What people are saying about C3i...
Mark Herman, excellent C3i Magazine
article, I enjoyed it. The whole
"controlled chaos" thingie is why I love Card Driven Games (well, many of them)
so much. And you have my eternal thanks for giving the gaming world this great
innovation.
I really enjoyed Mark Herman's C3i
article on the Card Driven Game engine. Very in formative and perplexing. The
new C3i issue is also visually appealing. The idea of putting the counter
manifest on the back cover was top-notch (saves me some ink cartridges)! I also
like the format of the presentation for the modules within (SimpleGBoH,
Downtown, and Musket & Pike). I like the use of color in the magazine where
it's strategically placed for the ads (of course) but also the sketch map, and
the Alesia article's counters.
Ken Tee
Before I forget, I recently finished re-reading the last issue of C3i Magazine, which continues the high standards Rodger has always set for it. Even when I don't own the games in the issue, I still case the articles, they are always worth reading…
Ted Raicer
Among the many good
points of C3i Magazine is that an article in it will occasionally open my eyes
to a game I might otherwise have overlooked. C3i Nr 18's Twilight Struggle
materials have made me realize what a dum-dum I was not to P500 the game the
first time around. Happy to say I'm not making that mistake with the TS reprint.
Mark MacLean
I picked up a copy of
C3i Nr18 for the Tactical cards for AWI. Having read through the magazine, I
have decided to spring for one of the other games covered in the issue, but I
don't know which one. It's a toss up between Downtown, Twilight Struggle, or
Empire of the Sun…
I am leaning toward
Twilight Struggle at this point.
Walter Clayton
I just got hold of C3i
Nr18 - great stuff, especially the Twilight Struggle articles and the how to
play Here I Stand feature. If you could squeeze in the TS counters as real
counters in the next issue, that would be superb. If not, a hi-res PDF file will
have to do - but I am not prepared to cut them out of the mag.
Per Fischer
C3i Magazine allows me
to get the most from my GMT games...Most definitely. Way back when I did not own
all games that GMT Games made, keeping up with the magazine (C3i) let me go back
when I acquired those games and have all those great articles, counters and
other expansion goodies that every issue brings. The magazine is almost an
integral part of the games themselves.
Milan
Becvar
To me content outweighs
all other considerations, and C3i Magazine scores high there. The layout is
ergonomic and the price is reasonable.
I share your
affection/nostalgia for the old Avalon Hill GENERAL magazine, but I'm not sure
that emulating that look and feel would make all that much difference for me,
especially if it raised the price.
One feature in which C3i Magazine that blows away the GENERAL is the counters
and inserts.
Ken M. Keller
Rodger, I don't get
many opportunities to even read CSW these days, let alone post, but I want to
let you know how much I am enjoying (as usual) C3i Nr18, which arrived (this
time without a hitch) here in Japan a couple of weeks ago. All 18 issues of C3i
Magazine so far have been well worth any wait. Keep up the good work.
It's great that C3i Magazine has offered all those out of print back issues of
C3i articles for free viewing and PDF printing. Something I wished the hobby had
when I started playing 40 years ago.
Kim
Meints
Rodger, C3i Nr19 is a
VERY nice issue. Deluxe maps, new
expansions, additional modules for series games are all so much fun to wait
for.... but, when a magazine offers numerous mini-additions to a host of games,
that's funner - which is not a word normally but in this case suffices.
Just got the new C3i,
Nr19 with the two new scenarios for ‘Pax Romana’, along with counters. This just
doubled the value of the game, as it opens up a lot of new possible play
options. Great work!
C3i Magazine Nr19 --
Terrific new issue! -- I really enjoyed the game/strat analysis articles for
'Combat Commander'. I hope we see more of this type of article (for any of the
systems) in upcoming issues.
Charles Eastman
My C3i Nr19 arrived in
Coquitlam, BC, today. All I can say is WOW! Excellent job Rodger. The cover art
is fantastic. My only quibble, and it is minor, is that the various scenarios
are imbedded in the magazine and not separate inserts. Still I can always scan
them in and print them out on some nice cardstock. For once I have a C3i issue
that has a majority of games I own in it.
I don't own 'Pax Romana' but have played it..."
