From: Roberto Chiavini Subject: Three reviews - good one Le Matz 1918 (Vae Victis 24) This magazine game is about one of the last German offensive of WWI, the battle of Metz, early June 1918. The scale is almost tactical in feeling, with hex 1.3 km across and regimental units, plus armored group and air squadrons. Graphics is as usual with VV very exciting, with iconic units and a good map. There is only one scenario, 8 turns long, but with a double movement and combat phases for most of the units involved, the game is long enough to fill a complete afternoon (I expect 3 to 5 hours to declare the winner). The game system is simple, with most of the combat units rated for combat and movement, artillery units for attack-defense-movement, air units for air to air and bombardment, and HQ only for movement and command radius. ZOCs are semi-fluid, with Stosstruppen and tanks that may move through them with very limited problems. Stacking is normally limited to 6 steps (i.e. normally a full strength infantry division). Movement is standard, while combat is a little more involved, with divisional integrity, bonus for tanks and Stosstruppen, artillery, command status, even concentric attacks. There is also a barrage phase that normally is used to neutralize HQs (reducing their command radius from 6 to 3 hexes - and out of command units combat with half strength). Peculiar is the air phase: both players roll 3 dice to see how many air units they have available for the following turn, drawing at random the rolled result (they are fighter and bombardier units, each with a different ratings) and then moving the pieces on the map through mega-hexes (made up by 7 hexes each); combat is then resolved with interceptions, fighter combat and then the surviving interceptors against the bombardiers. To hit an air unit must obtain a result equal or inferior to his value. Victory is based for the German player on territorial objectives only (apart from a few VP that are assigned by conditional reinforcements) and he has the strain of the offensive. The combat situation is a variation of the usual trench warfare of the period, a massive assault against a well defended position, with the French player who has several reserve to fill the gaps in his defensive line (and several tanks in the rear), and the German player trying his best to exploit the holes made up by his assault specialized units. All in hole, Metz 1918 is a good, solid addition to the plethora of WWI games that are available on the market, very good looking and not too expensive. So, his almost a must for the WWI buffs out there (I am not one of them, as I don't like the period). I rate this game 6 ½ on a 1-10 rating scale.