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Eric Walters
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  • Norfolk
  • United States
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Boy, so much for leader's recon for the Stryker guys. They just go right into it. So much for deliberate planning! Interested in what changes to the Azeri setup you think might give them a better chance this time around--not immediately clear from...
4 hours ago
Okay, I'll modify my earlier comment--those VERY pesky Iranians!
4 hours ago
Magazine game remakes--boy, there are precious few of those. Certainly we've seen that in the World At War magazine revisions--those games were originally S&T magazine games (BARBAROSSA, THE SOLOMONS CAMPAIGN, DESTRUCTION OF ARMY GROUP CENTER as e...
4 hours ago
I still have my "Final Deluxe Edition" and DAYS OF DECISION III, but it seems just too much of a good thing. I loved WORLD IN FLAMES when it was in its second edition and it's just gotten out of hand, in my opinion. If I ever get into a location w...
5 hours ago
Those pesky Iranians! LOL
5 hours ago
Granted, there hasn't been much out there to compare this game with. But as a military simulation, it stands head and shoulders over many other attempts. I'll admit, I've only played scenarios and never gotten through the campaign. But I liked thi...
6 hours ago
I remember playing KORSUN POCKET at one of the earliest MONSTER.CONs in Tempe. Jack tells me the revision benefits from a great deal of OOB scrubbing, with the help of Dave Glantz's access into the Soviet archives since this game was first publish...
6 hours ago
I have VG's Pacific War. I've set it up and played through a couple of Operational level scenarios. It's a "serious" wargame. I enjoyed it, reminded me a bit about work (I am a project manager) so maybe not everyone's cup of tea. The design is imp...
6 hours ago

Profile Information

Your introduction to consim gaming:
When I was 14 back in 1974 I saw the old Avalon Hill MIDWAY game in a hobby shop where I always bought plastic model ships that I liked to build. Got that game instead of a TAMIYA light Japanese aircraft carrier model kit and it's not been the same since. Joined the Strategic Games Club in high school and started playing DIPLOMACY, NUCLEAR DESTRUCTION, PANZER BLITZ, PANZER LEADER, RICHTHOFEN'S WAR, FRANCE 1940, MOSCOW CAMPAIGN, FAST CARRIERS, WOODEN SHIPS & IRON MEN, and THIRD REICH fairly frequently.
Your favorite game(s):
Advanced Squad Leader system (AH/MMP) -- been a quarter of a century and it's still so fresh.
East Front Series (GMT) -- Good balance between size and complexity
Civil War Brigade Series (The Gamers/MMP) -- explains the crazy stuff that happened in Civil War battles more than any other sytem.
Rommel in the Desert and Pacific Victory (Columbia Games)
Korsun Pocket (PWG) -- my favorite monster game of all time
Operational Series Games (The Gamers/MMP) -- best system to model this level of war
Tactical Combat Series Games (The Gamers/MMP) -- best tactical system ever; I love how the OODA loop is modeled here.
Great War At Sea/Second World War At Sea series (Avalanche Press) -- the tactical resolution is a bit gamey, but I love these naval games nevertheless.
Fighting Wings series (Clash of Arms) -- complex yes but worth it.
Campaigns of Napoleon series (Kevin Zucker/OSG) -- Another game highlighting different command and control capabilities at the operational level
Assault series (GDW) -- my favorite modern hypothetical tactical combat system
What game(s) are you currently playing (solitaire, FTF, PBEM, etc.) or wish to play next?
WHERE THERE IS DISCORD -- solitaire game on the Falklands.
What game(s) have you played recently?
A VICTORY DENIED: CRISIS AT SMOLENSK, 1941 (quite a puzzle--replaced PANZERGRUPPE GUDERIAN in my book
In general, how much time do you spend gaming?
Not nearly enough
How big is your game collection?
Over a thousand titles, although I seriously need to cull it down
Your local game club(s) and/or where you reside (let's network!)
Two excellent clubs--Tidewater ASL Gamers (TAG) and Tidewater Area Naval Gamers (TANG)
About Me
Married for the past 14 years to a lovely woman, Sue, who not only puts up with my weird hobbies, she actually supports me doing them! No children (we married relatively late in life). Been in the Marine Corps for 28+ years, so I think I'll make it a career!
Personal Interests (favorite activities, movies, shows, books, music, etc.)
Writing military history, reading military history, fine pure malt scotch, bourbon, and cigars, modern classical music as well as "shoegazing" stuff, fine arts, and far too many other interests because I'm a naturally curious guy.
Website:
http://smallwarsjournal.com/blog/authors/eric-walters/



