Also this game is a great tool if you're interested in learning the history of the ECW because so many other revolutions took their cue from it. Each card has a number plus flavour text and if you stack the draw pile in numerical order you get to see challenges appear as they did historically.
The color coding of the dice, "Parliament -Blue and Royalist - Red" is a surprise. Historically, Blue is the "Royal" color. Blue uniforms for the Royal Navy, Royal Air Force and Royal Artillery. Guards Regiments have blue facing on their red uniforms. Parliament's New Model Army formalized the tradition of Red Coats for the British Army. (not the Royal Army.) Thanks for the review. I've been curious about this game.
Great review ! For the tactical battle, I believe you are only supposed to roll one die for each side of the third and fourth sections and using the totals of your Musket and Pike units in these section. (And not roll dice for each row of the third and fourth as per your example). The battle example of page 13 of the rulebook (top right) may lead to confusion but the reason for the second dice roll was the use of the Firing by Forlorn File card in the example. The fourth sector example in the lower left example of page 13 of the rulebook demonstrates this. Great video and really enjoying your channel!
Love this game, but so hard, five plays and have yet to survive the second civil war. Did my last play in number/historical order which was really good.
Ooh that is a hard one. I will answer this with a summary of what they both are and you can decide. Soviet Dawn is a classic that plays in about an hour and is much more reliant on a bit of luck as there are a bit fewer decisions. Cruel Necessity is a bit deeper wargame, plays in about 90 minutes to 2 hours and has a really interesting tactical combat system. I was able to win Soviet Dawn and got pretty good at it but Cruel Necessity is a lot harder and after 4 plays I have not really come that close to winning. Both are great and both are great history. Good luck with whatever choice you make!
That’s very helpful and I know what to do now. I like the Soviet Dawn theme better, but I think that the tactical depth of Cruel Necessity will keep me more engaged. I will probably get both of them in the long run, but for now I will buy Cruel Necessity. Thanks, Grant!
Also this game is a great tool if you're interested in learning the history of the ECW because so many other revolutions took their cue from it. Each card has a number plus flavour text and if you stack the draw pile in numerical order you get to see challenges appear as they did historically.
The color coding of the dice, "Parliament -Blue and Royalist - Red" is a surprise. Historically, Blue is the "Royal" color. Blue uniforms for the Royal Navy, Royal Air Force and Royal Artillery. Guards Regiments have blue facing on their red uniforms. Parliament's New Model Army formalized the tradition of Red Coats for the British Army. (not the Royal Army.) Thanks for the review. I've been curious about this game.
Great review ! For the tactical battle, I believe you are only supposed to roll one die for each side of the third and fourth sections and using the totals of your Musket and Pike units in these section. (And not roll dice for each row of the third and fourth as per your example). The battle example of page 13 of the rulebook (top right) may lead to confusion but the reason for the second dice roll was the use of the Firing by Forlorn File card in the example. The fourth sector example in the lower left example of page 13 of the rulebook demonstrates this. Great video and really enjoying your channel!
Yay! This was one of my first wargames! Loved the victory point games counters, what a smell!
Well done! A superior review. Thanks.
Although this is a period of history that doesn’t resonate I am going to buy it on the strength of this review. Great work thanks.
Love this game, but so hard, five plays and have yet to survive the second civil war. Did my last play in number/historical order which was really good.
Nice review!
Great review! I’m debating if getting this one or Soviet Dawn. What would you recommend?
Ooh that is a hard one. I will answer this with a summary of what they both are and you can decide. Soviet Dawn is a classic that plays in about an hour and is much more reliant on a bit of luck as there are a bit fewer decisions. Cruel Necessity is a bit deeper wargame, plays in about 90 minutes to 2 hours and has a really interesting tactical combat system. I was able to win Soviet Dawn and got pretty good at it but Cruel Necessity is a lot harder and after 4 plays I have not really come that close to winning. Both are great and both are great history. Good luck with whatever choice you make!
That’s very helpful and I know what to do now. I like the Soviet Dawn theme better, but I think that the tactical depth of Cruel Necessity will keep me more engaged. I will probably get both of them in the long run, but for now I will buy Cruel Necessity. Thanks, Grant!
I have it and its an excellent game.