From: granvold@futhark.sfbay.sun.com (Tom Granvold)
Subject: Memoir'44 Review
Followup-To: rec.games.board

  During this last weekend I was able to play a couple games
of Memior'44, the new World War II game by Richard Borg produced
by Days of Wonder.  This was at the Kublecon game convention in 
the San Francisco Bay area.  This game of was one of the hits at
the convention and would have sold a lot of copies but due to delays
in customs only demo copies were on hand.  I believe that I was the
only one to be able to buy a copy when they sold me one of the demos.

Overview:

  This is a game of small unit combat during World War II around the
time of D-Day.  This game uses the same basic system as does Habro's
Battle Cry game.  It is easy to learn and most scenarios take about
45 minutes to play.  It comes with a two sided board, cardboard
terrian hexes, command cards, dice and plactic infantry, tank and
artillary  miniatures.  The components are all of high quality with
very nice artwork.  Images of the game can be found on Boardgamegeek
site at:

http://www.boardgamegeek.com/game/10630

  Setting up a game involves picking a scenario, laying out the
terrian and setting the pieces in their initial starting locations.
Game play is controlled by command cards.  Each player has a number of
cards in hand from which they can play 1 card a turn.  The card played
determines how many and which units can be moved and fire.  The game
continues until a scenario specified number of medals have been won.
Medals are won for either completly destroying an enemy unit or taking
a scenario specified objective, such as holding a town.

Mapboard:

  The map consists of large hexagons, 9 by 13.  It is also two sided
with a beach on one side for scenarios such as Omaha Beach and the
other side is all land.  The terrian pieces are made of thick cardboard
and each is the size of one hex on the mapboard.  Terrian types include
towns, forest, hedgerows and rivers.  Each type of terrian can slow
down movement and give a defensive bonus.  Also terrian can block
line of sight.  Infantry and tanks must have a line of sight to
fire on an enemy unit.

  The mapboard is divided into three sections; left flank, right flank,
and the center.  Most command cards specify a section in which they can
by used.

Units:

  Each unit is repsented by plastic miniatures which are larger than
most games and well done.  There are 3 or 4 infanty figures, 3 or 4
tanks or 2 artillary pieces in a unit.  In clear terrian tanks can
move 3 hexes, infantry can move 2 and artillary one.  As a unit takes
hits in combat, 1 miniature is removed for each hit.  The unit is
destroyed with all of its miniatures are removed and that counts as
a victory medal for the other side.

  The attack value, the number of dice rolled, varies by unit and
distance to the target.  Infantry gets 3, 2 or 1 dice for a target
1, 2 or 3 hexes distance.  Tanks get 3 dice for targets up to 3 hexes
distant.  Artillary get 3 dice for targets 1 or 2 hexes distant, 2
dice for targets 3 or 4 hexes distant and 1 die for targets 5 or 6
hexes distant.  Defensive terrian will take away 1 or 2 dice depending
on the terrian and the type of unit attacking.

Combat:

  Combat is quick and easy.  Once the distance to the target and terrian
effects have been found, the specified number of dice which can range from
1 to 4 are rolled.  Each die that comes up with a symbol that matches the
target type causes one figure to be removed.  Also, any die that comes up
with a gernade symbol also causes one figure to be removed.  Last if a
die comes up with a flag then the target unit must retreat 1 hex for each
flag rolled.

  Each die has two sides with an infantry symbol, 1 side with a tank 
symbol, one side with a grenade symbol, and one side with a star
symbol.  This means that the only way to hit an artillery unit is to
roll a grenade symbol.  The star symbol is normally a miss, but text
on a command card may give it another meaning.

Command Cards:

  The command cards are what determines what a player can do.  Each turn
the player will play a card from their hand.  Normally the card will
specify which area, left flank, center or right flank, then it effects
and how many units in that area may be activated to move and/or fire.
There are also a number of special cards that  do thinks like air
strikes, fortify a hex with sandbags or bring figures back to a
unit.

  Depending on the scenario, each side will get a specified number of
cards in their hand.  This number may be different for each side to
favor one player or the other.  At the end of each turn the player
draws a command card to replenish their hand.

Scenarios:

  There are 17 scenarios where all but one is for 2 players.  These
scenarios range from Pegasus Bridge which is the initial landing of
British gliders to capture a bridge before the Allied landing on the
beaches, to a scenario set in Operation Market Garden.  Each has its
own terrian setup, initial unit positions, victory conditions and
sometimes special rules.

  The last scenario is the Overloard scenario which is a multiplayer
version of the Omaha Beach 2 player scenario.  This uses two copies
of the game and allows 6 or 8 players.  The multiplayer rules are
available on the offical web site for the game at:

http://www.memior44.com

  In the multiplayer scenario, one player on each side is the overall
commander who gets and hands out cards to the field generals.  Each
field general controls one section of the mapboard, center, left flank
or right flank.  I played this scenario during Kublacon convention,
and it works quite well.  It adds an additional considertion of
cordinating multiple field commanders.  But in some cases a player
may not have much to do for a while if their overall commander does
not give them any cards for a while.  In this case the rules allow
for the field commander to take their own initiative.

Pros:

  This game is easy to learn and plays quickly.  In the three games
that I played, there are interesting challenges and a range of
stratgies that can be used.  The cards add a random element that
will make replies of the same scenario differant giving the game a
higher replay value.

  I would say that the game be learned and enjoyed by players as
young as 12, while still being fun for adults.

  The components are of good quality and look great.  In addition
to the component mentioned above there are also plastic pieces for
sandbags, hedgehogs and wire.

  There is a lot of potential for additional scenarios and rules to
keep the game interesting for a long time.

  There is a scenario, and more are possible, for up to 8 players.
Even with 8 players the game still does not take longer than an
hour and a half.

  While a simple game, it does manage to give the players the feel
for the problems faced during this period of WWII.  In the beach
landings scenarios the Allies have a hard time surviving as they
and land and make their way across the beach.

  Playing this game is a way to present some of the miltary history
of this portion of WWII.  Each scenario has some brief notes about the
actual situation on which the scenario was based.

  The game is fun.

Cons:

  This is a simple game and therefore lacks much detail and some
realism.  This game is not Advanced Squad Leader.

  The units in this game could be squads, plattons or even companies.
There is little in the game to indicate the scale involved.

  The cards introduce a randomess that some may not like.  It is
very possible to have a poor run of cards that makes the changes
of winning a scenario nearly impossible.

  Due to the compents included the cost of the game is $50.  While
games are becomming more expensive these days, that is still a lot
to pay for a game.

Summary:

  I like this game.  In fact I ordered a second copy so that I can
play the multplayer scenario.  I'm looking forward to expansions to
this game, and unoffical rules and scenarios.  I'm also considering
buying the other game using this rule system, Battle Cry by Hasbro,
and pre-ordering the historial game in planning, Commands and Colors
by GMT Games.

Enjoy,
Tom Granvold
-- 
Tom G.