Lanzerath Ridge Playthrough - 0 | DVG Dan Verssen Games | Wargame Historical Game | David Thompson

[@Kili121416]

Thanks

[@ZillaBlitz]

Hi Gregory! Thanks so much for the kind support! Super helpful and much appreciated. Putting money towards a new lighting system for the tabletop studio, so this is much appreciated. :)

[@jonlatino9964]

Thanks!

[@ZillaBlitz]

Thanks very much, Jon, for your kind support! It's greatly appreciated! I'm working on upgrading the lighting on the tabletop videos, so this will go towards that. Thanks again! :)

[@nickstone3606]

awesome stuff carnt wait to watch,fingers crossed i make thru the first wave lol

[@ZillaBlitz]

Gosh, I hope we don't lose anyone in the first round. That'd be unfortunate. We've got some really good defensive positions. In the real attack, the Germans had a lot of difficulty spotting and hitting the US positions.

[@ErikIversen]

Looking forward to your play-through, and good luck getting into the 4th wave! My copy of the game is in the mail, expected delivery Monday. Can't wait!

[@ZillaBlitz]

I think for a second attempt making it to the 4th wave would be a good result. Actually, I think I'll be pretty happy if we make it to the 3rd wave. :)

[@rp7390]

Great explanation of the mechanics! Looking forward to the play through! Thanks!

[@ZillaBlitz]

Thanks! I'm hopeful to play/record the first episode this weekend. :)

[@TWolf317]

Wow, this looks really cool! Especially since I've watched Band of Brothers about a million times. I realize this isn't Bastogne, but that is my favorite episode of the show and I love the idea of defending a snowy ridge.

[@ZillaBlitz]

I'm actually halfway through Band of Brothers now, with a small group of friends. Really enjoying it, and the next episode we have up is the Bastogne episode. :)

[@duncanrae466]

Wow... BoB was SO good. Read Ambrose' novel. You find out some of the guys are amalgams of several Easy guys.

[@ZillaBlitz]

That's a good idea, yes. I think I actually got the book back when we had little kids too. I should go find it.

[@ZillaBlitz]

Ha! But no, kids are actually why I stopped for like 20 years. :) Now they're off to college.

[@TWolf317]

@@duncanrae466 I read the book when a friend told me that there was going to be a TV series based on the book. It was still quite a while after that before the series was released. For some reason, the two "scenes" that stuck with me from the book were when most everyone threw up the spaghetti dinner and when Winters charged the German position by himself because the signal for the rest of the company was delayed.

[@Stumptonian1]

A bit behind catching up with this one. Mechanics remind me of Castle Itter. I will be interested to see how it plays. Might be one to add to my Wishlist -->> Shelf of Shame ....

[@ZillaBlitz]

Yes, it's in the same Valiant Defense series as Castle Itter, so I think the similarity is intentional. And... --> Shelf of Opportunity! :)

[@davidthompson7233]

Excellent! Thanks so much for this, my friend!

[@ZillaBlitz]

Right back at you, thanks for making great games! 😀

[@Solkills]

Hype for this playthrough ! I consider to buy this game. Since I'm Belgian, it would be fun to have this one :)

[@ZillaBlitz]

You could go visit the battlefield! :)

[@8ofcups763]

Great intro! A David Thompson game? No wonder it looks like Platov's House. This is another one for my wish list!

[@ZillaBlitz]

Yes, this is the 4th game in the Valiant Defense series. :)

[@coyi51]

Great info on the game, might make easier for me when I start on mine next weekend. Looking forward to the play through.

[@ZillaBlitz]

Thanks, coyi! I'm excited to get started! :)

[@stephenloniewski8248]

Thanks, Zilla! Can’t wait for you to start the action! I’m well over on the far eastern side of the board, but at least I have a 5 valor rating. Looking forward to earning them Purple Hearts and knocking out a few Nazis.

[@ZillaBlitz]

At the end of the first wave we can completely reorganize, so you'll probably be somewhere else if we get to the 2nd wave. And you'll be moving in for the first wave, so action coming your way for sure.

