"Commands and Colors games" Topic

My friends have been playing them, and I am interested in getting the ancients, or Napoleonic, or the Great War, or Memoir 44 perhaps.

One thing I'm wondering… if you don't want the basic game stuff, e.g. Ancients is Carthage v. Rome, and just want the Greeks v. the Persians, is there a way to "not" buy the basic game?

Same question for Memoir 44.

What's the best way to get started with these games?

Thanks!

I don't know about the Ancients ranges, but I've got most of the Napoleonic sets and you DO need the 'core' set to play the game. The core set includes plenty of units, the rules, cards, scenarios and the board and terrain hexes. The expansions generally introduce new rules, units etc but are not complete games. My friends and I play the Napoleonics version several times a month and even the basic game by itself is fun.

You need to base core set for C & C Ancients in order to use the Greeks V. Persians expansion.

The card contents, rules and scenarios are all available on-line, so in theory you don't need to buy anything, but buying them saves you having to make up a load of command cards, special dice etc.

It is increasingly hard to buy spare card decks for Memoir 44 as DoW seem to have decided to go on-line only.

But for any of the games, I'd say buy the basic set and just download the expansion bits you need (I wouldn't get overly excited expecting a ton of special rules for the Greek and Persians in CCA, although the scenarios are fine)

My main wish is that Memoir 44 would get makeover to bring it into line with its more modern pals, although there are plenty of community variants to give it more depth. I'd recommend tracking down the 'Breakthrough' card deck for M44, it is more interesting than the basic game one. There are community suggestions for mixed card decks different to the basic game.

Agree with the above – at least for Napoleonics, you need the core set to use the expansions

To me, the game is not so much about Rome vs. Carthage, or Greece vs. Persia; but more about the "blue" side vs. the "red" side. It is sort of like a chess game; more focused on a playable game than history. You are making decisions each turn on when, where, and which tactics work best. I've only played Ancients and M44 once, as I prefer the Napoleonics version of the game.

I am not sure exactly what you mean, but if you call GMT games at 800-523-6111 you can purchase packages of the blocks, sheets of stickers, the dice and stickers for the dice. Maybe you can buy what you are looking for there.

You will need the core game for ancients as well.

What's the best way to get started with these games?

Get the starter sets, they are very good value. They have the board, the terrain, the cards and the dice as well as 2 armies. You can't go wrong.

If you go for the Ancients you can still use the core armies against the Greek/Eastern expansion too. There are some great scenarios for them.

Have a look here link

Good luck.