I struggled with the rule book until I went through the play book, which actually says in its preface is a better way to start the game. The play book gives mini game puzzles you can play on the board to get the major concepts. Any new player, start with the play book and after playing around with it, use the rule book just for referral.
It’s taken me three years to play this game. I pulled it out twice before and struggled to learn the concepts. My biggest mistake was using the playbook, but I’ve learned a couple of tricks since then. #1 Watch ‘Harsh Rules’ How to Play #2 Print ‘The Esoteric Order of Gamers’ rulebook - this will be the best decision you make! Use it and refer to it often. #3 Use the rulebook more as a glossary. If you download the rule book as a PDF, you can do word searches, that might help you find things quicker. After spending hours, trying to figure out the phases and different concepts of this game it has finally clicked. Last tip, do not start with scenario one. I would venture to say that each round is somewhere between 45 minutes and 1 hour, especially for your first Play-thru. I recommend scenario 6, 7, 8, or 9 for your first game. The round marker show you how long or short the game will be, the closer it is to Zama the shorter the game. Best of Luck!
Nice to hear someone who likes the combat cards system - heard quite a lot of negative things about it over the years but I always thought it was pretty good
This looks great -- and seems to be part of a trend for games to return to some of the more complex dynamics of those old school AH games, which is what I cut my teeth on. Unfortunately, the lousy rule books were also a feature of those games, but they really were some stellar products once you had the rules on board. These were the kinds of games you would talk about with your friends months after having played as you remembered a plan that worked, or a strategy that blew up in your face. Another great video.
Great game I just played in a 1 month tournament of standard Hannibal and came last. Some rat Roman player at the end trolled Hanno who was defending Carthage, drew me out, I wasted my 3 point cards to do so and then he besieged and conquered my Capital City of Carthage whilst I was left helpless with no 3 cards left to return to Carthage to defend. One thing though, the cardboard cut out generals are much clearer than the plastic models I thought so I bought them separately from a shop.
I backed this on Kickstarter and it should be arriving this week, so thanks for the sneak peek. :D I own the Valley Games reprint, but when I saw the minis and the fact they were including Hamilcar, I knew I had to get it. I'm only sad they didn't include the jigsaw style map and Roman and Carthaginian style dies from the Valley Games version.
The game basically puts you at the mercy of a few crucial dice rolls, which is not acceptable for a game that long. (Perhaps some scenario's can be finished within 2 or 3 hours, but a full game of Hannibal takes a lot longer.) The game features various do-or-die situations that are resolved by the crude method of rolling a die. Get your navy sunk, fail at a siege because of a couple of bad rolls, and it's gg when you're playing a serious opponent.
I found that once you've got the mechs down, it plays much faster. There is a a significant amount of chance in this game, but no more than most war games.
Great review! Question, would you choose this or Peloponnesian War, or are they different enough to warrant both? PW caught my eye for the expanse, and the AI where you switch sides, allowing fir better solo play. This caught my eye for its production value.
I haven't had a chance to play it this year, but I do love this game. Recently played Napoleon Returns 1815, which has a similar combat system, and was thinking I need to play this one again.
I should have known you would go the extra mile and subconsciously make me feel as if I am Hannibal crossing the Alps by inserting the sounds in the review, adding that extra level as the icey winds push me to the brink of insanity. Tis truly masterful Mister Cody, truly devious indeed...
It will depend on how you and you opponent play. Each round could be from 15 minutes to 45 minutes (without rules lookup). There are 9 scenarios, each scenario shortens the game by 1 round. The shortest game is 1 round the longest game is 9 rounds.
Is it yourself that you are reviewing--face, voice, posture, waving arms--or the game? Place the emphasis on the game that you are reviewing, and not on yourself. RUclips does not need another "talking head" video.
I struggled with the rule book until I went through the play book, which actually says in its preface is a better way to start the game. The play book gives mini game puzzles you can play on the board to get the major concepts. Any new player, start with the play book and after playing around with it, use the rule book just for referral.
Indeed. Thanks!
It’s taken me three years to play this game. I pulled it out twice before and struggled to learn the concepts. My biggest mistake was using the playbook, but I’ve learned a couple of tricks since then.
#1 Watch ‘Harsh Rules’ How to Play
#2 Print ‘The Esoteric Order of Gamers’ rulebook - this will be the best decision you make! Use it and refer to it often.
#3 Use the rulebook more as a glossary. If you download the rule book as a PDF, you can do word searches, that might help you find things quicker.
After spending hours, trying to figure out the phases and different concepts of this game it has finally clicked.
Last tip, do not start with scenario one. I would venture to say that each round is somewhere between 45 minutes and 1 hour, especially for your first Play-thru.
I recommend scenario 6, 7, 8, or 9 for your first game. The round marker show you how long or short the game will be, the closer it is to Zama the shorter the game.
Best of Luck!
Glad you got it up and running.
Great review this is now my all time favourite game
Great choice. It is a great game.
