I was hesitant with this at first. Ended up getting this very starter set. I am a tank person and love good armor on armor action. Thank you for this video! I am a big Flames and Team Yankee player. Something about the “what if” and fantasy aspect of these tanks has always appealed to me that luckily goes beyond my realism mentality and into the heart of a table top player. Can’t wait to get games in at my FLGS!
Hehehe... I bought this box too and the first to tanks I build and painted were the T-44/T-54-1. 😉 I like the upgrade kit. They made a thight and good fit. Also the AA MG on the T-54-1 might get in trouble when handling the tank on the gaming table. I don't think it is a game for me. But I can be a nice game for people entering the hobby. Just build yourself some tanks to move them around and shot at each other. And because historical miniaturewargaming - and in the end "Clash of Stell" is some kind of history, alternate history but many people love that - is a niche within a niche we should welcome everyone who wants to join. No gatekeeping please!!! I also like that the "Clash of Steel" range gives you the posibility to buy tanks in less vehicle boxes, i.e. a box of 3 Centurions or 2 Jagdtigers. If you need less you can go and purchase these (yeah, BF won't like that). Did I say "Great review"? No I didn't... Great review, Harry.
Great Review as always Harry… I appreciate your review as I am still waiting for my Pre Orders of Both the Starter Sets …They sold out so fast in the U.S. I had to order mine from Canada… this unboxing went into further detail than others I have seen… Super excited about them and I have already downloaded and printed the PDF and have added it to the FOW Library… I get the purist not wanting these Monsters in the Game … But man how fun 🤩 it would be to use the Wildcard Slot on a Bulge Sherman formation and throw in a couple of T-28s … Surprise 😮 the German opponent who thought his King Tigers were going to steal all the glory…I’m not a Purist and I am a Huge Fan of the Original TANKS game from GF9 … It’s taken Years but I have acquired nearly every expansion for TANKS … I enjoy the game with my much younger nephews… They love coming over to Uncle Rick’s house to Play TANKS … This Clash of Steel Game is going to take it up a notch… and it can be the stepping stone for them between TANKS and FOW
I love the idea of the kids coming to Uncle Rick’s to play tanks. My best friend’s kids played Tanks and FoW when they came to visit. People play for different reasons, and historical gamers are drawn to FoW by history, in many cases. But that doesn’t mean there isn’t a place for ahistorical and fun games too. PS. The Australian distributor has a pile of starter sets they can’t shift. I know that doesn’t help you. But it might help Adam after I stole this one from him.
Thank you for the considered and "with added history" unboxing I have been doing my own campaign, using Tanks and Tanks:Modern, going from 1930s vehicles to 1980s, purely AFV with off table artillery and infantry seen as abstracts Using an extension of the idea of A Very British Civil War, but set in Australia, with Republicans vs Monarchists, so early battles had Lees and T-34s and Stuarts vs Crusaders and M13s with Valentines in both sides Most recent had T-55s vs AMX30, AMX/AUF1 and AMX10 I would love for GF9 to sell a ruleset along the Clash of Steel lines, covering WW2 to Cold War Unrealistic having AFVs only, but it would, I think, be fun
@@FogofWar cheers. I have some WW1 Americans, a "Great War" boxed set that should start me off with Infantry and field artillery for a more realistic setting
This one baffles me. It's USA, Britain and Germany vs the Soviets, and the Soviets are absolutely awful. As you said, part of the problem is that the Soviets are given real tanks and everyone else gets... well in my opinion they get fantasy rainbow Magical Mega-Ultra Invincible tanks. So you can spend a fortune collecting Soviets to have a force that's absolute shite, or you can play one of the cool factions that have fun things. Thus everyone is going to play the Allied Ubermenschen and sit around twiddling their thumbs I suppose? I guarantee that Flames of War would have been a failure too if the Germans were garbage and no one wanted to play them.
