Produktbeschreibung
Since the 1960's, science fiction and fantasy have been my two favorite literary genres. Repeated experience has lead me to not expect the best in a gaming magazine. I was pleasantly surprised that all the stories are well written. I will google for other works of the writers.
The game had two minor defects. First, seven of the counters had split, front from back. NOT a problem to quickly glue them together, and also the company immediately offered a counter set that had no such problem. Second, the Combat Results Table expressed most of its results in ME, MR, EE, and ER (Martian or Earthling retreated or eliminated) even though they should be defender or attacker retreated or eliminated. This is conceptually easy to correct in practice.
It is, however, an excellent game: quick to play, full of variations (all of which I have tried work fine), and easy to learn, but requiring intelligence and subtlety to do well. The solitaire version works similarly well, which is in my experience unusual.
War of the Worlds is a new game from Bill Banks and is scheduled to print as the in-magazine game for the premier issue of Ares Magazine.
War of the Worlds is a two-player game of the conquest of Earth and the survival of humanity! The military forces of Queen Victoria gather to repel an attack by the diabolical Martian forces under the command of the evil Martian overlord.
The Martians have huge, mechanical tripod walkers, flying saucers, death rays, missile bases, and giant monsters at their disposal. They can also elicit help from sympathetic (read gullible) human proxies.
The humans rely on conventional infantry, cavalry, and artillery, and perhaps a hero, for their main defense. Fortunately, the human player may get assistance from a mad scientist who can field an Infernal Machine that the Martians won’t find amusing.
The Martians have a choice of five different victory conditions. Part of the challenge for the human player is to determine the Martian overlord's true objectives so they can be best thwarted.
Play Time: 60 Minutes
Ages: 12 and Up
Solitaire Suitability: High (comes with solitaire rules)
Fiction
Samuel Marzioli’s The Zeroes and Ones We Love
Eric Juneau’s Frojo
Drew Arrants’ Man Alone
A.J. Onia’s Neanderthal Sunset
Matthew Wuertz’ Darklanders
John Buentello’s and Lawrence Buentello’s The Race
Gerri Leen’s Disruption of Destiny
Aaron Gallagher’s Salt
The first installment of Kenneth Steven’s The Fall
Features
Interview with author and game designer Bruce Cordell
William H. Keith discusses his views on the Singularity in Linked In
Martians lay siege to London in Bill Bank’s War of the Worlds boardgame. |
