Review: Pavlov's House from DVG - The Players' Aid

Website: www.theplayersaid.com
Patreon: www.patreon.com/theplayersaid

[@Kili121416]

Damn, another game added to the must buy list.

[@euripidesghost2197]

The Players Aid never lets me down with wargame reviews. I just recently ordered this game (and also a neoprene playmat). Thanks for the gaming overview and review!!!

[@horrido666]

And thank you DVG for keeping the price down. I was able to get it in the door for about $50.

[@skiddwister9143]

Can't wait for the playthrough. I've played it solo and enjoy the heck out of it.

[@XHuntinatorX]

Good review guys. This multi-level system is very cool. I think it could be really fleshed out in the future. I’ve been playing a lot of Warfighter WWII and Dawn of the Zeds lately so I am VERY interested in this game. Looks like the game has a very good flow and it seems very approachable for new players. A good game to “trick” people into playing a war game that would otherwise not... :).

[@bobd3683]

A VU t-shirt spotting! And this game is a blast as well!

[@KSweeney36]

This videos are awesome. Could you in the video description include the BBG link?

[@KSweeney36]

Have you thought about doing a short video or two for the Dice Tower? They have nothing doing games like these and Space Empire 4x. Space Empire 4x actually brought me to your channel, after dice Tower didn’t have what I wanted. I would guess there are many others, who would love your videos.

[@varovaro1967]

Great! Thank you for the video!

[@alangreenwood5822]

Looks good. Very tempted by this! Another great video from you guy's! Would this system work for the British para's at Arnhem, the US at Bastogne or the Fallshirmjager at Monte Casino?

[@ThePlayersAid]

It could very easily be adapted to those conflicts, obviously at a slightly larger scale. The designer is already working on a few other titles that are also in this same tactical level with regards to the ground units and defensive situation.

[@spider1234556]

Great review, thanks, I am normally worried about quality in the DVG games but this one seems the play will overcome any issues in this case.

[@bgm-1961]

Hmm.... Am not wanting to challenge your own experiences, but I have four DVG games and I've always found the component quality to be superb... top tier, actually. The cardboard components are always thick with sharp printing and good colors. The mounted boards always rival those from any other top publisher. The cardstock is thick and sturdy. Even the rulebook paper is deluxe. ... But the only complaint I have about DVG games is the rulebook's. While the aforementioned quality of the paper and printing is suberb, the CONTENT always leaves MUCH to be desired. I've found DVG rulebook's to generally be full of holes and assumptions. The only exception in my collection is the 2nd version of the B-17 Leader rulebook. The first version was written in typical DVG style. But the designer (one of the few DVG games NOT designed by Dan Verssen), after reading so much frustration in the forums over the rulebook, took it upon himself to rewrite the entire rulebook in his own style and it's 1000% better. So I hope that the designer of Pavlov's House was also given the freedom to write the rulebook in a more useful style than we typically get from DVG.

[@joelcole161]

@@bgm-1961 When I read Jackster's comment, I immediately thought, " rulebooks "

[@bgm-1961]

Wow, this is certainly an innovative evolution of solitaire wargame mechanics! A huge advancement in the States of Siege system, at least. So I really like what I see from this system. Though I hope it's implemented in additional games, using other facets of WWII (or other industrial wars) as the subject. I'm going to pass on this game only because the subject of Stalingrad - though as gritty and tragic as it was - has never interested me. And I can't get into a game - no matter how good it is - unless the subject grabs me. So here's to hoping that this system is used again for other subjects. I'll be keeping my eye out! EDIT: Ah! Teaches me for not reading the other comments first! I see David's comment below has answered my wish.

[@supark3244]

Grant has played it more than 10 times yet likes 50 ft Colossi more. I might have to break down and buy Attack of the 50 ft Colossi. Nostalgic of Sci Fi movies of my youth.

[@TheTheshadow32]

A WELCOME break from the usual totally unrealistic and mindless dice AI DVG solo games. The game is one of the very best new wargames out this year. A very good historical background complements an advanced Siege system that adds so much more than any VP game. If you like solo games ... a must have. Forget this was published by DVG. It was developped/designed by an independant person. It has something that their other games lack: historical references and angles coupled with tactical decisions and operational support.

[@prash11leo]

what's an easier (not in terms of rules complexity, but in terms of how brutally the game depends on dice rolls or card draws) game you'd suggest for a beginner to war games?

[@wombat7366]

Great overview of an interesting new game! Just a minor point that does not affect game play. Why is the Volga Flotilla represented on the operational map with trucks rather than ships?

[@ThePlayersAid]

Yeah, no idea on that one

[@davidthompson7233]

Do you mean the Volga Flotilla counter areas? They're not just trucks. They are ZIS-5 N2P 60 ton Pontoon Carriers. This type of vehicle was used by the 44th Motorized Pontoon Battalion, which was attached to the 62nd Army and supported the Volga Military Flotilla. If you're interested in any of the iconography of the tokens, you can read about the details and origin for each one in the companion book: digitalcapricorn.com/Pavlov/Downloads/Companion_Final.pdf

[@wombat7366]

David, thanks for your reply and the great link!

[@2532robh1]

Excellent.

[@alangreenwood5822]

Also if this were a GMT game, what difficulty rating would you guy's give it?

[@ThePlayersAid]

3 or 4 at most. Very easy to learn.

[@Conflict_Boardgaming]

As soon as you said DVG, you lost me. I'm not a big fan of DVG games.

[@davidthompson7233]

Sorry to hear that, John.

[@Conflict_Boardgaming]

David No need to be sorry. I simply don't enjoy his games. Please feel free to enjoy whatever games make you happy!

[@mattalbr]

DVG only published the game. It was designed by David Thompson. The published version is 99.9% the same as the PnP that David released before it got picked up by DVG. You need not have any concern about this being like any other DVG game. Also, component quality is high.