I love the concept of placing components from all three boxes into the Reinforcements Box. Saves soooo much space on the shelf. More space = more room for games... :)
Gee... there should be a law against making plastic inserts which can't hold sleeved cards. Not to mention a law against making expansions or errata where the colors don't match on the cards. Matagot published Seasons of Inis with cards not matching. Phalanx just did an update-kit for Hannibal where they provided stickers to put on the cards as errata !?!?! This is just a no-go. Somehow GMT seems to be able to take card colors and errata serious. I've never had a problem there.
I think I need to defend Osprey a bit here: 1. The card backs are not as bad as in Marco's example in all cases. There is no difference in mine, and if it is a slight difference, sleeving them will minimise the issue. 2. The box holds fully sleeved cards. I have my entire set in premium mayday sleeves and it all fits; just check bgg for examples of this.
@@scott3656 Ok... points taken. I've had games which didn't hold sleeved cards unless I went with special "perfect-fit" sleeves too. But then they did. It does however still leave the question: How do you ensure you don't get a copy like Marco's ?
@@pm71241 I totally agree and accept that this is still a problem. I think with the question you pose, any potential buyers also need to consider "what difference will this make?". I don't see this series of games as one where such an issue would tip off your opponent very much. I am too busy looking at my own hand to be staring at my opponents card backs...but others may totally disagree.
@@scott3656 ... others do. I can reluctantly accept errata which only pose an aesthetics problem (like stickers to patch up the game board) ... but the whole points of this kind of cards is that it facilitates a game mechanism to provide hidden information. This is objectively an information leak. - defeating the purpose of the game mechanism. I hate playing with playing cards which have been bent too.
"Gee, there should be a law against"...... sleeving cards! I hate sleeved cards, I want to feel the paper/cardboard, not horrible plastic. Learn to deal, shuffle and handle cards like a magician and your cards will last without sleeves ( the amount of times I see people bend and flick while placing cards and grip them tightly in their hand and rifle shuffle cards!!!!!! None of my cards in any of my games are sleeved and they are all as new. ALL YOUR OTHER POINTS A+++++
I agree. I play dozens of multi player game solo and its still fun. But I have to admit I was intrigued by what the BOT decided vs what I would have done..As a result, Reinforcements is a worthwhile Game. I look forward to Stalingrad
The box is a gimmick. You want sleeved cards and they don't fit... The cards get mixed all the time so SLEEVE them. So instead of two(2) small boxes you now have one (1) big box. cards get replaced by Osprey upon request and proof of purchase. The qulaity contol is way off, cards, solo cards, counter not centered... But tyhe game is good.
Osprey had a similar problem with non-matching colour shades of card backs for the expansion to their “The lost expedition” game. Shouldn’t be that difficult to get right, surely?
Thanks Marco. I'm very happy with my purchase but the unsleeved cards only tray design and card back issue is a real detractor to an otherwise great addition to the series IMO. But, that said, we'll endure. :)
Very interesting comment on AI. I’m right there with you. Grew up playing AH and SPI games solo, both sides to the best of my ability. Used the AI cards in Lock n Load games, but found myself going “nope, this is a more appropriate move” quite a few times. It is nice to have the option though.
That’s because the Ln L AI system sucks and was not tuned like the CoH system it was copied from. You can’t simply apply AI cards as such on old scenarios and think it will work. I think these comments don’t respect the huge work that some designers have done to evolve SOLO gaming to what it finally has become these days. Look around: more than 80% of the newest launched boardgames have proper solo modes in one way or another and games like Enemy Action Ardennes or Dune : Imperium or Falling Skies have absolutely fantastic Bot mechanics. If you don’t want to experiment with them, no problem, but you will miss out on a lot of fun too.
@@TheTheshadow32 Oh, don’t get me wrong. I love trying new solo systems out and am quite impressed with many. Similarly, the TTRPG world is also beginning to come round to integrating solo rules, which replaces the reliance on generic third-party tools. It’s rather a good time to be a solo gamer across the board.
Am with Marco on AIs in board games. Many are very convoluted and reduce the game to a crawl. However they still end up giving less reasonable outcomes than just playing 'both sides to the best of their possibilities' (to use Marco's eternal catchphrase). Maybe they are useful to those who struggle to remain impartial or perhaps lack imagination but they usually are a massive waste of time for me.
So tell me… how often do you play Catan, Monopoly or Ticket to Ride solo? And more importantly what’s even the use of this to play Catan, Monopoly, Ticket to Ride or Undaunted … solo. I can understand you could play an historical wargame both sides… to see the final outcome and look why Napoleon lost at Waterlo or what happened with Operation Barbarossa… But frankly moving train pawns across an imaginary map, paying hotel money against your self or … shooting at one’s soldiers of blue versus red on a generic map is rather silly. Undaunted is devoid of all historical data, even the vehicules are generic so what’s even the use of building a deck against your own shadow. Thank Zeus they included a more than decent AI Bot so you can play versus an opponent whenever you want and not versus your own ideas. Fresh, fun, sometimes even very challenging, solo gaming was never more popular. But playing both hands is very unsatisfying if the game is not set in a clear cut historical simulation. If even PURE Euro multiplayers like CONCORDIA launch excellent seperate AI Bot expansions for the game these days, I am pleased we no longer have to see medical treatment - like the “good old wargaming days” because we like to play solo with a schrizophrenic mind…😀
I love the concept of placing components from all three boxes into the Reinforcements Box. Saves soooo much space on the shelf. More space = more room for games... :)
The card back issue is ridiculous. I can’t believe they are releasing this to retail like this
I don't have this issue at all. My colors match.
