The ever growing series of Commands & Colours games is incredibly popular and now covers a wide range of conflicts and periods. From Ancients to WW1, fantasy to science fiction, Richard Borg continues to create these great games with further titles promised. Whilst the basic core of the game is the same throughout the range each period has its differences, just enough to add the period flavour and make the games relevant to the wars they depict. Once you have played one its not a huge stretch to confidently take on another.
The Ancient and Napoleonic sets, and now the new Medieval version, are all very nicely produced by GMT. The games are not exactly cheap and you have to spend a fairly contented evening applying the relevant stickers to the coloured wooden blocks that represent all the various troop types. Actually, that bit is strangely satisfying...…
Being a big fan of the American War of Independence I was pleased when I discovered there was a Commands & Colours set for this period. However, whilst it was still written by Richard Borg it was produced by Compass Games rather than GMT. No worries, the game still works the same way but, one couldn't help but notice that it was rather more expensive than other versions. Quite a lot more expensive in fact; c.£100.00 depending upon where you went. Still, I bit the bullet and bought a set. It is, in fact, not hugely different than the other sets, same stickers, same wooden blocks etc. but it did have three sets of cards compared to the single deck in other sets. The other thing I noticed straight away was the generally better quality of the game components. The game board and terrain cards are thicker and more solid, the tokens and card play sheets far less fiddly. Does this account for the larger price tag? Not really but, if you want and AWI version of Commands & Colours then you have few options. At least the games are just as good, the extra card sets and specific period rules did make a difference. The battles worked very well and it did play as a different game from the other period sets; I am quite happy despite having to tell a small lie to my good lady wife regarding wargame show expenditure.
Now, as the title of the blog suggests, Compass Games have brought out an expansion set. This adds a French army to the mix and (at least according to the writing on the box) More! The cost of such a useful addition? £75.00.
This is actually more expensive than the core sets from GMT! So, what exactly did I get for my money after purchasing said expansion from the SELWG 2019 show?
Ten new scenarios
Eight new dice
Forty five double sided terrain tiles
Eighteen double sided victory banner tokens
Two sets of new and updated play aids
96 wooden blocks making up:
Two French leaders
Six French infantry units (five blocks each)
One French light infantry unit (four blocks)
Two French grenadier units (four blocks each)
Two French Marine units (four blocks each)
One French light artillery unit (four blocks)
One French light cavalry unit (four blocks)
One British rifle light infantry unit (four blocks)
Two British provincial infantry units (four blocks each)
One British ranger unit (four blocks)
One British Heavy artillery unit (four blocks)
One German leader
One German light infantry unit (four blocks)
Three rebel leaders
two rebel light infantry units (four blocks each)
All in all, this expansion set is really not worth the price. To give the set the tag line 'The French and More', is pretty misleading. Yes, you get thirteen French units that allow you to play a few of the new scenarios (not all of them need French) and just eight extra units to add to the original game. I 'm sure the extra terrain tiles will be handy.... But is this really worth £75.00? Where is the More I was promised? Value, like beauty, is in the eye of the beholder but you need to seriously love this game and period to find and real value in this expansion. Its all of very nice quality but lacks the substance to enhance the core game a full £75.00 worth.
Personally? I would save your cash and buy yourself something else, be that another board game, new figures, books, ice-cream....anything. Your enjoyment of the base game will not be damaged in any way whatsoever. Sadly.