It is a problem. The tank that looks wonderful on paper will always look better than the real thing that proved to have limitations - even limitations like the laws of physics that paper tanks don't have to deal with! They do make the Soviets cheap to try and balance it. However there are fun things like IS-7, T-10 and so on coming for the Russians. Maybe this will help? But the Soviets are the underdogs as the game stands at launch.
That’s an interesting viewpoint. I consider myself a “historical” player because I try and use lists that align with real units and TO&E. Even tactics where the game system allows it. I suspect you are making a cynical comment about the ruleset. There are certainly abstraction in the game, and mechanics that simplify or abstract real-world tactical considerations. It’s a game, not a simulation. Any game has to decide on a balance it is comfortable with between realism and playability. Clash of Steel and World of Tanks draw this line in different places than Flames of War. You need to find the game system that strikes the right balance for you.
@@FogofWar There are no official Battlefront products that depict historical scenarios/OOBs with any attempt at accuracy and completeness, their products typically ship with/provide as options only tanks and a few support units, many starter sets not even including infantry - not a complete line of products that would allow a true historical OOB at anything except perhaps a very small unit level. If you look at the multitude of pictures of FOW games, and the competition games you can see if you have the opportunity to attend events with FOW players, they look like tank parking lots. I see no attempt at historic realism from Battlefront. I get that it is a game - a non-historical game that uses a subset of actual historical weaponry. I have played FOW more than once and the experience established my opinion. By all means have fun playing FOW if it is your cup of tea, but don't kid yourself about it being historically accurate. Not trying to hate on you, I just thought it highly ironic to hear you say "historical".
I was hesitant with this at first. Ended up getting this very starter set. I am a tank person and love good armor on armor action. Thank you for this video! I am a big Flames and Team Yankee player. Something about the “what if” and fantasy aspect of these tanks has always appealed to me that luckily goes beyond my realism mentality and into the heart of a table top player. Can’t wait to get games in at my FLGS!
Good luck on the table!
@@FogofWar Thank you!! Keep up the great content!
Hehehe... I bought this box too and the first to tanks I build and painted were the T-44/T-54-1. 😉 I like the upgrade kit. They made a thight and good fit. Also the AA MG on the T-54-1 might get in trouble when handling the tank on the gaming table.
I don't think it is a game for me. But I can be a nice game for people entering the hobby. Just build yourself some tanks to move them around and shot at each other. And because historical miniaturewargaming - and in the end "Clash of Stell" is some kind of history, alternate history but many people love that - is a niche within a niche we should welcome everyone who wants to join. No gatekeeping please!!!
I also like that the "Clash of Steel" range gives you the posibility to buy tanks in less vehicle boxes, i.e. a box of 3 Centurions or 2 Jagdtigers. If you need less you can go and purchase these (yeah, BF won't like that).
Did I say "Great review"? No I didn't...
Great review, Harry.
Yeah. Yay for the T-44/T-54!
Great Review as always Harry… I appreciate your review as I am still waiting for my Pre Orders of Both the Starter Sets …They sold out so fast in the U.S. I had to order mine from Canada… this unboxing went into further detail than others I have seen… Super excited about them and I have already downloaded and printed the PDF and have added it to the FOW Library… I get the purist not wanting these Monsters in the Game … But man how fun 🤩 it would be to use the Wildcard Slot on a Bulge Sherman formation and throw in a couple of T-28s … Surprise 😮 the German opponent who thought his King Tigers were going to steal all the glory…I’m not a Purist and I am a Huge Fan of the Original TANKS game from GF9 … It’s taken Years but I have acquired nearly every expansion for TANKS … I enjoy the game with my much younger nephews… They love coming over to Uncle Rick’s house to Play TANKS … This Clash of Steel Game is going to take it up a notch… and it can be the stepping stone for them between TANKS and FOW
I love the idea of the kids coming to Uncle Rick’s to play tanks. My best friend’s kids played Tanks and FoW when they came to visit. People play for different reasons, and historical gamers are drawn to FoW by history, in many cases. But that doesn’t mean there isn’t a place for ahistorical and fun games too. PS. The Australian distributor has a pile of starter sets they can’t shift. I know that doesn’t help you. But it might help Adam after I stole this one from him.
