I did this last year, and thought it might be fun to do it again this year. To make this less of an exercise in navel gazing, I've linked to a lot of the things mentioned, including some freebies :
Best Set of Rules Acquired (and Played): Tactical Combat WWII Rules This is probably my favorite rule set of 2013 - it's free and it fills a needed spot in my WW2 rules - something for company level engagements. Runner up: Gunstorm! Another great free ruleset, ostensibly for sci-fi but I've used the NPC AI for troop movement in some WWII games and it's worked quite well.
Best Previously Acquired Rules that Got Use in 2013: Disposable Heroes. I wasn't sold on these at first. But, in the end, they won me over and I will probably play more in 2014.
Best Rule Purchase with an Eye Toward the Future: Pat Condray's Wargaming the Age of Marlborough Something about this thin little rule book excites me about gaming the period.
Best Non-Rules Book Purchase: Never Unprepared : The Complete Game Master's Guide to Session Prep
Best Free Non-Rules Download: Gamemastering by Brian Jamison. I got a lot from this freebie and have referred back to it many times. I've used the character background process with my players a few times and the results have been well worth it.
Favorite Gaming Accessory Purchase: B4: The Lost City
Purchase That I'm No Longer 100% Sure I Should Have Made: Reaper Bones II. I did drop out of the Vampire pledge level, but as I was locking in my final selection, I ended up getting paints and only a handful of minis. The paints will be more useful.
Favorite social game session (run) : The Dungeon of Akban The first social game I've ever run for people who weren't already in my close friend group.
Favorite social game session (played) : DCC at DragonCon
Favorite miniatures gaming session : Tied: Russian Tank Escort with Disposable Heroes/Coffin for Seven Brothers and Playing Gunstorm SciFi Skirmish and a Review
Wherein Our Hero blathers on about playing with toy soldiers, playing RPGs and related interests for his own edification.
Good list John, I need to check out a couple of those. And when may I ask it the next issue coming out? hmm??
ReplyDeleteHmm - thought I replied and it's not showing up. I have two friends drawing stuff for me, and they are a bit behind. I'm hoping end of January, February at the latest.
DeleteI am extremely happy (and surprised) to see Gunstorm in your list! Your blog is an inspiration, thank you!
ReplyDeleteHi Spacejacker!
DeleteIt really is a great game for small unit actions. Even better, the AI has found plenty of use in other larger scale games acting as a solo system for whole units. As long as there is a clear objective it works beautifully.
-John