Board Games

Washington’s War - ACTS Ladder Launch 2

The British elected not to go first (despite having a campaign card) and I immediately set out placing more Political Control (PC) markers.  The goal (I guess) is to restrict the ability of the British to spread their PC by closing off easy avenues and making them spend Event Cards to flip or remove my PC.

Game Rounds

AM: 2 OPS
GB: Reinforcements

I place PC in Fort Niagara, isolating Fort Detroit, and Springfield attempting to get the upper hand in MA. The British invade the South for what I’m sure will be a rampage.

AM: Thomas Paine (3 OPS)
BG: Discard Mad Anthony Wayne

Thomas Payne allows me to place PC in Saratoga, Oswego, and Richmond.  Discarding the event card allows the British to flip my PC in Falmouth MA.  Another round of me trying to close off route and the Brit opening new routes up.

AM: 2 OPS
GB: Minor Campaign *!

I decided to move in to New Hampshire and close off Georgia.  Placing a PC in St.Mary’s means there won’t be any invasion by sea down there.  The British play a Minor Campaign, for which I am seriously jealous because in my first ladder game as the British I received no campaign cards the entire game.  It stands to reason Martin will get one every turn.  Cornwallis marches south to Charleston and easily eliminates the small garrison there: it isn’t even a fight at 9-2 it’s an automatic loss before die rolling.  The British next move down to Saratoga, to threaten New Hampshire and of course in Winter they’ll get to flip my PC.

AM: Reinforcements
GB: North’s Government Falls - 1780

At least I get some respite here as the ‘War Ends’ cards are basically duds.  I send Benedict Arnold to Albany with 3CU to keep an eye on Carleton.

AM: Reinforcements
GB: Discard Event Card

I send Lee and 1 CU to Richmond in the hopes of next round discarding a card to flip the PC in Norfolk.  This is undone however by the British placing a PC in Battleboro NH.  If I don’t get rid of or flip that PC I’ll lose the other 2 PC to isolation.

AM: Discard Event Card
GB: Pass

Due to using a Battle Card down in Charleston I get to go last this turn.  As previously mentioned the PC in Battleboro has got to go.

Winter

Winter is chilly in the colonies, with Carleton, Arnold, Washington, and Greene all suffering casualties.
Albany get a PC marker for me, and Charleston and Saratoga flip to the British.  The lone CU in Fort Detroit find something to eat and fails to starve.

Commentary

Having only played one game before this it’s really hard for me to offer an idea of how I’m doing.  It feels pretty bad with that Minor Campaign smacking me in the face.  I’m also guessing Martin has played a few more times then me.  Still this game keep both players on edge, which is a strength.  I just hope for some good cards in Turn 2, enough to get some reinforcements on the board.  Martin will get his big stack of 8CU, and at most I’ll get 6, but with a little more flexibility as to where they go.