Thanks so so much with all of these videos. I'm a new wargamer and just wanted to try The Dark Valley. Found the Rule Book fairly daunting and even got bogged down at first on the Initial setup. Will watch all the videos as I progress through. You've made something which was daunting so interesting to get on thr table. Thanks.

@Basilisk4119

2 жыл бұрын

I'm new to it too. What do you think of the game now, Dave?

Watched this in instalments Steven, looking forward to the next episode. Thanks for your efforts, an interesting story is evolving.

@stevendolges8372

5 жыл бұрын

Thanks for watching Danny. Turn 2 will be up tonight/tomorrow.

This video was a quiet morning very well spent for me Steve, my sincerest 'Thank You' for your presentation here! Now, when will I have time to clip the counters for my own copy? 🤔

This is super helpful. Thanks for putting all this online. I have this on order and hope to get it on the table in a couple weeks, and this really helps me visualize how the game works and maybe how the initial attacks can succeed without overrun.

@freakyzed8467

Жыл бұрын

Did you get it all set up and going? I am trying myself and am curious.

@kenx8176

Жыл бұрын

@@freakyzed8467 I got it set up and played a couple turns, but I'm no good without a live opponent. I did come away with a favorable impression though.

Thank you soooo much for you videos as I was struggling with the rulebook. You have saved me many hours of pain. Love your work!!!

@stevendolges8372

3 жыл бұрын

Glad the videos are of help!

I have the campaign just about set up. I'm about to start my journey thru the dark valley

@stevendolges8372

3 жыл бұрын

Good luck! It's a big game but a great one.

Great videos Steve keep up the great work

Thanks for the inspiration to get this one on the table. I'm about to start turn 7 dec 1941. The Germans got within two hexes of moscow . We got within 3 of leningrad and took kiev. So probably not getting my auto victory in 1941. I know I did a lot better because I watched your videos, so I didn't make the same mistakes. We will see if the soviets can throw the Germans back! What a great game. Thanks for all your effort in videoing your game

@stevendolges8372

3 жыл бұрын

Thanks Thomas! And glad you learned from my mistakes. I do wonder how much better I would do at another swing at Barbarossa with the benefits of hindsight.

@thomaskaplan4898

3 жыл бұрын

You would be amazed at how much better you would do, once you get better with the system. I played my first game just to the conclusion of barbarossa. (Turn 8). I then restarted a new campaign game. I'm on turn 19 in that campaign. It has been a blast and it gets more fun the more skillful you get with using the chits. Overall, this is by far my favorite east front game.

Good video keep it up.

Hi. It seems you missed several rules. For example, on Stalin's counter-attack (circa 2:15:00), you could have used OOS and IS units to attack Axis. On Fortification, you might have doubled the defense combat factors rather than moving the table a shift to the left. For the Soviet attrition phase at the end, you forgot to roll for the three-unit pocket in the Carpathians. Things like that... Just comes to show this game is a tad complicated, but I'd suppose that speaking on the video adds some pressure. Thanks for the video, I appreciate it.

Great videos, thanks for doing these! A quick question on your supply depot movement of turn 1. In the south, 3 hexes NE of Lwow then 3 hexes north, there is a town called Kowel (I think!) where you moved 2 depots through along the rail, but, there is a Russian isolated unit adjacent and no German unit in the hex so I don't believe you should have been able to move them through that hex and eastward. Was this an oversight or am I misinterpreting the depot movement rules? Thanks!

@stevendolges8372

5 жыл бұрын

You're probably right. I made several small mistakes in the first few videos.

What about Rail Conversions?

I haven't watched this series of your videos yet, but do you think the game is (too?) scripted?

May I ask a couple of questions? How long does it take to set up a game like this..... well, this game? And do you leave it set up for a few days to get scenarios finished. Looks interesting and really appeals but I wonder if current lifestyle etc would all for a game like this? I have a good few games, many of which will take up to 4 hrs to complete a game but that’s start to finish. Thanks.

@stevendolges8372

4 жыл бұрын

Depending on how someone stores the counters in an organized manner, set-up can probably done in 20-30 minutes. Quicker if you've done it before. The full 44 turn campaign game will take awhile. This game in particular also offers shorter scenarios about 6 to 8 turns long. I find I can do an entire turn in under an hour, but then I'm playing against myself. An opponent may take longer to decide on an action. I leave it set up (and have had it set up for months) because I can usually only get an hour or two a week to play. There are shorter playing wargames out there. Maybe I'll do a video on some point recommending game that have a shorter play time.

