Just walking through learning scenario for Fighting Formations, .. just need to get use to play dynamics but I like what i see so far.
Tried Warriors of Japan a week ago, didn't seem to hit it for me.. I don't know the period covered seemed too brief, I think if it had covered a different period and scope such as the Gempei War 1180-85, or Imjin War 1592-98 it would have appealed to me more or at the very least cover the Sengoku Jidai 1467-1615. As it stands this game covered only the Nanboku-chō jidai, also known as the Northern and Southern Courts period), spanning from 1336 to 1392, though very influential it was very difficult for me to relate to this period. At least with the Sengoku Jidai period I can more easily research and play some of the GBOH battles for Samurai or Ran to relate.
Perhaps if this was part of a planned series of games covering the different Samurai periods it would have appealed to me, at least it would provide me an opportunity to study the history over time rather than focusing on lessor known war (at least by Western Standards).
Next up I need to apply the stickers to Skies above the Reich and tackle on the 8th Airforce. Been debating how I can generate a campaign by combining the Yaquinto game Bomber with this.. trouble is the old Yaquinto rulebooks were badly printed and at times either nearly illegible or too dense. Maybe its me but I'm finding I'm beginning to be less patient with some of the older rulebooks. For example I revisited my old copy of MechWar 2 and can't believe I read through and played that game over 30 years back. The breadth of rules and innumerable charts is just crazy by todays standards. If this was sold today as a new design I would probably think twice. Yet, I somehow remain comfortable with ASL ever since I switched over in the early 80s from Squad Leader. I suspect it's the fact that I at least played this more regularly for years that helps my retention. Granted a lot of the FOW and Command Control issues have always been flawed and I've used to been highly critical of it, now these days I don't sweat it anymore and enjoy it what it is..