From: alfredhw@altavista.net
Subject: War Without Mercy (The GAME!)

Yes, gentlemen and any ladies in attendance, I sallied boldly forth to my
local game shop and actually purchased the damn thing.  

Cover comment:  "Eh."

Actually inside the box, it looks really good.  840 counters, very colorful,
representing the armies, navies, and air forces of the USSR, Germany,
Romania, Slovakia (!), Hungary, Finland, Poland...dammit, everybody.
Even the Spanish Blues (but, sadly, no Norwegian Blues) and Siberia and
Turkey.  I'd like to see Death and Destruction/Proud Monster do THAT.

There are also counters for forts, various and sundry markers, supply, etc.
 Also, a nice touch, counters representing various generals with the general's
mug on the counter.  Quite spiffy.

The map takes every other eastern front map I've seen and jumps on their heads.
It's printed on the heavy, rough paper COA uses for their La Battaille games.
It holds color very well--The map is very bright and colorful.

With the game are a boatload of various sheets with charts, tables, turn tracks,
etc.  In a hopeful sign, the calendar ranges from 1938 through 1945 (I just
love those "What if?" variants).

Speaking of which:  This game has a high "chaos" quotient.  Take, for example,
this optional rule from the Poland 1939 scenario:  "Untried Doctrine."  With
this variant, the German doesn't know exactly how effective his new mechanized
doctrine will be--giving the player the same sort of worries his counterpart
had--and must roll for each of his mechanized units and air units.  Still a
few bugs in the system--but, then again, it can work better than they ever
hoped--on a 6 on a d6, the units strength is multiplied by 5/4.  There aren't
enough of these rules, but there never are for this Chaos gamer.

I haven't punched and pushed any counters yet.  That's tonight's job...

Alfred Wallace
NOW PLAYING:  War W/O Mercy (Poland scenario), Vae Victis' Arnhem, Operation
Olympic, Custer's Luck

NOW DESIGNING:  Smishings in the Mist

NOW LOOKING FORWARD TO:  Brute Force