Rob Bottos
C3i in the 'Burgh...The
new issue (Nr19) showed up here, and once again, it's a terrific magazine. C3i
is an incredibly valuable resource for anyone who plays GMT Games; it's like a
force multiplier for what comes in the box. I hope too that the bonus cards, and
not just sheets that readers have to cut up, are going to be more frequent
features.
Jim
Werbaneth
C3i Nr19 - Arrived on
Saturday, 8/11. Good looking issue!...I'm looking forward to devouring the issue
shortly. I did notice an article or two on 'Pax Romana'. My dilemma is not to
read the articles (hard to do) or read the articles and probably get sucked up
into another GMT game purchase.
Kim Beattie
C3i Magazine does look
impressive in its "look"... there was a lot of excellent content in this most
recent issue, Nr19. I've especially enjoyed the 'Combat Commander' design
analysis and 'CC:Ancients' tactical tips so far. 'Combat Commander' is more
sophisticated than I had realized and the C3i article is like a challenging
masters thesis! I might even go so far as to say that content-wise, this issue
had more of the feel of the old AH Generals, maybe because of all the design
analysis.
Togu Oppusunggu
Rodger, I heard good comments regarding C3i Nr19 at ConQuest San Francisco this
weekend and saw some being read/referenced in the boardgame room. It was very
nice to meet your family and to see you again. Thank you for your generosity and
your time when we dropped by your booth impromptu before you were even set up!
Kai Jensen
Arrived in Italy!... I'll never buy anything with surface mail... BTW C3i Nr19
is another exceptional issue!!!
Gianni Vonci
Dan Fournie's past,
present, and future (C3i Nr20) contributions to the magazine are just terrific -
his new scenarios are engaging, and his historical narratives are compelling.
So a tip of the helmet
to 'Mr. Ancients' for all his outstanding efforts!
Steve Carey
Got the new issue, C3i
Nr20. WOW! I complained about the lack of GBOH material in the last issue. I'll
shut up now. LOL. Anyhow, I don't know why I never thought of printing set-up
cards. The new shipping envelope was a great idea too. Anyhow, it looks like one
of my favorite issues yet. It even includes an entire game. I don't know how
you'll top this issue. C3i is easily the best company mag I've ever seen.
Russ
Kitchen
It would be hard to
imagine how someone could pack more value into a single magazine issue than C3i
Magazine, Nr20. When I look at it, I am completely overwhelmed by the content
and the packaging. The quality of the content matches the excellent appearance
and graphics.
Thanks a bunch.
Dick Shay
I also really like the
scenario insert cards for the GBOH and C&C Ancients scenarios in C3i Nr20. You
don't have to photo-copy scenario pages or cut them out of the magazine, just
drop them in the game box. Thanks!
Steve Keifer
Just got my issue of
C3i Nr20 today, fantastic job as always.
I want to add that I
really like the separate insert cards for the scenarios for Combat Commander and
C&C Ancients. Makes things much easier to put in their respective boxes. I'd
like to see this done for all the scenarios (hint Flying Colors hint!), but of
course I know that cost is an issue.
Grant Sharp
It was actually the first article I read in Nr20. Kinda like
cruising down memory lane. Matt has a point that if you are not intimately
familiar with the Top 20 games listed, the list itself might not have as much
value. But I think for many of us that have played most, or even all, of these
games it was fun to read Steve Carey’s list and compare it to our own Top 20's.
And as I know Steve a
bit, I have come to very highly regard his opinions of good games. So, for the
most point I found it spot on. I might of put Europe Engulfed higher (yes Rick,
I finally played it once) and I was surprised to see him rate the Down in Flames
series so high, not that it doesn't deserve it (I'd rate it Number One, but
that's just me). It's just that I don't think I've ever actually seen Steve play
DiF games.
And, of course, I was
not surprised to see Steve rate SPQR as #1.
Martin
Scott
Now I'm a bit of a GMT
newbie, only having Downtown, all the CC stuff, Conquest of Paradise, Twilight
Struggle and (soon) Blackbeard, so I realise my opinion isn't worth much, but I
was really hoping Downtown (or The Burning Blue) would make the list. They seem
to have been a critical success (both being quite stable amongst the top-ranking
games on BGG), innovative in design and scale (from what I understand), they
have beautiful art, fantastically well-written rules (with little errata) and
(in the case of Downtown) are hopefully spawning a series (Elusive Victory).
