Over at Hollandspiele: Designer’s Remarks on Ukrainian Crisis

Over at the Hollandspiele company blog, some more remarks and description by me on Ukrainian Crisis, which is coming out in the next 2-3 weeks:

https://hollandspiele.com/blogs/hollandazed-thoughts-ideas-and-miscellany/designers-remarks-on-ukrainian-crisis-by-brian-train

I’m really looking forward to this game’s first physical publication! Kind of running out of things to say about it, though – people should just play it, already.

Evolution of a Cover

Fourth time was the charm.

Over at the Hollandspiele blog, Tom Russell talks about the progression of images and ideas used before arriving at the present newspaper-page style cover for Ukrainian Crisis/ The Little War.

https://hollandspiele.com/blogs/hollandazed-thoughts-ideas-and-miscellany/cover-story-ukrainian-crisis-the-little-war-by-tom-russell

I appreciate that Tom involves me in these kinds of decisions, and entertains my thoughts and suggestions. I also appreciate his willingness to experiment, and let us in on what was on his mind.

A commenter to the post suggests that the cover art for a wargame really doesn’t have much to do with how well it might eventually sell. I feel the cover art is probably considered about the same level as the game’s map: it’s expected to be tasteful and informative, but unobtrusive and really, just a background to what’s going on elsewhere. Certainly a bad map will get you remembered faster and denounced the more deeply, and it’s the same with a bad cover… there are a few notably cartoonish examples listed on Boardgamegeek:

https://boardgamegeek.com/geeklist/55843/why-you-dont-let-your-little-brother-be-graphic-ar

Interview at The Players Aid blog: UACR/TLW

Map by Tim Allen.

Over at The Players Aid blog, a long interview describing the background and mechanics of The Little War and Ukrainian Crisis. Jokes too!

https://theplayersaid.com/2017/02/21/interview-with-brian-train-designer-of-the-little-war-ukrainian-crisis-two-game-package-from-hollandspiele/

Go have a look.

Ukrainian Crisis and The Little War coming soon!

Friends,

The release of the two-pack Ukrainian Crisis and The Little War from Hollandspiele is imminent! In the next five or six weeks, that is….

Just created a Boardgamegeek entry for The Little War: https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/220357/little-war

Here are samples of the final map and counter art. I think you’ll be pleased!

Ukrainian Crisis counters by Tom Russell.

Ukrainian Crisis map by Tim Allen.

Little War map by Jose Faura.

Simulacrum back issues CD now available

Friends,

I will be making copies of the final Simulacrum back issues CD available. It contains all 33 issues, in PDF.

Price is $45 US, which includes postage to anywhere in the world. Paypal to me at brian.train@gmail.com. All funds will go to John’s widow Fresca, the “Imprimatur Diaboli Advocati” as she was referred to in the masthead.

For reference, I went through all the issues and compiled an index of all the articles and games reviewed in each issue – it is here:

index-by-issue-and-game

Thanks for your interest.

EDITED TO ADD:

I regret to say that Fresca has also passed on. In future, all funds from sales of Simulacrum back issues will go to his surviving son Ian, a promising young carpenter with three kids.

I am also making a “download only” version of the files available, for people who do not have a CD/DVD drive in their computer or who don’t want to wait for the postman. The price is the same at $45 US, because I eat the production and postage costs for the physical version. Distribution is through a one-time download link emailed to you. Let me know which option you would like when you enquire.