The Spanish Road (C3i #37)

Full playthrough of this fun little solo game

[@danielhernandeziniesta1665]

Hi Justin. Thanks a lot for your video and comments and most important for me as designee is to watch people playing and having fun with it. Short-time play and full of options as you saw. The first decision is always "which path to take?" Savoy seems easier (seems easier, but the enemy armies get closer there) vs the Swiss Confederation-Flanders (with a lower value when leaving the region, but an attrition die-roll). Both are good options, the first one through Savoy is a shorter (so faster) vs the other is longer. So you may reach Flanders faster through Savoy if not stuck with battles and sieges but if you win you get those VPs, but the other may give you more chances to build Spanish Road markers (and if in a row, some nice extra VPs). So both options are great and may give you VPs ... if successful of course.But both are great options, you did a great choose (also remember the leaders special bonus so you can pick at start the one fits your strategy as battle, siege, etc.). If an enemy army has to move to an area with another enemy army the movement is cancelled. Also when you reach Flanders the game ends immediately and you evaluate the victory with possible extra VPs. If you think relevant, I may write a strategy article about operations and game decisions. For the player aid, I agree that however it is not a long rulebook a player aid with all tables will be helpful for gameplay, and if someone is interested to make it or even I can do it one myself and upload it on BGG. So glad that you are enjoying it, on 4th June I will present the game and 'The Collapse' my upcoming strategic design for the whole 30 years' war at Georgetown University Wargaming Group and 8th at SD Hist Con (both are online), so I am looking very much myself to demo and present the games. Great video Justin, if you have any questions or whatever you want to talk feel free to let me know and I will gladly help you. Best regards from Spain :)

[@Justegarde]

Thank you! I ended up playing a second game with a different leader and chose the Swiss route. Made it almost all the way but was defeated by a Protestant army right next to Flanders. Really enjoy the game, excited to see what you’ve got for the next one. Cheers!

[@ArnoVdVelde]

The Artwork by Nils Johansson really make this pop. I also really really like this topic. Would be neat to see something multiplayer focussed.

[@Justegarde]

Anything Nils does is money. He’s got another game about 18th century warfare coming from Legion that also has a great visual design.

[@ArnoVdVelde]

Wasn't on my radar. Might need to look at that sometimes. Got a hunch Baltic empires is also going to look very nice.

[@danielhernandeziniesta1665]

Hi and thanks for your kind comments and that you enjoy the game. Nils Johansson made a fantastic work when I sent him the prototype files for the map and counters after the playtest, and he did a gorgeous work but also he captured the "era" of the game and as you see the map and counters make you feel that you are on the 16-17th centuries. 'The Spanish Road' is a small game based in my upcoming strategic wargame design 'The Collapse' which is a 2-6 players game that covers the entire 30 years' war from 1618 until 1648 in case you are interested in the topic to have a look at it. Daniel Hernández Iniesta

[@danielhernandeziniesta1665]

@@Justegarde I agree with everything you said. And in addition I will say that he is a very nice and humble person to work with, and we had a lot of fun working together on the game

[@ArnoVdVelde]

@@danielhernandeziniesta1665 Oh, had no idea about that one. I only knew about Cuius Regio from GMT that is in the pipeline. A big messy interconnected multiplayer game does seem to really suit the 30 years way. I have been reading 'Europe's Tragedy' so I am kind of keen to check something like that out. Will have to keep an eye on that!

[@sstewart116]

thanks

[@danielhernandeziniesta1665]

Hi Justin. I wanted to ask if you would like to upload the video yourself at the BGG page of the game or if I can do it myself? the video looks great and will be great to have it there for everyone else interested to watch it

[@Justegarde]

I can upload it today. I am behind on linking my videos there.