Hexsides and Hand Grenades

With the game's upcoming release, I wanted to talk a little about the inspiration for  That Others May Live  and how it evolved over the years.  The game went through a three-year on-and-off period of trial and error before it finally crossed the finish line. While reading countless mission reports and sifting through a mountain of declassified information, I developed no less than three complete games that tried to address the topic of Combat Search and Rescue (CSAR).  Though these early efforts offered a rough approximation of controlling combat aircraft, none of them captured the feel for the essential teamwork that formed a core element of these missions. I needed a system that would take the focus off individual aircraft control and get the player thinking about how to coordinate aircraft actions and their overall effects on a rescue operation.  I also had to find some way to model terrain, the enemy's location, search teams, combat, rules of engagement, th...

"That Others May Live" is a solitaire game about Combat Search and Rescue (CSAR) operations during the Vietnam War. The player is tasked with rescuing downed aircrew caught deep in the hilly jungles and forests of South East Asia. This article is a summary of how the game works and plays. If you're curious, then this article should give you the information you need as to whether or not to pull the trigger on it.  That Others Might Live is published by Hollandspiele and is due for release in late summer 2023. I should note that the images used here are the playtest version and are (thankfully) not the final artwork for the game. The Basics - Components The major action of the game takes place on a map, which is two concentric circles. The inner circle is called the Center Zone while the outer ring is divided up into four Outer Zones that are labeled according to their cardinal direction. An Orbit Box near the map represents a relatively safe area for aircraft to regroup...

The story of Combat Search and Rescue (CSAR) in Vietnam is one of unmatched bravery coupled with costly lessons that were counted in lost lives and captured aviators. Throughout the war, the challenge of conducting CSAR operations was hampered not by the men who flew these missions, but by inadequate equipment and the systemic loss of experienced aircrews. Although those involved with these missions were quick to understand the need for better tactics and dedicated search and rescue aircraft, the lack of commitment from decision-makers hamstrung these efforts. To make up for this deficiency, CSAR crews were forced to improvise and develop a unique set of tactics in the face of a determined and cunning foe. At the start of significant American involvement in the war, there was little to no understanding of the unique mission requirements of CSAR operations in the jungles of Vietnam. These early failures revealed the dire need for leadership, tactics, and equipment that were better suite...