HDTenEightyP/NetNews huggingface dataset:
From: Steve.Zwanger@bbs.oit.unc.edu (Steve Zwanger)
Subject: Re: Titan -- non-game-altering house rules
Organization: Extended Bulletin Board Service
Date: Mon, 14 Sep 1992 13:17:36 GMT

In article <1992Sep11.184401.12830@uwm.edu> bruno@cerberus.csd.uwm.edu writes:
>There is a counter strategy to this. If the hosee doesn't get a good roll
>he can attack the Titan in the tower with an angel to call and have a good
>chance of winning the battle.

This is suicide. The Tower is fantastic defensively, so the hosee is
already at a big disadvantage, plus he usually has to protect his Titan,
and certainly can't afford to attack with it. This leaves three basic
creatures and a lion-type creature to attack with. The defender has a warlock
to rangestrike with, and if the battle goes to his fourth turn he gets
another. If the defender doesn't like his chances, he can always run
his Titan up on the attacking Titan and try for a mutual; this is even
better if the attacking Titan has a hit or two on him from the warlock.
The angel probably won't be enough help since even against the Titan
he's likely to be at a 1-skill factor disadvantage, if the attacker actually
manages to kill something in time to summon it.

If I were the hosee and couldn't get a build, I'd just run away and hope
the warlock stack declines to attack or gets a low number.

Steve
--
   The opinions expressed are not necessarily those of the University of
     North Carolina at Chapel Hill, the Campus Office for Information
        Technology, or the Experimental Bulletin Board Service.
           internet:  bbs.oit.unc.edu or 152.2.22.80
Newsgroups: rec.games.board
From: cleggp@aix.rpi.edu (Paul Jason Clegg)
Subject: Re: Stellar Conquest
Organization: Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Troy, NY
Date: Sun, 13 Sep 1992 03:20:00 GMT

In article <1992Sep11.210328.17523@magnus.acs.ohio-state.edu> vjelinek@magnus.acs.ohio-state.edu (Virginia G Jelinek) writes:
>My friends and I play AH's version of Stellar Conquest every so often (once or 
>twice a year).  It's always sooooo satisfying revealing that first Death Star 
>on an unwary/obstreperous opponent and making space dust out of him :-).
>
>Bill

I played the old Metagaming version (my friend's older brother's game) with
my friend for about three weeks at one point.  The problem was, neither one
of us wanted to fight each other!  (We decided to play beyond the 44 year
span).  It got to the point where there was a distinct line diagonally across
the board where we owned.  I took a hex map from another game and put my
own new systems on it, and we considered it our "second dimension", and then
designed about five more levels of technology...  We were nuts.  We gave up
on it, and never fought once!  (Moral:  Don't play against your VERY best
friends; it'll get boring...  :)

...Paul


Newsgroups: rec.games.board
From: jdarnold@HQ.Ileaf.COM (Jonathan Arnold)
Subject: Re: Civil War Strategic games
Organization: Interleaf, Inc.
Date: Fri, 11 Sep 92 16:18:26 GMT

In article <1992Sep10.142955.16712@srg.srg.af.mil> dpipes@spica.srg (Dave Pipes x4552) writes:
>In article <1992Sep9.121440.737@HQ.Ileaf.COM> jdarnold@HQ.Ileaf.COM (Jonathan Arnold) writes:
>>In article <STONE.92Sep8090434@gershwin.cs.unc.edu> stone@gershwin.cs.unc.edu (Donald Stone) writes:
>>>
>>>In article <8SEP199210203026@vxcrna.cern.ch> casper@vxcrna.cern.ch (CASPER,DAVI./PPE) writes:
>>>There is a new game out from Clash of Arms:  War for the Union (???)
>>>Anybody played this one yet?  Impressions?
>>
>>I have it but haven't played it yet.  The map is beautiful, if a
>>don't really see the connection.  Of course, the previous paragraph
>>had an example, but this one didn't.  And some Basic Rules confusions
>>were cleared up by looking at the Advanced Rules.
>Which rules bothered you?  We could hash it out here (or in email) before
>you play, if you like.  Sort of what the group is for :-).

