FAT DUTCHMAN

GD '40 by XXXXXXX

from THE GAMERS

One 22"x34" game map; 840 counters; Series and Game Rules. From The Gamers, 500 W.4th St., Homer IL 61849. $36

Reviewed by JACK POLONKA

[A Note from the Editor: Much of the system for GD '40, a TCS Game, is covered in the enclosed review on Matanikau.]

GD '40, another entry in The Gamers' TCS Series, covers the German attack by the Grossdeutchland regiment on the town of Stonne, in May, 1940, and the subsequent French counter-attack. Each counter is the equivalent of an infantry platoon with a 5-step strength, the scale is c.125 yards per hex, and each turn covers 20 minutes of real time.

The game has the same, high graphic level that virtually all Gamers games carry.

This is one of the better entries in this system. It allows both players to be on the offensive and defense at different stages of the game, giving it a good ebb and flow as both sides fight for control of Stonne. This ebb and flow also makes the situation an extremely well-balanced one, often unusual in tactical renderings.

Even better is that GD '40 is a great way to get into the TCS system. Of the two two combat unit counter sheets provided, you only, really need one to play the historical battle. (The other sheet contains hypothetical and optional reinforcements to add a little flavor.) With the low counter density there is a corresponding diminution in the number of Operations Planning Sheets floating around, and the game situation thus develops rather rapidly. Another advantage is that some of the system rules, such as minefields, are not used in GD. On the other hand, the rules do contain some errors, errors which need to be - and are - corrected by an Errata Sheet quickly provided after a phonecall to The Gamers.

As has been discussed in many places, the TCS is a fairly simple combat system over which is layered a seemingly complex command system, none of which is helped by the rather dense rules layout, and a set of wrist-warping artillery mechanics. For many, the prospect of planning ahead - how many gamers actually think more than one turn in advance - and/or rolling eleventy-seven dice to drop a few shells far outweighs any other value the game might have. If such items do not count heavily, then proceed onward.

One interesting item is that, despite the scale - one counter is one AFV - the armor rules are not very involved. Very little distinction between armor types is made; it almost looks as if they were done by Cookie Cutter … and a mighty abstract cookie cutter at that. This tends to relegate tanks into a support role. The system - and GD - appear to be geared towards an intensive examination of infantry tactics and the effects of artillery; there simply wasn't enough space/time to deal with the tanks at the same level.

GD '40 is a great game for what it attempts to simulate. It is easy to learn and easy to play … far easier than one would expect from the wealth of detail. The battle is somewhat obscure, but it provides a very interesting and competitive situation. And it allows the TCS system to shine rather brightly.

CAPSULE COMMENTS:

Graphic Presentation: Great.

Playability: Good, but slowed down by Op Sheets and artillery dierolls.

Replayability: Good situation leads to high replay value.

Wristage: Olympian.

Creativity: Novel treatment of this aspect of warfare.

Historicity: A good representation of the battle.

Comparison: Better than most ASL scenarios, and easier to access.

Overall: Good WWII Tactical infantry simulation.