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Game Info
Year
2024
Collection
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Description
Volume: 11 in the Blind Swords series is Shiloh: The First Day designed by Steve Carey. It is the largest game in the series with two 22x34 inch maps and 3 counter sheets. The include sevens scenarios, one of which is played on a small 8.5x11 inch map, 1 played on a 15x19 inch map, and 1 played on a 11x11 inch map for those who want small and quick fights.
Game Components
2 - 22x34 inch maps
1 - 15x19 inch scenario map
1 - 8.5x11 inch scenario map
1 - 11x11 inch scenario map
3 - 5/8 inch counter sheets (176 counters per sheet)
4 - 8.5x11 Player Aids
2 - 11x17 Player Aids
2 - Brigade Activation Displays
1 - Scenarios Special Rules Summary card (8.5x11)
1 - General Records Track
1 - Series Rulebook
1 - Exclusive Rulebook
1 - Scenario Rulebook
1 - Game Box (or zip bag)
2 - Six-sided Dice, one red and one white (boxed version only)
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All mentions
Browse transcript mentions, sentiments, pros/cons, mechanics, topics, quotes, and references.
Total mentions: 2
This page: 2
Sentiment:
pos 2 ·
mix 0 ·
neu 0 ·
neg 0
Showing 1–2 of 2
Video L22-HWX8Dmk
Zilla Blitz Other at 3:52 sentiment: positive
video_pk 87142 · mention_pk 284462
Click to watch at 3:52 · YouTube ↗
Overall sentiment (raw)
positive
Pros
- Biggest game in the blind sword system
- Fantastic special rules adapting the core system to the peculiarities of the Battle of Shiloh
- Winner in the blind sword system
Cons
none
Thematic elements
- American Civil War
Comparison games
none
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
- blind sword system — Largest game in the blind sword system to date with 222x34 inch maps covering the big and critical first day on the Battle of Shiloh. Also includes medium and small-scale scenarios.
Video topics + discussion points
No key topics recorded for this video.
Quotes (from this video)
- this G I will say this is a this is a type of game that immediately captures my attention
- it's got everything in here and if we look at the uh rule book here and let's just move this up a little bit to get a better look at it here if we dig into the rule book um it's 22 pages long which is not very long I mean the text is kind of small I was expecting it to be bigger but looking through it we can again see a lot of the elements of gameplay that are the things that I would be looking for to see so it's checking off all the buttons right
- this looks really cool I I'm very curious I will also it's again it's not to me it's a genre that I think has really struggled to capture the essence so while there has been often games that have had this Vision I think there's been very few games that have come close to pulling it off to capture that magic especially in a soliter format of letting you live the pirates life I hope golden age of piracy is that game
- this I now I don't know the original 2014 game that this was based on but basically it seems like they've taken every taken everything from Imperial stars that this two and built it into the game thrown all the uh the expansions in as well and and in essence what you've got here is a two-player head to-head game of space combat in the year of 4096 or something like that it's an epic 4X game
- these uh these Maps here look fantastic the counters look really sharp as well we've got updated cards it looks like there is event driven elements that are going to kind of change the nature of this head-to-head combat that you're facing
- I really like the potential and I think there's still a lot of untapped potential for space hex to heex hex encounters Space games and board games that take the combination of space and war game basically let's put it simply in there I think there's a ton of potential here to kind of expand off of this so when I see these colorful maps and see all these spaceships flying around I think oh this looks really this looks pretty juicy
- I'm working on a video called the 10 tabletop war games with the best Art and Design basically the 10 most beautiful tabletop war games and I've if you're familiar with the channel you know that I was gone from tabletop War gaming for over 20 years I've been back for 3 years so I'm catching up on a lot of stuff right I'm trying to catch up on 30 years worth of War games and the time that I've got left and so uh I I there's gaps and those gaps are things that I don't know and so I'm curious what you as a viewer would consider your most beautiful war games
References (from this video)
No references stored for this video.
Video nnck16Ar74k
Zilla Blitz Discussion at 0:00 sentiment: positive
video_pk 35885 · mention_pk 297730
Click to watch at 0:00 · YouTube ↗
Overall sentiment (raw)
positive
Pros
- Large depth with seven scenarios offering replayability
- Mature, clear core rules (volume 11 of Blind Sword System)
- Rich flavor with unique mechanics (looting, alertness, gunboats)
- Solitaire-friendly chit-pool design compatible with solo play
- Well-thought-out scenario reminders and fog-of-war variation
Cons
- Complexity moderate (rated around 4/10 by the reviewer)
- Large number of counters (528) can be intimidating and time-consuming to set up
- Long play times for advanced scenarios (up to 12 hours for scenario 7)
Thematic elements
- Historical Civil War tactical engagement at brigade/regiment scale with emphasis on surprise, terrain, and the flow of battle.
- The pivotal first day of the American Civil War battle at Shiloh, Western Tennessee, April 6, 1862.
- Historical simulation with event-driven mechanics and Fog of War elements
Comparison games
- Grand Havoc
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
- Campaign map and maps variety — Five maps, with some scenarios using one or two maps, and the largest scenario using both maps for a full 12-hour day.
- Chit-pull activation — A dynamic, back-and-forth sequence where brigades are activated by drawing chits, creating immediate turns and varied ordering.
- Chit-Pulling — A dynamic, back-and-forth sequence where brigades are activated by drawing chits, creating immediate turns and varied ordering.
- Events — Event chits introduce variety; fog of war tables and scenario-specific events alter gameplay.
- Fog of War and event deck — Event chits introduce variety; fog of war tables and scenario-specific events alter gameplay.
- Gunboats and river events — Naval support represented by gunboats affecting the battle.
- Line of Sight — Terrain heavily influences LOS and artillery effectiveness; visibility is a key factor.
- Line of Sight and artillery — Terrain heavily influences LOS and artillery effectiveness; visibility is a key factor.
- Looting mechanic — Confederate forces looting Union camps slows the initial assault.
- Low ammo markers — Limited ammunition adds constraints as battles progress.
- Melee and morale model — Cohesion, rally, shaken states, and depleted states reflect morale under fire.
- Orders at brigade level — Activated brigades select from attack, defend, maneuver, or regroup orders.
- Special mechanics for Shiloh — No Cavalry units represented on maps; includes looting by Confederates, an alertness/early morning surprise, gunboats, and a unique counters/events system.
Video topics + discussion points
No key topics recorded for this video.
Quotes (from this video)
- This is volume 11 in the Blind Sword System.
- There are seven scenarios in the game, and scenario seven uses both maps.
- The chit pull system is at the heart of the game, and it's very dynamic and fluid.
- No Cavalry units in the game.
- Depth and replayability—you've basically got seven games baked into one larger module.
References (from this video)
No references stored for this video.
Transcript Navigation
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