I don’t get to play war games very often (I need better friends) but one game I play fairly often is Star Wars Risk, the version that’s not actually Risk but a TIE Fighter-shaped board modeling the battle at the end of Return of the Jedi. This is a simple game with a binary state: the rebels win, or lose -- unlike Zheng He, Stronghold or any other game where speed or margin matters. In my experience, the rebels win almost all the time, which matches the “historical” outcome, but makes for an unsatisfying game.
Great column! Your discussion of a "future history simulator" brings to mind Dice of Decision, the scenario generator for Totaler Krieg. Players work through a series of charts and die rolls, starting with the opening moves in World War I, to create a different world for the start of World War II. I keep thinking about how it could be converted into a game where the player(s) can apply points to try and change the die rolls in an attempt to influence the outcome. I haven't come up with a solution yet.
I don’t get to play war games very often (I need better friends) but one game I play fairly often is Star Wars Risk, the version that’s not actually Risk but a TIE Fighter-shaped board modeling the battle at the end of Return of the Jedi. This is a simple game with a binary state: the rebels win, or lose -- unlike Zheng He, Stronghold or any other game where speed or margin matters. In my experience, the rebels win almost all the time, which matches the “historical” outcome, but makes for an unsatisfying game.
Great column! Your discussion of a "future history simulator" brings to mind Dice of Decision, the scenario generator for Totaler Krieg. Players work through a series of charts and die rolls, starting with the opening moves in World War I, to create a different world for the start of World War II. I keep thinking about how it could be converted into a game where the player(s) can apply points to try and change the die rolls in an attempt to influence the outcome. I haven't come up with a solution yet.
This is pretty cool! I will have to check it out. I have Totaler Krieg somewhere.