New wargames from GMT Games

I received two new wargames by mailorder from GMT Games last night. In the finest tradition of Avalon Hill's old classic Squad Leader*, Combat Commander: Europe is a new leading edge simulation of tactical level combat in the Second World War in Europe. The first set simulates squad level warfare in Europe while subsequent sets will see warfare in the Mediterranean and the Pacific. The GMT Games website describes the game:

"Combat Commander is a card-driven board game series covering tactical infantry combat in the European and North African Theaters of World War II. One player takes the role of the Axis (Germany in this first game; Italy & the Axis Minors in later installments) while another player commands the Allies (Russia & America here; Britain, France & the Allied Minors in future expansions).
This first game of Combat Commander will include units, cards, and historical scenarios depicting the American, German, and Russian forces. The second game in the series will provide cards, counters, and historical scenarios for British, French, and Italian forces.

Each game will include 6-12 historical scenarios as well as a "roll your own" scenario system that provides an almost unending variety of map configurations, force structures, and combat situations. Replayability value for Combat Commander is very high."

The second wargame I received is, legendary wargame designer, Richard Berg's strategic level treatment of the first three Crusades. The website describes:


"Onward, Christian Soldiers is Richard Berg's newest strategic level game, this one focused on one of, if not THE, centrifugal events in the Middle Ages - The Crusades. Onward, Christian Soldiers will allow gamers to replay not only the first three Crusades - the only 3 that focused on what we call The Middle East - but with scenarios that range from a 7-player version of the 1st Crusade to a 3rd Crusade scenario that supposes Frederick Barbarossa didn't drown in Turkey and his immense army reached the Kingdom of Jerusalem pretty much intact."

*Squad Leader still exists in print in a more advanced form. Advanced Squad Leader (ASL) and it can be found at Multiman Publishing.