Tactics II from Avalon Hill - A Nostalgic Look Back

[@MoesWargames]

Looking back at these old classics is a fantastic step back in time. Some people may chide them as too simplistic nowadays, and by today's standard they are. However, they were solid designs for the time and remember... the games of today stand on the shoulders of games like this. Just as the games of tomorrow will stand on the shoulders of the games of today.

[@johndoucette6085]

I have this game, still, and still love it. Yes it is a simplistic design, but what it, and a great many of those early games/less complicated games do exceedingly well is teach the basic concepts of hex-and-counter wargaming, which make the more complex/modern designs that much easier to learn and play. Like you say, we wouldn't be where we are in wargaming without these old gems.

[@MoesWargames]

@@johndoucette6085 100% agree!

[@1teamski]

This was my first wargame. I got it as a kid at Goodwill and it started me on a lifelong hobby. I actually got my dad to play me a couple times and he wiped me out every time. What a game!!!!

[@MoesWargames]

Great stories start with great games, and they put us on the road for more great games and great stories to share with friends and family!

[@fallout1116]

This was also my first wargame, bought new in shrinkwrap in about 1977.

[@kirbyculp3449]

One of my first games! And one of the few that other teens would play with me. I did a lot of solitare games.

[@CenturionsReview]

That's a great copy. No torn corners and everything inside looks mint!

[@MoesWargames]

I know right? I was beside myself when I opened it. It was literally like opening my own copy so many years ago. A real time warp moment that was so very cool!

[@MrProsat]

Yea, it is a beautiful copy. Mine looks like a truck ran it over. Moving isn't kind to wargames...

[@aarondanis7574]

I would be wearing gloves handling that!

[@MoesWargames]

@@aarondanis7574 I did handle it carefully, but didn't give the full white glove treatment. ;)

[@jamesrathschmidt3660]

This was my first war game in 1960 when I was 10. On snow days my older brother & I, after wearing ourselves out playing in the snow, would come in and play this game for the rest of the day! What an adventure it was to my child mind. I came close to winning several times. Great game! Thanks.

[@MoesWargames]

Such great memories, thanks for sharing!

[@JerryDWhite]

Was also my first game and that was in 1960. I still have that copy which has been well used. I also found a copy about 15 years ago at a yard sale and it was in like new shape. Great game.

[@MoesWargames]

That's awesome Jerry!

[@Aquadoc1962]

Still have my 1960 copy which was my second board wargame, the first being Gettysburg which I got on Christmas 1959. I also picked up Waterloo, D-Day and Chancellorsville in that time period before eventually moving on into SPI games. I played Tactics II many times and I dimly remember that many of the games developed into a stalemate or river crossing slug fest. That may have been because of the mountains and forest covering the flanks, forcing the armies to battle out in the center. I can't remember is the use of the nuclear option remedied this. I wish there was a PC version of it that could be played PBEM. There are Vassal modules for both Tactics II and the original Tactics games. I think this game would still work as a beginner game for newbies.

[@MoesWargames]

Yea. it's a good beginner game and for a fun night at home playing solo and digging the nostalgia! :)

[@conflictmagazine]

Classic...absolute classic...the mac daddy...and to be honest I like the clean and functional map board and components of this game ( I've learned that the prettier the game components are the harder they are to use...Jena 20 from VPG...those counters were maddening). And that is a super nice copy...even the staples show no sign of rust (yes, I notice things like that and even when buying a used game the first thing I do is change the staples 9 times out of 10 to stop it from destroying the rulebook). I don't know when that one was printed but the paper is super crisp...god I love non-acidic paper (-: Thanks for showing this one off...excellent...

[@MoesWargames]

Agreed on all points!

[@Joel-in-Las-Vegas]

Great copy and a great gift. Played the heck out of it and made more units with the blank counters. By 1995 mine was well used and already in storage. The colors on that map are so bright and new.

[@MoesWargames]

I know, it's in such great condition that I literally felt the same way I did when I got my copy as a kid. A really awesome throwback moment!

