North Africa '41 -- Play Demonstration -- How to Play

[@kurtobermeyer3356]

The best play demonstration I have seen for any game. Excellent explanation. Thank you.

[@theoakenknight1748]

Wow! Thank you Kurt! - Paul

[@kenx8176]

I like this approach, just explaining things as they come up.

[@theoakenknight1748]

Thank you Ken. Tip of the hat to Ricky Royal in that regard; his Mage Knight series is one of the best teaching series, and he is a master of the “teaching while playing” technique. - Paul

[@jjflash30]

Great video. Entertaining. Easy to follow. Really helpful re: understanding the rules and what gameplay is like. Thanks! 👍

[@theoakenknight1748]

Great game, great designer! Thanks JJ. - Paul

[@strategystuff5080]

This game is fascinating to me, Thanks for making this video!

[@theoakenknight1748]

No problems, Mr Strategery! - Paul

[@joeyj6808]

Whoa! I was afraid you were reviewing the World's Most Unplayable Game! But I see this is not the one I feared. This looks like fun, in fact. I'm noticing a trend in new games that they might be tipping their hat to us old geezers by making bigger, more readable counters! I approve! BTW: you really do an excellent job of explaining how to play a game.

[@theoakenknight1748]

Hi Joey! Yes, most games these days are using bigger counters, but at the cost of requiring more table space! Fortunately with my home-made table, I have that covered. 19xx is a superb system - one of my honored “favorite games” I talk about in my 100th video…, but I also think there is a trend toward higher complexity. Those old John Edwards games such a the Russian Campaign still shine in their relative simplicity yet deep game play! And thank you for your kind comments about my efforts; much appreciated! - Paul

[@py8554]

The world’s most unplayable game…. Did you have the 1978 SPI game The Campaign for North Africa (aka CNA) in mind? The official estimated playing time is 1500 hours and you got to manage every logistical detail down to the number of guns and ammunition, the amount of fuel and water, even the prisoners of war….

[@joeyj6808]

That's the one with an allowance for Italian units' use of water for making pasta, iifc...@@py8554

[@richardfoust1801]

I really like your video's.. very informative... I really like the WWII ones. I have watched some of the civil war ones too. Yet the civil war's is not my fav area of warfare.. Yet I like to watch the results of the thinking processes, that goes into those civil war battles. This North Africa 41 game, I have, but i have not had a chance to set it up to play yet. Good starting point for when i set it up in a few weeks. Currently have France 40 coming... I saw a comment concerning why this doesn't cover the entire North Africa Campaign.. looked at a simple way... Game says 41... it covers that time frame.. if it was more, i would think it would say North Africa Campaign, and include all forces involved. have a good day Keep up the great Video's

[@theoakenknight1748]

Hello Richard! Thank you for the kind words; always helps keep me motivated. Yup, NA 41 is just what it says it is. I think part of the reason for this is marketing - it is called the 19xx Series for a reason. Can’t fit more than 1 year in xx! And of course… expansions. I’d expect a NA 42 at some point. I’m not sure about 43 because that would require a massive map expansion to include the Americans, but we shall see. Thanks for the note! - Paul

[@JohnnyBoy-n6g]

Units with tiny dots are motorized, units with ovals in center of counter are armored/tracked vehicles.

[@Lowecore]

Love the playthrough videos. Thx!

[@theoakenknight1748]

Thank you!! - Paul

[@Phalanx11]

Sidebar.... German recon bn's were the best of WW2...they had over 1000 men and the excellent 8 wheeled armored car that could go fast fwd or backward...Thank you Paul.. I'm sure you knew this ::)

[@joeyj6808]

I know that every PC game I play that include German Recon has them as incredibly effective, game-changing units.

[@otto7827]

I don’t know if this was Mark’s intention or not but I like the idea of the assets disk. I can move it to where the action is so I don’t forget about them.

[@theoakenknight1748]

Hello Otto! It was different, but I quickly got used to it: It especially makes sense in North Africa as the theater is so long and relatively narrow. Assets just slide along as the front ebbs and flows. - Paul

[@edthilenius7530]

Hello! Love your videos. This particular one is particularly good for me. I've learned a lot..Quick question, did you clip your units? They're so neat looking. Thanks again for taking the time to share this video.

[@theoakenknight1748]

Hi Ed! After checking with another 19xx game I have not punched yet, after all I am old and forget stuff…, yes I did corner clip the counters in NA ‘41. I use the Oregon Laminations 2mm deluxe clipper, and also have the 5mm version for when I make game cards and players and laminate player’s aid cards. I’m on my second 2mm model as it blew out after tens of thousands of corner clips, but I like the clean corners that it cuts. I know…, far too anal! Good to hear from you, and thanks for watching!! - Paul

[@greggcarter5254]

@@theoakenknight1748 Just punched and clipped some counters for this game this evening. Oregon Laminations 2 mm deluxe. 🙂 I also have the 2.5 mm for larger counters. Couldn't live without these things!

[@giorgioclavelli1757]

Nice report

[@mkruger3557]

As always!

[@theoakenknight1748]

Glad you enjoyed it

[@Zen_McGrath]

Where did you get the tweezers to pick up the units?

