Paul Glowacki - Feb 27, 2009 1:47 pm (#44044 Total: 44193) Guitar Collection: Epiphone Les Paul Classic, Carlson Telecaster, Fender Squire Stratocaster, Epiphone Acoustic/Electric Bloody Omaha Out of the wrapper here in Indiana is the latest ATS game from Critical Hit: Bloody Omaha. This is an impressive package. There are 3 large maps that cover all of the western part of Omaha Beach. When laid out together, the map is something like 6 feet from side to side. A few years ago, CH revised the color palette they used for maps. The new colors are brighter and the artwork is generally sharper and features look more realistic. Of course, beauty is in the eye and all that, but to my eyes, these are really nice looking maps. They make you want to push the counters around. The counters are numerous - 10 sheets in total. I think I read somewhere that the ATS version has something like 1400 counters. And as with all ATS complete games (boxed or ziplock), everything you need to play is here in the one box. The counters feature some new artwork for some new items like tank crews, bangalore torpedo volunteers, remote control German tankettes, USN destroyers and German tank turrets to sit atop some of the bunkers, just to name a few. The color used for the American counters has been brightened up from previous games. The artwork is all done in a retro style reminiscent of line drawings from US military documents. This is quite different from some other tactical systems where the artwork is colorful and done in different perspectives. I find these often to be somewhat cartoony but again, standard beauty and eye rules apply here. AFV and emplacement artwork features top down views. The package includes 16 scenarios on 8 cardboard sheets. These range from very small unit actions to the whole western beach invasion scenario. Most are 8-12 turns long with a portion of one map required. Also included are setup cards for the larger scenarios for the invasion units (sort of the 8-1/2" x 11" equivalent of a troop transport). The German resistance nests also have similar play aids to help keep the defenders organized. One of my favorite parts of any ATS game (and I will admit that I am a long time ATS player and supporter) is the battlefield walkaround document. This is akin to the designer's notes in other games. In this case, the document is 12 pages long and covers all the various terrain features and also covers special rules for some of the unusual units. It's all written with the historical context in mind so reading a typical ATS walkaround document helps players understand the history they are about to dive into. The standard charts are here as well as a special front and back card with all the Omaha specific tables needed. As with the rules contained in the walkaround document, having these extra charts allows the main rules and charts to remain as is without bloating them for those who won't be playing Omaha or any other game with specific conditions. This has allowed the ATS rules to remain stable for the past few years, since I think, the Berlin release in 2006. Memory may not serve here, but it has been awhile since the core rules have had any changes. The new rule book has been reformatted into two column format instead of the older 3 columns. This is intended to make it easier to read. There are also cards for the AFV's and naval units with all the needed information on the gunnery penetration values and the like. I think my first actual ATS game was 2004's Darkest December, although I had been a fan of the ancestor game Combat Rangers since about 2000. I have seen CH develop the system into what it is now and I will say that Bloody Omaha is a very impressive package. There is a great deal of historical detail that has gone into this. CH offered a special deal to preorderers of Omaha that allowed them to get the latest map and updated scenarios from the earlier Against All Odds game. AAO covered the battles behind Utah Beach and was one of the trio of games in the second wave of ATS games in 2003 behind the initial Advanced Tobruk release in 2002. AAO was the ATS port of the older Combat Normandy game. Latecomers to the series could literally get almost a two for one with this offer as all the counters needed for the AAO upgrade are in Omaha. It was about an $11 cost (free game but you had to pay shipping but still $11 games are pretty rare these days). AAO is one of my favorite ATS games. The scenarios are tense, reflecting the nature of the battle for the causeway depicted. Common perception seems to pass the Utah Beach battle as a walk in the park, but AAO pays homage to the fierce and by no means easy battle to secure the exits from Utah Beach. The new AAO map is in the new color palette and the scenarios are updated with new historical data. Several of the scenarios now call for different captured French army tanks on the German OOB after the designers reviewed some recently discovered photographs. I like attention to this kind of detail. My only lament is that the old AAO map had larger hexes and the new one has smaller ones. This allows the map to cover more of the battlefield area for future expansions to AAO, but I did enjoy playing on the larger hex size map. And I still can, since I still have that one! Expansion is a current topic on the ATS folder here and on the CH message board. It appears that CH will be expanding the Normandy offerings with some additional ziplock packs to cover Omaha east and Point du Hoc as well as returning to Timme's Orchard and Shanley's Hill which were all ASL modules from CH years ago. I applaud the effort to provide as much value from this boxed game which was not inexpensive, but with items such as the AAO kit, they can offer maps and scenarios at a much more attractive price point that to make these things available as complete games. It's the approach CH has taken with the original Advanced Tobruk, a game that has been expanded 6 times with more on the horizon. Omaha now stands with Advanced Tobruk and Berlin Red Victory as the face of the Advanced Tobruk System. Bloody Omaha will soon find its way into ASL fans' hand as First Wave at Omaha. What could be better than having all of that historical research and attention to detail put into not one but two great tactical systems? Obviously a big thumbs up to CH for Bloody Omaha from Indiana.