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Eric Walters

Fiction As Wargame--Does it Work?

These are wargames built around a book, TV show, or fictional movie. So while it's tempting to include SPI's old STARFORCE: ALPHA CENTAURI and tons of other science fiction and fantasy games in this genre, I'd like to limit this to those games that have direct lineages back to the books, TV shows, and movies that inspired them. The big question is--did they work?

Now, I'm not talking about taking something like the film KELLY'S HEROES and building a Lock 'N Load scenario, ASL scen… Continue

Posted on November 27, 2009 at 1:29pm —

Eric Walters

Remakes: Worth It Or Not?

I've noticed that remakes of older games have gotten quite a head of steam. "Back in the day" it used to be we could look forward to Avalon Hill doing that. They'd take SPI games like the venerable PANZERBLITZ and FRANCE: 1940, AFRIKA KORPS, CONQUISTADOR, FREEDOM IN THE GALAXY, FREDERICK THE GREAT, etc., old Battleline titles (FLATTOP, WOODEN SHIPS & IRON MEN, AIR FORCE and DAUNTLESS, etc), the occasional outside title or two (Jedko's… Continue

Posted on November 26, 2009 at 11:30am — 8 Comments

Eric Walters

The Tactical Wargamer's Journal Premier Issue--First Impressions

You can check out the announcement for this product here on CONSIMWORLD Social Website here.

You can order a copy of The Tactical Wargamer's Journal Issue 1 here.

$44.99, you think to yourself. That's pretty hefty. I could buy a good wargame for that chunk 'o change. Is this product worth it?

Physically, you get a glossy soft… Continue

Posted on November 8, 2009 at 12:30pm — 5 Comments

Eric Walters

True Confessions: Why I Am a Pseudo-Gamer

What in the heck is a Pseudo-Gamer? It's a gamer who isn't REALLY a gamer. I think I've become a Pseudo Gamer because I talk about wargaming a whole lot more than I play them. I check all the websites (CONSIMWORLD, CONSIMWORLD Forum, CONSIMWORLD Social Website, Web Grognards, BOARDGAMEGEEK, and more), subscribe to just about every game magazine there is and read every of one them cover-to-cover, and yaks endlessly about wargames and wargaming. I listen to all the podcasts (my wife calls them "wa… Continue

Posted on November 4, 2009 at 7:39pm — 16 Comments

Eric Walters

Game Designers/Developers Take Note: Stuff That Drives Gamers Crazy

Okay, here's your chance to vent about all those design/development, systems, component, and graphical things that drive you insane in some of these games. I'll start out with my list and you can feel free to add your own pet peeves. Game designers/developers/producers take note--avoid these pitfalls at all costs!

