Newsgroups: rec.games.board
Subject: Re: good three-player games
From: noren@trident.datasys.swri.edu (Greg Noren)
Date: 30 Dec 92 15:26:10 GMT
Organization: Southwest Research Institute
Summary: Sorcerer, Caesar Alesia, PB/PL/AIW discussed

In article <8HgkwB3w165w@Micor.OCUnix.on.ca> alsandor@Micor.OCUnix.on.ca (Michel Boucher) writes:
>
>Another excellent three-player game (for the same reasons) is SOURCE OF
>THE NILE.  It's playable solitaire, and any more players up to six.
>Three appears to be the optimal number for an enjoyable game, however.
>Too bad it's out of print :-)
>

Speaking of out of print games ... two other friends and I used to 
have many enjoyable sessions of the old SPI _Sorcerer_ game.  I
seem to remember enjoying the provided scenarios as well as our
own.  Also, two of us could play the second solitare ("The Magic
Tide" ???) scenario and have a lot of fun.  This was an "us against
the board" kind of scenario which lets you play and not compete with
the other player - refreshing when you are learning the game.  It was 
quick to learn and generally played rapidly.  SPI's classic combat 
differential (+1, 0, -1, etc) was used but with a twist.  The column 
in the table was affected by the color of the battling units and the 
color of the hex in which the battle took place.  I recommend it if 
you can find it.

I also remember attempting AH's _Caesar Alesia_ with the same two 
friends.  Playing this game three-way one person is Caesar, one is
the besieged Gauls contained by Caesar, and the other is the 
relieving Gaul force.  Collaberation between the two Gaul players
was limited if memory serves.  We enjoyed the game but did not play
it often because of:  1. logistics, and 2. time.  The game has a lot
of pieces and requires a fair amount of space (the board is something
like 7 or 8 foot wide by 5 or 6 foot tall, I believe).  This game 
typically takes time to play ... like a whole Saturday.  Also not a
difficult game to learn.

Another thought which has been previously discussed in this group is
the _Panzer Blitz_ and _Panzer Leader_ (and the oft-neglected _Arab
Isreali Wars_) Avalon Hill series games.  For three-players, one
must consent to be the judge/moderator while the other two play a
scenario blind.  Two copies of the game and AH's optional rules
supplement are required.  I don't remember where the optional
rules for blind play can be had; I need help.  It's either in one
of the games, in an old _General_ article, or in the old 
_Wargammer's Guide to Panzer Blitz_.  If you've got this and the
two willing participants, try it.  Pick an easy scenario, and give
each a chance to be moderator in order to be fair.  I actually 
enjoyed the moderator role - power trip, destiny controller, and
all of that, you know.

And then there's ... my, my.  How we do ramble on down the old 
nostalgia lane.  Forgive me if I digressed too far from the 
original poster's intent.  I haven't had two good friends,
close by, sharing my gaming interests in a long time as you can
probably tell from the game titles mentioned.

>Michel

          GT
>
>
>C. Michel Boucher              | alsandor@micor.ocunix.on.ca
>Private user                   |
>Ottawa, Canada                 | member, Christina Amphlett fan club
>CANADA                         |         ^^^^^^^^^ ^^^^^^^^
                                          ^^^^^^^^^ ^^^^^^^^
Okay, Michel.  I'll bite.  Who is she?  :-)

--
I disclaim:  The words above are mine... My company speaketh their own.

Gregory Noren                             (512)522-5531 (a human)
Southwest Research Institute              (512)522-5499 (just the FAX)
Internet:  noren@trident.datasys.swri.edu (129.162.50.211)