H&S GAMES UPDATE 12-11-14

Here's the scoop for those of you keeping score:

GOT

Platoon Leader is in its third printing.

Red Devils is slowly taking shape.

And The St. Louis Blues are winning games.

Now then, in order:

Sometimes you need a break and sometimes you need to make a 180 degree turn to get there.  I feel i have effectively accomplished this by engaging in a recent session of Game Of Thrones The Board Game. But wait you say, this has nothing to do with WW2,  what gives? Easy, i'm a long time GOT fan and engaging in something completely unrelated to what you are used to can allow new ideas to breakthrough.  So if you're curious, give it a shot, but make sure you have a ton of people as this is when the game really shines.  (oh yea, i cracked that hermit shell a bit.)

But more importantly, as I fill orders and stuff envelopes it seems Platoon Leader is making a small but noticeable splash.  Sales have been such that i've been able to cover printing and shipping costs (free domestic shipping). Thanks guys for your interest!

 The latest edition of Platoon Leader boasts an improved cover and one minor change.  This change entails support weapons.  Originally, the stats listed on the MG counters had the firepower listed before the range.  This may have promoted an initial but brief bout of confusion and anger as the stats on the infantry counters have the range printed first.  To simplify things, i've switched the stats so that they now coincide with the infantry stats.  (I actually did this just prior to seeing your post Shawn :)  All else remains more or less the same.  

The first expansion Cold Combat has suffered no additional changes.

Red Devils, the second expansion is coming along nicely.  The rules for AFV's are proving a bit challenging and in retrospect, i'm glad i held off on introducing them in the base game as it seems like a game in and of itself.  I always admired the play- a- bit- learn- a- bit approach that the original Squad Leader game introduced and feel there is plenty to tackle in Platoon Leader without becoming mired in armor.  What is more, i had initially intended the Platoon Leader system to focus on infantry alone but finally gave in to that soft spot we all have for tanks.  Granted, the appearance of armor within this upcoming expansion is limited, but it sets the stage for much more interesting things to come. 

Another challenge that has yet again reared its head is that of originality or how to at least develop an AFV combat system that is familiar enough to learn yet unique enough to set it apart from other games.  I suppose its not unlike seeing a cat that looks similar to every other cat on the block and then finding out that it barks. Impossible task?  Not at all.

Perhaps one of the most exciting facets of Red Devils is the counters.  I know i've touched on this briefly in the past but honestly, I can't be happy enough.  The time spent on these things may have lasted longer than intended but in the end i feel its time well spent.  I'm still leaning towards printing them in a size that corresponds to that of the wooden pieces found in a common Scrabble game.  I have actually raided the Scrabble game in the closet and mounted them for playtesting.  Let me just say it looks and works great.  As stacking is minimal in the game, any fear of counter density/hex crowding with Scrabble counters is ill founded.  And don't worry, for those of you who dread mounting counters, or would prefer to leave the Scrabble game alone, the counters you've already mounted for Platoon Leader will still work with Red Devils.

So it goes without saying, the map will more than likely be over sized to facilitate the potential scrabble sized counters.  

Additional odds and ends are as such:

Piats, ammo shortages, stugs, vehicle overruns, offboard artillery, fires, and a special Keep Calm chit for the Brits :) all play their part in Red Devils.  

Finally, the supplementary rules which were included in Cold Combat will also be included in Red Devils allowing for a truly intense game.  And of course, upon release, there will be a specially priced bundle option that includes the base game and both expansions.

So what does the future hold for H&S GAMES?  That is wholly up to you. 

Keep gaming and Go Blues!!!

JMK

P.S. the sneak pics that were promised haven't been forgotten...stay tuned...