@Carpetslipper

4 жыл бұрын

Perhaps a bit lengthy just a moment but certainly looks the part. Enjoy and thanks for reply.

@stevendolges8372

4 жыл бұрын

@@Carpetslipper thanks for commenting. I'm going to upload a video about shorter time playing wargames later today if you are interested.

@Carpetslipper

4 жыл бұрын

I am. Thank you.

@stevendolges8372

4 жыл бұрын

@@Carpetslipper just got it uploaded on my channel.

Excellent video since I'm just starting a game myself. One criticism. Please move the camera when attacking (starting about 43:00 or so) so as not to see so much of your hand and arm in the way. It's very offputting Otherwise awesome!

Kind of ironic now that all the areas Germany took from Russia are now free independent nations now.

It looks to me that you are missing a 1-4 Russian "B" unit in the Baltic set up area I use a small die on top of defending units stack to show odds as I figure it out prior to an attack. I use a red die if I wish to do that attack prior to others; otherwise a white die. I can send a picture if you are interested. Soviet units deployed in cities stack 4 high; then remainder can stack in adjacent hexes per player whim. It looks like you are not honoring that.

@stevendolges8372

5 жыл бұрын

I don't know of I'm missing a unit at this point. Could have been under another unit, the camera can be deceptive. The odds are easy to determine really. Especially now we are mobile. As for stacking 4 in a hex, I am moving units towards a defensive line. So not sure what you mean.

@stevendolges8372

5 жыл бұрын

And if you mean for setup, the rules seem to indicate you move units to accommodate stacking. Which I did. The units in the city are within stacking limit. They just happen to be lower than the maximum threshold. If the setup rules require you to max out stacking in the city, it should be more clear. I'm satisfied with my interpretation for the moment.

@edwardmcgran6361

5 жыл бұрын

@@stevendolges8372 The directions for placing units in a hex per the "barbarossa" scenario state to overstock in place and then unstack into adjacent hexes until stacking is correct.

@edwardmcgran6361

5 жыл бұрын

you could really use some preplanning...IMHO; You are doing a lot of overkills and underkills (failed 3:1). I am enjoying the video regardless; thanks for doing this. If the extra 1-4 Baltic unit is placed on the coast forest hex behind the front line instead of stacking like you show it on the front line it hinders/stops the encirclement of the Russian forces in the Baltic.

@stevendolges8372

5 жыл бұрын

@@edwardmcgran6361 and stacking IS correct. It is 4 combat units or less. Again, the wording doesn't seem strict enough if the intention is to force 4 units in the cities. It should say so if that is the intention. I can always ask Ted I guess. As for planning, this is a first-play against myself, not a competitive game. If I sat and worked it out perfectly every action chit the game would simply go back in the box because of time constraints.

Steven, I typically enjoy your videos on war gaming, but these videos just seem to go on and on. This is so boring watching you make 6-1 odds attacks and result in an exchange result. How can you do this for 36 plus turns? I purchased this game because of all the hype but I may just sell my unopened copy on eBay. I think Thunder in the East is better, if not, more playable. I have not seen any AirPower or special rules for the German blitz surprise attack. This game is too slow for my taste. Thanks for posting..

@stevendolges8372

4 жыл бұрын

David, sorry if you are not enjoying these videos any longer but I am planning to play this to completion. I am having fun but I can see how a spectator may not be as engaged. Sad to see you sell a copy. I think it is worth keeping. TiTE is not so far from this game in my opinion though it certainly has it's own charms. I haven't not covered air rules in awhile on camera but there are ground support rules. There are special rules for the blitzing in Barbarossa. The videos take more time than playing because I'm explaining as I'm going. If I were just playing without stopping to record it would be going much faster. I suggest to at least give the rules PDF a once over before selling.

@thomaskaplan4898

3 жыл бұрын

@@stevendolges8372 I agree with you Steve, this is by far the best east front game I've played solitaire. The chit pull system is the main reason. Not knowing which side gets the next activation really adds to experience and tenseness. There are lots of juicy tactical decisions to make. But as you say you can't really show all that on the video.

@phd_angel4192

2 ай бұрын

Let me take a midway opinion. The game is smart and exciting but it isn't for beginners and some rules are unnecessarily complicated. I appreciate your videos but you often ramble and then overexplain too much. Maybe be more straightforward or concise. This video didn't need to be 2h 30min. Yet, thanks for your efforts.