Joe Oppenheimer - Sep 16, 2009 12:26 pm (30393.) new "Holding Ney between his thumb and forefinger, he made him advance three hexagons." - The Club Dumas Out of the wrapper and on the table is Empires in America. This is the newest game in the solo State of Siege series from Victory Point Games. While Darren's Isreali Independence uses a simple yet brilliant system this game adds random events, militia and provincials, action point activities, and (most importantly) leaders with variable reputations and troops strengths. The results is a fast, playable solo game with a fair amount of decision making and historical flavor. I dove in over the weekend before begining the process of boxing up my game collection and everything else my fiancé and I own. The early turns were really touch and go as the Brits nearly took Montreal but were driven back by a desperate counter attack one space out (on the Great Lakes track which has no fortresses and can be a quick avenue to doom if not carefully guarded). That turn saw the French finally get a second leader so they were able to build a fort in Montreal and resist a second attack. By this time the Seven Years War had broken out (although the participants didn't know it would be called that) and Montcalm took command. Most of the rest of the game saw him and Lewes rushing to trouble spots and stopping the British. The Honors of War card was twice played to drive the redcoats out of Lewisburg. Wolfe lost his first two battles and was sacked! Ultimately the deck ran out and the French won. A relatively easy first game but the early part had several near defeats and I suspect the card order won't be so gentle with me next time. I like the way the leaders work. It really adds a whole new dimension to the State of Siege system. With reputation so important I could see where you might want to have Montcalm or Lewes fight a battle or two against weak opponents just to gain some rep. There is a real danger (as I saw with Wolfe) that a general witha large force will loose his first battle or two and find himself sacked in favor of generals with much smaller forces and lower leadership ratings. Of course the game gives the French so many problems to deal with that they may not have the luxury of sending their best generals on reputation enhancing missions. I'm moving this weekend and I plan for EiA to be the first game I playin the new house.