Hexsides and Hand Grenades

With the recent release of my game, That Others May Live: Combat Search and Rescue - Vietnam , I thought I'd explain the history and some facts behind some of the cards. One of the challenges of designing TOML was trying to simulate the effects of different kinds of ordnance and aircraft maneuvers with counters and cards.  Since I wanted to avoid the use of hexes and math-heavy charts, I needed a way to illustrate how certain ordnance worked. The cards and markers in the game give a rough approximation of their effects on the battlefield. In this post, I'll provide a little more background that might help to shed light on the game's mechanics and how and why the ordnance was historically employed. Much of the information here was taken from Ralph Rowley's report called Tactics & Techniques of Close Air Support Operations 1961 - 1973 . Various first-hand accounts of combat aviators helped to further inform my approach to the design and effects of the cards and I'...

This article provides an example of play for That Others May Live using the standard scenario "Caged Tiger" (page 8 / section 7.0). Throughout this Example of Play, I'll be using page numbers and sections (divided by a slash) from the rulebook to highlight specific rules to which I'm referring or that need special attention. A good way to learn the rules is to set up the scenario as below, read through the example, and refer to the rules at each reference point. The pictures below are from the playtest art, which have only cosmetic differences from the end result. You should be able to follow the example quite easily despite these alterations.  Setup Setup As the Setup specifies, we draw Hidden, Enemy, and Zone markers from their respective draw cups. We place a Hidden marker in each Zone face down. Enemy markers are placed in each Outer Zone. (page 15 / 9.4) Zone markers are placed in each zone (page 14 / 9.3). Clockwise starting from the North Outer Zone, we have...

That Others May Live is a solitaire game about Combat Search and Rescue (CSAR) in Vietnam. Published by Hollandspiele, the game puts you in the role of a scene commander coordinating the rescue of downed American aircrew in the jungles of South East Asia. For a rundown of the game and how it plays, check out my previous post here . This article is a brief "roll call" about the types of aircraft and enemy guns that are represented by each counter in the game. Aircraft The team of aircraft depicted in the game is much like the standard rescue force that was used in Combat Search and Rescues during the mid-stage of the Vietnam War (approximately 1967 to 1970). Each aircraft type had shortcomings, but they were also well-suited for the CSAR mission due to their own unique specifications. Sandy (A-1 Skyraider) The A-1E Skyraider (nicknamed “Sandy” or "Spad") was a propeller-driven close air support aircraft that came to represent the heart and soul of search and res...