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Wargaming => Conventions, Clubs, and Events => Topic started by: mirth on September 25, 2018, 04:20:04 PM

Title: Compass Games Expo • November 9-12, 2018
Post by: mirth on September 25, 2018, 04:20:04 PM
I'll be attending this one

https://www.compassgames.com/expo (https://www.compassgames.com/expo)
Title: Re: Compass Games Expo • November 9-12, 2018
Post by: bob48 on September 25, 2018, 04:42:20 PM
Title: Re: Compass Games Expo • November 9-12, 2018
Post by: mirth on September 25, 2018, 04:43:54 PM
ha!  :bigthumb:
Title: Re: Compass Games Expo • November 9-12, 2018
Post by: Staggerwing on September 25, 2018, 10:33:29 PM
It's funny- I'd never even heard of Compass Games until Silent War came out and now just a few years later they're Heap Big Stuff. Quite amazing.
Title: Re: Compass Games Expo • November 9-12, 2018
Post by: mirth on September 26, 2018, 12:50:21 AM
It's funny- I'd never even heard of Compass Games until Silent War came out and now just a few years later they're Heap Big Stuff. Quite amazing.
They have been on a tear lately
Title: Re: Compass Games Expo • November 9-12, 2018
Post by: bob48 on September 26, 2018, 07:00:29 AM
Some good games, and the product quality is generally first class.
Title: Re: Compass Games Expo • November 9-12, 2018
Post by: bbmike on September 26, 2018, 07:48:42 AM
Some good games, and the product quality is generally first class.

My copy of Absolute Victory might have been an exception. One of the counter sheets is misprinted. I've emailed support twice and was told that a replacement sheet would be sent. Still waiting but I'm hopeful.  :dreamer:
Title: Re: Compass Games Expo • November 9-12, 2018
Post by: BanzaiCat on September 26, 2018, 08:25:12 AM
They're very prolific and create some really nice-looking games. Plus the guy that runs it seems to often be on FB doing live streams about upcoming games.

I still need to do my review of Raiders of the Deep. Good game.
Title: Re: Compass Games Expo • November 9-12, 2018
Post by: bbmike on September 26, 2018, 08:32:40 AM
They're very prolific and create some really nice-looking games. Plus the guy that runs it seems to often be on FB doing live streams about upcoming games.

I still need to do my review of Raiders of the Deep. Good game.

You do non-existent reviews for this site as well?  :whistle:
Title: Re: Compass Games Expo • November 9-12, 2018
Post by: BanzaiCat on September 26, 2018, 07:53:49 PM
Just wait, buddy.
Title: Re: Compass Games Expo • November 9-12, 2018
Post by: bob48 on November 05, 2018, 05:43:46 PM
https://www.compassgames.com/military-simulations/korea-fire-and-ice.html

Me want!
Title: Re: Compass Games Expo • November 9-12, 2018
Post by: mirth on November 05, 2018, 05:45:55 PM
I have my eye on that for this weekend.
Title: Re: Compass Games Expo • November 9-12, 2018
Post by: bob48 on November 05, 2018, 05:51:58 PM
 :bigthumb:
Title: Re: Compass Games Expo • November 9-12, 2018
Post by: mirth on November 09, 2018, 07:03:22 PM
Whelp, I 'won' in the Mulligan round of Bitter Woods and advanced to the second round tomorrow. My opponent was a very experienced player who is friends with Randy Heller (designer of Bitter Woods). He was gracious enough to coach me through the first couple turns. That combined with his ice cold die rolling allowed me to hold on for a win as the Americans. And I literally mean hold on. I don't think I made an attack all game. I fell back and denied him the victory hexes.

I have a feeling I am going to be squashed like a bug tomorrow morning.

The real upside is that Compass is offering pretty much all of it's current games at 50% off here at the Con. Looking at picking up Korea: Fire and Ice as well as South China Sea.
Title: Re: Compass Games Expo • November 9-12, 2018
Post by: bob48 on November 09, 2018, 07:13:05 PM
Well done!
Title: Re: Compass Games Expo • November 9-12, 2018
Post by: BanzaiCat on November 09, 2018, 07:16:12 PM
 :bigthumb:
Title: Re: Compass Games Expo • November 9-12, 2018
Post by: bbmike on November 09, 2018, 07:56:50 PM
Whelp, I 'won' in the Mulligan round of Bitter Woods and advanced to the second round tomorrow. My opponent was a very experienced player who is friends with Randy Heller (designer of Bitter Woods). He was gracious enough to coach me through the first couple turns. That combined with his ice cold die rolling allowed me to hold on for a win as the Americans. And I literally mean hold on. I don't think I made an attack all game. I fell back and denied him the victory hexes.

