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Conference 501clb::games

Title:Welcome to GAMES
Notice:Use 501CLB::GAMES, all DOOM stuff to 501CLB::PCDOOM
Moderator:PCBUOA::BAYJRS
Created:Fri Feb 14 1986
Last Modified:Fri Jun 06 1997
Last Successful Update:Fri Jun 06 1997
Number of topics:3127
Total number of notes:35988

3126.0. "History of the World" by PUSH::HUBER (From Seneca to Cuyahoga Falls) Thu Jun 05 1997 13:52

    
    Ragnar Brothers, a small company in England, created a boardgame about
    five years back now by the name of History of the World.  Avalon Hill
    (along with Gibsons) picked it up, made a few modifications, and
    continue to sell it today.  The game itself is perhaps the best
    example of a "better Risk"; which is to say it offers the simple combat
    and global conquest aspects of Risk with more strategic decisions and
    a more definitive endpoint.
    
    It's also a game which is nearly ideally suited for solitaire computer
    play; thankfully, Avalon Hill realized this, and has just released a
    computer version.
    
    I've picked up a copy, and am looking forward to trying it.  Any others
    giving it a go?
    
    Joe
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3126.1Not me, but ...REOSV4::16.43.128.220::strangewaysAndy Strangeways @REO 830-3216Fri Jun 06 1997 05:4512
I have a bunch of friends who rave about this. Not tried it myself yet: I got 
as far as reading the rules the last time we were together, but we ended up 
playing Britania instead (also an excellent game).

As a matter of fact, I saw a copy in the shop attached to the "Deva
Experience" exhibition in Chester last Saturday, and nearly bought it. I'm 
overspent on the games budget, though, after buying the new PC.

It was a surprise to see more serious wargames in a tourist souvenier shop 
than in the nearby Fantasy & SF bookshop!

Andy.
3126.2PUSH::HUBERFrom Seneca to Cuyahoga FallsFri Jun 06 1997 08:2837
    
>I have a bunch of friends who rave about this. Not tried it myself yet: I got 
>as far as reading the rules the last time we were together, but we ended up 
>playing Britania instead (also an excellent game).

    B^)  I haven't played Britania yet, even though I own it, in part
    because I haven't been able to get through the rules.  One clear
    advantage of HotW is fleixbility - it handles 3-6 players well (though
    it makes for a long game with 6), whereas Britania seems to be heavily
    tuned for 4.
    
>As a matter of fact, I saw a copy in the shop attached to the "Deva
>Experience" exhibition in Chester last Saturday, and nearly bought it. I'm 
>overspent on the games budget, though, after buying the new PC.
>
>It was a surprise to see more serious wargames in a tourist souvenier shop 
>than in the nearby Fantasy & SF bookshop!
    
    Interestingly, HotW could be found in the Museum Shop chain (or at
    least the local store) this past Christmas; it was nice to see
    an Avalon Hill game somewhere besides hobby stores.
    
    My first go at the PC version went well; it's much faster, as expected
    (75 minutes for a six player game).  Interesting, the Sumerians are
    _only_ an Epoch I empire, and not optionally so.  No big deal, just
    an unexpected difference.
    
    The graphics are nice, and the game flows well, but it's not always
    easy to tell how you're doing (the scoring charts aren't automatically
    displayed).  I suspect this might become less of a problem with time,
    but it is a concern.
    
    Overall, though, looks good so far...
    
    Joe (who got stuck with the Khmers in Epoch 4 last night even though
         I wasn't winning, on the basis of being the last person without
         a card... B^(