From: arcweld@universe.digex.net (arcweld)
Subject: Re: Monsters Ravage America - impressions

In article <6ognff$3et$1@winter.news.erols.com>,
Brian Wade <bwade@erols.com> wrote:
>Anyon played this one yet?  Is it decent for B&P gaming?
>

Decent for B&P it certainly is!  Here's some impressions based on
playing a game at Origins:

This is a game for the masses, on par both in component quality and
lowbrow appeal with, say, Axis & Allies.  A large, colorful hard-
backed map of the lower 48 dotted with cities, military bases, monster
dens and radioactive sites rife for the stomping.  A score of monsters,
tongue-in-cheek knock-offs of genre staples (our game included the
Glow-worm, Konk the giant ape, Barnacle the sea monstrosity, and some
giant lizard whose name eludes me) are represented by stand-up cardboard
markers.  There are various cardboard chits for the game board, and
the military units are represented by an equal mixture of plastic pieces
and cardboard (strangely, as if AH decided that they could only afford
to go halfway on the pieces).

Each person controls a giant monster and one branch of the military
(army, navy, airforce, marines).  Each monster varies somewhat in 
abilities, and each military branch has two, unique types of units
(varying in strength, defense, abilities) at its disposal.  The
board is dotted with cities of various sizes, and the goal of the monster
is basically to wander around "munching" on cities to gain strength, the
amount gained depending on the size of the city.  Peripheral options include
stomping military bases and units, radioactive sites (to gain generally
beneficial mutations), and popping in and out of dens to appear in other
parts of the country.  Sadly, monsters don't interact until the "monster
challenge" at the end of the game.  

The second side of the game consists of building military units (from
a limited pool) and moving them around to get in the way of an opponent's
monster.  Military units are largely ineffectual; they might possibly be
used to slow down or channel the movement of monsters, but their main
purpose (it seems) is to whittle down the monsters strength.  When a monster
ends the turn in the same space as military units, several rounds of
battle ensue.  This consistes of trying to roll over the "defense" values
of units and monsters on six-sided dice.  Military units are destroyed and
monsters lose strength.  On the whole, it seemed that military units
had little effect unless a player amassed a large number of units over
several turns, kept them out of harms way, and then descended en masse
on a monster (a monster can only destroy a few every round, allowing the
other units to get their licks in).

When a pre-designated number of cities have been stomped, one monster
issues the "monster challenge" and all other monsters converge on the
site for a final battle royale.  There is some room for jockying to be
the one to issue the challenge, which seems to be a significant advantage.
The challenger chooses one opponent monster to fight, they roll dice
attempting to damage each other until one bites the dust.  The winner
adds the starting strength of its opponent to its own strength and turns
to fight another monster, and so on until only one remains.  Ideally, 
the original challenger gets bigger and bigger as it defeats one opponent
after the next.

There were a few "colorful extras" we didn't get to: special research
by the military, giant robots that step in (after?) the final battle,
Hollywood, etc., but the above seems to have been the core of the game.

In short, nice colorful game with good quality components, not terribly 
complex, lending itself more to bravado than deep strategy (although 
some strategy is certainly involved).  First impressions were that the
"monster challenge" comes around a little too quickly (before a sufficient
level of crush, stomp, etc. catharsis had been reached) and that the
military would be a bit more interesting if it wasn't quite so weak.
Finally, it *is* a little disappointing that you don't "create" your
own monsters, although (since I didn't actually look at the rulebook)
perhaps this is an option (and it really wouldn't be hard to throw 
together house rules for this in any case).

Would I buy it?  It really was good, clean, mindless fun.  Mechanics are
simple and clear, and the you can't go wrong on the theme.  However...
given that it's essentially a pretty shallow game, I might be reluctant
to drop the $40-50 which I assume is list for the thing.  For those
without such monetary reluctance but a yen for simple pleasures, I 
recommend it.  It was on sale at origins, so I assume it will be hitting
the market shortly.

From: Scott McGinnis <mcginnis@ncbi.nlm.nih.gov>
Subject: Monsters Ravage America - First Impressions.

Hi.

I just got my copy of MRA and I have a few first impressions after
reading the rules (note: I have NOT played it yet).

Presentation: The map is nice but I have some issues. The entire game
revolves around a sort of mish-mash of artwork types. There are small
photos of military equiptment on counters for TOWs and M1 Abrams units;
Computer Rendered images of "blobs" and some buildings and backgrounds;
and cartoonish representations of monsters, national guards units and
the cards used in the game.

While none of this artwork is out right horrible, it gives the game a
sort of strange mood (I'm very big on the atmosphere a games
presentation gives). Unlike something like Ursuppe which has a
consistant light, cartoonish atmosphere, or a military wargame with
crisp clearly labled counters, or even Diplomacy with simple scematic
graphics, the artwork in MRA varies greatly and kind of lends an air of
crudeness to the game. Some of the monster representations look like
they were drawn by an 8 year old. While the Military units have clear
crisp photos of tanks and missle launchers. There are also plastic
pieces to represent aircraft, and launched missles. The navy's
submarines are represented by blue missle pieces, which do not have a
nautical feel to them at all. Although I think a counter with a sub on
it, which would change into a blue missle piece when launched would have
served nicely,  this is a very minor point.