[@allegedlycaleb]

In seriousness, this game looks really fun and I am looking forward to the playthrough!

[@ZillaBlitz]

Me too. I'm just hoping we don't lose the battle in the first wave. :)

[@allegedlycaleb]

@@ZillaBlitz Completely understandable lol! I started a Hunters playthrough on my youtube channel, and I had to restart my recording after I was immediately sunk by an aircraft at the very beginning of my first patrol lol. Sometimes it happens, but it is always funny to watch!

[@ZillaBlitz]

Ha! Yes, that was another thing I wondered about. Getting a sub sunk on the first part of the first patrol. But yup, it happens! :)

[@HissyCat]

Great video, very much looking forward to this series. =)

[@ZillaBlitz]

Thank you! Best of luck in your foxhole! :)

[@HissyCat]

@@ZillaBlitz I specifically requested a Private foxhole w/Ocean view. May I speak to your manager?

[@ZillaBlitz]

Sure thing, see those guys in gray approaching us from the woods down below? Our manager is one of them. Just jog on down and let them know you're unhappy.

[@HissyCat]

@@ZillaBlitz Don't think I won't. =)

[@ZillaBlitz]

I'll hold your rifle and helmet for you while you're gone.

[@petethehawk5186]

This game drives me crazy lol. It looks gorgeous and seems like a lot of fun. I fight with myself on if I should buy it though constantly lol. It just seems like the replayability is just low. I feel like I’d play it a few times and then I’d just get kinda tired of it. Which is a shame because while it’s not the most expensive game around it’s certainly not cheap. This is the only thing that always makes me hesitate on it. Maybe I’ll try to pick up a used copy at some point.

[@ZillaBlitz]

Not having played it a lot yet, I hesitate to speculate, but I think the Tactics cards will add another layer of challenge, and there are some other optional rules that you can add in after that. I'll eventually come back and do a full review and will offer some thoughts on depth then. :)

[@petethehawk5186]

@@ZillaBlitz I’m sure there’s some added options to it. It’s just the way these specific small battles go I guess. It really is a very pretty game and the board is awesome. I guess I just keep trying to figure out how many times I’d actually play it versus the cost of it. Keep up the good work sir!

[@999slawter]

Hey Zilla, thank you for your video! I waited for it just to be sure the game is really good for me :) But even after the first one, I am kinda sure it's gonna be in my collection.

[@ZillaBlitz]

Sure thing, slawter! I hope to have the first episode up tomorrow. :)

[@Phalanx11]

I gotta go with ASL on this one 'Zilla, but as ever your enthusiasm is excellent.

[@ZillaBlitz]

Thanks!

[@KrolPotato]

After the 4th wave, Srgt. Lenowski captures the surviving and surrendering Germans and wins the game and the war.

[@ZillaBlitz]

Haha! The only thing missing is the charge across the Rhine! :)

[@erichchaves]

Looks good!

[@ZillaBlitz]

Looking forward to starting up tonight. :)

[@erichchaves]

@@ZillaBlitz oh awesome 🤩

[@nordicmaelstrom4714]

I move that we not participate in the Ardennes Offensive until after the initial shock attack Zilla lol. If you ever get around to doing Target for Today I want to volunteer to be part of the crew! Just noticed this but I just bought the same pair of tweezers you and Hexy have. I like them so far as they easily fit around counters. I think you will make it through 2 1/2 waves.

[@ZillaBlitz]

Ha! Yes, where is the "Charge Enemy" action? Target for Today would definitely have volunteers as well. Those tweezers are great, for sure. The light is a nice touch, yes. And getting to Wave 3 is kind of where I'm hoping we'll end up, yes. :)

[@nordicmaelstrom4714]

@@ZillaBlitz How many crew members are actually in Target for Today? Id imagine two pilots, radio operator, bombadier, tail gunner, ball turret gunner, and 2-4 belly gunners? Yes the light is a nice touch! Well here's hoping you all survive Jerry's assault!

[@ParkeraNZ]

Finally its here I can taste it. Sooo looking fwd to getting into the action with this and seeing how we all go. Also as I have high Valour that means I get Ice Cream before the rest right? Great episode and well explained even I understood.