Well, let's see - off the top of my head, I can only remember one.
First they talk about the morale of a stack, which means you use the
highest morale that's not higher than the majority of the units.  It's
not quite said that way, but it was confusingly spelled out.  It was
cleared up by the example.

Then, the rules talk about the battle ratings for the leaders, and
they said to do it just like the morale.  Do they mean to count
leaders, or SP's under leaders or both?

+=================================+================================+
| Jonathan Arnold                 |  Interleaf, Inc.               |
| jdarnold@ileaf.com              |  Prospect Place                |
| Home: (617)335-5457             |  9 Hilside Avenue              |
| Bus: (617)290-4990 x5489        |  Waltham, MA 02154             |
+=================================+================================+
From: i6p@vax5.cit.cornell.edu
Newsgroups: rec.games.board
Subject: b-tech anecdote
Date: 7 Sep 92 15:37:01 EDT
Distribution: rec
Organization: Cornell University

I've been inspired by the many posts about Battletech.  I play on occasion
and do enjoy the game.  I don't play campaign games (or at least haven't).
I have only played once with tanks and infantry.
Anyway, the point of this post is to tell of a mech I created called the 
Drone (because it was expected to sting once and die).
I don't remember the specifics.  Only that it was 10 tons, had 2 center torso
mounted medium lasers and a walking speed of 10.  No armor as it would have
slowed them down.  With them I managed to kill a Spider and an Atlas while
only suffering about 5 losses.  By tonage that's about 1:3 I think.
My friends now call taking lots o small things against one big thing "pulling
a Vince."
(BTW I also had an Atlas from the book and one shot to his amo loaded torso
took him out before he could fire a shot)  
Newsgroups: rec.games.board
From: erisande@silver.ucs.indiana.edu (Kryst the Philosopher)
Subject: Re: PBEM A&A gamers wanted for a game
Organization: Quitters Inc.
Date: Mon, 14 Sep 1992 06:31:04 GMT

	If there are any more PBEM A&A, I would like to join in.  I
have only played a few times, and I have my own board, but I know the
rules of the game, and I would enjoy a good game.  Please contact @
erisande@silver.ucs.indiana.edu
-- 
He waits to hear her say 'forgive',
but she just drops her pearl-black eyes
and prays to hear him say 'I love you',
but he tells no more lies.
Newsgroups: rec.games.board,rec.games.frp.advocacy
From: willows@cslall.enet.dec.com (Steve Willows)
Subject: Re: Hostility in Gamers toward Certain Games
Organization: Digital Equipment Corporation
Date: Sun, 6 Sep 1992 16:56:37 GMT


In article <1992Sep5.235920.6927@oz.plymouth.edu>, sos@oz.plymouth.edu 
(Steffan O'Sullivan) writes...

>I can't stand computer games, either.  They seem like a waste of time.
>What I enjoy in a game is face to face human interaction, whether that
>comes from role-playing, a serious wargame, or a lighthearted
>beer-n-pretzels game.  I have good friends who are heavily into
>computer games (which include MUDs), and it saddens me.  Such a waste
>of good gamers.

    I'll agree that computer wargames are a waste of time... for now. The age is
not yet here, but it will be soon. With very few exceptions (SSG's Carriers at 
War comes to mind), computer opponents suck. Big time. They are easy to defeat, 
I mean.

    Still, I cannot wait for the age to get here! Hey, I like FTF play as much 
as the next guy, but solitaire or versus a computer opponent can be a satisfying
experience too, it depends on what your goals are. I don't play every game to be
competetive, sometimes I play merely to study the situation. You can't just fool
with things like that in FTF. Further, how many of us have not gamed against 
someone whose playing speed is not the same as our own? It's frustrating at 
times to *want* to take time to study the situation but can't, since the idiot 
across from you has been moving at light-speed all game long. :-) Or the 
reverse. You have just moved and may as well go take a nap now as you spy your 
opponent blankly looking at the board. I can play a computer at whatever pace 
suits me.

