sysop - 08:50am Jun 28, 2000 PST (#2477 of 2538)
John Kranz, Creator of ConsimWorld.COM - Chandler, AZ

I'm interested in opinions on the SPI World War I module for War in
Europe. I'd love to read some comments from anyone who owns this or
knows of anyone who has it and has given it a try. Thanks!


Doug Dery - 09:53am Jun 28, 2000 PST (#2478 of 2492)
Currently Playing: "Home Before the Leaves Fall & The Cossacks are
Coming! " - Currently Reading John Monash's "The Australian Victories in
France - 1918"

John,

I purchased the module when it was first published. The game was a total
put off for me.

Physically

First there was the need to modify the War in Europe map set to draw in
proper national boundaries of 1914. The mapsheets that needed amending
were C, D,G & H if I recall correctly.

Second the counter art was poor in my opinion. It was not up to the
SPI's standards of the day. The other play aids were rudimentary charts
for tracking morale and national resource points.

System

The game as far as I could determine by reading the rules (I never
played it, although I did set several scenarios up) were merely a slight
reworking of those from the World War One folio game. In both games,
play was dominated by the concept of National morale. Each nation starts
with a National Morale level that in the course of the game can only
deteriorate. This deterioration effects supply, tactical combat
proficiency, and movement of reserves. It worked much better at the
folio level.

All combat units are corps sized. There are no unit designations. I
remember feeling dismayed at the amorphous stacks of counters
distinguished only by color.

I was not very knowledgeable about WWI when I purchased this module.
Some might question how much I know now. The module didn't contribute
anything towards redressing that ignorance.

I would not recommend it for anything other than its curiousity value.
Reading the rules I came away with the impression that it was all
system, with no insight into events and little "flavor." You might just
as well play the production spirals of War in Europe or War in the
Pacific.

After the great strides made by David Bolt and Ted Raicer towards
"opening up" the hobby's acceptance of the intrinsic worth of gaming
WWI. The First World War Module is the embodiment of the old 70s era
carnard that WWI was not "gameable." The system rules read like it would
play ok, but at its core it is sterile. It's kicking around my attic
somewhere.

Doug