In this section, we'll be passing along updated status on a variety of projects, generally direct from the designers or developers. 

First off, here is some sample art for upcoming projects:

Rodger's Cover Art for Mark Herman's Pericles:

Here's some final map art for Saratoga and Brandywine in the American Revolution Tri-Pack, from Designer Mark Miklos:

 

And here are near-final Fornovo and Agnadello game maps for Richard Berg's Arquebus: Men of Iron Volume IV, shipping this summer:

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Design Updates:

American Revolution Tri-Pack - Designer Mark Miklos

I'd like to update you all on the progress of the BoAR 3-game bundle:

The Saratoga and Brandywine maps have had a very nice "face lift."  Charlie Kibler has put his unique "touch" on them and they look great.  Saratoga, in particular, has more personality with the addition of several named farmsteads, a new trail section, redesigned fords, additional crops hexes and other features to give the map more personality.  

Counter sheets for all three games in the bundle are now finished. Also finished is a fourth bonus counter sheet that contains ALL the replacement counters ever released since the series was launched in 1998.  This is quite a value for those players who may not have purchased every game in the series or C3i magazine and thus may have missed the chance to update some of the counters in the games they do possess.  

Included on all four counter sheets are newly created "Rally on Me" and "First Fire" markers as well as redesigned Momentum markers which are sure to please.  

Also in the "what's new" category; Brandywine now includes not only a new Hessian Amusettes counter (crew-fired shoulder weapon used for counter battery fire) but also a completely new set of optional intelligence rules to add more variability into play.  Saratoga contains a new historical scenario, "Freeman's Farm," as well as some new units and redesigned/renamed units.  The campaign game in Saratoga 3rd edition now has more units and other changes.

The next task will be to tackle rule book and player aid card changes which will begin in March. - Mark

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Conquest of Paradise, 2nd Edition - Designer Kevin McPartland

The Deluxe Second Edition of Conquest of Paradise has been out for a few months now, and it has attracted a lot of attention! The upgrades to the game have been very well received, and they seem to have helped the game reach a new audience! 

First, there were the "unboxing" videos! This one has some really cool graphics in the opening sequence:

This fun little unboxing video was also posted on BGG:

Then, the reviews started rolling in! There have been several very favorable reviews posted, including this video review posted on BGG:

Then, there is this very clever and well-written review, posted at The Player's Aid:

Also, there have been a few quick reviews posted on BGG focusing on the new Solitaire Rules included in the Second Edition. Here are some of them:

I am very pleased with the reception the game is getting! Thanks! -  Kevin  

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Commands & Colors: Medieval - Designer Richard Borg

After some extensive playtesting, the Medieval scenarios for the core game are going to be somewhat different then the list originally posted for the P500, but it needed to be this way. We actually found, as we dug deeper into the very early Medieval time period it really was a "Dark Age" of history with little or no information for a good many battles.

In addition, included are a couple of key battles between the Huns and Romans. These two battles act nicely as a bridge between C&C Ancients and the early Medieval period as well as a gateway into the rest of the Medieval core game scenarios.

The Medieval core game as it now stands has; Lt. Tan blocks, which will represent units of Huns, Sassanid Persian and Vandals and Purple blocks, which for the most part represent Byzantines (Romans) and their allies.

The Tentative updated list of early Medieval core game battles is as follows:

• Utus River - 447 AD - Huns vs Romans
• Catalaunian Fields (left) - 451 AD - Huns, Gepid vs Romans Alans
• Catalaunian Fields (right) - 451 AD - Huns, Ostrogoths vs Alans, Visigoths
• Thannuris - 528 AD - Sassanid Persians vs Byzantine
• Mindouos - 528 AD - Sassanid Persians vs Byzantine
• Dara - 530 AD - Sassanid Persians vs Byzantine
• Satala - 530 AD - Sassanid Persians vs Byzantine
• Callinicum (phase 1) - 531 AD - Sassanid Persians vs Byzantine
• Callinicum (phase 2) - 531 AD - Sassanid Persians vs Byzantine
• Ad Decimum (phase 1) - 533 AD - Vandals vs Byzantine
• Ad Decimum (phase 2) - 533 AD - Vandals vs Byzantine
• Ad Decimum (phase 3) - 533 AD - Vandals vs Byzantine
• Tricamarum - 533 AD - Vandals vs Byzantine
• Lazic War - Caucasus Mountian passes - 548 AD - Sassanid Persians vs Byzantine
• Lazic War - Phasis River - 549 AD - Sassanid Persians vs Byzantine
• Lazic War - River Hippis - 549 AD - Sassanid Persians vs Byzantine
• Lazic War - Onoguris- 555 AD - Sassanid Persians vs Byzantine
• Solachon - 586 AD - Sassanid Persians vs Byzantine
• Solachon (final stand) - 586 AD - Sassanid Persians vs Byzantine