    I like large strategic games. Sometimes these beasts get bumped. Sometimes I
don't have room. Sometimes they take a long time to play, and even get dusty. No
problem with a computer game.

>I don't have a solution to this.  In fact, I don't live in a
>well-populated area, so I can't even take a decent poll.  I just wish I
>had more gamers to play with.

    Ah yes, sometimes opponents are not readily available. Another reason to go 
computerized.

    I really can't wait until they start putting out something half decent!

---
Steve Willows		willows@cslall.enet.dec.com
    			--or-- ...!decwrl!cslall.enet.dec.com!willows
    			--or-- willows%cslall.dec@decwrl.enet.dec.com
    			--or-- willows%cslall.enet.dec.com@uunet.uu.net

    "Even historians fail to learn from history - they repeat the same 
mistakes." - John Gill
---
From: dv52151@uxa.cso.uiuc.edu (Axly)
Newsgroups: rec.games.board
Subject: Re: BTECH Re: Arrow IV
Date: 15 Sep 92 15:44:58 GMT
Organization: University of Illinois at Urbana

taia_a@kosmos.wcc.govt.nz writes:

>> Mech pilots are both more expensive and more difficult to train and if
>> the inner sphere has a good supply of anything it is people.

> Yes and we don't retire our pilots after 5 years. Morgan Kell and Yoringa
>Kurita were just getting into their prime in their mid-30s.

Yeah, but the Clan Pilots get better and better with every generation.
Natasha Kerensky has 0/0 targets after a LONG service career. Her 
granddaughter (sort of) Ranna has 1/0 targets right now. Personally,
I have no desire to see her after 50 years of service. OUCH!

Axly
From: ross@informix.com (Ross Hagglund)
Newsgroups: rec.games.board
Subject: Napoleonics
Date: 10 Sep 92 22:56:48 GMT
Organization: Informix Software, Inc.
Originator: ross@godzilla

I have been curious about playing some games from the Napoleonic era. Either
strategic or tactical (or both). Can anyone recommend a game (a series of
games)
 As as a reference I have played GDW's Bordino (sp?). Except for a few holes
in the rules I found this game rather enjoyable, especially with the multi-
player per side rules (limited communication).
 Also AH "War and Peace". Don't remember this as being all that great.

Ross Hagglund
ross@informix.com
(ross@cs.pdx.edu)
Newsgroups: rec.games.board
From: hship@sw.stratus.com (Howard Ship)
Newsgroups: rec.games.board
Subject: Re: Tyranno Ex?
Keywords: Review Wanted
Date: 15 Sep 92 14:33:45 GMT
Organization: Stratus Computer, Inc.

In article <1992Sep14.213312.1624@cbnewsm.cb.att.com>, beowulf@cbnewsm.cb.att.com (john.a.foley) writes:
> What's the good word on Avalon Hill's Tyranno Ex
> (the so-called game of evolution)?  Physically
> it looks super.  How does it play?  Is it just
> for family, is it good for B & P, or even more?
> Thanks!
> 
> John A. Foley

I think AH bought this game from someone.  I noticed it at Games People Play
(Cambridge, MA, USA) from AH.  Right next to it was same game, same name,
German rules from a German Company.

-- 
"I can't believe I had the Anti!"
Howard_Ship@vos.stratus.com
Xref: sparky rec.games.board:8864 rec.games.frp.misc:5522
From: dhoberma@pearl.tufts.edu
Newsgroups: rec.games.board,rec.games.frp.misc
Subject: Re: Clay O'Rama
Date: 14 Sep 92 22:27:21 GMT
Organization: Tufts University - Medford, MA

In article <1992Sep10.212336.28637@athena.mit.edu>, staats@athena.mit.edu (Dick) writes:
> What is this famed Clay O'Rama?  (Am I <shudder-shudder> the only person in the
> world yet not to play this game?)  :-0
> 

It is a silly yet amusing game where you make up clay monsters then bash them
to bits. Lots of special powers, simple mechanics. Your basic party game with
Play-doh.

