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Author Topic: Ambush Alley's The Next War - A review  (Read 2165 times)

Offline Pijlie

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Ambush Alley's The Next War - A review
« on: December 13, 2022, 06:40:42 AM »
Although it looks like SciFi at first glance this successor of Force on Force/Tomorrows War is actually aimed at Modern/SciFi.

Interesting ruleset and looks like an improvement on the old rules.



Do you want to know more?

https://pijlieblog.blogspot.com/2022/12/the-next-war-by-ambush-alley-review.html
I wish I were a glowworm
'cause glowworms 're never glum
How can you be grumpy
When the sun shines out yer bum?

http://pijlieblog.blogspot.nl/

Offline CapnJim

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Re: Ambush Alley's The Next War - A review
« Reply #1 on: December 13, 2022, 04:46:28 PM »
Hmm.  I just might have to check these out.  I was very active in playtesting and scenario writing for Ambush Alley and Force and Force.
"Remember - Incoming Fire Has the Right-of-Way"

Offline madman

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Re: Ambush Alley's The Next War - A review
« Reply #2 on: December 13, 2022, 07:56:46 PM »
Hmm.  I just might have to check these out.  I was very active in playtesting and scenario writing for Ambush Alley and Force and Force.

If you do could you just review what looks different and how please? I like AA over FoF due to the simplicity and brevity of the rule book. Thank you.

Offline madman

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Re: Ambush Alley's The Next War - A review
« Reply #3 on: December 13, 2022, 07:59:00 PM »
Pijlie

Interesting review but I don't see how if differs from the original. Same question as above, if you are familiar with AA/FoF now, how does this differ? Thank you for the review.

Offline Hitman

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Re: Ambush Alley's The Next War - A review
« Reply #4 on: December 13, 2022, 08:40:13 PM »
Hi Pijlie,
Thanks for the review. I have enjoyed AA and FoF, but your write up doesn't really explain the differences that the new rules are introducing. Hopefully in your AAR you can pro ide that clarity for all who are interested. Thanks in advance.
Regards
Hitman
😎
Victory is guaranteed to the last man standing, but always remember those whom you stepped on to get there!!

Offline CapnJim

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Re: Ambush Alley's The Next War - A review
« Reply #5 on: December 14, 2022, 12:09:51 AM »
If I do get this, I'll review what's different and post it here...

Offline Cypher226

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Re: Ambush Alley's The Next War - A review
« Reply #6 on: December 14, 2022, 09:58:19 AM »
From the writeup at the link above and what I recall of the old system, the reactions sound to have been limited to reduce the length of action-reaction chains.  Which I think is a good thing, it was far, far too easy to get lost in a chain in the older systems.

Offline Hitman

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Re: Ambush Alley's The Next War - A review
« Reply #7 on: December 14, 2022, 09:29:39 PM »
Hey Cypher226, that would be a good thing.

CapnJim, that would be great!! Thanks.
Regards
Hitman
😎

Offline Pijlie

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Re: Ambush Alley's The Next War - A review
« Reply #8 on: December 19, 2022, 12:10:06 PM »
In response to some of the questions asked above:

The first main difference in the game mechanics is indeed the shortening of the Reaction chain, as described in the review. Because of that there is also no need anymore for the deteriorating quality dice  and the bookkeeping that came with it.

The second main difference is that the options for troops, weapons and troop traits from FoF and TW/D&T have been combined into TNW. So there is no need to buy two or three books anymore.


This is not a comparative review.
I declined going into the differences between FoF/TW/D&T vs TNW because I wrote my review for people interested in the new ruleset without any assumed  knowledge of the previous sets. Those have been unavailable in hardcopy for years after all and for someone who doesn't know them a comparative review would be meaningless.

But it might serve its purpose as an addendum to the review as soon as I find some time to write one  :)

The size of the game is downwards flexible
Being a big skirmish set, like I wrote, the system works equally well with fewer figures and even individuals.

There might be a final book deal in the purchase.
As someone on FB pointed out AA apparently have stated on Discord that buying the PDF entitles you to all subsequent versions, including the final fully edited one. With piccies you know... ;D

I omitted this from the review however since I bought mine on Wargamevault and the purchase conditions were not clear about this. 

Offline CapnJim

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Re: Ambush Alley's The Next War - A review
« Reply #9 on: December 19, 2022, 07:13:27 PM »
I got mine on Wargamevault too.

I only own, and was active in, AA and FoF, not TW.  As such, any comparison I might end up writing and posting will not include TW.

Offline madman

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Re: Ambush Alley's The Next War - A review
« Reply #10 on: December 20, 2022, 02:08:29 AM »
Thank you guys. I picked TNW up. I have played a few games of FoF but found the rule book poorly laid out and too verbose. It seemed every rule had the designer's notes there instead of collected at the end of chapters or the back. Maybe just my interpretation. I did play a lot more games of Ambush Alley. Much less to get through and a better read IMHO. I also liked the asymmetry of AA.

 

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