Review | Traces Of War | VUCA Simulations | The Players' Aid

[@jackstalica7732]

As a veteran wargamer, VUCA Sim makes great PLAYABLE games with exceptional production quality. They also try to keep development standards high. Compare that to Compass who's 1st editions usually have TONS of problems. I have made it a rule not to buy any Compass 1st editions any more as a result, but I have no hesitation about buying VUCA new releases.

[@tookiem7618]

I absolutely LOVE the color pallet for this game!!!! I wish all of my wargames used this style.

[@leee.5841]

You can never have too many Eastern Front games!

[@Doppelkopf1944]

I found out today that the game has been published in Germany. Congratulations! I was in charge of the historical research for this game. I fondly recall the detailed research into German and Soviet orders of battle, reinforcements, strengths, and hundreds of situation maps (NARA and TSAMO).

[@hssmallman]

I’ve been playing wargames a long time and Vuca is just knocking it out of the park in terms of production value. I will be interested to see what our intrepid duo make of ‘Nach Paris’, though. That’s beautiful but much fussier on the rules front and maybe Vuca’s only slight stumble. Cannot wait to hear what they make of it!

[@laufetc]

"A Victory Lost" is a real blast to play. Extremely tense, and can totally duplicate the collapse of the German position and the "Backhand Blow" in a way that is amazing.

[@sheridangatley8648]

I had to look back ( through your pages and pages ) at all the East Front games and found No Retreat ! Russian Front from 7 years ago. You guys have come a long way since then with your great production and sound quality and your relaxed and knowledgeable background in games and gaming. Still one of the best channels ( along with Marco and Zilla ) to inspire people to get into wargaming. Keep it rocking Boys

[@MansourReviews]

Tetsuya Nakamura = Elegance. I played and posted a video explaining the rules for A Victory Lost from MMP, what a game, and this one from the description sounds very similar. Added to my purchase list.

[@ThePlayersAid]

Yes it’s the same system, and equally as good! (Map issue aside - there’s a problem with alignment, but nothing too serious)

[@MoragTong_]

Great review. Would love to see/hear your thoughts on another Vuca Simulations game The Chase of the Bismarck.

[@HeavyH2006]

I’m a huge Vuca fan. Listening to them on interview they are very progressive team who are thoughtful about playability and production is top notch. Great review!!

[@itsme3441]

Great review! It got me really interested in the game, thanks!

[@thomasharrison4554]

Good News. Vuca is working on producing Nakamura’s Case Blue game utilizing its same chit pull system.

[@thomasharrison4554]

Donnerschlag is such a interesting game situation and it has the great graphics that Vuca is know for plus a mounted map board. Glad they will be fixing the game, it certainly deserves it. From Patrick on CSW: DS Errata & Upgrade Pack I am sorry for the inconveniences caused. I just uploaded the living rules on our website. Also, we are right now printing an upgrade pack for the game which will include revised combat cards, corrected charts, setup displays and the living rules. This upgrade pack will be available in about 2-3 months. Details will follow at a later point.

[@OldLadyPlays]

Do love me an operational game, I'm completely with you Alexander.

[@OldLadyPlays]

And "hidden" in German is "versteckt", also meaning "concealed" or "secret".

[@ianlight5158]

I've been waiting for this review!

[@TTiger75]

For me Eastern Front games is reliving a little bit the experience of my family. Both of my grandfathers fought on the Eastern Front for Germany. Both survived but never talked about their experiences. So it has quite a fascination for me trying to empathize with the traumatic experiences of their generation.

[@tookiem7618]

It's like Vuca actually wants you to get their games to the table and play. I wish more companies would take notice of the bar that Vuca has set in terms of quality, fair pricing, and accessibility.

[@michaeldemeirleir]

“There’s something romantic about East Front games”… never thought I’d hear those words… ;-)

[@sstewart116]

that was something

[@gavincolgan8095]

Got this- simple but loads of decisions & looks great…perhaps mounted board to bling and fix tiny alignment. Excellent but 2 quibbles -victory points look skewed in both long and short options - would like some attacker attrition, to drive waves. Think this will be my ‘go to’ intro war game. Tempted to get ‘storm over Jerusalem for the same reason. Which do you think is better?

[@ThePlayersAid]

Tough choice because they're very different. I think Traces of War offers a bit more traditional experience, so I might opt for that one.

[@rigorl5475]

Great review thanks, keep it up

[@clarkcommando1983]

🎉Vuca is really killing it

[@jameshiers9679]

Nice review as always. Question, this or Donnerschlag as my first Eastern-front game?

[@ThePlayersAid]

This as your first.

[@jameshiers9679]

@@ThePlayersAidRoger that, thanks!

[@thomasharrison4554]

Hold off on Donnerschlag. Vuca is currently considering an update kit to straighten out a lot of ambiguities with the cards and their actual procedures. They posted a large amount of errata in July and even better an updated PDF of the rules incorporating that errata into a revised rule book with new examples of play in August.

[@gergenheimer]

German word for "hidden" is "versteckt" and the word for "invisible" is "unsichtbar" - not sure how they mixed those translations up. 😆

[@PMMagro]

They could be American :)

[@michaelwelker8759]

Russian campaign … played since the 70s

[@flaviusbelisarius3240]

I wish MMP would reprint A Victory Lost with larger counters like VUCA does.

[@michaelwelker8759]

Side nibs on the counters?

[@ThePlayersAid]

Little cardboard tufts on the edges where they were punched out of the sprues. Because they’re pre rounded, the tufts/nibs/nubs etc are on the sides and not the corners so it’s harder to remove them.

[@clarkcommando1983]

🎉the side nubs are no big deal on these

[@thomasjay4207]

maps didn’t line up at all ..what a PITA

[@StevenPaulDesign]

That really is a beautiful map

[@johnnyjambojambo1004]

(Comment ‘hidden’) glockenspiel 😂

[@drenon8825]

I don't really know what you two knuckleheads are going on about, "East Front Games" but nice job none-the-less! Yuca sure does make make purty games!

[@kevintooroian8957]

The lip smacking doesn’t help.