> Thank you in advance,
> 
> Rich
> 
> P.S. Could anyone give a synopsis of rules, price, etc.?  ;-)  RCS  

It is in back issues of Dragon, #'s of which I am not sure..
Sorry

Dobie
From: erwinrd@sumax.seattleu.edu (Richard D. Erwin)
Newsgroups: rec.games.board
Subject: Broadsides and Boarding Parties For Sale
Date: 5 Sep 92 00:54:20 GMT
Organization: Seattle University, Seattle WA

A friend in the Seattle area has a Milton Bradley Broadsides and Boarding 
Paries for sale.  The contents are in excellent condition, but the box, while
overall in good shape, apparently has one corner tear.

My friend is looking for $50.  If he gets multiple offers, we'll go to an       auction-style bid over the next week, with updates to each of the bidders.
From: woods@colossal.Eng.Sun.COM (Don Woods)
Newsgroups: rec.games.board
Subject: Re: Diplomacy: Rules Question
Date: 15 Sep 1992 16:09:54 GMT
Organization: Sun Microsystems
NNTP-Posting-Host: colossal

Steve Zwanger writes:
| England: A Gas-Bur
| France: A Bur-Gas
|         A Par S A Bur-Gas
| Germany: A Mun-Bur
| Obviously A Gas-Bur fails, but does it cause A Mun-Bur to bounce?

No, Mun-Bur succeeds.  From my copy of the rules (c) 1976:

IX.7: ...where two or more equally well supported units are ordered to
the same space, neither may move, even though one of them has been
dislodged by a supported attack on the same move.  However, if two
units are ordered to the same space, and one of them is dislodged by
a unit coming FROM that space, the other unit may move.
--
--	-- Don Woods.				[*** Generic Disclaimer ***]
--				    ...!sun!woods.eng -or- Woods@Eng.Sun.com
From: mprunx@violet.berkeley.edu (Elliot Wilen)
Newsgroups: rec.games.board
Subject: Wanted: Errata for SPI's Empires of the Middle Ages
Date: 5 Sep 1992 02:56:59 GMT
Organization: University of California, Berkeley
Distribution: world
NNTP-Posting-Host: violet.berkeley.edu
Originator: mprunx@violet.berkeley.edu

Does anyone know if errata were ever published for this game? The rules
are very tight by SPI standards, but there are still a few subtle ambiguities,
omissions, and what appear to be errors. If you have official errata, I would
gladly pay the cost of photocopying and postage. Alternatively, if you know
where the errata were published (e.g., in S&T, Moves, or F&M), you could
just tell me where to look and I'll seek out the back issue myself.

Please email responses to this account. Anyone who would like a summary of
the response should also send mail. Thanks much.

--Elliot Wilen
Newsgroups: rec.games.board
From: ppugliese@pimacc.pima.edu
Newsgroups: rec.games.board
Subject: Re: BTECH: After GenCON92 Report ... sorta
Date: 10 Sep 92 03:11:29 GMT

In article <1992Sep8.223921.1384@tdb.uu.se>, m91kgh@tdb.uu.se (Karl-Gunnar Hultland) writes:
> dv52151@uxa.cso.uiuc.edu (Axly) writes:
> : kgnome@cs.concordia.ca (MATIS stephane) writes:
> : 
> : >Nothing against Mr Pardoe, but even in person I didn't get to like him.
> : >He received massive criticisim form all of the other writers for
> : >Bloodright. 
> : 
> : Hmm. What didn't they like about it specifically? 
> : 
> 
> I guess an adventure where the only plot was to kill innocent
> relatives of a traitor just to be allowed to form your own
> bloodname irritates some people.