I have a feeling I am going to be squashed like a bug tomorrow morning.

The real upside is that Compass is offering pretty much all of it's current games at 50% off here at the Con. Looking at picking up Korea: Fire and Ice as well as South China Sea.

Wait, isn't Bitter Woods still in shrink on your table? (http://www.aarcentral.com/emoti/HideEyes.gif)
 >:D

Congrats and good luck tomorrow!  :bigthumb:
Title: Re: Compass Games Expo • November 9-12, 2018
Post by: bayonetbrant on November 09, 2018, 08:13:01 PM
pix!  or it didn't happen!
Title: Re: Compass Games Expo • November 9-12, 2018
Post by: BanzaiCat on March 08, 2019, 04:19:42 PM
He must have been squashed hard...no pics. ;D
Title: Re: Compass Games Expo • November 9-12, 2018
Post by: mirth on March 08, 2019, 04:21:08 PM
Timely response to the thread ;)
Title: Re: Compass Games Expo • November 9-12, 2018
Post by: BanzaiCat on March 08, 2019, 04:57:57 PM
Don't change the subject. How'd you do? I may be the only one that doesn't know.
Title: Re: Compass Games Expo • November 9-12, 2018
Post by: mirth on March 08, 2019, 05:04:02 PM
I bailed on the second game. The hotel had multiple false fire alarms on Friday night and then my eyeglasses broke about 45 minutes before the game was supposed to begin. So I was tired and grumpy and in no mood for 4 hours of me being crushed like a bug.
Title: Re: Compass Games Expo • November 9-12, 2018
Post by: BanzaiCat on March 09, 2019, 10:00:10 AM
Well, damn. Talk about the universe telling you not to play.
Title: Re: Compass Games Expo • November 9-12, 2018
Post by: bob48 on March 09, 2019, 10:06:41 AM
Bitter Woods is a really good game.
Title: Re: Compass Games Expo • November 9-12, 2018
Post by: BanzaiCat on March 11, 2019, 10:08:58 AM
Looks huge. It's almost $100 on Amazon right now.
Title: Re: Compass Games Expo • November 9-12, 2018
Post by: mirth on March 11, 2019, 10:32:35 AM
Bitter Woods is a really good game.

It is, but until you've played in a tournament with the designer and his long-time gaming buddies you really haven't played it  :D
Title: Re: Compass Games Expo • November 9-12, 2018
Post by: BanzaiCat on March 11, 2019, 11:19:35 AM
Bitter Woods is a really good game.

It is, but until you've played gotten your ass kicked in a tournament with by the designer and his long-time gaming buddies you really haven't played it  :D

ftfy
Title: Re: Compass Games Expo • November 9-12, 2018
Post by: mirth on March 11, 2019, 11:20:35 AM
I won the game I played in :P
Title: Re: Compass Games Expo • November 9-12, 2018
Post by: BanzaiCat on March 11, 2019, 11:21:34 AM
Did you not have the feeling you were being toyed with, though?

Congrats, btw. I think I would have been way too intimidated, especially if the guy was coaching me through the first few turns.

Ice-cold die rolling is my specialty. That would have been on me.
Title: Re: Compass Games Expo • November 9-12, 2018
Post by: mirth on March 11, 2019, 11:26:32 AM
Did you not have the feeling you were being toyed with, though?

He helped me get through the first 2-3 turns. His dice-rolling was so atrocious that he stopped helping me after that and I managed to hang on for the win  ;D
Title: Re: Compass Games Expo • November 9-12, 2018
Post by: BanzaiCat on March 11, 2019, 11:27:47 AM
A win is a win is a win.
Title: Re: Compass Games Expo • November 9-12, 2018
Post by: mirth on March 11, 2019, 11:30:19 AM
I felt pretty awful about it. He was a super nice guy and could have crushed me like a bug instead of helping me learn.
Title: Re: Compass Games Expo • November 9-12, 2018
Post by: BanzaiCat on March 11, 2019, 11:33:42 AM
Well, while I doubt he would have thrown the game on purpose, him helping you and then losing graciously is a far better indicator of the quality of developers that Compass uses.
Title: Re: Compass Games Expo • November 9-12, 2018
Post by: mirth on March 11, 2019, 11:41:25 AM
He didn't throw it, but the only reason I was in it is him coaching me throw the early turns. If he hadn't, he would have won easily even with the bad dice. He's been playing the game with Randy Heller (the designer) for 15-20 years. Most of the guys in that tournament were at that elite level. Me and my buddy were the noobs.
Title: Re: Compass Games Expo • November 9-12, 2018
Post by: BanzaiCat on March 11, 2019, 11:49:22 AM
So you were playing the Allies' side. I would think any BotB game would make it eminently difficult for the Germans to win, but there needs to be a play balance to make it possible. I wonder how far from realism that needs to go. Or if it's simply a measure of how well a German player does vis-a-vis his historical counterpart.
Title: Re: Compass Games Expo • November 9-12, 2018
Post by: mirth on March 11, 2019, 12:39:23 PM
I did play Americans, but in the scenario we were playing it was harder for them. It was only 6 turns and there were a number of victory hexes (mostly key towns/villages) the Americans have to hold. It's those first couple days when the Americans were very much on the short end of it. The other guy was pointing out which hexes I needed to hold in order to control the road nets to prevent a German breakout. That's the crux of the game, controlling the roads. If the Germans can break a few powerful units into the rear areas, they have an excellent chance of winning.

