From: Dave Shaw (dshaw62197@home.com)
Subject: Game Review

Clash of Empires: August 1914 (Wargamer #58)

Clash of Empires covers the first three months of fighting on the Western
Front in WW1. The map covers the area of Northern France, Belgium and
Luxembourg, and Germany west of the Rhine. The units are corps and division
sized. This game seems to be based on the old AH game Napoleon - point to
point movement, based on cities and towns; armies consist of steps, which
are lost in combat to a roll of 6; infantry moves one city at a time,
cavalry  two; etc. 

While there are now several games dealing with this period, CoE offers a
low-complexity, easy-to-digest game that gives a fun (while not entirely
historically accurate)  simulation of this battle. Gameplay is very fluid,
and most gamers should find that after a turn or two the whole thing flows
rather well. Additionally, CoE offers a free setup, so both the Germans and
French can follow plans of their own making. This is further enhanced by
hidden forces, which prevents either side from knowing just where the
spearhead of either side's attack is coming. Add in several random events
that are pulled prior to starting the game (including the possibility of
Russian armies appearing in the French lines!), and this game offers good
replay value.

Alas, the game has several flaws. The rules seem to be a couple of drafts
short of a completed version, and as such there are some things that seem to
be left out - stacking restrictions, for example. Some questions seem to be
answered by common sense, but others leave players wondering what the
correct rule interpretation is. Also, the counters are printed with the step
values on the edges in a clockwise fashion, meaning that players must take
extra caution not to jostle the pieces around (especially in larger stacks),
or else it's up to memory what the unit's step value was. Also, the step
values themselves are hard to read - about 4 point black type on dark
backgrounds.

All in all, if you are looking for a profound game that will realistically
simulate this period, try something other than CoE. However, if you want a
quick-playing (this game can easily be finished in one sitting) and
entertaining game of the "Guns of August,"  then CoE is worth a try. Just
make sure you have plenty of light and reading glasses at hand. ;-)