Are these Pieces for You? Fire In the Lake [GMT Games 2014]

My impressions of "Fire in the Lake" after just one... errr, 'difficult' try with other players
The 3rd Printing is available as of this video on GMT Games' site:
www.gmtgames.com/p-903-fire-i...
"Conflict in Vietnam" was the games from the 80s I mentioned, here's some extended gameplay footage:
• Conflict in Vietnam ga...

[@scu11ey]

I was the US player in the game discussed in the video. I had also solo'd the game using the Tru'Ng Bot a couple of times. Compared to other COIN games we played, FITL definitely has a more wargame kind of feel as well as a more 2v2 kind of dynamic. Both the ARVN player and I really struggled to understand what it was that we needed to be doing and how to do it during much of the game and only felt like we were getting a handle on things towards the end of the game. Having never fully investigated or read about the Vietnam War, I felt like this game gave me great insight into why it was an 'unwinnable" war right from the start.

[@biffybeans]

I really find that soloing all factions helps me understand how each faction works on their own and with each other. When I finally got this to the table, I found all the factions slightly familiar from playing 4 previous COIN titles in that way.
ARVN (and the US) really need to be utilizing their special forces. Those few pieces can have a big impact.
It is always an option when learning a COIN to only use the event cards for faction order and only use ops/activities or even just ops until people get the swing of things.
One thing I found different about FITL than Cuba Libre, A Distant Plain, and Colonial Twilight is how massive a lot of the effects could be. Big sweeping actions by the US or NVA made things very interesting.
The Ken Burns series was excellent. I watched it when I first bought the game over a year ago but I only just played it last week. Really helped understand a lot more about what is being depicted in this game.

[@WdTPD]

Oh, good, I'm glad you weighed in - I wanted to *specifically* message you and get your input ;) Agreed, I could've been more helpful if I solo'd it myself first. It was another player's copy (I don't have one) but I need this game in my life.
Those events sure are swingy! Gandhi is sort of like that too...
Thanks for weighing in, Stephanie!

[@biffybeans]

@@WdTPD sometimes I wish I had a group to play with- but I’d always want to be the least experienced because I just don’t know that I’d have the patience to play games like this where everyone is learning.
Hope you get a copy for yourself. This is an absolute keeper for me. This and Colonial Twilight.

[@mansoorsiddiqui]

As the ARVN player that game, even with the crushing weight of the NVA upon me, there were some high highs that made the experience well worth it. :D I can also look back and clearly trace our loss to some poor decisions made early on -- a hallmark of good game design. None of it felt random or unfair. Indeed, let's get another one going after some breathing room. :)

[@markherman50]

I enjoyed your video, thanks for sharing.

[@WdTPD]

Thank you for helping create such a unique experience! I hope it came across that, despite our struggles, we still really valued what the game had to offer and we will revisit it!

[@richard-mtl]

I'm glad you recognize some of the errors you made, and that you want to try it again! It is definitely a long one, but it's one I keep wanting to go back to because of all the card variety, and the "evolution of the story" as you put it. Even now, I feel the urge to set it up and start a solo. You really do create a unique "history" every time you play this, and it's quite the experience.

[@WdTPD]

Definitely the huge pile of cards will make each play remarkably different. We didn’t even get to the 1968 pile! Lots more to explore.

[@jumpmaster82nd.]

For a different slant try " Save South Vietnam" by Fortress Games. Not much wiggle room to get a win.