Date: Mon, 17 Oct 94 15:34:03 From: Edcamp@Ace.Com Subject: Review of BORODINO Here is a review of BORODINO by GamesUSA. I've recently purchased this game and have been playing it continually (solitaire) over the past three weeks. I believe it has many of the elements in game play and design that many gamers enjoy. Borodino depicts the epic battle that took place on September 5-7, 1812, 70 miles SW of Moscow between the French Grand Army under the command of Napoleon and the Russian Army under the command of Marshall Kutusov. This battle, although a French victory, so weakened Napoleon's army that he was forced to retreat from before Moscow. Borodino was a turning point and a bloodbath! The game comes in a one inch flat box just slightly wider than that for Avalon Hill's game B-17. Inside you get one 18 x 25 inch unmounted map, two counter sheets containing 100 one inch counters and 240 half inch counters, one 12 page Standard Rulebook, one 12 page Exclusive Rulebook, one game chart and one six sided die. The game map is strikingly beautiful and colorful; showing mainly the golden hue of "amber waves of grain" of the open fields. On the map can be found a command diagram for both armies, several game charts and a time/turn track. The map is also made up of 188 "areas" whose borders conform to the surrounding terrain. The terrain includes: Clear, Cultivated, Hamlet, Marsh, Rise, Town, Village, Woods, Brook, Minor River, River, Slope, Stream, Bridge, Defensive Works, Ford, Road, Trail, Defile, Gully and Ravine. The terrain falls into two basic catagories; that which fills an entire area and that which makes up the border of an area. Flowing water which is usually found in gullies or ravines, and slopes, are border terrain. All other terrain generally fills an entire area; although an area may contain more than one type of terrain (Rise and Defensive Works etc.). The game scale is 500 yards to an inch, one hour per turn, infantry divisions (1 inch counters), cavalry regiments and artillery brigades (half inch counters). In addition to the use of areas on the map, similar to those found in SOA, TPS and BN, Borodino has several other exciting features. The game uses a detailed command and control system, unit morale, step reduction of units (1 inch infantry divisions only), ranged artillery, cavalry charges and counter charges. The game also uses an impulse movement/combat system that is called "Activation". There is also a unique stacking system by which only one long infantry division (1 inch counters) may be in an area at the same time (with a few exceptions). Also, only a limited number of strength points may occupy an area. Thus, an area occupied by the maximum number of strength points will effectively block any other units from passing through. Friendly and enemy units may not occupy the same area. The Sequence of Play is as follows: Weather Determination Phase (Optional), Reinforcement Phase, Command Phase, Activation Phase (w/sub phases Special Artillery Stacking, Movement, Combat, Bombardment, Assault) and Game Turn End. The Activation Phase is whence all the action takes place. One player rolls a die and checks the Activation Chart for that particular scenario. Either a French force or a Russian force will then be able to become "activated" and thus move and perform combat. Forces usually consist of a single Corps (several divisions) or an entire army wing (several corps). Sometimes two or three forces can be activated at once. A force may be activated only once per turn. Combat is resolved by comparing unit strength and morale, adding modifiers (negative and positive) for terrain, different types of cavalry, artillery, leaders, special units and Flank/Rear attacks. Each player rolls a die with the defender's roll subtracted from the attacker's to get the Final Combat Die Roll which is compared on the Combat Results Table. Combat results in either a unit step reduction and/or retreats. Often a player will have an option of retreating or remaining in the contested area at the cost of losing an additional unit step. Unless the attacker has overwhelming strength he is often subject to battle losses himself. The victor may occupy the contested area providing the loser chooses to retreat. Thus a defender always has an option of holding valuable ground at the possible expense of taking additional casualties. An attacker may also cut his losses and retreat or hold his ground. The game has four scenarios: (1) Schevardino Redoubt, 5 Sept; (2) Historical Borodino, 7 Sept; (3) Davout's Borodino, 6 Sept; a "what if" scenario and (4) Three Days Before The Gates of Moscow, 5-7 Sept; a large three day campaign. The last two scenarios allow players to create their own set-up and introduction of units to the game. Borodino retails for $34.95 and can be ordered from: GamesUSA, 9836 Carousel Center Drive, Syracuse, NY, 13290. I've really enjoyed playing this game because of the high solitaire potential and impulse movement/combat. I would certainly recommend it. If you have any question or would like more game detail please feel free to contact me. Eddie