tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2560680272873830337.post408415550195077906..comments2024-02-27T06:40:22.964+00:00Comments on A Wargaming Gallimaufry: Congoalastairhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15012644168758721189noreply@blogger.comBlogger23125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2560680272873830337.post-65113490666349581502017-09-19T20:11:00.385+01:002017-09-19T20:11:00.385+01:00Definitely...go for it! It's a great rule set...Definitely...go for it! It's a great rule set. I haven't played it for ages. Must arrange another game.alastairhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15012644168758721189noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2560680272873830337.post-5490040953471444832017-09-14T15:34:48.159+01:002017-09-14T15:34:48.159+01:00Great review. Think I should give CONGO a try.Great review. Think I should give CONGO a try.DavyJoneshttp://glueanddice.com/davy-jones-locker-best-miniature-wargaming-3/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2560680272873830337.post-82971182341812857912017-01-04T00:10:45.028+00:002017-01-04T00:10:45.028+00:00Good thoughts there Stephen. I do really like the...Good thoughts there Stephen. I do really like the production values and as you say, it is a very 'complete' game so I didn't feel that I was going to be hit with lots of essential supplements etc. I also like games set at this level that don't require huge numbers of figures...partly due to cost but also because I know I have little patience for painting these days so it's a more manageable scale for me to get some figures actually on the table. I did think about 15mm (I went with this scale for Muskets and Tomahawks) but 28mm felt right for Africa and there are some lovely figures around!alastairhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15012644168758721189noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2560680272873830337.post-44286996254777044652017-01-02T13:25:57.634+00:002017-01-02T13:25:57.634+00:00As an old gamer, I do hestiate when I see a shiny ...As an old gamer, I do hestiate when I see a shiny product pitched in the £20 - £30 bracket.<br />It often feels as through you're paying through the nose for "fluff" and there's no guarantee that all the gloss isn't concealing a stinker of a badly tested game.<br />I therefore hesitate to buy unless I've read several independent reviews.<br /><br />However, after one game I can thoroughly recommend these rules. Easy to learn, yet full of flavour and interesting challenges. Well chosen mechanisms ensure play rattles along quickly, both players are involved throughout (you won't be thumbing through pages of tables and modifiers, while the inactive player wishes he was somewhere else).<br /><br />Fewer pictures and a soft cover might have shaved a few pounds form the price, but you're getting a full product here. You won't be "nickel and dimed" (As they say in the USA) by a the publisher stinging you for overpriced card sets, specialist dice, or magical movement gadgets. <br /><br />The rules look complete, so you're unlikely to get stung by "And here's a supplement with 4 pages of special rules and a ton of fluffy filler". We all know a few systems that have done that.<br /><br />Other costs also look manageable. I hear that a "column" (That's your force) has between 20 and 30 figures - several suppliers exist in 28mm, and I'm sure 15mm could be done with some careful searching.<br /><br />Other requirements: A bag to draw tokens from, a supply of D6, d8 and d10 and appropriate terrain.<br /><br />All things considered, a good game, with a relatively inexpensive entry point (Especially if you already have Darkest Africa figures).SteveHolmes11https://www.blogger.com/profile/17392212343858957364noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2560680272873830337.post-83542720838810076532016-08-21T14:59:05.466+01:002016-08-21T14:59:05.466+01:00I bought into Darkest Africa nearly 20 years ago w...I bought into Darkest Africa nearly 20 years ago when it first came out!<br /><br />Over the years, every visit to the loft would find me looking longingly at my collection wondering if I'd ever be able to play with them again!<br /><br />Having read your review, I think that time has finally come and they'll finally have a reason to reappear!!Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08320739494531803788noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2560680272873830337.post-11989003328405883902016-08-20T14:18:05.323+01:002016-08-20T14:18:05.323+01:00I've been teetering on the edge with this one....I've been teetering on the edge with this one...I may have to take the plunge now you've explained the ins and outs. Thanks for the review.Jim Jackamanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00418123950779160903noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2560680272873830337.post-11797341552045424222016-08-19T12:57:31.373+01:002016-08-19T12:57:31.373+01:00Happy the player who by turning around some sheets...Happy the player who by turning around some sheets finds out he has now twice as much way of playing his newly-bought game! ;-PNeelixhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11477125756579666159noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2560680272873830337.post-60026246962509177942016-08-19T12:56:15.798+01:002016-08-19T12:56:15.798+01:00This comment has been removed by the author.Neelixhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11477125756579666159noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2560680272873830337.post-31909019063597122612016-08-19T09:00:45.663+01:002016-08-19T09:00:45.663+01:00Yep...as we say in Glasgow, I'm a numpty!! I ...Yep...as we say in Glasgow, I'm a numpty!! I hadn't actually realised it was a different scenario on the other side!! :)<br />alastairhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15012644168758721189noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2560680272873830337.post-34404550177801734392016-08-18T21:40:52.159+01:002016-08-18T21:40:52.159+01:00You mentioned 4 scenarios supplied with the game. ...You mentioned 4 scenarios supplied with the game. However, my copy of the game gives 8 scenarios, one different on each side of the bulletin sheets...