From: Roberto Chiavini <mumaye@libero.it> 
Subject: Two reviews for September 

Patton's Finest (Microgame Co-op)

This small game is a simulation of the battle of Arracourt, fought in
late September 1944 between German and American Forces in Lorraine. It's
a nice little game, that uses a 11"x17" map and 165 counters, with very
nice graphics overall (especially the counters), very good for a DTP
effort.

Based on Paul Rorhbaugh's previous Blood and Steel, this game uses a
fast and furious system very good also in solitaire for simulating small
actions of armored warfare, with a really good activation system (based
on chits drawing but with a few nice touches to add to the uncertainty
of the draw itself), while the combat system may need perhaps to more
dice rolls to obtain results, but it works very good at this level.

Units are rated for armor attack, infantry attack and movement. Other
data on the counters are for special fire capabilities (like long range
fire capabilities for several armor units) and movement/fire
capabilities (a few units may move and fire in the same turn with a few
penalties).

When a formation is activated, the units of that formation may move or
fire (or both, if they have the special capability).

To score a hit a unit must roll its attack value or less (with a few
modifiers) with a die roll. A hit target is first disrupted, then
reduced and finally eliminated from play. 

There are rules for weather, air support, reinforcements, recovery,
stacking (up to 4 units for hex), a plethora of special units (which add
chrome to the game, without adding too much weight in extra rules).
Victory is based on gaining territorial objectives, but also smashing
the opponent. 

The game flows very well, with the initial German thrust that must be
contained by the American thin defences, waiting for the reinforcements
due in the course of the game. So, both players may use different
strategies for winning this game, that plays fast, seems very well
balanced and it's also fun to play. For a game on an argument that I'm
not particularly interested in, Patton's finest is nice discovery and a
good addition to my game library to be put on my table again and again,
when I search for a pleasant way to pass a couple of hours playing
wargames.

I rate the game 7 in a 1-10 scale