[@theoakenknight1748]

Oh boy. Well far as I know we don’t have a Tweezers R Us outlet nearby, so it had to be the universal shopping solution - Amazon. I like the ones with the green rubbery stuff on the tips because they grab the counters very well, but at the same time don’t scratch them as all metal ones sometimes do. Thanks for commenting! - Paul

[@boyceunplugged]

How did you do that big attack against the British without spending any supply points? I thought attacks >10 required supply pts.

[@theoakenknight1748]

Hello Mr Unplugged. Could be a mistake 😆. If you can give me a time reference I can take a look. - Paul

[@romiloszachariadis2334]

The initial defending force in Mersa Brega should have been 2 x Battalions ( at least they were there in all TLB editions )

[@chadvader974]

Nice video! how long does this game take to play? Can you play it solo? Can you save the game state between sessions?

[@theoakenknight1748]

Hi Chad. Thanks for the compliment! I tend to play slower than what it says on the box by about 50%. Sometimes I think the publisher uses smaller scenarios to do their estimate - I’ve always been a full-campaign guy myself. Count on a good 20 hours, more if you are like me and think too much. Yes, the game plays great solo, as do all the 19xx games in Mr Simonitch’s series. Every one that I have tried is a gem so far. I have never tried recording and resetting a game, but I see no reason why it would not work if you are patient. Could try it with a camera, I suppose. Still, Afrika ‘41 would be the best to try this with as it has the lowest piece density. Thanks for commenting! - Paul

[@brando5705]

Try out panzer general for ps1 or pc if you want something similar. Most of the SSI games made then felt really close in complexity and strategy. Allied general was great too. I feel it was like playing dark souls for the first time. Steep learning curve but it is a great game I find. Great alternative if you don't have time for playing a longer board game but want something similar. You just have to stomach playstation one graphics 😆. Best tip is turn off fog of war so you can see enemies until you get used to it. Take care.

[@theoakenknight1748]

Hey Brando, I played them all! Panzerkorps is really good also. - Paul

[@chrisyates3598]

Think the recon unit is also halved on the first combat. (Vehicle units are halved against forts not just tanks).

[@theoakenknight1748]

Hey Chris! I’m sure you are right. Perfection is so darn hard to do! - Paul l

[@danielperalta8867]

Rule 9.5.1 - “Tank Units are halved attacking into Fortifications.” The tank units are silhouetted. I believe you may be mistaking this for the Tobruk Perimeter. 9.6 Terrain - “Vehicle Units have their Attack Strength halved.”

[@chrisyates3598]

@@danielperalta8867 It's on the TEC , also mentioned in the errata.

[@Phalanx11]

Does the game have a 'flies" counter for both sides?...In North Africa there were millions of flies all the time....::)

[@romiloszachariadis2334]

No Fuel consideration though ?

[@theoakenknight1748]

Hello RZ, I think fuel is part of the “general supply” that keeps units alive and healthy. I think that was a wise choice as most gamers do not want too much accounting work figuring supply. - Paul

[@Phalanx11]

I enjoy your company. If you move to West Palm Beach we can play wargames together!

[@theoakenknight1748]

That would be cool!

[@Phalanx11]

@@theoakenknight1748 Couple questions about the game...are the counters bigger thn 1/2"? is there a mechanized 2nd movement phase?... is the map mounted? why does it end in '41...is there a campaign game?

[@Phalanx11]

is this better than African Campign? A.C. likes..mounted map..beautiful counters that are large. whole campaign...dislikes no mechanized 2nd impulse...Axis supply Very limited...

[@hangarflying]

There is a mounted map option available for this game as well.

[@theoakenknight1748]

Hi guys. I think “better” is up to each player to decide, and will depend on where you fall on the game vs simulation continuum. I’m a real fan of 19xx, but like many Simonitch games, it stops short of giving you the whole campaign. Pretty sure a 1942 expansion will come, but then, I’ve been hoping Normandy ‘44 would be expanded to the breakout phase of late August for some time. - Paul

[@manilajohn0182]

How did the Germans conquer Poland? They marched in backwards and said they were leavin.

[@theoakenknight1748]

Hi MJ. Been a while since I heard a Polish joke. When I was a kid they were all over the place. Made me laugh! - Paul

[@manilajohn0182]

@@theoakenknight1748 Many thanks for understanding. I never tell jokes out of hate. I used to tell Aggie jokes in Texas long ago- but that doesn't mean that I hate everyone who attended Texas A&M. Quality school, that one. Cheers...

[@rogerflack415]

Excellent video but "Rat Patrol" = fictional. SAS = legendary.

[@theoakenknight1748]

Yeah, but I remember the old TV show. The old “Combat!” Show was pretty good too as I recall, and recently I binged on 12 OClock High. Don’t make shows like that anymore! - Paul

[@richardfoust1801]

Rat Patrol, Combat, 12 O'clock high, along with Gilligan's Island (1st Survivor show ever), and the wizard of OZ (problems with rural farm drug use) are all documentaries. LOL...

[@phd_angel4192]

Good video, but this game rules look terribly cumbersome and complicated!... I might be having buyer's remorse...

[@theoakenknight1748]

Hey Mr PhD. The good news is that as a part of a series, learning the rules for one game helps a lot in learning the others. Nice part about Africa ‘41 is that it has low counter density, so it’s not a bad choice to learn the system with. My personal fave is Normandy ‘44; Something about D-Day games…. - Paul