Battle for Moscow 16

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Update 2023-04-03 The Germans do not get a Special Movement phase during Turn 1. This really matters a lot, and it's why this game went so poorly for the Soviets.

Back to the old classic, which is also on my H-index list to get me to 16. I have it set up on the table, first time in several years.

Turn 1 massive breakthrough, and at the end of Turn 2 I have the panzers cutting off Soviet supply/communications. So they can't acquire replacements. Just in time for mud turn. Also, this was a punch right through the middle. But the Soviets were able to get the southern edge open. Let's see if they can hold it.

Calling it at Turn 6. I may have misplayed something as that was too easy as the Germans. Game went less then 2 hours. Reading through previous games, I've done these around an hour or so, 90 minutes counting write and posting, etc.

Here's what it looked like, total carnage.

Game 16

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What to play next?

Deciding what to play next is always a tough call when faced with a closet full of games, all of which were purchased with intent to play. Here's one I'm dealing with the decision.

  • Something New: this means both something new to me and a game which has been published recently, within the last two or three years.
  • Something Classic: I've acquired a number of games properly considered "classic" which haven't yet been played. The current example would be PanzerGruppe Guderian.
  • Something Again: mastery requires constant practice, which means playing games many, many times to allow nuance to appear.
  • Something Vietnam: as I'm on a Vietnam binge. I don't have all the Vietnam games ever published, but I can say that I have a lot of them, and probably more than most people.
  • Something Obscure: as it's fun to poke around in the dustier corners of game design.
  • Something Different: break away from the same old publishers and try a game from one of the new kids on the block. Or, conversely, dip into legacy with a classic tried and true.
  • Something Light: once in a while it's nice to actually finish a game all the way through in one sitting, in an hour or two.
  • Something Heavy: if possible, it's nice to set up something big and complicated which can be left out for days or weeks or even months, for a leisurely stroll through a very large or long game.

There are surely many more ways to choose, but the above method keeps me busy enough, helps me get both breadth and depth into my play, and provides me with a sense of progress.

The odd man out

When there is an odd man out:

  • Have a solo game ready to play.
  • Keep score or advise on a game in progress.
  • Referee a game in progress.