[@ZillaBlitz]

Yes, for sure, you get all the Ice Cream and your high inspiration ratings means that everyone sings you songs of glory at the end of each wave. The fate of your foxhole is hanging on your shoulders! :)

[@Tomas-pm7mn]

Thank you very much for showing us details from this great looking game. It is the one of 2 games I'm looking forward. 2nd one is Infernal machine - anybody got some info when it will come out? Thanks 👍

[@ZillaBlitz]

Sure thing! I'm very interested in Infernal Machine as well. It needs another 44 orders to hit the P500 mark, so it's getting closer. I think it must be at least a year away though.

[@whovian223]

Looking forward to this one! How do you get on the "I want to be in a Zilla video" list?

[@ZillaBlitz]

Just finished editing Episode 1 now, it should be on its way to KZbin in a couple of hours. :) ~ I think I asked for volunteers in the Unboxing video a while back, IIRC. There will be other chances! :)

[@lilesindiecorner]

YES, GIVE ME THAT MACHINE GUN!!!

[@ZillaBlitz]

Why am I suddenly concerned that you're going to use all the ammo in the first 2 minutes of the battle? 😀

[@lilesindiecorner]

@@ZillaBlitz I need to have SOME fun, don't I??

[@ZillaBlitz]

Good point, go for it!

[@lilesindiecorner]

@@ZillaBlitz Yesssssss

[@ZillaBlitz]

I'm seeing a whole different side of you here that I never knew existed. 😀

[@thecustardprophet8434]

This will be fun! Were the defenders randomly assigned to their positions in some way, or is the set-up part of the game design?

[@ZillaBlitz]

For the initial set up, soldiers are in their historical positions. If we make it to the second wave, we can put most people wherever we want. :)

[@davidpeters3137]

Where can you buy the tweezers at?

[@ZillaBlitz]

Hi David - Happy to help. Everything I use is linked in the video description. :)

[@MrSuperphil]

Super P will kick them German arses. Lol. When i played this game i got to wave 4, but got defeated.

[@ZillaBlitz]

I'd be happy with reaching Wave 4. I don't think I understand how to conserve machine gun ammo well enough yet, and how to survive the first couple of rounds without needing to use the machine guns a lot.

[@Alejus-z8y]

In what part of the game is the intelligence track used? I look for it in the manual but I can't find it? What use is it given?

[@ZillaBlitz]

It's been a while since I played and I don't have the game handy at the moment. I'd recommend asking the question over at Board Game Geek so that people who are playing the game right now will be able to answer quickly. :)

[@allegedlycaleb]

Balloon Tower Defence but its World War 2

[@ZainR997]

Hi zilla how are you I was saying in my head it’s not December zilla what are you talking about then you said it was the game

[@ZillaBlitz]

Ha! I hope all is well with you!

[@ZainR997]

@@ZillaBlitz good thanks

[@juanzulu1318]

Why use alternative names for US counters?

[@rp7390]

He said why

[@juanzulu1318]

@@rp7390 i missed it then. Would u be so kind to let me know the reason? I am just curious...

[@ZillaBlitz]

Sure thing, the main idea is fun, that people who are watching can connect with the story a bit more. :)

[@juanzulu1318]

@@ZillaBlitz aah I see, fair enough. I was just wondering, looked like the counters were misprinted or something. Yes, some relation to history is always welcome. That's why we are historical wargamers after all. 😀

[@ZillaBlitz]

Ah, makes sense, yes. I just stuck bits of post-it memos over the real names. :)

[@kevinkaup4146]

First thing that struck me about this game - there is an element of authenticity which many may not notice... 11:00 into your video - i immediately noted the picture of Lyle Bouck - which you haven't ready his book/memoirs its very good: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lyle_Bouck

[@ZillaBlitz]

Yes, I replaced all the original soldiers' names with viewer volunteers, but every soldier is the actual soldier who fought in the battle. And that's interesting, I didn't realize that Bouck had written a memoir! Thanks!