It's a fascinating game. I've played it 4-5 times and I'd play it more. It really does take some time to master and I am nowhere near that point.
Title: Re: Compass Games Expo • November 9-12, 2018
Post by: bob48 on March 11, 2019, 12:41:22 PM
 :bigthumb:
Title: Re: Compass Games Expo • November 9-12, 2018
Post by: BanzaiCat on March 11, 2019, 12:45:06 PM
Interesting. Smaller scenarios? I'm too lazy to go look but how large is the map/how many counters are there (roughly on both)?
Title: Re: Compass Games Expo • November 9-12, 2018
Post by: mirth on March 11, 2019, 12:49:48 PM
It's fairly low counter density

https://www.compassgames.com/bitter-woods-designer-edition-reprint.html

It's an absolutely gorgeous game. Now I'm wishing I had picked up a copy at 50% off :P
Title: Re: Compass Games Expo • November 9-12, 2018
Post by: bob48 on March 11, 2019, 02:03:47 PM
The counter art is amongst the best I've ever seen, along with the counters from Normandy '44 (by GMT).
Title: Re: Compass Games Expo • November 9-12, 2018
Post by: BanzaiCat on March 11, 2019, 02:28:55 PM
I CAN'T HEAR YOU LALALALALALALALALA
Title: Re: Compass Games Expo • November 9-12, 2018
Post by: bob48 on March 11, 2019, 02:35:27 PM
I CAN'T HEAR YOU LALALALALALALALALA

Mwhahahaha!


https://www.boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/144607/bitter-woods-designer-edition/images

Also, box art is superb  :whistle:
Title: Re: Compass Games Expo • November 9-12, 2018
Post by: Barthheart on March 11, 2019, 02:37:42 PM
(https://www.compassgames.com/media/catalog/product/cache/1/image/9df78eab33525d08d6e5fb8d27136e95/c/o/counters2_1_2_1.gif)
Title: Re: Compass Games Expo • November 9-12, 2018
Post by: bob48 on March 11, 2019, 02:38:35 PM
My point, exactly  :)
Title: Re: Compass Games Expo • November 9-12, 2018
Post by: Barthheart on March 11, 2019, 02:42:44 PM
I think he stopped listening to us.... :D
Title: Re: Compass Games Expo • November 9-12, 2018
Post by: bob48 on March 11, 2019, 02:43:39 PM
Too late, he's read it - it'll play on his mind now.
Title: Re: Compass Games Expo • November 9-12, 2018
Post by: mirth on March 11, 2019, 02:49:42 PM
Also, box art is superb  :whistle:

It is one of the best pieces of cover art for any game I've come across.
Title: Re: Compass Games Expo • November 9-12, 2018
Post by: bob48 on March 11, 2019, 02:53:10 PM
Totally agree  :bigthumb:
Title: Re: Compass Games Expo • November 9-12, 2018
Post by: BanzaiCat on March 11, 2019, 04:18:53 PM
No, I'm still listening. I just need to be careful with my purchases.

Those counters look like Holland '44. Bawb, you mentioned Normandy '44...same system and company (GMT), I assume?
Title: Re: Compass Games Expo • November 9-12, 2018
Post by: bob48 on March 11, 2019, 04:27:15 PM
Yes, same system,  also Ardennes '44 and there is a Stalingrad '42 game coming out using that system. Plus there is also France '40, which has been oop for quite a while; I've been looking for a copy for quite a while.
Title: Re: Compass Games Expo • November 9-12, 2018
Post by: BanzaiCat on March 11, 2019, 05:15:13 PM
and there is a Stalingrad '42 game coming out using that system.