Well, it does serve to illustrate how much the descendants of the
SDF have strayed from the ideals of the old Terran Hegemony/Star
League. After all these years they basically are no better than
any of the Successor States & arguably worse than any of them.
Is this really the sort of society what Kerensky had in mind when 
he decided to abandon all those worlds (the Hegemony) that were c
ounting on him to protect them so they could rebuild after the 
disastrous war that had just been concluded? At the very least
the Clans should be trying to recreate the old Star League.

PHIL
From: brendan@cs.uq.oz.au (Brendan Mahony)
Newsgroups: rec.games.board
Subject: Re: Titan - who does NOT like it?
Keywords: titan
Date: 7 Sep 92 23:08:19 GMT
Reply-To: brendan@cs.uq.oz.au


Titan?
Can you throw dice?
Take out RSI insurance before you buy!

--
When soldiers form lines or hollow squares, you call it reason.
When wild geese in flight take the form of a letter V, you say instinct.
When the homogeneous atoms of a mineral arrange themselves into shapes
mathematically perfect you have nothing to say. You have not even invented a name to conceal your heroic unreason."
Newsgroups: rec.games.board
From: cummings@milton.u.washington.edu (Michael Cummings)
Subject: ASL Scenarios sought
Summary: Need ASL A - E
Organization: University of Washington
Date: Wed, 9 Sep 1992 21:23:40 GMT

	I need ASL scenarios A to E, which are the first five original SL
scenarios updated and published in the General.  Unfortunately, these
appeared in two issues, one of which is no longer available through Avalon
Hill.  Can anyone help me get these scenarios, or a copy, or something?
I'm trying to learn ASL with the Programmed Instruction in ASL Annual '90,
and I can't get started without them.  Thanks.

-- 
+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+
Mike Cummings VP, PNOAD			|  "Now take two forkfuls
cummings@u.washington.edu		|   of cooking oil..."
cummings@mailhost.hsas.washington.edu	|   - Julia Child
+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+
Newsgroups: rec.games.board
From: jlbraddy@IASTATE.EDU (Jason Braddy)
Subject: WH40K--The Avatar
Reply-To: jlbraddy@IASTATE.EDU (Jason Braddy)
Organization: Iowa State University
Date: Sat, 12 Sep 1992 22:17:52 GMT


I asked awhile back about the Avatar's weapon, specifically, what it's stats
are
and if he can throw it or not.  The only reply I got was that he can't throw it
and they didn't remember the stats.  Thinking about it some more, however, I
realized that this doesn't make much sense.  First off, the incarnation of the
god of war ought to have a ranged attack of some kind, especially sense he
costs
300 points.  Secondly, he has a stat for ballistic skill, which is supposed to
be zero for creatures without ranged attacks.  Thirdly, some of the Exarch
powers are specifically geared towards ranged attack, and it would seem kind of
dumb for the Avatar to have a useless ability.

For lack of a definitive answer from a book or something, here's what I am
proposing for our battles:  the Avatar can throw the spear 18" in the shooting
phase, and it returns to his hand (as does the Singing Spear the warlocks use).
It attacks at his strength (this was in the book), does 2d4 wounds, and has a
-5 save modifier (i.e. you don't unless you're a terminator or some such
thing.)

Any inputs?

Jason Braddy
Iowa State University
Newsgroups: rec.games.board
From: casper@vxcrna.cern.ch (CASPER,DAVI./PPE)
Subject: Re: Civil War Strategic games
News-Software: VAX/VMS VNEWS 1.41    
Organization: European Organization for Nuclear Research, CERN
Date: Tue, 8 Sep 1992 09:20:00 GMT

In article <2r3y5d-@rpi.edu>, woodc@aix.rpi.edu (Christopher A. Wood) writes...
> 
>  I have recently been looking at some sort of Strategic level
>Civil War game.  I had my eye on VG's The Civil War, but I happend      
>to notice another one from a small company which name escapes me
>at the moment.  It had something like "The war that pitted brother
>against brother" or somesuch  in the title.  I remember this one 
>looked more impressive on the stuff covered, but was also about $15
>more.  

