Opponents Wanted

Find Gaming Opponents!

Another new feature for Grognard.com, "Opponents Wanted" provides a quick and easy way to locate gaming opponents with similar gaming preferences. Requires site registration. Grognard.com Opponents Wanted



Spotlight Articles

Outstanding articles that are not necessarily linked to one particular game, but may have broad appeal to gamers.

John Hill (game designer)

Spotlight Article Graphic

Here is a reference page for John Hill, a war game designer, who designed games in the early 1970’s including Bar-Lev and Squad Leader.

Poster: Pat L.
Post Date: 2/15/2025


My top anticipated wargames of 2025

Spotlight Article Graphic

"It is a pretty broad selection, containing solitaire, two-player and multiplayer titles, recent conflicts or very ancient ones." Michal, in The Boardgames Chronicle, takes his annual look at his most anticipated new titles. Check out which game has him concluding "I simply could not pass on this."

Poster: Doug Holt
Post Date: 2/5/2025


RBM Studio Update: The Palisades Fire

Spotlight Article Graphic

Rodger MacGowan has seen his home and RBM Studio facility destroyed in the Palisades fire in California. His son Steven has set up a gofundme account where you can learn what happened and offer recovery help if you wish.

Poster: Doug Holt
Post Date: 1/24/2025


Obituary: Alan Emrich, game designer and writer, has died

Spotlight Article Graphic

The site Game Developer brings us news of the passing of this industry titan.

Poster: Doug Holt
Post Date: 1/10/2025


2024 Christmas Newsletter

Spotlight Article Graphic

"Hopefully all the socks and after shave that one could ever dream of, have graced your Christmas stocking and perhaps a wargame treat or two has sneaked in and brought a smile!" Norm Smith, in Battlefields and Warriors, brings us another entertaining sum up of his wargaming year!

Poster: Doug Holt
Post Date: 12/25/2024


Pournelle on “Does it matter if you call it a wargame?”

Spotlight Article Graphic

"Much of what the Department of Defense calls wargaming is not actually wargaming, and that matters." Rex Brynen, in PAXsims, taps in on a discussion by analyst and former officer Phil Pournelle on what passes for "wargaming" in the DOD. "Failing to wargame properly in advance may mean having to learn in actual combat and risk it all."

Poster: Doug Holt
Post Date: 12/20/2024


Princeton 1777

Spotlight Article Graphic

"...this one proved to be the decisive battle that really cemented the American survival in the early months of the Revolution." Jeff Berry, in Obscure Battles, covers the fascinating follow-up engagement to Trenton. Check out the action as "Just when everything seemed to be falling apart, Washington came galloping up."

Poster: Doug Holt
Post Date: 12/13/2024


More Spotlight articles...


Gaming Conventions

Gaming Conventions

Another new feature for Grognard.com, the Gaming Convention calendar will make it a snap to keep up with all the latest gaming conventions in your area. But we need your gaming convention information, so please contribute.



Grognard News

Grognard Challenge - Expanded Room for Comments! (6/25/2023)

The Comments entry area has been resized to 512 characters.

Grognard Originals

In addition to our links to great content all around the internet, expect to see more Grognard.com "originals" in the future.

PE TANG 1900 Q&A with Marco Campari

Some Q & A between myself and Marco Campari, designer of Pe Tang 1900 from Lumaca Games.

PE TANG 1900 Strategy Tips

This is the strategy I developed after playing Pe Tang 1900 from Lumaca Games.

PE TANG 1900 Optional Line of Sight Table

Here is an optional table to make it a little more difficult to eliminate the Boxer artillery.

PE TANG 1900 Introductory War Game Review

My review for this great introductory war game concerning an obscure siege of a cathedral during the Boxer Rebellion. Use this game to recruit new war game players.

More Grognard Originals...


Grognard Challenge

Latest Challenge

Have a look at the graphics for the latest Challenge and see past solutions and contest winners.

Recommended (archives)

Wargaming - General Info

Board Wargames

Miniatures Wargames

Computer Wargames

Academic Gaming

Board Games

Internet Based/PBEM Games

Individual Wargamer Blogs

Wargaming Magazines

Asst Software/Player Aides

In Memoriam

Grognards Lost


A B C D E F G H I
J K L M N O P Q R
S T U V W X Y Z '-9

Game: Blocks in the West



(b10001)
 
 




Publisher: VentoNuovo Games
Series: Blocks in Europe Series
Game Type: Board
Designer(s): Emanuele Santandrea
Search for this game with VentoNuovo Games


Description:


BLOCKS IN THE WEST is a new concept game covering the whole Western Front Campaign from Fall Gelb (May 1940) till the last bullet-battle in Berlin, May 1945. Developed on wooden blocks and cubes system, over an astonishing 124x87cm full laminated multicolor map-board, there's not any paper component, but the Manual. All the over 900 wooden/plastic components/stickers have been created by the best Italian artisinal industry and painted "A buratto", a technique usually adopted for painting car parts and accessories. BLOCKS IN THE WEST recalls, in game form, the most decisive battles fought in the European Theater Front from the invasion of France, until the collapse of the nazi regime in May 1945. BLOCKS IN THE WEST is a game of World War II conflict simulation at the operational level. It recalls the most decisive battles fought on the Western Front from the battle for France in Spring 1940 until the dramatic end in Berlin in spring 1945. Although based on historical events and battles, the players in command of the two factions can modify the evolution of World War II on the Western Front. The game is recommended for two, three or four players: one/two control the Western Allies and the other one/two control Germany and Italy. The game is emminently suitable for solitary play: the single player just controls both sides. In this case, a play with Fog of War is mandatory. Part of the Blocks in Europe Series. Published in 2013.


Articles


Article ID
Pub Date
Article Description
Source
996
Date: 9/21/2024
Poster: Pat L.
VASSAL Module for Blocks in the East

Here is a module for Blocks in the East courtesy of Filip Labarque. This module also includes related games Blocks in the West and Blocks in Afrika. VASSAL is a game engine for building and playing online adaptations of board games and card games. A growing list of game Modules is available at the VASSAL web site and at web sites for some game publishers. Players can play solitaire off-line, play live on the Internet or play by email. Vassal runs on all platforms, and is free, open-source software.
Web Link
995
Date: 11/25/2023
Poster: Pat L.
Blocks in Afrika by VentoNuovo Games

Robert Peterson from “A Wargamers Needful Things” gives a nicely illustrated overview including components, turn sequence, and scenario list. He notes the game’s complexity and looks forward to playing a combined campaign adding Blocks in the East and Blocks in the West to Blocks in Afrika.
Web Link
994
Date: 6/18/2014
Poster: Mark D.
Wargame Reviewer: Video Review (Spanish)

Spanish language video review of VentoNuovo's Blocks in the West.
Web Link
992
Date: 3/24/2014
Poster: Mark D.
Boardgaming Life: Review

Our own Harvey Mossman pens a detailed review of VentoNuovo's latest effort, Blocks in the West. And finally confesses to being a 'Blockhead'...
Web Link
991
Date: 2/24/2014
Poster: Mark D.
Armchair General: Review

Sean Stevenson makes his Blocks in the West likes and dislikes very clear in this Armchair General review (but the "likes" seem to win out over the "dislikes").
Web Link