<br />Even though I own the French version of the rules, I don't see why it would be different in the English one. You should check this again... <br />Oh, and I must admit this is a very good review!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2560680272873830337.post-36434657628307833022016-08-18T00:33:46.736+01:002016-08-18T00:33:46.736+01:00Saga Crescent and Cross was also a pricey all-colo...Saga Crescent and Cross was also a pricey all-color hardcover release, which I hesitated but don't regret purchasing. This one looks quite interesting. Actually I wouldn't mind a hardcover second edition on M&T even with the price tag.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2560680272873830337.post-16917637962414669922016-08-17T20:14:01.508+01:002016-08-17T20:14:01.508+01:00That's handy but there's always an excuse ...That's handy but there's always an excuse to buy some more!alastairhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15012644168758721189noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2560680272873830337.post-62985822412745912332016-08-17T19:57:19.941+01:002016-08-17T19:57:19.941+01:00I must admit I'm still undecided. The Osprey ...I must admit I'm still undecided. The Osprey books have been very successful partly because their low price makes them very accessible (and because they're generally very good rules). I know there are sets I've picked up that would have otherwise passed me by if they'd been priced at the £30 mark. On the other hand the Congo rulebook is really nicely produced and the photos and illustrations do fit really well with the setting. I suppose the bottom line is that the price didn't put me off buying the rules and I didn't feel short-changed. I guess I just have a cultural stereotype to live up to! 😀alastairhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15012644168758721189noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2560680272873830337.post-73274071983637345042016-08-17T16:41:24.742+01:002016-08-17T16:41:24.742+01:00You make a very good point about the Studio's ...You make a very good point about the Studio's choice to go for a lot of price and a very high sticker price. I'm sure the price point make a lot of gamers hesitate to grab these rules. I'd suggest Studio Tomahawk look at Osprey's very successful range of rules (Black Ops, Lion Rampant, Honours of War, etc, etc) that sell for one-third the cost of Congo.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2560680272873830337.post-63433104656945697992016-08-17T14:05:53.990+01:002016-08-17T14:05:53.990+01:00Found my minis now must buy the rulesFound my minis now must buy the ruleschrishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13028920392149987916noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2560680272873830337.post-6313129730373894582016-08-17T14:03:39.344+01:002016-08-17T14:03:39.344+01:00I am in wargame Limbo at the moment and do not nee...I am in wargame Limbo at the moment and do not need to be teased by another set of rules which seem to be top notch for fun. Good review.<br /><br />I have just checked up on the price and being a fellow Scot am leaning towards the less pictures argument with the rules being a whopping £34. I moaned years ago when they reached an average of £20, and now I am paying £30 for the new Bolt Action, I feel a blog response coming on.George Andersonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02622222875110390888noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2560680272873830337.post-61476333758405511102016-08-17T13:43:26.990+01:002016-08-17T13:43:26.990+01:00Oh....bugger....Oh....bugger....alastairhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15012644168758721189noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2560680272873830337.post-13988768929372028802016-08-17T13:30:58.448+01:002016-08-17T13:30:58.448+01:00Looks fantastic, top notch review!Looks fantastic, top notch review!Philhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08913029478686087197noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2560680272873830337.post-82449643744399331342016-08-17T13:21:27.571+01:002016-08-17T13:21:27.571+01:00Excellent review (hope I can understand them!) Yo...Excellent review (hope I can understand them!) You do realise that the "few years ago" for Darkest Africa was actually, depressingly, 1998? legatus hedliushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17078980742683576345noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2560680272873830337.post-27150525666384040592016-08-17T11:56:01.613+01:002016-08-17T11:56:01.613+01:00An excellent review. This set was an unknown to me...An excellent review. This set was an unknown to me but now after reading your review I am tempted to add it to my collection of rule books!Solo wargaming-on a budget!https://www.blogger.com/profile/15442472155141898004noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2560680272873830337.post-61085324691090967082016-08-17T08:47:21.527+01:002016-08-17T08:47:21.527+01:00My copy of the rules arrived just as I started to ...My copy of the rules arrived just as I started to read your review! Very excited to give these rules a try. And as an added bonus I may actually have enough figs to field two forces already...a first as I'm a relative newcomer to this wargaming lark!Mallius Vanehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11017597212038657943noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2560680272873830337.post-79694851532441706302016-08-17T07:23:34.629+01:002016-08-17T07:23:34.629+01:00Good review Alistair - thanksGood review Alistair - thankscolinmnashhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14342098641859314933noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2560680272873830337.post-79522260758562702192016-08-17T06:08:13.388+01:002016-08-17T06:08:13.388+01:00very nice review, thanks (looks like all those fig...very nice review, thanks (looks like all those figs I painted will see the light of day :-))Bradleyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01775705097634603087noreply@blogger.com