Newly published ATO 2024 Annual

 I was inadvertently woken up yesterday by "she who must be obeyed", holding a fair size USPS mailer.  And rudely (mind you, I am a bear when sleeping and being woken) waking me up out of a sound sleep (bedtime for me is early due to the meds I take at 5pm).

"What is it", I asked.

"I don't know, a game?", she said. 

"Wut?!? A didn't order anything lately". 

"Riiiight", she said, trying to humor me, as she drops this in my lap, it was heavy.  

And I saw it was from ATO (LPS, actually). 

"WTF, I asked myself, what games did I order and when?!?" 

As I opened the mailer, I found that it was the newest 2024 Annual from ATO: "Domesday (Doomsday)". A game that finally has seen daylight and surprised the sh!t out of me, I had forgotten about this one. 

And it is HUGE. For 4 players, though 2 to 3 can play comfortably using the "Absentee Player" (section 1.4) rules. But not 1. I am not even going to try this solo, though there are others out there who probably will.  May as well beat one's self with a rubber hose at this point I said and I agreed with myself.  It is a beautiful game with a great game map and nice large counters. 

But, that is not the only item... no sir, not by a long shot as it is, an "Annual"...  

 -

Besides all the fantastic information by Philip Jelley on that time segment of the world, there is an article by Paul Comben - yes, that Paul Comben. Cartoon artist, short story and longer story writer (I have 3 of his books and enjoyed them all) on English Arms in the 12th to 14th Centuries, Part One.  Better be a "Part Two", otherwise there will be trouble.... 😼 (notice the "stare" of the cat.)

 

Then and there, anything else? Why yes, games galore and game add-ons.... First up, is an expansion game for "Under Ten Flags: Hunting the Raider Atlantis, 1939-1941", called "A Killer Penguin: The Cruise of the German Merchant Raider Penguin" (Hilfskreuzer) (another previous published game in ATO's 2018 Annual "Sea Monsters" and still available) with all the rules and counters needed.  Again, two player.  Oh well. But it is neat to gather more for published games, no matter what.

Second are expansion rules and counters for ATO #60 "Cities of the Damned" Cassino by Paul Rohrbaugh. Solo, yes! This is "The Damned Die Hard: The Battle of Hangman's Hill" that comes with 8 variant counters and an 8"x11.5" game map. Complete with rules for the small game it's self and rules for combining with Cassino, 1944. Also, 3 addenda counters, 1 for Cassino and 2 for Aachen. 

Third (not last, nor least) are expanded rules for a few great PBGs (well, you know me, I think ALL of the PBGs are great). These being "Turning Topsy Turvy" (oh Lord, that had me cracking up) and "A Mad Dash" for Operation Kita.  Good stuff Maynard!!!!

But, do we end there? "Hell, no!", as I think Steve and all the other folks at ATO want to go all out this year with a bang for the 250th USA anniversary. 

With that info, next up is "The Cause" by David Jones. WOW, FINALLY the rules and counters to bridge together two previous ATO American Revolutionary War games "Almost a Miracle" (AaM, ATO #51) and "Tarleton's Quarter" (TQ, ATO #28), both that are unfortunately sold out.  But if you have the games and always wanted to put the two together with rules by the designer, here is your chance.  

And finally, we have a small mini-game expansion by Paul Rohrbaugh, "A Royal Pain: The Siege of Boston, 1775-1776" for "Almost a Miracle".  This game actually expands on part of Almost a Miracle's first turn that basically leaves one saying "that's it?!?". This IMHO was sorely needed. With a new map of the Boston area, new rules, and using counters from "Almost a Miracle", the game can be combined with AaM or played as a stand alone. Thank you to Paul and David for these.  

Well, that's it for now.  Time to close.  Thank you for coming by and reading. Thank you to Steve and Andy and of course to the brains behind the boys, Ms Cindy for this issue.

-ab

Yes, my fellow Vets are still suffering. If you know of one who is suffering or are suffering yourself, these are good folks. Not judgemental, as they have been there.  Please, please, do give them a try not only for your sake, but also for your family. It is getting lonely not to see or talk with other Veterans. We are getting too few. That is all I ask. 

 

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