I got it in the Compass sale last year and have been wanting to get it played ever since. It was the "November in Nam" idea that made me decide now is the time.
This is the first review of yours that I've seen, and I'm still interested. But for my taste and timing I would have appreciated some sort of format and signposting to say overall style, key dynamics and scope for innovation versus mathematical optimisation. Hope the feedback is helpful, despite sample of one.
Fair warning the solitaire rules are garbage. I would suggest doing this two handed, but the campaign cards and hidden VC mechanic make it a little schizophrenic. The designer on BGG admitted the solitaire system was seriously undercooked. “The solitaire rules were initially poorly written. I had been working with a play testing group that disbanded while I was under publication deadlines and several other family crises. Rushed the finished product and well, had to suck it up afterward.” John Poniske Designer. Also be aware the flowcharts are NOT for the solitaire game. They just explain the gameplay flow. This is a cool game that is best with 2 players and requires each side to play with very different strategies. Red should focus on political change with the VC and use hit and run tactics with the NVA. US needs to drive away the VC and keep the US units spread out across the map and win some campaigns. You will hear people say it's rare for Blue to win, but after a few plays I found the opposite was true.
I assume you switched sides. Do you think it is impossible or just loaded to the point that if two competent players square off it definitely leans against the US. If a weaker player handled that side might it be possible?
Timely! Its on my table right now and has been for a month. Just lacking time to dig in. Maybe once the snow starts to fly...
I got it in the Compass sale last year and have been wanting to get it played ever since. It was the "November in Nam" idea that made me decide now is the time.
This is the first review of yours that I've seen, and I'm still interested. But for my taste and timing I would have appreciated some sort of format and signposting to say overall style, key dynamics and scope for innovation versus mathematical optimisation. Hope the feedback is helpful, despite sample of one.
Thanks, appreciate the feedback. This video was more of a component overview. I'll get into the rules when I do my gameplay videos.
does Joe have enough table space for this beast?
Yup, I do!
Fair warning the solitaire rules are garbage. I would suggest doing this two handed, but the campaign cards and hidden VC mechanic make it a little schizophrenic. The designer on BGG admitted the solitaire system was seriously undercooked. “The solitaire rules were initially poorly written. I had been working with a play testing group that disbanded while I was under publication deadlines and several other family crises. Rushed the finished product and well, had to suck it up afterward.” John Poniske Designer. Also be aware the flowcharts are NOT for the solitaire game. They just explain the gameplay flow. This is a cool game that is best with 2 players and requires each side to play with very different strategies. Red should focus on political change with the VC and use hit and run tactics with the NVA. US needs to drive away the VC and keep the US units spread out across the map and win some campaigns. You will hear people say it's rare for Blue to win, but after a few plays I found the opposite was true.
Thanks for the info!
Good luck getting the U.S. to win, we couldn’t and ultimately permanently shelved the game.
I assume you switched sides. Do you think it is impossible or just loaded to the point that if two competent players square off it definitely leans against the US. If a weaker player handled that side might it be possible?
Thanks Steve. I suppose it should be difficult, but not impossible, for the U.S. to win.
@@HexedAndCountered We found it impossible.