THE NEXT HIT.

If you are like me and have no sooner acquired a new game, than you are looking to the next fix. Before the shrink wrap new game smell has vanished, before the rules of the new purchase have been absorbed you are looking to the next hit. This is a terrible illness with no know cure other than poverty. Well the next hit or hits which have peeked my interest are "Hands in the Sea" and "A Victory in Europe". I am keen on hidden movement, card driven wargames so the inclusion of these mechanics in both are a big plus for me.

Now where was that bank with poor security again.

" Hands in the Sea is a two-player deck building wargame on the First Punic War, between Rome and Carthage, 264-241 BC. The game has roots in Martin Wallace's A Few Acres of Snow. Each player has a starting deck of cards they use to perform various actions, up to two per round. Actions range from colonisation, to naval movement, to battle, with most activity centred in and around Sicily and Sardinia/Corsica. Players may also purchase additional cards from their own custom decks, or from a set of neutral cards that either player may purchase. There are also Strategy cards that each player can purchase (one, max) that give the owning player some special advantage. The game is played over the course of several turns, up to a maximum of twelve. At the end of each turn, players resolve random events, collect income and score victory points. There are several paths to victory, ranging from simply having the highest score at the end of the game, to capturing the opposing player's capital. Inspired by A Few Acres of Snow, this game features several new elements, including navies, naval battles, cavalry superiority, mercenaries, field battles, sieges, manpower, strategy cards, random events, turn based scoring, bribery and tactical bonuses.The name of the game is based on a quote from a Carthaginian commander, who claimed at the outbreak of hostilities that the Carthaginian control of the seas was such that the Romans would not even dare wash their hands in the sea."                                                                                                          Courtesy of BGG To be kick started in November 2014. "A Victory in Europe  is Columbia Games latest release, a game covering the Second World War in Europe from 1939 to 1945. One player commands the Axis powers, the other the Allies. Players manoeuvre their armies on an area map of Europe, fighting for control of key victory cities and critical resources. Air, naval, and ground units are all involved. Battles are fought when enemy units clash in the same area. The early war 1939-1941 is driven by the Axis, but gradually the Allies become stronger and usually take the initiative by 1943. However, the game need not unfold exactly like history. The French may survive 1940, the Germans may invade Britain. Germany may attack Russia in June 1941, or attack earlier, or later, or not at all. The Soviets may attack Germany first which was likely their plan. The USA might enter the war in 1942, perhaps earlier, perhaps later. All of these decisions are made by the players, influenced by Diplomatic events that are controlled by game events. Invading neutral countries such as Norway or Belgium has consequences."                                                                      Courtesy of BGG Victory in Europe can be played as a two or three player game. I really enjoy three player wargames such as Napoleon the Waterloo campaign because of the interaction between multiple players. For a little taster of the game check out this video.victory-in-europe-kickstarter-video . Just love Tom Dalgliesh as Churchill. Release date 1st October 2014.