From: Gregory Deych (gdeych@netcom.com) Description: Flashpoint:Golan vs IDF Could somebody who has either taken a look or actually played both of those games post some sort of mini-review on strengths and weaknesses of both? And on a related topic, does IDF have any post-1973 units in it? From: szy@apple.com (Steven J. Szymanski) Description: Re: Flashpoint:Golan vs IDF Don't have time for a complete review (hopefully someone else will). Flashpoint:Golan is a modern (1980's and beyond) operational simulation of combat in the Middle East. It is a state of the art design with a lot of innovation. For example - the sequence of play is highly integrated, allowing for an indefinite cycle of reactions. I move a unit, you react with an artillery strike, I react by calling in an air strike on your artillery, etc. Eventually, I get to move a second unit and the reaction cycle starts again. Order of activation is based on a "drawing a chit for the formation" mechanism, so the order in which players get to move their units is also quite variable. I like this game _a lot_. To me it has an appropriate level of abstraction and detail to fairly represent modern operational warfare. IDF is a Modern (1970's) tactical simulation of combat in the Middle East. It is based on the system used in MBT (modern tactical warfare in Europe), which I understand was based on some Yaquinto games from the 70's. The game is very hardware focused, with a lot of detail on what happens if this type of round from this type of gun hits this type of tank at this angle. To resolve a single shot with a gun against a tank takes 3 die rolls and 5 table lookups (as best I remember it). The game is an excellent representation of what modern combat equipment can do, but I was never convinced that it represented modern _combat_ well. I enjoy the game and play it periodically, but it isn't in my 'A' list. .szy -- RealLife: Steven J Szymanski "Apple has no idea what I am AppleLink: szy saying here and should not Internet: szy@apple.COM held responsible for my raving" AOL: Sszy So There. From: nadir@netcom.com (Nadir A. El Farra) Description: Re: Flashpoint:Golan vs IDF You're talking "apples and oranges" here, pal. Flashpoint Golan is a MUCH higher scale than IDF (Smallest maneuver element in FG is a battalion, while in IDF it is a single vehicle or weapons team!). Flashpoint Golan is one of the more unique game systems for its scale that I've seen, though it is a bit complex at first blush. IDF is intuitively the same as many similar games (MBT, Tobruk, Fire Team, Firefight), and no, it doesn't contain any post-73 equipment. support the hobby - get both! -Nadir -- Nadir A. El Farra in lovely Los Angeles :) "Let us rise up tonight with a greater readiness. Let us stand with greater determination. And let us move in these powerful days, these days of challenge, to make America what it ought to be." -Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.