Boardgames

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Revision as of 00:19, 17 October 2023

There are several boardgames put out by Tsukuda and other makers. This entry will identify and give some background on them.

Games by Tsukuda

There are six games that were put out by Tsukuda in the mid to late 80's to early 90's. These consist on four fleet action games, one campaign game, and one tactical battle game.

Fleet Action Games:

These games simulate the different battles in the series. Each volume contains several scenarios which are designed around a common theme. The rules for each volume follow a standard system, with added optional rules and complexity as you play the different volumes.

Games in this series follow a chit-pull system. Depending on how good a leader is, they will have several chits in a cup. When a chit is pulled from the cup, it allows the named commander and his fleet to activate. The more chits a commander has the more activation chances they get. Yang, for example will have four chits, while Bittenfeld would only have two. Commanders in the game are rated for their attack ability, defense ability, fleet command ability, range of their command, morale value, number of chits, mental capacity, and any special abilities.

During an activation ships can assume a formation, and this formation will allow the fleet to move and fight in different ways. Normal wargame concepts, such as facing and zones of control, apply with these games. When ships move, they move along a hex grid towards their objectives. Defensive fire can be done by fleets as the enemy approaches, and depending on the formations of the attackers, shooting and assaults can be done by them.

Combat is resolved by a die roll on a Combat Results Table. As fleets take damage, ships can be lost or routed. When this happens the morale of the fleet will eventually break down. Even commanders can be affected by loses, to the point that they commit suicide.

The games in this series are:

1. Lost Complete Victory (HG-077) 1989

Scenario 1 - Battle of Astarte

Scenario 2 - Battle of Amritsa Starzone

2. Lippstadt Campign (HG-081) 1990

Scenario 3 - Battle of Altener

Scenario 4 - Battle of Doria Starzone

Scenario 5 - Battle of Kyffhauser

Scenario 6 - Battle of Shanntau

Scenario 7 - Battle of Geiersburg

3. Iserlohn (HG-091) 1991

Scenario 8 - Fluttering Bald Hawk: Battle between Kempf and Yang at Iserlohn.

Scenario 9 - Reuenthal versus Yang

Scenario 10 - The trap of Attemborough

4. Vermillion (HG-094) 1992

Scenario 11 - Battle of Rentamario

Scenario 12 - Yang Magic: Yang versus Steinmetz

Scenario 13 - Yang Magic 2: Yang versus Lennenkampf

Scenario 14 - Yang Magic 3: Yang versus Wahlen

Scenario 15 - Battle of Vermillion

Scenario 16 - Battle of Vermillion: Decoy

Scenario 17 - Iron Wall Muller

In addition to these scenarios, there are others scenarios and expansions for these games that are made by fans (Doujin). These are made on demand, and are only for sale at various game shows in Japan. Titles are by TUBG, TSS, and AMI:

1. Geiden (side stories) #1 by Nishiki Taitei of TUBG 2006(He past away in 2021)

Battle of 3rd Tiamat

Battle of 4th Tiamat

2. Geiden (side stories) #2 by Nishiki Taitei of TUBG 2006

Battle of Vanfleet Starzone

6th Siege of Iserlohn

3. Geiden (side stories) #3 by Nishiki Taitei of TUBG 2007

Battle of 2nd Tiamat

Battle of Dagon Starzone

4. Mal Adetta by Nishiki Taitei of TUBG 2008

Recreates the Battle of Mal Adetta

5. Battle of the Corridor by Nishiki Taitei of TUBG (?)

Recreates the Battle of the Corridor

6. Super Geiden Rampage of Haruhi Suzumiya Sagittarius day by Nishiki Taitei of TSS 2007

This is a scenario that has nothing to do with LotGH. It is based on the Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya Episode 11, where they fight one another in a LotGH-like fight.

7. Battles of Vega Fleet Starzone - by Nakaminami Kiyohide of AMI Solger 2009

Recreates the battles during the Earth-Sirius campaign of the 27th Century [[1]]

Campaign Games:

1. Ragnarok by Tsukuda (HG-092) 1992

This game simulates the first Imperial invasion of Alliance territory by Reinhard. The scale is 1 ship counter represents 2,000 ships, and each turn is 10 days of time. It is an operational game where players maneuver their fleets on a hex map representing Alliance territory. The map stretches from Iserlohn to Fezzan, and over to Heinessen. When fleets fight, both sides choose tactical chits, and then the combat is resolved by a die roll on a combat results table.

2. 2nd Ragnarok by Nishiki Taitei of TUBG 2008

This is a fan made (Doujin) expansion for the above. It simulates the Imperial's second invasion of Alliance territory.

Tactical Battle Game:

Brunhilde by Tsukuda (HG-083)

This is a tactical level game where each fleet is made up of individual flagships, battleships, fast battleships, carriers, cruisers, and destroyers. Depeding on the scenario played, there could be several fleets per side. Players organize these ships in each fleet and then maneuver them on a hex-grid map. As fleets draw closer to one another the players fire at their opponents.

Other LotGH Games

In addition to the above, there are other games made by other makers:

Legend of the Galactic Heroes by Ryuuji Asano, Game Journal no.40 1998.

This came with issue no.40 of Game Journal (old edition). It is a strategic game where one player controls the Empire, and the other controls the Alliance. Players collect income, build fleets, maneuver, combat, and capture planets, all with the goal to capture their opponent's Homeworld. Players form fleets that consist of a commander and their ships. Each general is rated for their initiative, attack, defense, and rank. Commanders with a higher rank can place more ships in their fleet. Fleets move along a point-to-point map of the LotGH universe, and when the fleets meet, combat is resolved on a tactical map.

The tactical map has several columns, each denoting a range bracket. Players must determine how they will do with their ships. They can move once and fire, or move twice and not fire. However, ships have certain ranges that they can be used at. Battleships can be used at long ranges, cruisers at medium, while carriers can be used at short ranges.

UPDATE: Someone has made this game available for download. It is also translated into English: [[2]]

Legend of the Galactic Heroes: Fleet Battles

I have created a game that uses the 1/12000 ships from Hobby Base and Alba Creates. It is a miniatures game, based on the American Civil War Rules "Brigade Fire and Fury." In order to play the game, you will need a copy of these rules and some ships.

Rather than me going through the rules, you can take a look over at Board Game Geek: [[3]]