I'm a bit confused. Is it Romans vs huns or Byzantines vs Sassanides? Because there's quite a bit of difference in terms of geographical locations, battles, armour as well as the time (romans vs huns being ancient, not medieval warfare).
I think your bias against the C&C Ancients hurts your review of this game Sam. I suspect that players that enjoy Ancients will not dislike Medieval based on your criticisms.
Sam here...why would you think that I would expect them to dislike anything based on my criticisms? My criticisms are just and only that...my own criticisms: why I don't like the game, not anyone else. A review isn't a debate in which I am trying to win over anyone to my side. It's a simple collection of statements concerning what I thought about the game in question...take it or leave it...agree with it or not...it's truly okay to do that.
I think the review is entirely reasonable. A review has to contain personal input otherwise there's little point to it. The important thing is that the reviewer explains where they are coming from so people can decide whether the game, music or film will be their cup of tea, So for instance I am interested in classical and Medieval history so adjust for that whilst I'm afraid I really dislike the command and colours card and dice system. It's up to me as a potential purchaser to make those adjustments and not the job of a reviewer to have no opinion his or herself.
Agree about the time period... But how they changed cavalry among other things I think will allow this to work it's way through the stages of the period pretty well. Do think it could of been placed about 500 years later!
I really enjoy the C&C line of games, my first being Memoir '44 and my favorite being Battlelore 2.0. But...what is it with GMT? They've had a fairly successful run of some interesting wargames but why so drab looking? As a veteran gamer, appearance isn't everything and content rules supreme (that goes for movies and video games as well). Flashy games and movies obviously fail without an engaging well thought story. However, the enterprises that have good content benefit greatly with compelling artwork. GMT isn't known for this and here we have Medieval, which looks boring as hell. I don't need fancy miniatures (but that's always nice) and great components but c'mon! This is a $75 retail game with shoddy-looking components and extremely drab artwork! On the shelf nothing screams "buy me", especially to new and younger gamers. Maybe that's why it's 75 bucks...not gonna sell many of these! Knizia's "Battle Line" is a fantastic starter two-player card game (my 81 year old father loves it) that is easy and plays well. Again, a GMT production and yes the artwork is horrendous! We are going into 2020 not 1980 and GMT really needs to step up their game (pun intended). For 75 dollars, or even 50, this game isn't even on my radar. The drab, dismal, boring productions of the past (Avalon Hill was guilty of this as well and look what happened) are over. Tell these guys at GMT to step it up if they really want to sell games! A good review Sam but a little generous with a 7/10 rating. Yep, I love the system too but if you are going to get players to the table, this is not going to do it.
@@anab0lic : yes! And it's a great improvement! That doesn't give GMT a pass on their ridiculously expensive games that others do better. Their production is horrible.
I like the look of this, and appreciate the functionality of the blocks as opposed to minis. It looks super clean. The big downside of course is the hour or so of sticker prep before playing.
nice to see a review of a wargame, seems like it's been a long time
Great concise review!
I'm a bit confused. Is it Romans vs huns or Byzantines vs Sassanides? Because there's quite a bit of difference in terms of geographical locations, battles, armour as well as the time (romans vs huns being ancient, not medieval warfare).
It is mainly Byzantines vs Sassanides. Most scenarios are placed in the Era of Belesarius. There are scenarios VS Huns too.
So, if you are reviewing BMT games, Samy or Tom should review SpaceCorps 2025-2300.
I think your bias against the C&C Ancients hurts your review of this game Sam. I suspect that players that enjoy Ancients will not dislike Medieval based on your criticisms.
Sam here...why would you think that I would expect them to dislike anything based on my criticisms? My criticisms are just and only that...my own criticisms: why I don't like the game, not anyone else. A review isn't a debate in which I am trying to win over anyone to my side. It's a simple collection of statements concerning what I thought about the game in question...take it or leave it...agree with it or not...it's truly okay to do that.
I think the review is entirely reasonable. A review has to contain personal input otherwise there's little point to it. The important thing is that the reviewer explains where they are coming from so people can decide whether the game, music or film will be their cup of tea, So for instance I am interested in classical and Medieval history so adjust for that whilst I'm afraid I really dislike the command and colours card and dice system. It's up to me as a potential purchaser to make those adjustments and not the job of a reviewer to have no opinion his or herself.
So, this is what took the place of Battlelore 1e, huh? Not bad looking.
you have the choice of using the leader or not - your review is off kilter
This period is usually known as late antiquity. True Medieval needs another game entirely.
Agree about the time period... But how they changed cavalry among other things I think will allow this to work it's way through the stages of the period pretty well. Do think it could of been placed about 500 years later!
Middle Ages lasted 1000 years and started with Byzantines vs Huns, Vandals and Sassanids.
Later Middle Ages are not "truer" than High Middle Ages.
I really enjoy the C&C line of games, my first being Memoir '44 and my favorite being Battlelore 2.0.
But...what is it with GMT? They've had a fairly successful run of some interesting wargames but why so drab looking? As a veteran gamer, appearance isn't everything and content rules supreme (that goes for movies and video games as well). Flashy games and movies obviously fail without an engaging well thought story. However, the enterprises that have good content benefit greatly with compelling artwork.
GMT isn't known for this and here we have Medieval, which looks boring as hell. I don't need fancy miniatures (but that's always nice) and great components but c'mon! This is a $75 retail game with shoddy-looking components and extremely drab artwork!
On the shelf nothing screams "buy me", especially to new and younger gamers. Maybe that's why it's 75 bucks...not gonna sell many of these!
Knizia's "Battle Line" is a fantastic starter two-player card game (my 81 year old father loves it) that is easy and plays well. Again, a GMT production and yes the artwork is horrendous! We are going into 2020 not 1980 and GMT really needs to step up their game (pun intended).
For 75 dollars, or even 50, this game isn't even on my radar. The drab, dismal, boring productions of the past (Avalon Hill was guilty of this as well and look what happened) are over. Tell these guys at GMT to step it up if they really want to sell games!
A good review Sam but a little generous with a 7/10 rating. Yep, I love the system too but if you are going to get players to the table, this is not going to do it.
p500 reprint of battleline has upgraded art.
@@anab0lic : yes! And it's a great improvement! That doesn't give GMT a pass on their ridiculously expensive games that others do better. Their production is horrible.
anab0lic, yes and it’s medieval themed--looks excellent and I thinks adds to the OPs post
Have to completely disagree. GMT publications are consistently gorgeous.
I like the look of this, and appreciate the functionality of the blocks as opposed to minis. It looks super clean. The big downside of course is the hour or so of sticker prep before playing.
C&C always had leaders and retreat was similar. There's nothing new to it.
Memoir 44 has no leaders.
How is this game solitaire?
You forgot to mention blocks in a con section;)