Let's Talk Manoeuvre

Some dude's AAR over at BGG has inspired this.

Manoeuvre is, after Hammer, my favorite light wargame of the past 15-20 years. The 'Birth of America' games are making a run, but they both have a few issues, that have prevented them from being true classics IMO and I haven't played enough Hold the Line games to say they are classics (though I do enjoy it/them)

Anyway, Manoeuvre...

Some say it's an too abstract, but perhaps they haven't played enough to know the theme is built into the nationality decks. Each army has historical strengths and weaknesses. Some say it's too card dependent, but I'd argue not as much as the C&C games that everyone seems to love (I'm not a fan).

Besides being a solid design, there's a lot of enjoyment to be had in the variety of options available. My opponent and I play with the game plenty...If the disparity (ranking) between two armies is fairly large, we'll allow the weaker side to built the terrain (defenders in their homeland), or allow setting up in other spaces besides the two back rows, or maybe even allow a little starting hand deck-building. Anyway, the game never feels like it's broken after any of these slight 'scenario' building modifications.

Also, too, we really dig the 'World Cup of Wargames' vibe as armies from around the world clash on battlefields to determine who is the king of 19th century warfare. There to lies a lot of kicks...building backgrounds on why and how these nations took up arms against one another. Just like that AAR I mentioned:
boardgamegeek.com/thread/1174866/us-versus-ottoman

What is Dearborn doing in the Balkans?! Why, his 1813 capture of York was so successful, instead of a discharge, he was assigned to join up with Old Hickory to protect American trade interests overseas... fun stuff.

Anyway, anyone not really interested in wargames, or just wanting one or two to 'fill a hole in their collection' should give this title a look. Plays in about an hour, has enough components to run 8 player simultaneously, with random terrain building is endlessly replayable, and has an expansion (bringing in the Swedes, Marathas, Tokugawa Shogunate, and the Chinese) due out this fall (finally!)

It's a good one, but after finally playing Pocket Battles (new Civil War set), I think it's better.

Manoeuvre is a game that I wish I was able to play more. I know I say that with a lot of games, but this is one where I feel genuine sorrow when I see it and pass by it on my shelf. What I really like about Manoeuvre is it's cobbled together feel...A little mixture of an abstract game with light card driven mechanics and historical flavor. And it finds that right balance where it is easy to play, has some tough decisions to make but still maintains the flavor.

I have only played a few times but even with those few times you do get a sense that each nationality is unique and has a different play-style, strengths and weaknesses. It is actually a game that I traded away and then bought again just because I wanted to make sure I had a copy kicking around when the time was right to play.

My only gripe is I wish the tiles were a bit thicker (and didn't warp), but a little bit of plex fixes it right up.

I'm very excited to hear that the expansion armies are going to be printed up...I can't remember if I have that one on pre-order or not, if not I should. What are your thoughts on Fury (?) I think it is called? The fantasy version? Any excitement for that?

BTW- Miniature Market has this on their Spring Sale, $27.50. That's half price.

VonTush wrote: I'm very excited to hear that the expansion armies are going to be printed up...I can't remember if I have that one on pre-order or not, if not I should. What are your thoughts on Fury (?) I think it is called? The fantasy version? Any excitement for that?

I've cooled on fantasy a lot in recent years. The only types I'm interested in gaming these days are gonzo 70's sword and sorcery or those seasoned with 80's British flavour. That and it looks a little two similar to Manoeuvre and I prefer Manoeuvre's theme by a country mile.

Again, part of the allure of Manoeuvre is the alternative history tales that are spun. I do wish there would be at least one more expansion that at least included Mexicans and Zulus, but Jeff Horgan, the designer, is calling it a day after Distant Lands.

That's not surprising after the years it's taken to get Distant Lands printed up. Which is a shame because I agree at this point I'd rather see the historical nations rounded out before they branch into fantasy.

Me too. No interest in orcs. Or zombies, or great old ones.

I'd buy a new copy and trade my old if they printed a bigger, plusher version of the original.

Thinking about Fury on the way into work this morning. I could see one scenario where I would pick it up. I've thought playing GW's Mighty Empires with Manoeuvre would be pretty cool, but would require some work to retheme everything. With Fury, it seems the merger would be a breeze. If I thought I could actually run a Mighty Empire campaign some summer, then I would possibly pick up Fury.

Oh, one other thing on Manoeuvre. The Distant Lands rulebook has two new rules that you can go ahead and start using in your standard Manoeuvre games:

Advance to Contact
On the first turn of the game both sides can move three units instead of just one. On the second turn each side can move two units. And from the third turn on each side moves just one unit per turn. The play of a Supply card will allow additional movement and a Forced March may be used for any of these movements.

Digging In
You may elect to not move a unit on your turn. However, if you do not move a unit, you “lose the initiative” and must discard your entire hand before the end of the movement phase.

Michael Barnes wrote: It's a good one, but after finally playing Pocket Battles (new Civil War set), I think it's better.

I have not played ACW yet . In my playings of the ancient ones though, it seemed as though buying your army and deploying it was at least as important and took almost as long as the actual game play itself. Manoeuvre - each pick a nationality, randomly draw four tiles and you're pretty much ready to go , which I prefer . I think Pocket Battles had an opportunity to be a sort of CC Ancients Lite if they had focused more on getting out say multiple expansions of just ancients and not had so much space in between releases . At those price points I think it could have built momentum.

Pocket Battles definitely favors particular army builds. I suppose that makes sense, but I think you're right, it's the more important part of the game.

I've been hot on Pocket Battles but I've only been playing a game now and again and haven't gotten the opportunity to really craft an army for it. Now that I'm doing that it's appearing more rigid.

S.

I'd much rather play Manoeuvre than Pocket Battles, the C&C system, or Hold the Line. So yeah, it's worth the money and fun to play!

I rarely play anymore, though, because - if time is short - we usually bash out a game of Fading Glory or Quebec 1759 instead. Fading Glory, in particular, is a new favorite. The Nap20 system is just plain cool, with its event cards, unusual CRT (using differences rather than ratios), and morale-based win conditions. The idea of using morale as currency is neat.

Anyway, sorry for the sidestep. I certainly look forward to the Manoeuvre expansions/sequels, and every time I play I'm reminded of how much fun it is.

Jeff, I've always wanted to play Manoeuvre, we need to play.

On Pocket Battles, I really enjoy it. It's pretty quick and fun and I like the army creation.

Really loving Fading Glory. Easy to play, easy to teach, games are quick and great decisions.

Sagrilarus wrote: Me too. No interest in orcs. Or zombies, or great old ones.

I'd buy a new copy and trade my old if they printed a bigger, plusher version of the original.

I was under the impression that the later editions had thicker components. I'm re buying this.

I enjoy Manoeuvre, but I played a prototype of Fury at a con a couple years ago, and I thought it was a large improvement. I could take or leave the fantasy theme, but the various powers made the game more exciting, while retaining the flavor of the original.