[@aarondanis7574]

Unreal! Did the owner keep it in a vault for 60 years?

[@MoesWargames]

@@aarondanis7574 sure looks like it doesn't it? :)

[@venomguy6381]

Thanks for the memories! I loved the game! My dad's friend loaned me his copy, which I played over and over. My friends and I really liked the nuclear option! I finally bought myself a copy last year.

[@MoesWargames]

Everyone wants to try the nuclear option of course, since it's the safe way to play with the utmost terrible weapon. Glad it brought back memories for you too! :)

[@venomguy6381]

@@MoesWargames Unfortunately, my life is such that I rarely get to play anything. I guess that is why the memories are even more endearing.

[@MoesWargames]

@@venomguy6381 sorry to hear that life gets in the way of your gaming. I have similar issues with my scheduling and often have to squeeze in several games together when I've got time.

[@hawksboy]

Loved this game. may have to buy it again and find some opponents!

[@MoesWargames]

It's a classic and we all spent so much of our youth enjoying this one, and others from AH at the time!

[@erico888]

Good times. I had this game when I was 12-13, loved it. Great vid.

[@MoesWargames]

Same here, it was such a fun walk down memory lane! Glad you enjoyed it too! :)

[@erico888]

@@MoesWargames One thing that sticks with me is the smell of the games and components when you opened it up. Weird maybe, but yeah.

[@mikitankbank]

I enjoyed your enthusiasm for this video, it made me nostalgic for a game I have never played.

[@MoesWargames]

Thanks Jose! Yea, this was a very nice surprise to have in my hands once again after all of these years, brought back a lot of great memories! :)

[@airborneranger-ret]

Nicely done :)

[@MoesWargames]

Thanks, glad you liked this walk down memory lane!

[@justRayEvansopinion]

This game was the catalyst for what was to follow. How many saw that back in the 50s? Yes of course it is simplistic etc compared to what we see today. However one shouldn't let hindsight cloud one's judgement of this game. As you say every journey starts with the first step, and one should view Tactics Two in that light.

[@MoesWargames]

So very true!

[@naslan]

LOVE this game and have it handy. First games I got and played from AH were Squad Leader and Luftwaffe. I never see any reviews of the latter, but I am glad to see the attention on Tactics II!

[@MoesWargames]

Classic games are classics for a reason! Lots of love for this one too. :)

[@ReekofCarcass88]

My dad gave that game and his name was also Brian Patterson. Wait a second...

[@MoesWargames]

Your dad is the best! ;)

[@ReekofCarcass88]

@@MoesWargames yeah he really is, anyway, thanks for showting him out. He was really surprised and excited.

[@MoesWargames]

@@ReekofCarcass88 it was the least I could do after the generous gift he sent me!

[@Jivanmuktishu]

I ran into Tactics II in the late Fifities, when I was a freshman, in the University Book Store. It got my eye because I was a serious Chess player, and student of Go, and also of the Strategies of Clauseiwitz and Sun.Dz. I saw Tactics as a kind of 3D.Chess. I ought it, and studied the rules, and playsturbated and at.last tott a friend, and then another. After Tactics, AH discovered the hexagon, whwich connects with sif directions, rather than the four of a square. AH began to release a whole range of board games, some teaching skills like railroad management, and others back to battle. My favorite was a simulation of the Russian Campaign, Hitler against Stalin. There ott to be a way to digitalize these games, retaining their identity as board games. BTW the packe onscreen has a very complicated results table. I do not recall that in the first release. Thank you, Moe!

[@MoesWargames]

Thanks for watching Jiva Das, hope you enjoyed a little walk down memory lane with me! :) The CRT was funny to me back then because it seemed like the times tables we had at school. Man did it look involved at first, until you realize it wasn't that bad once you played.

[@chrispix61]

Friend of mine introduced me to this game in the early 1980s, it became an obsession...we played It 2 or 3 times a week and on the weekends sometimes we would go for the advanced that would last days on end.

