Constantinople arrived in my mail box a couple of months ago in the traditional large Manila envelope with the "Do Not Bend" label that means "YES"! I was busy with dignity at the time so only had time to read the articles. (Good articles on the Thirty Year War and the Judean War of independence - that features at bit in the weekday masses of late.) However, the game is a solitaire game so I just had to give it a go. I mean - who keeps a wargame unpunched?
I like a game that is not just military. In this game, you can build improvements like fortresses and monasteries. These improve your future defence and your income - get those boys away from women and other distractions and they become quite useful.
Interestingly, in this game you can also improve yourself via cost times luck, you can increase the defence of your capital, you military, popularity and statecraft. You lose it all if the Baliseus dies, it all goes back to the start again. But the era was like that, so fair enough. I really like the map of Constantinople in background.
By the roll of the dice, there are three barbarians active at the start of the scenario: The Lombards, the Syrians and the Mongols.
I have the Lombards covered with a general (Strategos) and a thematic army. (The provinces are replaced by themes in 7AD, and each has its own army that costs a motza if they move outside. Note the arrows - you know where the barbarians are going to go - the rules say "Generally, barbarians in the era kept to certain invasion paths". Makes for a perfect solitaire game - not much thought on how to move the bad guys - and where not to build your monasteries!
On the other side of the map, I have no-one! I'll have to rush the Emperor there! Probably Antioch first and then the Mongols. The fortresses (red hex lines) should buy me enough time!)
The maps and counters have a nice feel - I think this is a good game. I am disturbed by the artists understanding of Greece though - not even close! (Corinth is south of Athens, and far from Themopylea. I suggest the game designer meant Thebes are Argos!)
As different from my youth, technology today allows me now to watch the cricket while playing a board game!
I love the marriage between great board game design and portable cricket screens - they both move at about the same speed!
Me so you can teach Thygs and I.
Posted by: Paul | Tuesday, 17 December 2019 at 08:23 AM
Who amongst you would bring a solitaire game to an FMW?
Posted by: PythonMagus | Monday, 16 December 2019 at 09:21 AM
This game looked so interesting I just bought a copy. Strategy & Tactics website is a disaster though. I wonder whether it will arrive by the FMW.
Posted by: Paul | Monday, 16 December 2019 at 09:08 AM