As stated in the original P500 write up, Commands & Colors: Medieval is based on the highly successful Commands & Colors game system and by design is not overly complex. The Medieval game, however, will introduce many new game concepts to the Commands & Colors system, which add historical depth and flavor. Some of the new concepts are:

• Superior unit armor and status are taken into consideration when battling
• Similar to all foot unit formations, Cavalry units have 4 blocks
• Heavy foot and mounted units battle with 4 dice, Medium units with 3 dice and Light units with 2 dice
• Light Bow Cavalry units can employ the Parthian Shot when they evade
• The timely use of Inspired Action makers, will place an even greater importance on leaders

Still, most Commands & Colors game mechanics will be familiar and the battlefield tactics that a player will need to execute to gain victory, conform remarkably well to the strengths and limitations of the various medieval unit types, their weapons, the terrain, and history.

Thanks Again!

Richard Borg

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Next War: Poland - Designer Mitchell Land

Next War: Poland is coming along quite nicely. The Operational Map and  Strategic Display are both pretty much final with just a minor tweak  here or there as we test. The scenarios are quite well along, and  Ralph and I working on ensuring that the Initiative VP and victory  point levels work well for the situation. With the addition of the  larger Strategic Display and an order of battle which features two,  high-tech modern armies, I think players will be pleased that, using  the rules knowledge they gained with previous games in the series,  they'll be able to jump right in and start playing. I also believe  that, like the other games in the series, this one will feel like a  completely different experience. - Mitch

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Panzer Expansion #4: France 1940 - Designer James Day

Here is a list of the Scenario titles that will be included in Panzer Expansion #4: France, 1940:

• Tank Battle at Crehen, Pt. 1: Crehen, Belgium, 12 May 1940
• Tank Battle at Crehen, Pt. 2: Crehen, Belgium, 12 May 1940
• Delaying Action at Ernage: Ernage, Belgium, 14 May 1940
• Rommel Crosses the Meuse: Bouvignes, Belgium, 13 May 1940
• Holding the Thrust: Philippeville, Belgium, 15 May 1940
• The Capture of Stonne: Stonne, France, 15 May 1940
• Counterattack at Stonne: Stonne, France, 15 May 1940
• De Gaulle's First Action: Montcornet, France, 17 May 1940
• De Gaulle Tries Again: Montcornet, France, 19 May 1940
• Closing the Trap: Lille, France, 28 May 1940
• The 6th Panzer is Delayed: Monthermé, France, 15 May 1940 - Solitaire Scenario
• Billote's Charge: Stonne, France, 16 May 1940 - Solitaire Scenario

The two solitaire scenarios utilize a game-driven AI system for French forces in the 6th Panzer is Delayed and the German forces in Billite's Charge.  Each of the Stonne scenarios play out on the two historical maps included in the expansion. - Jim

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Pendragon - Developer Volko Ruhnke

Hi Gene! I've been hard at work (play) designing and alpha-testing the Pendragon Non-players with the help of Oerjan Ariander, Vesa Arponen, and Pendragon designer Marc Gouyon-Rety. You'll be able to solitaire as the Britons against the Barbarians, the Barbarians against the Britons, or any one Faction against the other three. I think we have learned and improved bot design with each COIN Series volume. Judging from the Dark Ages drama playing out on my test table, I expect Pendragon to provide the most immersive and challenging multi-Faction solo saga yet. Can't wait to share the experience with COIN Series players later this year! -Volko

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Tank Duel - Designer Mike Bertucelli

In the early part of the year the Tank Duel design team overhauled the Battle Cards to reflect some changes we've made to how we explain the Tank Actions. Now instead of a comprehensive list of possible actions, we've streamlined the possible actions by defining what actions can be followed by other actions. This allows us better information display on the cards and player aid.