-- Hexes that are too small for the pieces or stacks. This is why ASL players like HASL and Deluxe ASL, particularly for urban scenarios. Even with tweezers, it's hard to manage stack… Continue

Posted on November 4, 2009 at 7:00pm — 6 Comments

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At 12:10pm on November 26, 2009, Nicolas Eskubi said…
Thanks a lot Eric!, hope soon A las Barricadas 2nd Edition will be in preorder, LBF1940 uses the same "engine" but with the logical improvements of the WW2 era, great game too ;-)

BTW, Happy Thanksgiving Day for all of you!!
At 10:10am on November 17, 2009, Byron Collins said…
Well I hope you fared well in Ocean View after that nasty storm. Quite a noreaster. The Italian theater has always been my main interest and it's really quite overlooked in wargame design (I think). I'd rather focus on something different instead of another Bulge or D-Day game, even if it's a bit less popular. Definitely stop by ODMS sometime. It's always fun and the guys are cool. I'll be there this Thursday evening doing some gaming.
At 5:48am on November 12, 2009, Byron Collins said…
Eric,

I didn't know you were in Norfolk. Cool. I stayed home today since it's supposed to be the worst day of the storm. As long as I have power, I'll be doing some design most of the day- working on Spearpoint 1943 right now. Glad you're interested in my San Pietro game- I showed the map to a bunch of people at Fall-In in Gettysburg this past weekend and explained the command system a bit. A lot of people were really interested in it. I don't think it's ever been covered in a wargame which surprised me. I game in Hampton a lot at a place called The Hangar- it's a club called ODMS (Old Dominion Military Society) that mostly plays various miniatures games, but occasionally board games as well. These guys are running their 2nd annual Williamsburg Muster in February for 3 days. You're welcome to game with us anytime. The club's site has more info on the convention and the place we hang out (http://www.odms-club.com). Hope to see you there sometime.
At 12:46am on November 10, 2009, Matt Severns said…
I really like how BG turned out.....now to find time to play it in my 50 hour work week...
At 11:27pm on November 7, 2009, Tom Meier said…
Eric, new video - check it out on my page. You'll have to find something new to beat it I believe.
At 8:44am on November 2, 2009, Tom Meier said…
Hmm, seems I missed a bunch of Eric's new stuff. I'll have to step up my game for Videos.
At 6:26am on November 2, 2009, Carl Gruber said…
You really have a emory! Did we play anytnignelse then? If you're in the DC area. let's game some more.
At 1:18pm on October 11, 2009, Uwe Eickert said…
Eric,
Next in order is First Men In: D-Day 1944. This covers the 82nd and 101st Airborne Divisions.
Then Guadacanal featuring the lively Japanese Banzai, USMC, and Rangers. :)
At 12:36pm on May 24, 2009, John Poniske said…
Hi Eric. Any feedback on the Biographical material I sent you. Hope you're in good health and ornery as ever.

Semper Fi.
John Poniske
At 9:23pm on May 18, 2009, Jim Millard said…
Thanks for the welcome note, Eric.

Have you gotten in any games of CoH yet?
 
 

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This is the movie verison of an article I wrote for "Historical Miniature Gamer" Magazine (Issue #11) last year. The show illustrates the highlights of a medieval mini-campaign I ran, based on the Battle of Maldon which was fought in Essex, on 10 ...
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Turn 4 the Azeris are getting aggressive and trying to destroy the Iranian Armor by pinning them against the lake.
2 hours ago
Steve Keifer joined John M.'s group
A CSW group for those interested in the Musket & Pike Battle Series designed initially by Ben Hull and currently published by GMT
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For fans of Command and Colors Ancients
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Jeffrey D Myers updated their profile
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Game paused for Turkey Gumbo dinner... will resume in a bit :)
3 hours ago
After firing, end of turn 2, focusing on the city. The Iranians are being forced to spread out to react to the Azeris *not* charging blindly into the city.
3 hours ago
Start of turn 2 - units quite dispersed and not piling up in the city as much as last game. Azeris coming in close to the city.
4 hours ago
Working the flanks, the Strykers try to get some observation to bring the mortars into the fight. The tanks are reacting the US forces and trying to plink a Stryker platoon.
4 hours ago
War on Terror (four-player, a close one), Queen's Gambit (my 16-year-old nephew crushed Naboo again), Down in Flames DVG (Midway campaign, a 61-point Japanese major victory).
4 hours ago

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