Small Wargames | Monthly Debrief S4E2 | February 2024 | The Players' Aid

[@tacticaljackie4023]

Great Banter from both of you. Alexander's start was funny. The two of you gel so well. Love the monthly debriefs. Long may they last.

[@MeanderingMikesManCave]

Best first 150 seconds ever!! 🤠

[@henriwhitehead]

Love the debriefs! Great banter!

[@latthawaseepadcha1155]

Always a pleasure to see you Both joking and enjoying yourselves. Dien Bien Phu is a gem to have an understanding of one of the major issue of this battle (not to mention the stupid idea of waiting the enemy with the hubris that “we will win because we are the best”): the supply - Grant will enjoy so much! The other one is Eylau 1807 that makes huge game can become VERY pleasant to play. Let’s see what Both of you think about it. Look for forward to seeing your full analysis. ;-)

[@coyi51]

Really enjoy the debriefs & looking forward to Grants impersonation of Alexander and explaining the finer points of Minden Cricket. Most enjoyable, many thanks Gentlemen.

[@P_E_P_1966]

I love this new comedy channel

[@fsmoura]

*The Players Laugh*

[@FalkFlak]

@30:00 the game you were looking for is *Battle for Germany* from 1975 I guess which had a reprint in... 2021 I think. BfG takes 2-3 hours where Downfall seems to take 8-12 hours which is just too much.

[@ronaldnickelson2130]

I have all four of the original Ace of Aces. Earliest copyright is 1980. This series is ideal for introducing a newbie to wargaming. Can learn to play in about 20 seconds!

[@henryrodriguez6260]

I love playing the General and issuing orders at night with the wife too! An all-time favorite.

[@alexconti7932]

1:20:17 for 13 minutes I find that the first player has a big disadvantage, almost breaks the game. I am curious if that is something you saw also. For 13 days, it feels like some of the cards should not be made available for specific rounds, they feel custom made for a moment (round) in the game. Maybe a custom deck shuffle at the start of the game would have fixed this, but I got rid of 13 Days already.

[@joncomeaux5222]

Great episode. Always comment when I see y'all are talking about Robotech reconstruction. Great little game! Yall convinced me to try my first state of siege game. Ottoman sunset should be in this week.

[@e-4airman124]

thanks guys

[@plastefuchs666]

1:37:49 Maquis is an excellent solitaire game. Extremely compact, easily scalable difficulty and after the first few rounds I could knock a round out in 20 minutes. The german Schwerkraft edition has also really lovely production values (the board is two layers with cutouts to place the upgrade pieces into). I have also managed to play my first round of Vijayanagara: The Deccan Empires of Medieval India, 1290-1398 last week and came away positive. For one player it was the first COIN-style game, the other had played a round of Cuba Libra and wasn't impressed by it, but both players where eager to play another round of Vijayanagara. No idea if it still fits into the "small wargames" category", but it playing around 3ish hours for a first game and being basically an area control game, it should speed up significantly the moment you grok the core elements.

[@ThePlayersAid]

I Think whilst Vijayanagara is excellent, it would be a normal, or full size wargame, rather than a smaller one.

[@ThePlayersAid]

Grant owns Maquis just has not had a chance to play it.

[@fsmoura]

0:10 _"We need to do a video where I sit on that side and act like I'm you."_ You're gonna need to up your shirt game, mate!

[@p.d0t]

Do it on April 1st

[@daplanki7598]

Greetings from Austria, not Australia.... sorry, no Kangaroos around here... Ihr Beiden seid echt die Besten, Danke für Eure tollen Videos!

[@fluffywaffles]

Australia doesn't exist.

[@brucewachtler9093]

I always enjoy your monthly debriefs and appreciated the topic this month. My gaming space is my kitchen table, so I’m limited to one map games with a max four hour game time. I’m also a solo gamer. So, the Worthington, White Dog and Tabletop Tycoon SOS games really hit a sweet spot for me.

[@uwebech5825]

Great video gents. The Noble Knight site looks awesome, but shipping being what it is these days, I usually shop from Canadian gaming sites exclusively. Much more variety at NK though so I may give it a go. Keep providing the superb content. Always a pleasure to watch your videos.

[@boardnwargames]

Wonderful video as always! Grant's "British" (it was actually Australian!) accent was hilarious. Perhaps only surpassed by Alexander's Spanish!!!!! :)

[@paulsinn]

Any supply orientated series designed by Dean Essig requires one to make some shelf space for.

[@fsmoura]

0:15 _"But where is Alexander from, anyway? Is he from England? Or just naturally posh?"_ _"Beats me, man. I've been watching this show for years, but I was never able to find out."_ _"Aren't they brothers, though? So it must be the same as Grant. But he doesn't seem-"_ _"Shhh! I want to hear this new comedy routine of theirs."_

[@ThePlayersAid]

We’re brothers-in-law, we both married into the same family. Grant is a Hoosier from birth, and I’m from the south of England!

[@AdamMisnik]

West Berlin had militarized police units that were expected to assist in the city's defense as well as separate normal (law & order) police. East Germany's police had military missions in case of war but around Berlin were Border Police units with combat missions. The East German war plan for taking West Berlin in the 1980's envisioned their Border Police taking the lead supported by some regular army units.

[@e-4airman124]

i watch you guys for fun!😆

[@danielhernandeziniesta1665]

You pronounced very well Spanish when mentioned Navas de Tolosa game, maybe one day you will make a game review in Spanish? :D as always a great video. Hope that you will enjoy The Spanish Road, it was a logistical route from Lombardy to Flanders used mainly by Spain between 1567 and 1634. Best regards from Spain :)

[@alogie]

Great show! Only minor complaint is that it'll probably cost me a lot of money. A lot of fantastic suggestions for smaller games.

[@jon7043]

Some really great small games are Cousin's War 2nd Edition and Ogre 218. The Cousin's War people are doing another small box game that looks really cool called the 3 Sanchos. Going to get that one when it comes out.

[@patrick82o]

You’ve just convinced me to cancel my P500 order for Here I Stand to wait for the inevitable deluxified 510th Anniversary Phalanx edition a la Successors

[@ThePlayersAid]

It's the game in their catalogue in most need of a face lift.

[@mevl4822]

Great video, I watch for the chicken wing reviews and professionalism.

[@ThePlayersAid]

Honey Garlic and Jammin' Jalapeno are GOAT at BDubs.

[@miljenkomurkovic5071]

Ares just reprented everything in a War of the Ring line! Looking forward to your reviews of these games ;).

[@simonweinberger7720]

I'd add the Shores of Tripoli to the "on ramp". Brilliant game to learn the CDG mechanics

[@robertmoffitt1336]

Funny opening! 😄

[@normstewart546]

It would be interesting for you to try Storm of Steel, as long as you're on a Stuka kick. A different take on Squadron management.

[@pavelkren7677]

As always, you have guided me to other games, I will definitely pass on some suggestions for my next purchase. Yes, the old Victory Points were great. Manila by Mike Rinella is a great game, that's your work too :) I'm looking for his other games. And I envy Atlantic Sentinels my box still hasn't arrived. Another great video, keep it up and keep playing. A guy named Paul or something :)

[@ThePlayersAid]

Hahahahah, so sorry about that! It was late and my brain wasn’t functioning!

[@pavelkren7677]

@@ThePlayersAid no need to apologize, it was fun and it's a great nickname 😁and my name is really Paul in English

[@MrElliptific]

Dien Bien Phu is a bit unusual, but if you have read anything about the battle, it is an exceptional game.

[@terryp3034]

The carrots explain a lot.

[@witoldczarkowski5211]

Battle for Germany and Case Geld are the two games I know of that use this clever system that Downfall has.

[@jon7043]

Also, I expect someone has already said this, but Ares are doing a complete reprint of their War of the Ring range VERY soon. So do not spend loads on them, as they will almost certainly be a lot cheaper very soon.

[@epone3488]

Im really hoping Atlantic essentials is "Greyhound" the board game.

[@ThePlayersAid]

Greg specifically mentioned that film To us at WBC last year when talking about the game!

[@davidthompson7233]

I do LOVE Iron, Blood, Snow, and Mud! :)

[@ThePlayersAid]

Yyyyeeeaaaahhhh!

[@dr3putt62]

Saw three tables playing Downfall at PrezCon last week!

[@ThePlayersAid]

I think it’ll be a convention staple for a long time to come. It’s really fun.

[@palerocty]

I love your content. So informative and fun. Just a nit picking cc, when you are looking and discussing something at the back of a box, please show it also to your audience....

[@flaviusbelisarius3240]

Good Spanish effort! I will say something negative about the light games- they often just feel like abstract cube pushers. Pick 1-2 on topics that interest you and stop, you don't need anymore. I have 13 Days that I'm keeping, a couple of others I will get rid of. Usually when I sit down to game we want something meaty.

[@ThePlayersAid]

Totally fair on the very light one, but some of these do offer more (The Hunt, for example)

[@Aranubis]

Would love to see Ace of Aces with jets. Maybe when the remake is successfull.

[@lukec1146]

Just do a Cary Grant accent and you'll nail his accent.

[@hendrikd2113]

Well, aCtUaLlY not every 4th year is a leap year.

[@derekrledr5955]

Hilarious intro to the video! I would pay good money to go watch that act in Vegas! I really enjoyed your discussion of small games. I have played and loved many of them. Sadly, 1979 is firmly attached to my shelf of shame. I REALLY want to try it... I sort of understand the rules, but have no idea how to play it... so I am reluctant to try to teach it. One minor disagreement... I usually love Mark Herman games (eagerly awaiting Rebel fury)... but Fort Sumter just didn't work for me. As for all of the monster games... not my cup of tea... I am over 70... and worry I will be dead before I can set them up!

[@ThePlayersAid]

Monster games are absolutely specific for a certain period in your life. Rarely has anyone always played them from crib to coffin. we've played a few mini monsters, but are trying to commit to some really big ones over the course of a longer time frame.

[@lukeseeley9056]

Have either of you played any of the Pocket Campaign Series from Surprised Stare Games? They fit the theme of this month's debrief. I've been contemplating getting them so I'd be interested in your opinion if you've played any of them. I am especially interested in their latest, War of the 3 Sanchos. Thanks for another great video!

[@ThePlayersAid]

We have not played that :(

[@tomme7930]

They’re really good and what I was going to recommend

[@crapphone7744]

Nith Cathtillian acthent!

[@malexander4094]

@1:13:00 I love you guys but not even a Spanish toddler would say "Lath Navath de Tolotha."

[@ThePlayersAid]

No, but a Catalan might! 😅

[@malexander4094]

@@ThePlayersAid If one parent was British.

[@derMikester]

Hi guys! Just some very direct feedback here on the channel content. Recently close to 1/3 of videos posted are Unboxings. These just plain and simply really are not that valuable compared to the other content you produce with your extremely valuable time. I’d therefore kindly suggest you take careful account of where you direct your future endeavors. You have a great channel we all appreciate dearly. Be mindful to not dilute the impact you can otherwise be making with your limited time. Very Best - Neil

[@wartable]

Tried to play Zero Leader….horrible rule book…gave up

[@charlesstubbs385]

You guys can't talk Australian 🤣🤣

[@ThePlayersAid]

It’s true, mate!