I also redesigned the tank boards to make information easier to find and relocated the "On Fire" and "Broken" conditions to cards that players will draw into their hand. This should make it easier for players to remember to resolve the corresponding conditions in the Administration Phase, and adds a bit of a penalty to being on fire and broken.

Joel Toppen has the Vassal module completed and the team has used it for several online games, as well as for the early stages of development for the Solitaire rules. While these rules are very rough, the early signs are very positive. We are nearly ready to begin playtesting and should start with game balance and playability changes soon.   ~Mike Bertucelli

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Talon 1000 - Designer Jim Krohn (via Consimworld and BGG)

Hey, everyone.  Talon 1000 is almost done. Today we have some exciting news for solitaire players, and also want to put out a call for your help:

1. Exciting News for Solitaire Players: I t's official: Talon 1000 will include solitaire rules and counters! Tony has approved the extra counter sheet (GMT is absorbing this at no extra cost to you guys) and I just got the thumbs up from the development team.  This won't be just one or two special solitaire scenarios.  Talon 1000 already had over 1000 player vs player scenarios and this system effectively adds 1000 solitaire variations, plus the ability to play the campaign games solitaire.  

I'm really pleased with these rules because, once you know them, you don't have to spend a lot of time managing the AI fleet.  You mostly get to focus on flying your ships.

2. We could use your help: The only thing we have left to do on Talon 1000 is to  name all the ships and, while we have a good start on it, we have A LOT of ship counters to name. Of course, neither Bob nor I have the last name Tolkien (that dude could name things), so that means we could use... 

Help! 

I'm not sure what we should do - just ask for suggestions? Have a contest? this is new ground for me. 

A couple of things: 

a. Name families are great - where we can have similar style names all applied to a class of ships. 

b. In the base game, the Talon ships were named according to rough English translations of the Talon names. Assuming that some Talon ships would be named after characters/events in their history, that would not have to always continue. We could give substitute names to Talon ships in a similar way to how the Americans gave substitute names to Japanese aircraft in WW2.

If you have ideas or would like to help us with ship naming, please contact me at jk @myground.org. Thanks! -  Jim Krohn 

 

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Unconditional Surrender, 2nd Printing - Designer Sal Vasta

I don't have much to say to say about USE's reprint other than we're finishing up the proofing of the updated components. Those new or old to the game will reap the benefit of a rulebook that addresses the errata and common questions asked of the game's first publication, has expanded examples with corresponding images, and includes a few more quick reference sections. The playbook also has a new section that provides some more design insight. With this wrapped up, the USE Design Team is looking forward to devoting more time to designing "Unconditional Surrender! WW2 in Asia and the Pacific" and "Armistice! WW1 in Europe". - Sal

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Multi-Game Design Update - Designer Vance von Borries

The EFS series (three "linkable" games on P500) is doing, at least in part, as expected,  with orders either over or close to the 500 mark. Each game is undergoing testing using  the new standard rules. Over several years now, we have worked out the kinks in the old  rules and added some new material. That means each game requires lengthy testing with  these new rules. By all appearances, testing is going well. You can follow this on

CSW inthe many AARs posted in the EFS folder there. We intend to deliver a complete and thoroughly up-dated product as the definitive word in WWII's Operation Barbarossa - and beyond; we plan a new game down the road.

Speaking about roads, I also plan a new "Roads" series game - yes, with panzers. In the  meantime I have prepared a substantial rules rewrite for the Roads to Leningrad game,  also currently on P500 as a second edition. It hits second edition status because charts and  tables require corrections, there are counter changes, and I am incorporating fixes and up grades suggested by players. You can get a bigger picture of this by checking out an interview I gave recently to Grant Kleinhenz at the Player's Aid.

I thank Grant for his interest and confidence in the game. Many have said RtL is a fine  game as it stands, worthy of a full elevation to Roads to Moscow standards. I much  appreciate everyone's support for all these games.

Here's the current status of all the games on our P500 reprint list. Please help us determine what to print by pre-ordering any of these that interest you. Thanks for your help! 

As noted above, we have enhanced the Here I Stand Reprint to become the Here I Stand 500th Anniversary Edition, and have also added the 500th Anniversary Upgrade Kit to our P500 list.

If you'd like to order a reprint of one of these games, just click the link to go to the P500 Reprint page.

Here's the current P500 Reprint list - with current order totals and a +/- order growth since last month: