receives a gift from his wife…
February's featured game from Two Hour Wargames is the medieval skirmish set called Montjoie! Here's an excerpt from the rules:
You, as the valiant knight, lead your men to raid a village. Deadly crossbow bolts and arrows zip back and forth. You rush the enemy and there is the press of bodies in combat, sharp deadly steel, the cries of the wounded. Victory is close, but all men fear death, just a little more effort and the day will be yours…
You cry out "Montjoie! Montjoie! St. Denis!" Will your brave French men rise to the call? Roll the dice and find out…
Welcome to the world of Montjoie!
If you have played some Two Hour Wargames before then some of the mechanics used in this game will feel familiar. If you haven't, don't worry, as Montjoie! is an easy game to learn. Yes, easy to learn but difficult to master.
Montjoie! is tough to master because it places you, the player, in a unique position. You are the leader of a group of men yet unlike other miniatures games, in Montjoie! you don't have total control. Instead, you make the plan, set it in motion, and watch as your men carry it out. In short, "lead men" not "push lead"! And lead you must because there may come a point in the battle where victory hangs on your courage to move to the front and with a shout lead your men into the decisive melee.
You'll see that when in combat your men behave in realistic ways. Leave them unsupported and alone and watch them break. But place them in the right position and if well led, they can become heroes. It's all up to you.
But the game doesn't end with a one up battle. Montjoie! has a unique and easy to use campaign system that allows you to personalize your men. Watch them gain experience as each battle is linked to the prior one. As your fame increases more men will flock to your banner until perhaps, you find yourself in command of a large force.
If you're looking for total control over all your troops, then Montjoie! isn't for you. It never was in the medieval period as the might of a sword wielded by a strong right arm could often carry the day. It's all about placing your men in situations where they can succeed. Go in without a plan or hope to "hot dice" your way to victory, they won't last long, and neither will you. However apply good tactics, and a good sense of timing, and you'll be rewarded with victory and a fun time as well.
So sit back, give the game a quick read; pop in the Braveheart DVD, and prepare for hours of fun with this simple yet challenging game. And remember to have fun, after all, isn't that why you took up gaming?
During February save 20% on the printed copy - which will include the PDF as well - or save 30% when buying the PDF for $10 USD.
For more info, check out the Two Hour Wargames website.