, so it will be interesting to see how the Rules from the older games match up. Excellent unboxing.

[@ZillaBlitz]

There definitely seems to be some strong overlap between SPQR and this, and I can see overlap with Men of Iron too. My counter clipper broke about 3/4 of the way through this, so I'm on a repair mission at the moment. :)

[@campsawyer]

Thanks for the video. It is a high value game with all the battles that it contains.

[@ZillaBlitz]

I'm about 25% done clipping the counters and it's amazing how many forces are in here. :)

[@ParkeraNZ]

Wow you could defo lose hrs plating this if you wanted and with additional scenarios the options are endless. I like the look of the counters as well, very nicely designed, clear and no heads cut off. Another great unboxing.

[@ZillaBlitz]

There is soooo much game in the box, for sure. I mean, 20 scenarios. Even if you just play each scenario once, that's probably 80 hours of gaming? And thanks! :)

[@sparerib5494]

This is basically the same system as Great Battles of Alexander and SPQR.

[@ZillaBlitz]

Thanks! I'm not familiar with Great Battles of Alexander yet, so I wasn't aware of that. Much appreciated!

[@allegedlycaleb]

I LOVE this game

[@ZillaBlitz]

Very cool, and good to hear! Did you find it challenging to learn?

[@allegedlycaleb]

@@ZillaBlitz It definitely took a few days and a few scenarios to fully understand the rules, and even then I still realize that I’ve been doing something wrong here and there, but overall it is an amazing game once you get the rules down. There’s an official simplified rule set on bgg which makes it easier to play, but in my opinion the original rules make for the best experience if you can handle them.

[@Phalanx11]

The Carthagenians were proud and brave but they couldn't hold....I know.....I was here.....3000 years ago.

[@ZillaBlitz]

Haha! Glad you survived! ;)

[@doncossack1016]

Vortyx, you magnificent bastard!

[@Phalanx11]

@@doncossack1016 I read your BOOK!!

[@ZillaBlitz]

Ahhhh! If everybody Is thinking alike, then somebody isn't thinking.

[@johnnymustang760]

I really am not an fan of this era. I do have Command and Colors Ancients. By the time I finished your video, I had gone on ebay and found it cheaper than GMT website and bought it. So you won. :)

[@ZillaBlitz]

Haha! I don't think I'm trying to win anything, but I do like to share cool games, and I hope you enjoy this one. :) There really is a ton of value in here. The deluxe versions/tri-packs are just nuts how much they put into one box.

[@claudiocinieri5468]

at the price you pay this game, you get a ..... paper battle board? No Thanks!!! SHAME

[@andrewfurst5711]

Good point but this is already a very heavy box of material even with the paper maps. Including mounted maps for this set of games would make it even more massive, and even more expensive. If you want a more "deluxe" feel, you can buy a properly sized piece (or two) of plexiglass, also known as Perspex or Lucite, and put that on top of the paper map when in use. Then you can use the plexiglass for all other paper map games as well.