@@c4pt_awesome good for you
Gee... there should be a law against making plastic inserts which can't hold sleeved cards.
Not to mention a law against making expansions or errata where the colors don't match on the cards.
Matagot published Seasons of Inis with cards not matching.
Phalanx just did an update-kit for Hannibal where they provided stickers to put on the cards as errata !?!?!
This is just a no-go.
Somehow GMT seems to be able to take card colors and errata serious. I've never had a problem there.
I think I need to defend Osprey a bit here:
1. The card backs are not as bad as in Marco's example in all cases. There is no difference in mine, and if it is a slight difference, sleeving them will minimise the issue.
2. The box holds fully sleeved cards. I have my entire set in premium mayday sleeves and it all fits; just check bgg for examples of this.
@@scott3656
Ok... points taken. I've had games which didn't hold sleeved cards unless I went with special "perfect-fit" sleeves too. But then they did.
It does however still leave the question: How do you ensure you don't get a copy like Marco's ?
@@pm71241 I totally agree and accept that this is still a problem. I think with the question you pose, any potential buyers also need to consider "what difference will this make?".
I don't see this series of games as one where such an issue would tip off your opponent very much. I am too busy looking at my own hand to be staring at my opponents card backs...but others may totally disagree.
@@scott3656 ... others do.
I can reluctantly accept errata which only pose an aesthetics problem (like stickers to patch up the game board) ... but the whole points of this kind of cards is that it facilitates a game mechanism to provide hidden information. This is objectively an information leak. - defeating the purpose of the game mechanism.
I hate playing with playing cards which have been bent too.
"Gee, there should be a law against"...... sleeving cards! I hate sleeved cards, I want to feel the paper/cardboard, not horrible plastic. Learn to deal, shuffle and handle cards like a magician and your cards will last without sleeves ( the amount of times I see people bend and flick while placing cards and grip them tightly in their hand and rifle shuffle cards!!!!!! None of my cards in any of my games are sleeved and they are all as new. ALL YOUR OTHER POINTS A+++++
This sold out quite fast and, after a long gap, they finally produced a second edition. However, that box isn't big enough for the other sets.
I agree. I play dozens of multi player game solo and its still fun. But I have to admit I was intrigued by what the BOT decided vs what I would have done..As a result, Reinforcements is a worthwhile Game. I look forward to Stalingrad
The box is a gimmick. You want sleeved cards and they don't fit... The cards get mixed all the time so SLEEVE them.
So instead of two(2) small boxes you now have one (1) big box. cards get replaced by Osprey upon request and proof of purchase.
The qulaity contol is way off, cards, solo cards, counter not centered... But tyhe game is good.
Osprey had a similar problem with non-matching colour shades of card backs for the expansion to their “The lost expedition” game. Shouldn’t be that difficult to get right, surely?
Thanks Marco. I'm very happy with my purchase but the unsleeved cards only tray design and card back issue is a real detractor to an otherwise great addition to the series IMO. But, that said, we'll endure. :)
Very interesting comment on AI. I’m right there with you. Grew up playing AH and SPI games solo, both sides to the best of my ability. Used the AI cards in Lock n Load games, but found myself going “nope, this is a more appropriate move” quite a few times. It is nice to have the option though.
That’s because the Ln L AI system sucks and was not tuned like the CoH system it was copied from. You can’t simply apply AI cards as such on old scenarios and think it will work. I think these comments don’t respect the huge work that some designers have done to evolve SOLO gaming to what it finally has become these days.
Look around: more than 80% of the newest launched boardgames have proper solo modes in one way or another and games like Enemy Action Ardennes or Dune : Imperium or Falling Skies have absolutely fantastic Bot mechanics.
If you don’t want to experiment with them, no problem, but you will miss out on a lot of fun too.
@@TheTheshadow32 Oh, don’t get me wrong. I love trying new solo systems out and am quite impressed with many. Similarly, the TTRPG world is also beginning to come round to integrating solo rules, which replaces the reliance on generic third-party tools. It’s rather a good time to be a solo gamer across the board.
Can we replay scenarios of the base game of Normandy with the tanks ?
thanks !
Everything fit with sleeves except solo cards
Am with Marco on AIs in board games. Many are very convoluted and reduce the game to a crawl. However they still end up giving less reasonable outcomes than just playing 'both sides to the best of their possibilities' (to use Marco's eternal catchphrase).
Maybe they are useful to those who struggle to remain impartial or perhaps lack imagination but they usually are a massive waste of time for me.
They're nice for those of us who enjoy games but can't find anyone to play with.
👍
So tell me… how often do you play Catan, Monopoly or Ticket to Ride solo? And more importantly what’s even the use of this to play Catan, Monopoly, Ticket to Ride or Undaunted … solo.
I can understand you could play an historical wargame both sides… to see the final outcome and look why Napoleon lost at Waterlo or what happened with Operation Barbarossa…
But frankly moving train pawns across an imaginary map, paying hotel money against your self or … shooting at one’s soldiers of blue versus red on a generic map is rather silly.
Undaunted is devoid of all historical data, even the vehicules are generic so what’s even the use of building a deck against your own shadow.
Thank Zeus they included a more than decent AI Bot so you can play versus an opponent whenever you want and not versus your own ideas.
Fresh, fun, sometimes even very challenging, solo gaming was never more popular. But playing both hands is very unsatisfying if the game is not set in a clear cut historical simulation.
If even PURE Euro multiplayers like CONCORDIA launch excellent seperate AI Bot expansions for the game these days, I am pleased we no longer have to see medical treatment - like the “good old wargaming days” because we like to play solo with a schrizophrenic mind…😀