[@MoesWargames]

It's a classic that brings back a lot of great memories for everyone isn't it? So much fun when our lives were simpler. :)

[@jobu88]

Didn't stand up well over time but I loved playing it back in the day. Sadly I lost my original copy when I moved across country.

[@MoesWargames]

Nostalgia helps it stand up well enough for me. I can overlook any shortcomings because the game brings back so many great memories of early wargaming days.

[@KWHgames]

Memories . . . like the corners of my mind . . .

[@KWHgames]

That is a "sweet" copy!

[@MoesWargames]

Of the way... we gamed.... :)

[@shaywalsh2208]

Got this game at a local car boot sale many years ago. Will have to dig out and play.

[@MoesWargames]

Always good to revisit the classics. :)

[@joeokabayashi8669]

Tactics II, also takes me back to my youth!

[@MoesWargames]

Classics never die! :)

[@chuckgaydos5387]

Avalon Hill's Guadalcanal was my first wargame in the 1960's but Tactics II was the most played.

[@MoesWargames]

Looking back on these classics is always fun! Great memories aren't they?

[@chuckgaydos5387]

Yes, but I don't feel the desire to take it up again. I'm not as competitive as I used to be.

[@MoesWargames]

@@chuckgaydos5387 I play for the fun of playing now, more so than winning. I enjoy winning as much as the next guy, but I enjoy the fun of playing more.

[@jimsmith7445]

Have two copies of this game... fantastic game! The best game for a real strategist!!!! Too bad we can't update a few things... a new CRT (Unit breakdown, air units....)...

[@MoesWargames]

Always great to pull it out and relive the early days of wargames! :)

[@everymanesh2132]

This is superiour!

[@MoesWargames]

It's a classic game! :)

[@benschwader4537]

It is a great game. i played it many tmes.

[@MoesWargames]

It's a classic!

[@jacktyler2880]

This was my second, after Gettysburg '61. Loved it because I wasn't locked into any historical requirements. But I've had a question about this for 60 years, and haven't found an answer yet, even when Charles Roberts' daughter did a Q&A on an Avalon-Hill Facebook group. By your left hand in the map scenes, a red road runs south from the 4-square city toward the forest. One square before it ends, a diagonal road leads off toward the port city to the southeast. The road stops at the forest with a sort of taper-off, like the brush or pen was lifted mid-stroke. Is this an error? Should the road have gone down that diagonal with no extension toward the forest? A nothing point, I know, but curious minds will be driven to distraction by such unanswered questions.

[@jamespascarella3336]

I want to see an expansion of this game with offshore islands and air and naval units.

[@MoesWargames]

Unless someone does it as a fan made one, I doubt we'd see anything extra come for this at this time.

[@clarkcommando1983]

My first Wargame to in 1975

[@MoesWargames]

Great memories!

[@anthonypierson6790]

More...I’ll dig out my home brew rules for you. You will get a chuckle.

[@MoesWargames]

Awesome! I'd love to see them!

[@mikirk1]

maybe post somewhere? like BGG or Consim?

[@MoesWargames]

@@mikirk1 yea, definitely post to both places.

[@lawrencekarabats5386]

Have the original game which did not have infantry and tank designations other than Arm and Inf printed on the pieces.

[@elbonian1166]

Looking for the game play videos, did you record any??

[@MoesWargames]

Not yet, I've been working on multiple projects and currently moving houses. No games for me for a while now, definitely jonesing for some wargames!

[@NullSpaceKid]

I have a very old edition of this. None of them fancy shmancy NATO symbols or printed factors on my counters, instead they say like '2 ARM' or '5 INF'

[@MoesWargames]

Old school. :)

[@JavisoGaming]

Where do you recommend I buy this? Amazon? eBay?

[@MoesWargames]

This is no longer in print, so you'll need to pick this up on the secondary market. It's usually available for good prices, sometimes excellent prices!

[@JavisoGaming]

@@MoesWargames Any suggestions on secondary markets that you reference? Board Game Geek?

[@TonyArjona]