E2I

E is for Exceptionally elastic engine. No-one could accuse Lado B da História of lacking ambition. The Spanish YouTubers behind a library of short WW2 history documentaries are working on a wargame-cum-visualisation tool able to sim warfare of all eras. War Room: Tactical Sandbox’s tantalising trailer raises as many questions as it answers. How will this Juan-of-all-conflicts handle fog-of-war, weather, and line-of-sight? Will the AI be sufficiently lithe and sophisticated to offer realism and challenge in a multitude of time-frames?

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Regular Romanesque puzzles?

If there’s an appetite for it, Roman will set a weekly Romanesque brainteaser every Sunday from now on. The free web version of our hexy/lexy word game isn’t as smart or substantial as the full Monty, but is more convenient. Click here, and assuming you’re using a PC or tablet (thus far I’ve been unable to get it to work with phones) you should be playing within seconds.

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A2C

A is for American Revolutionary War released. The bibliography for the game I’m working on, currently consists of four tomes. I’ll need to pull my socks up if I wish to out-swank ARW’s ‘recommended reading’ list. Mike Cox, the lead designer of Wargame Design Studio’s latest offering, name-checks over 150 books in his extensive design notes!

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Older, Wiser, Warier: Are PC wargames getting veterancy right?

As I’ve done it hundreds of times, you’ve probably done it hundreds of times too. You’re embroiled in a virtual battle and, faced by a particularly stiff challenge or tough adversary, find yourself scouring your force for ‘old hands’ – the units with the most experience. Experience = skill and resilience, right? The more action a unit has seen, the more effective it is in combat. Computer wargame designers rarely seem to challenge or nuance this ‘truth’. Perhaps they should.

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Bounce the Bogen: Postscript

For thirteen of the Allied soldiers involved in THC’s 2025/26 play-by-comment Combat Mission marathon, there will be no joyful homecoming, no grey hairs or grandchildren. Thirty-four others will carry physical mementos of the Battle of Nottingheim until the day they die. Bearing in mind the German casualty figures (40 dead and 106 injured) and the considerable challenges the Anglo-American force needed to overcome in order to gain victory, Allied losses were, I feel, remarkably light.

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Bounce the Bogen: Turn 35

Assuming that suspiciously huge woodpile by the station isn’t a Tiger about to shed an inspired disguise, or that weird waspish whine audible over the dwindling rattle of battle isn’t the sound of a Staffel of bomb-laden Stormvogels bearing down on Nottingheim at 500+ mph, the final turn of 2025/26’s play-by-comment CM marathon should be plain sailing for the Bogen bouncers.

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