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We the People box art

We the People

Game ID: GID0384857
Game Info
Year
1993
Collection
Your Tier
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Description

We the People was the first in what has become a very popular trend for wargaming. The typically hex-based maps were simplified into an abstract system of connected spaces, which are used for army movement and to keep track of who controls the provinces politically. The armies themselves are greatly simplified, but the general in charge of the army gains much importance through his ratings for combat effectiveness and overall strategic effectiveness. Typically, dice are used to resolve conflicts between troops, however a deck of battle cards are used instead, which captures the feel of conflict much better and gives approximately the same results seemingly without the bitterness that accompanies skewed die rolls. And lastly, the overall ebb and flow of the game is determined through the play of strategy cards, which ostensibly mark certain historical events during the Revolutionary War, but each card has multiple purposes depending on which side is attempting to use it.

Description

We the People was the first in what has become a very popular trend for wargaming. The typically hex-based maps were simplified into an abstract system of connected spaces, which are used for army movement and to keep track of who controls the provinces politically. The armies themselves are greatly simplified, but the general in charge of the army gains much importance through his ratings for combat effectiveness and overall strategic effectiveness. Typically, dice are used to resolve conflicts between troops, however a deck of battle cards are used instead, which captures the feel of conflict much better and gives approximately the same results seemingly without the bitterness that accompanies skewed die rolls. And lastly, the overall ebb and flow of the game is determined through the play of strategy cards, which ostensibly mark certain historical events during the Revolutionary War, but each card has multiple purposes depending on which side is attempting to use it.

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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
Mentions per page
Showing 1–2 of 2
Video Cmdy7HslrrY Zilla Blitz Analysis at 30:49 sentiment: positive
video_pk 83010 · mention_pk 208685
Zilla Blitz - We the People video thumbnail
Click to watch at 30:49 · YouTube ↗
Overall sentiment (raw)
positive
Pros
  • Integrates cards deeply into gameplay
  • Breakthrough in fundamental design by combining mechanics
Cons
none
Thematic elements
Comparison games
none
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
  • cards — Integral to gameplay and strategy, representing a breakthrough in card-driven game design.
  • point-to-point movement — Combined with card mechanics, representing a new fusion and breakthrough.
Video topics + discussion points
No key topics recorded for this video.
Quotes (from this video)
  • All human progress all innovation is a matter of ideas having sex. That is to say there actually is not any innovation that is just not based on anything else not based on anybody else's ideas right it's all a matter of what ideas already there how can I take and put them together synthesize in new ways to new purposes maybe you know twist it this way a little bit you know you use the word tweak um and then sometimes that new fusion of ideas is indeed adds up to a fundamental new new new new thing or breakthrough right
  • It was a sandbox, right? I mean, they g it was a sandbox and we were invited to create and games hadn't done that before.
  • I think the greatest innovation would here it is would be a rat and a rat free rule book.
  • Yes. War games are innovative.
References (from this video)
No references stored for this video.
Video RBxgAec_loQ Zilla Blitz Discussion at 7:22 sentiment: positive
video_pk 83006 · mention_pk 208641
Zilla Blitz - We the People video thumbnail
Click to watch at 7:22 · YouTube ↗
Overall sentiment (raw)
positive (in retrospect)
Pros
  • Despite initial strong negative reactions, the game has endured.
Cons
  • Was intensely hated by wargamers at its release.
Thematic elements
Comparison games
none
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
Mechanics unknown.
Video topics + discussion points
No key topics recorded for this video.
Quotes (from this video)
  • The X Encounter guys, you know, they had a big old statue. you know, burning it, you know, and Herman sucks and [clears throat] they hated it so bad and said, "This is the worst thing in wargaming ever."
  • The people they hated it. They hated it. And they told me, but by the way, these are war gamers. They all told me they hated it [laughter] to my face.
  • It's a labor of love, but a lot of lot of time spent.
  • If you've never been to a historical board game conference before come. I mean it it it transforms the hobby and this type of conference because it's small and people are friendly and people are going to reach out and ga the work you do at SD Hiscon to make it a welcoming experience for everybody and the accessibility to get into games at tables and the way people can sign up for games beforehand the way you can schedule things the questions you can ask I I can't tell you you know how much that changes the hobby to be able to do that I went to the SD Hiscon in San Diego ago my first conference ever three years ago and it abs it just completely changes because you make friends that you're then going to play games with on in other places and then you know people at the online convention it it just exponentially makes the hobby better and there is no better conference I would say here and then circle DC is another one of my favorites but same type of experience look if you can't get to the SD His in in Minnesota or San Diego you know that's another one to look at but try to lean into one of these things because it will completely change your board gaming experience.
  • And I I might be making this up, but I I think it's true that if I'm un the the only confirmed month without ever having any snowfall in Minnesota is July. So, I think we're safe.
References (from this video)
No references stored for this video.
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