:(

%*#%#*@*&@#*&$&%%&&^&%*#$*#&$*$

Welp, that'll be an insta-buy, as long as I can swing it.
Title: Re: Compass Games Expo • November 9-12, 2018
Post by: bob48 on March 11, 2019, 05:20:26 PM
Pre-order it now and save some money  ;)

https://www.gmtgames.com/p-715-stalingrad-42.aspx
Title: Re: Compass Games Expo • November 9-12, 2018
Post by: BanzaiCat on March 11, 2019, 05:26:19 PM
Pre-order it now and save some money  ;)

https://www.gmtgames.com/p-715-stalingrad-42.aspx

Thanks Bob...I already saw that. I don't want to do that because the charge might come at exactly the wrong time. I'd prefer to buy it when it's available and I can get it quickly.

I'd almost pulled the trigger on DG's Drive on Stalingrad at Christmas, but it was through Noble Knight Games so it was ridiculously expensive.
Title: Re: Compass Games Expo • November 9-12, 2018
Post by: bob48 on March 11, 2019, 05:36:53 PM
Its a big game as well - 3 maps!
Title: Re: Compass Games Expo • November 9-12, 2018
Post by: BanzaiCat on March 11, 2019, 05:45:53 PM
I don't have room for it currently but I'll buy it anyway...eventually.  >:D
Title: Re: Compass Games Expo • November 9-12, 2018
Post by: bob48 on March 11, 2019, 06:00:02 PM
I must admit, there are a couple of games in the pipeline by various publishers and for which I do not have room to set up, but I'm determined to get the buggers anyway!

ps - don't say a word to the missus.
Title: Re: Compass Games Expo • November 9-12, 2018
Post by: BanzaiCat on March 11, 2019, 06:02:54 PM
Why would I tell yer missus? You guys never tell mine. ;D
Title: Re: Compass Games Expo • November 9-12, 2018
Post by: bob48 on March 11, 2019, 06:10:39 PM
This, for instance'

https://store.lnlpublishing.com/trial-of-strength-second-edition
Title: Re: Compass Games Expo • November 9-12, 2018
Post by: BanzaiCat on March 11, 2019, 06:21:16 PM
Ah, screw it. I put in for my FIRST P500! I went ahead and signed up for Stalingrad '42. Woot!  :party:  :worried:  :sick:  :groovy:
Title: Re: Compass Games Expo • November 9-12, 2018
Post by: bob48 on March 11, 2019, 06:28:27 PM
 :D :party: :devil:
Title: Re: Compass Games Expo • November 9-12, 2018
Post by: BanzaiCat on March 11, 2019, 06:31:31 PM
Damn you thank you all!  :2funny:
Title: Re: Compass Games Expo • November 9-12, 2018
Post by: bob48 on March 11, 2019, 06:33:51 PM
 ;)
Title: Re: Compass Games Expo • November 9-12, 2018
Post by: BanzaiCat on March 11, 2019, 06:50:05 PM
Well, GMT's Customer Service Chat is pretty awesome. I received my email receipt and somehow I had TWO orders for Stalingrad '42. They fixed it immediately for me.  :bigthumb:
Title: Re: Compass Games Expo • November 9-12, 2018
Post by: BanzaiCat on March 11, 2019, 06:52:43 PM
I also did a P500 for Mr. President.

https://www.gmtgames.com/p-555-mr-president.aspx


STOP ME PLEASSSSE
Title: Re: Compass Games Expo • November 9-12, 2018
Post by: bob48 on March 11, 2019, 06:55:12 PM
Well, Stalingrad has already passed its P500 - its got over 1200 orders, so at least you know its gonna get printed.
Title: Re: Compass Games Expo • November 9-12, 2018
Post by: BanzaiCat on March 11, 2019, 07:00:56 PM
Mr. President will, too. It has over 1900.
Title: Re: Compass Games Expo • November 9-12, 2018
Post by: mirth on March 11, 2019, 07:19:14 PM
I love you nerds
Title: Re: Compass Games Expo • November 9-12, 2018
Post by: bob48 on March 11, 2019, 07:52:12 PM
Takes one to know one  >:D
Title: Re: Compass Games Expo • November 9-12, 2018
Post by: bbmike on March 11, 2019, 08:53:57 PM
I also did a P500 for Mr. President.

https://www.gmtgames.com/p-555-mr-president.aspx


STOP ME PLEASSSSE

I also think I bought that a while back.  :D
Title: Re: Compass Games Expo • November 9-12, 2018
Post by: BanzaiCat on March 11, 2019, 09:24:10 PM
I have a feeling I won't see either until after I'm in the new house.