The map, as I mentioned is very nice, and the artwork seems to be more
constistant here, or at least less noticable. Additionally, the game box
is a dark, deep red with a sinister looking King-Kong type
representation in black, with a much more serious feeling to it. It
looks more like the artwork for a new Kong movie then the B&Ps game it
actually is.

Rules: I read the rules over, and I repeat, I have not played it yet.
Basically, the game revolves around a max of four players who control a
single monster "character" and one branch of the military (army, navy,
airforce, marines).
The object is to become the King of the Monsters by interfering with
other monsters through use of your military while defeating your
opponent's military to destroy cities and national landmarks. Combat is
simple with rolls made directly against a unit's or monster's defense
strength, and damage applied according to the units or monster's damage
rating (in points of damage). Combat is in three rounds with some
Monsters and Units having multiple attacks per round.

Military can not kill monsters, only reduce their health factors to
zero, which means they are captured, and sent to Hollywood. Here the
monsters are able to heal health points, and if they reach one half
their original or higher they "break free" to rampage again. Clearly,
this means a player is never totally out of a game until the very last
round. You can also buy new military units according to how many of your
branch's bases are on the map, undestroyed by monsters. Technically you
could take a branch out of action by smashing all it's bases. Monsters
(apart from special monster units in the advanced game) are prohibited
form engaging in one to one combat until the final challenge round.
Once 20 or more cities (four player game) are destroyed then the monster
to take out the 20th initiates the monster challenge round. Here
monsters slug it out for the title of King of the Monsters. Monster
combat is almost exactly like Monster/Military combat, with the
challenger deciding what order he/she fights other monsters, and no
combat rounds. Combat continues until someone loses.

Advanced rules introduce Research which comes in the form of special
units or combat bonuses for military branches,
and Mutations which are special bonuses or "skills" for monsters
(flying, extra attacks ect.). Research is paid for with a
budget based on the number of active bases (same as buying units but
more expensive), and Mutations come from special areas (Three Mile
Island) or attacks (nuclear weapons). (Note: One thing AH should
consider is adding a few extra blank Research and Mutation cards. Just
reading the rules and having seen a lot of Godzilla flicks, I can think
of two `or three new additions I'd like to add already. )

There are also rules for "goals" for each monster, usually in the form
of destroying specific locations and "infamy" which is a sort of the
'reputation'  your monster has based on what landmarks it's destroyed,
which converts into combat bonuses (fear?).

Finally, just reading the rules and I have a few ideas for variants. 1)
"Destroy all Monsters": Open up Monster combat
to anytime two monsters enter the same hex, and add all additional
monsters (8) with each player playing two (tag team). Monsters reduced
to zero though monster combat go to a lair and act like they are
captured in Hollywood.  2) "Monster X": Add a fifth player who controls
two (or more) monsters and no military. These are the "Mysterioids" from
planet "X" whose goal is to destroy and conquere the earth with giant
monsters. The Mysterioids receive one mutation for each Monster at the
beginning of the game, and receive twice the infamy.

I will try and play the game soon and post a review at that time.

Scott.

From: Zizka31058@aol.com
Subject: Monsters Ravage America!

I'd like to offer my spin on this fine new game from AH.  I respectfully
disagree with some of the earlier comments posted, because I think the artwork
is superb--fun and colorful, and a real eye-pleaser.  Gives the game an
enjoyable feel like you're watching and participating in one of those grand
old monster movies.

1.  I bought this game, because I have five kids, three of whom are in the
gaming age range.  My seven year old girl and eight year old boy picked it up
easily.  I tried to pin down my 17 year old boy to make him play, but he
dashed out of the house with his friends.  Anybody seen him?

2.  This game scores high with me for one overriding reason:  GOOD RULES! No
glitches or unanswered questions.

3.  I also disagree with an earlier posting that said there isn't much
strategy.  Actually, if you play it, some unique and variable strategies come
to light.  For example, the US Marines' units are cheap and plentiful, making
them the force of choice for massing suddenly against a monster.  The navy, on
the other hand, I believe does best by using their submarines with SSMs (not
cruise missiles, generally) in order to engage and retreat the monsters, vice
hitting big to attrit strength.  Every time you retreat a monster (by
surviving three rounds, which the subs can do pretty easily), you get a free
shot at some research.  

4.  As for the monsters' strategies, there are plenty.  You can range far and
wide going for the big cities (especially New York and LA) in order to amass
strength.  Or you can hit the nuclear sites to try to get some good mutations.
Or you can concentrate on killing bases, in order to get the military out of
the picture.

5.  In short, we love this game! It has tons of replay value for both kids and
adults, and I've already gotten my money's worth watching my little princess
stomp the heck out of Fort Hood, Texas, where we used to live!

Bob Leonhard