From: "David L. Richtmyer" <dlrichtm@UMICH.EDU>
Subject: Re: Last 5 games you played

On Tue, 29 Aug 1995, Tim Trant wrote:

>But first, a request: both David Richtmyer and Greg Nichols
>mentioned Winsome Games' "Damn the Torpedoes", and Greg even
>mentions improving the rules (as if he expected to get away with
>just dropping a hint like that!).  I'd like to hear more about
>this game, as I remember only a few uncomplimentary first
reports.  >And David included Geronimo in his "on deck" list: can
you provide >any more information than the meagre hints on the
back of the box?

Tim, have to admit that I have been spending most of my time
fiddling with 3DoG, but have done enough punching and counter
pushing in Geronimo to give you a brief idea of what is going on
in this game.  In terms of size, complexity and feel it is akin
to another Berg/AH effort, Blackbeard, though obviously the focus
is different.  Both are relatively "strategic" in scale, with
Geronimo being the more strategic of the two;  turns are 5 years
apiece. Like Blackbeard the game engine uses cards to determine
who goes and what you get to do; the cards also have the random
events printed on them.  Also like Blackbeard the game is
intended to be multiplayer; it works ok for 2 players but misses
the depth of strategy that 3 or more lend to it because of the
following unique rule:  each turn you do not know whether you
will be playing an Indian tribe or a U.S. column of troops. 
There can only be one U.S.player per turn, so each turn ends up
being the natives vs. the intruders. Berg admits that, given the
technology available to the U.S. forces, there was just no way
for the Indians to "win" in a military sense.  So each player
attempts to maximize his position no matter which side he plays;
the player at the end with the most VPs is the winner.  The
Indians gain the latter by aiding the towns, railroads, mining
camps, etc. that the intruders have set up, beating up on the
U.S. troops, etc.  By doing so he prevents the U.S.player from
establishing himself enough in the territory to have it admitted
to the Union as a state (which is how the U.S. player gains the
VPs).Like all Berg games the random events provide a great deal
of the history involved in the era; much of it is truly sad.

There is a solo scenario that reminds me of solo Conquistador;
there are no VPs, just the need to get more states admitted to
the Union than was the case historically.  The game has nice
interactiveness to it and covers a sweeping amount of time; the
game components (especially the cards) are beautiful.  The photos
chosen on the tribe cards just stare back at you ... too bad ol'
Phil Sheridan couldn't see what those faces were saying ...

David