They are just *different* in a great way. Maybe sales weren't as hot as the
ratings might suggest?
But a great article in
a great magazine. Since I don't own many games covered in C3i (I have bought
#18-20), I really appreciate this kind of article for which I don't need to own
a game to understand!
I really enjoyed the
'best game' article in C3i Nr20 - I didn't agree with all the Top 20 choices,
but certainly most of those games were on my top list.
As to my top game...
it's like asking someone their favourite film or song. Impossible to chose!
However, what is
impressive with GMT Games is that except for AH’s B-17, my top games are pretty
much all GMT Games releases.
James Blair
Rodger, FANTASTIC job
with C3i Nr20. Truly, just great stuff. Really liked that the GBOH and C&C
Ancients scenarios were separate inserts.
Thanks for a great
issue.
Jeff Newell
Thanks to Rodger and
everyone else who contributed to C3i Nr20 - another great issue!
Mark MacLean
I surely did find the
Flying Colors Trafalgar article in C3i Nr20 interesting - especially the revised
view of Nelson's column's actions at Trafalgar. I wasn’t aware of this theory at
all. I like the look of the smaller Flying Colors scenarios too - and they are
more likely to get a play than the biggie unfortunately. Thanks to ye!
Mike Smith
Finally had a chance to
try this one with my oldest son. We played twice, once as each side and had a
good deal of fun. I did win pretty easily both times, but I think we will have
fun playing this one using the various optional rules without VP adjustments to
try to even things up a bit between us. Simple rules and mechanics, low counter
density, and straightforward goals make this one a good introductory wargame.
Now my son knows how to read a CRT, a terrain effects chart, and what ZOC means!
I'm sure we'll enjoy this one quite a bit more and that it will be the first
stepping stone on a life long journey that he and I will share. Thanks C3i!
Nick
Avtges
I got a chance to sit
down and play C3i’s Drive on Metz game last night. Wow! That's a cool little
game! I'm always looking for good ways to get new people introduced to the
hobby. Drive on Metz will certainly go a long ways towards that end.
Joel Toppen
First played this game
back when I was in grade 11 or 12 in the mid 1980's and thought it was cool and
even got to thinking of trying to design my own game. Nothing came of the idea
though.
Played the C3i-Drive on
Metz game twice today and both times the game was a complete blow out for the
Americans. Not sure how it's balanced in favour of the Germans?
It seems to me that
against a competent player, the Germans will never be able to exit the 3rd
Panzer Grenadier as the Americans can get them into a ZOC on turn 1. In my game
I exited the 17SS and was able to score 11 vp's but Metz fell on game turn 6 and
on turn 7 the Americans exioted a unit off the East map edge. A decisive victory
in both games.
Would love to hear how
the Germans should conduct their defence. The no retreat across rivers, even
bridged, accounted for the majority of the eliminated German units.
As a teaching tool this
game is great, but make sure to give the new player the new player the
Americans. Love the quality of the C3i-Metz components.
Rob Bottos
C3i-Drive on Metz After Action Report
I used ALL Optional
rules and Scenarios (Variants). The game starts with the Germans getting 8vp's
for the two extra U.S. units. The Americans get 3 for the extra strength
Germans( I blindly picked those units to add some fog of war so I wouldn't know
what they were till I flipped them over. It does add some to a solo game) .
GT-1 The U.S decides to
hit the German center and sends the 5/10 over from the south to help out.The U.S
waits to drop the 502/101st till another game turn.Two of the American attacks
are pushed back. buttwo other's take Fortress Hexes "Jean d'Arc & "Driant". The
Germans launch no counterattacks but do cross the 37/17SS over the Moselle river
to help in the defense.
GT-2. The U.S. attacks
in all three sector's. also they para drop the 502 into a hex behind the Germans
in the hope that the attacks by the U.S.gets a defender retreat result to elim
them.It works, the Germans are forced back and can't. Also a attack by the US
2/5 & 10/5 pushes back the Germans,They advance into Fortress "Lorriane".Meanwhile
the US destroy another German who can't retreat. The German's make one
counterattack. Shit! It gets a AR result. The Americans advance into Fortress "Derouedle".