Nice to hear someone who likes the combat cards system - heard quite a lot of negative things about it over the years but I always thought it was pretty good
I really enjoyed it.
My copy just arrived today! The giant playmat is epic
Fantastic!
This looks great -- and seems to be part of a trend for games to return to some of the more complex dynamics of those old school AH games, which is what I cut my teeth on. Unfortunately, the lousy rule books were also a feature of those games, but they really were some stellar products once you had the rules on board. These were the kinds of games you would talk about with your friends months after having played as you remembered a plan that worked, or a strategy that blew up in your face. Another great video.
Thank you, sir. I agree. Any game that can keep you and your friends talking about it afterward, sometimes for years, is a fantastic game!
Love how this grew on you over the years, can't wait for my copy!
Great game. You'll get a kick out of it for sure!
Great game I just played in a 1 month tournament of standard Hannibal and came last. Some rat Roman player at the end trolled Hanno who was defending Carthage, drew me out, I wasted my 3 point cards to do so and then he besieged and conquered my Capital City of Carthage whilst I was left helpless with no 3 cards left to return to Carthage to defend. One thing though, the cardboard cut out generals are much clearer than the plastic models I thought so I bought them separately from a shop.
Cool. Great game! I love that it tells great stories like that.
Will hopefully play it this week. If it is good I am painting the Generals ;)
I think you'll enjoy it. Best of luck!
Go get the paint already
@@bynturong Played, the game is good however the game can be absolutely brutl at times with the dice rolls. Absolutely brutal
I backed this on Kickstarter and it should be arriving this week, so thanks for the sneak peek. :D
I own the Valley Games reprint, but when I saw the minis and the fact they were including Hamilcar, I knew I had to get it. I'm only sad they didn't include the jigsaw style map and Roman and Carthaginian style dies from the Valley Games version.
Never played the Valley Games edition, so I can't comment. But what I can say is that you will be very pleased with this edition.
@The Discriminating Gamer Awesome! Love your videos, by the way!
Thank you, sir!
The game basically puts you at the mercy of a few crucial dice rolls, which is not acceptable for a game that long. (Perhaps some scenario's can be finished within 2 or 3 hours, but a full game of Hannibal takes a lot longer.) The game features various do-or-die situations that are resolved by the crude method of rolling a die. Get your navy sunk, fail at a siege because of a couple of bad rolls, and it's gg when you're playing a serious opponent.
I found that once you've got the mechs down, it plays much faster. There is a a significant amount of chance in this game, but no more than most war games.
Great review! Question, would you choose this or Peloponnesian War, or are they different enough to warrant both? PW caught my eye for the expanse, and the AI where you switch sides, allowing fir better solo play. This caught my eye for its production value.
I have not played Peloponnesian War, so I could not compare. But I do love Hannibal.
too bad you can't buy it anywhere. I dislike limited print runs... :(
Hopefully it will be available again soon.
@@TheDiscriminatingGamer I ordered a copy from the latest print run from Phalanx games. :)
Does it still hold up 2 years later?
I haven't had a chance to play it this year, but I do love this game. Recently played Napoleon Returns 1815, which has a similar combat system, and was thinking I need to play this one again.
Ok, I bought it. Got a solo practice game set up to learn the mechanics before I bring it to the table with my opponent
Thanks
Thank you.
Am I just going mad or do I hear the wind blowing in this video :O
You are going mad, and you do hear wind in the background... and birds...
I should have known you would go the extra mile and subconsciously make me feel as if I am Hannibal crossing the Alps by inserting the sounds in the review, adding that extra level as the icey winds push me to the brink of insanity. Tis truly masterful Mister Cody, truly devious indeed...
It's what I do.
I love it when a plan comes together, I thought Custer said that?
No, I'm pretty sure it was George Peppard.
His plan came together, he wanted fame and he got it (at a step price though for him and his men)!
Does anyone know where there's an up to date tutorial video for this game? I can only find the old version.
Have you tried Board Game Geek?
Try Harsh Rules on RUclips
Harsh Rules - it’s not even close - he is the best.
Thanks... how long does the game realistically take? This may be my biggest problem with the game! Rgds
Again, depending on scenario, around 2-3 hours.
It will depend on how you and you opponent play.
Each round could be from 15 minutes to 45 minutes (without rules lookup).
There are 9 scenarios, each scenario shortens the game by 1 round. The shortest game is 1 round the longest game is 9 rounds.
Nice shirt. :D
Thank you. It's from when I was a Staff Sergeant in the United States Air Force. In Hale Center Theater's 2013 production of "No Time For Sergeants".
That’s some nice furniture. Chinese theme?
MoroseMonkeyWrench Didn’t really notice the theme. We were at Chris’ house.
Is it yourself that you are reviewing--face, voice, posture, waving arms--or the game? Place the emphasis on the game that you are reviewing, and not on yourself. RUclips does not need another "talking head" video.
Could you post a link to your reviews so I could see how it's done?
@@TheDiscriminatingGamer Really interesting review, thanks very much.
@@merasmussen82 Thank you.