The VG game "The Civil War" is managable and fairly complete.  The physical
quality is good, as usual for Victory Games.  It contains all the necessary
military, leadership, and naval elements.  I recommend it as the best game
I have seen on the Civil War.

The other game you saw was by the infamous Fresno Gaming Association.  I have
not played it, but from reviews in magazines like Fire and Movement and a lot
of stuff posted to this group, I have the impression it is big, with good
graphics, but atrociously incomplete rules.  Count on designing about half the
game yourself.  For instance, there are _no_ logistics rules whatsoever.  If
you want a game to play rather than study and redesign, you would be better off
with VG's game.  Apparently this mode of production (big game, good graphics,
invent your own rules) is standard procedure for FGA.  After what I have read
about them, I would *never* buy one of their games without a thorough check-out
of a copy owned by someone else.

>  The question is :  What do people out there recomend for someone who
>wished to fight the entire Civil War?  Is the VG game any good?  Are there
>others out there I should be looking for?  

There is also GDW's A House Divided, which is much simpler, yet still somewhat
historical and a very challenging game.


Dave Casper
CERN - Geneva
casper@vxcrna.cern.ch
From: mikes@biochemistry.oxford.ac.uk (Mike Smith)
Newsgroups: rec.games.board
Subject: Postscript Diplomacy with Positions
Date: 10 Sep 92 12:12:07 GMT
X-Mailer: mail-news 2.0.3


I don't suppose anybody knows of a proggy that prints the diplomacy board
with armies/fleets on (presumably in color).  Surely it wouldn't be too
difficult ... who did the board in the first place?

Mike
Newsgroups: rec.games.board
From: saint@nora.dei.unipd.it (Gian_Uberto Lauri 228495)
Subject: Re: BTECH - machine gun mechs
Keywords: mechs BattleTech machine guns rules
Organization: Universita' di Padova, Italia
Date: Mon, 14 Sep 1992 11:31:21 GMT

In article <1992Sep10.131025.2320@HQ.Ileaf.COM> hal@HQ.Ileaf.COM (Hal Wadleigh) writes:

>I don't like the munchkin approach of designing a 'mech for one specific 
>situation and the munchkinizer who realizes that he can only fire two of his
>30 machine guns gets so frustrated that he never does it again.

A little mech with a big pack of MG is what you need to keep the mob
quiet... Give a look to Battletroops. Or Clantroops. Those s**teaters
of jade parriots blowed up the city of Edo with a massive bombardment
since the inhabitants, leaded by yakuza elements, freed the heir of
Kurita house fighting a mob vs Omnimech (read omnican :>) heroic
battle. They should have equipped their tin cans with MG, and should
have been less stubborn.

o   oooooo	Gian Uberto Lauri	
      o    o	saint@alessia.dei.unipd.it
     o o



Newsgroups: rec.games.board
From: keith@cco.caltech.edu (Keith Allan Schneider)
Subject: Re: A&A - A Balanced game?
Organization: California Institute of Technology, Pasadena
Date: Thu, 10 Sep 1992 02:54:46 GMT

markhof@ls12r.informatik.uni-dortmund.de (Ingolf Markhof) writes:


>After playing Axis & Allies several times, I've got the feeling that this
>game might not be balanced one. In the first year, Germany can easly destroy
>the english see force, Japan does the same with the american ships. After
>that, England and the USA are almost out of the game and it's hard the
>rebuild a sea force to protect the required transports. But if the Axis
>powers get Moskow while America and England are still building ships, the
>Axis powers will win easyly. In all but one of my games, the Allies resigned
>due to the hopeless situation. There was only one game won by the Allies.
>And in this game, the German attack against the english sea force failed due
>to worse dice results.

>Are there any comments or articles about A&A?

The game is indeed unbalanced--in favor of the allies.  If the allies work
together well, it is difficult for the Axis to win.  I think the
game balances out a little if you use the Russia no attack rule (on
the first turn).

keith

Newsgroups: rec.games.board