I played Terran Games' BASTOGNE OR BUST (BoB) this weekend with two fellow club members who, unlike myself, are Bulge enthusiasts and have found the time to play every Bulge game that's seen print. Thought I'd share some observations about the game. First, the game mechanics all worked very well and we particularly liked all the special rules and how victory objectives tied into variable reinforcements. We did not prefer the method of integrating "weather" effects into the game. We thought this should stand separate and have variable effects on movement, etc. Engagement rule and ZOC Effects. We could not understand the effects of Engagement and loss of ZOC. Since Engagement ends at the end of a player turn, it seems there is really no effect whatsoever of losing a ZOC. If enemy movement was possible while units were engaged, then I could understand this point - but these units are no longer engaged once the other players' movement phase begins. This was probably a case of errata, but we didn't see any point to it considering how quickly units recover from engagement. One strength of the game is the offmap movement and importance to cover the shoulder areas. However, until the game is played more often, we feel there is too much victory objective emphasis put on these objectives (i.e. Area H) vs. the hexgrid itself. It comes to the point that the main map area becomes peripheral to the off-map boxes, and we think it should be vice-versa. This having been said, we're glad to see the "shoulders" covered in this game, which appears to help create a true "bulge" during play. If only the victory objectives were a bit watered-down regarding this off-map stuff.... The conclusion of the group is that this looks and plays like a decent game. The only questions we had regarded Engagement, Overemphasizing the shoulders in the victory objectives, and lack for overrun movement or a separate mech movement phase. Without the latter, this feels like a '70s game with just some added chrome to it...which doesn't say much considering it's 1996. My friends would have been much more enthusiastic about this game if there was some form of mech movement/breakthrough capability, and more distinction of mech units vs. leg. This would have made the game a big hit in their eyes. Overall, this game is a nice added to a overflowing Bulge list. A must have?? Well, I'm glad I purchased the game - although the mechanics don't feel like a big step forward since AH's Bulge '81. My friends will probably play that game over this one despite some of the strengths of BoB. A decent game and a near miss from being a great game. I'd play this one over The Last Blitzkrieg but not over Bulge '81. ___________________________________________________________________ John Kranz kranz@earthlink.net AOL: kranzgroup ___________________________________________________________________