From: "Brad Fallon" Subject: Re: Great War in the East (was S&T Prices) It is a re-issue of 2 of the 4 scenarios from SPI's Quad game of the same name. The original game designer and developer was David C. Isby. The graphics and counter design was by Redmond Simonsen who seems to have disappeared. I believe in the Decision Games re-release, they are publishing The Brusilov Offensive and Serbia / Galicia. As was usual for the quad games, the standard rules were first developed and then the scenarios were farmed out to junior designers. Serbia / Galicia was designed by J.A.Nelson and Bruslilov by Jim Dunnigan (okay, they weren't always junior designers). Originally done on four 17"x22" maps, I would assume the new version will be on one standard 22"x51" map, printed on both sides but with the addition of game charts. Also in the Great War in the East series was Tannenburg but it was issued as an S&T game. As far as I know, this was the first system to simulate any WWI offences in the East on an operational level. Essentially the game is played in alternating game turns with movement first, cavalry withdrawl, combat and then a step replacement phase. Command and supply are all important and each player must determine which units are to be effected as there is rarely enough points to allocate all of ones units. Combat is based on combat ratios but is also effected by each sides tactical competence rating. Combat results usually result a step loss or the retreat of one hex. the key to winning, certainly in Brusilov is to encircle units, thus preventing their retreat and forcing their complete elimination. The cavalry is great for penetration but is pretty useless against armed units - thus the voluntary withdrawl phase. It is asserted by the designer that the Railroads were key to victory in the East. Both sides have access to them but their are limitations to their use. Serbia Galicia is of particular interest because the Austro-Hungarians must fight on two separate fronts, connected only by a railroad abstraction. Whether to knock out the Serbs quickly with a large force or whether to slowly break them down while holding the Russians in check is a major decision that must be made on the Austro-Hungarian player's first turn. I love the Serbian/Galician game, it is a real challenge. The Brusilov game is probably the 3rd best as I though Caporetto was a little better in terms of excitement. Nevertheless, I have always enjoyed this quad since I purchased it when it first came out in 1978. Downsides - set-up always takes a long time as the counters are a bit difficult to read. Also, the counters from one scenario cannot be used for any other, yet they are not marked in order to differentiate them. I knew a gal actually who dropped her game on the floor and spent hours setting up all 4 games at the same time in order to get the right counters for the right game. These are two problems that I am certain Decision will fix in their version. All round, assuming Decision doesn't tinker too much with the rules (and why would they, the purpose of reissuing games is so as not to have any development costs) this should be a good buy when it comes out. All the best Brad ich are not. >>I was also interested in 192 (Great War in the East) for $22. > >So #192 is available? Can anyone comment? Is it the same system as the >Over The Top games? Designer, look, playability, errata, etc.? > >TIA > >Bob Titran >rmt66@juno.com >Last Played - Russian Campaign, Up Front, Down in Flames > >________________________________________________________________ _____ >You don't need to buy Internet access to use free Internet e-mail. >Get completely free e-mail from Juno at http://www.juno.com >Or call Juno at (800) 654-JUNO [654-5866]