The 38/17SS moves off the map for 6vp's. At the end of the turn VP's are German
15,US 4
GT-3 The 502/101st
moves into Thionville( worth 5 VP's). They also attack along with the 358/90th
on the German 106th PZ brigade across the Moselle, a DR result. The 502nd
advances across.On the southern end the US 5/11,CCB & CCR/7A attack also across
the Moselle.they get a DR result and the5/11 crosses over.
The Germans decide to
move the 29/3PG off the map(5vp's). And in a surprise attack the Germans retake
Fortress "Derouedle"!
GT-4 The US gets the
359/90th in as a special reinforcement but its reall not needed as they cross
three more units across the Moselle river.By this time the Germans have only 3
units left on the map. The 37/17SS decides to recross the Moselle to try and
escape off map, which they do for 4 vp's( with each game turn the Germans get
less VP's for moving off map)
GT-5 The US 502/101st
moves off map(5 vp's). They also surround Metz and attack with 4 units. They
take the city with a DR2 result. Metz is now in US hands( 20vp's)
GT-6 With the start of
this turn there are NO German units on the map so it's now over( There is still
one more turn to go). The VP count stands with Germans 20,US 37-A Decisive US
victory.
If the game went that
one more turn(to GT7) the US would have exited 6 more units off map for a
whopping 30 VP's)
The best US tactic is
to hit the center. Metz is close by and the defenders are at their weakest. only
with a Pick of extra strength German units can they really hold there. And with
me blindly picking those two units the extra strength one s were at Metz and on
the other side of the Moselle.
A fun game played
today. I hope everyone with a C3i Magazine subscription will like the game.
Playing time was about 45 minutes.
Kim Meints
I
first ran into C3i Magazine back with issue Nr5. I quickly tracked down all the
prior issues which at the time were still relatively easy and inexpensive to
acquire and have not let an issue go by since. There is always something there
for some GMT Games gem or another and the amount of extras with the additional
counters, maps, cards and/or scenarios and articles all aimed at enhancing the
playing experience is I.M.O. at 100%
Milan Becvar
I got my issue of the
new C3i Nr21 today, and I'm especially interested in the new Command &
Colors: Ancients scenarios. I'm
really getting into the game now, so it was perfect timing.
Jim Werbaneth
Just got the new C3i Nr21 and I appreciate Mr. Fournie's receptiveness to those
of us who were yelling for Spartacus scenarios. C3i has always been responsive
to the requests of its customers. The scenarios look great and I can't wait to
play them.
Russ
Kitchen
Rodger – C3i Nr21 is
another great issue packed with goodies.
I got a real charge out
the Spartacus & Crassus leader counters - reminds me of the old Yaquinto album
game covers you did.
I am particularly happy
about the constant support in C3i Magazine for Empire of the Sun and the Combat
Commander series.
Rick Wagoner
On Sunday night we
played one of the Combat Commander scenarios from the new C3i Nr21 - and we
quite enjoyed it even if the British did not manage to take the bridge (we are
still figuring out the best way to do things).
I just wanted to say I
showed Jamie the new issue of C3i Magazine as he had not seen one before and he
was very impressed.
The content you guys
put into each issue of C3i is superb, thanks.
Ian Schofield
I'll chime in and point
out to any Great Battles of History series players not aware: The SimpleGBoH-C3i
Battle Manual is not just for Simple GBoH. The countersheet is worth the price
alone as it includes all those elusive leader and unit pieces needed to play the
out of print C3i Magazine GBoH battles (C3i Nr1 through 14).
Joel Toppen
I have Cunaxa, 401 B.C.
(C3i Nr9) battle from the SimpleGBoH-C3i Battle Manual set up right now. It
really is nice to have the Battle Manual, since you can get the free PDF
downloads of the out-of-print C3i articles with the original scenarios, so you
can play the SimpleGBoH version of the scenarios in the Battle Manual even if
you don't have the original C3i articles. The extra counters are a nice bonus as
well.
Gary Phillips
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