Thank you for the considered and "with added history" unboxing
I have been doing my own campaign, using Tanks and Tanks:Modern, going from 1930s vehicles to 1980s, purely AFV with off table artillery and infantry seen as abstracts
Using an extension of the idea of A Very British Civil War, but set in Australia, with Republicans vs Monarchists, so early battles had Lees and T-34s and Stuarts vs Crusaders and M13s with Valentines in both sides
Most recent had T-55s vs AMX30, AMX/AUF1 and AMX10
I would love for GF9 to sell a ruleset along the Clash of Steel lines, covering WW2 to Cold War
Unrealistic having AFVs only, but it would, I think, be fun
Thank you. It's no fun without the added history. Good luck with developing your game!
@@FogofWar cheers. I have some WW1 Americans, a "Great War" boxed set that should start me off with Infantry and field artillery for a more realistic setting
Rocking good review Harry!
Thank you. It is fun.
And now I have preordered the German v British starter. :-D Thank you for the awesome video. Keep them coming.
There wasn’t enough “new” plastic for me to order the Brit/German set. I’ll buy a Tortoise box set instead.
@@FogofWar I don't have the KT2s and the Maus so it is worth it for me and it will fill the commet list I am making as well.
It seems Clash of Steel is a great way to start to also can get into flames of war or team yankee later.
It is designed as a “gateway drug” to introduce new gamers to this sort of game with a view to playing TY and FoW later.
This one baffles me. It's USA, Britain and Germany vs the Soviets, and the Soviets are absolutely awful. As you said, part of the problem is that the Soviets are given real tanks and everyone else gets... well in my opinion they get fantasy rainbow Magical Mega-Ultra Invincible tanks. So you can spend a fortune collecting Soviets to have a force that's absolute shite, or you can play one of the cool factions that have fun things. Thus everyone is going to play the Allied Ubermenschen and sit around twiddling their thumbs I suppose? I guarantee that Flames of War would have been a failure too if the Germans were garbage and no one wanted to play them.
It is a problem. The tank that looks wonderful on paper will always look better than the real thing that proved to have limitations - even limitations like the laws of physics that paper tanks don't have to deal with! They do make the Soviets cheap to try and balance it. However there are fun things like IS-7, T-10 and so on coming for the Russians. Maybe this will help? But the Soviets are the underdogs as the game stands at launch.
I know that anyone who considers themselves a "historical" FOW player is deluding themselves. 🤣😂🤣😂
That’s an interesting viewpoint. I consider myself a “historical” player because I try and use lists that align with real units and TO&E. Even tactics where the game system allows it. I suspect you are making a cynical comment about the ruleset. There are certainly abstraction in the game, and mechanics that simplify or abstract real-world tactical considerations. It’s a game, not a simulation. Any game has to decide on a balance it is comfortable with between realism and playability. Clash of Steel and World of Tanks draw this line in different places than Flames of War. You need to find the game system that strikes the right balance for you.
@@FogofWar There are no official Battlefront products that depict historical scenarios/OOBs with any attempt at accuracy and completeness, their products typically ship with/provide as options only tanks and a few support units, many starter sets not even including infantry - not a complete line of products that would allow a true historical OOB at anything except perhaps a very small unit level. If you look at the multitude of pictures of FOW games, and the competition games you can see if you have the opportunity to attend events with FOW players, they look like tank parking lots. I see no attempt at historic realism from Battlefront. I get that it is a game - a non-historical game that uses a subset of actual historical weaponry. I have played FOW more than once and the experience established my opinion. By all means have fun playing FOW if it is your cup of tea, but don't kid yourself about it being historically accurate. Not trying to hate on you, I just thought it highly ironic to hear you say "historical".