Captain Darling
Member
Hi All!
Okay I've now had a really good look over HoNA and played a FtF game (On the Run)! Here's my initial thoughts on the product itself...I stress this is my opinions only.
Overall HoNA is definitely the best produced LnLT boxed game l have received so far. I am very happy I registered with the P500 list all those years ago!
The box looks suitably impressive and is sturdy and spacious (I could do with a second one for my other LnL stuff).
The new Core Rules book is a really slick item. The printing is great and it reads better than the earlier versions. The illustrations used throughout are good. Just two things about the rules; I don't see why some of the rules included in the Module Rules book aren't in it as they are more suited to be there, i.e. 1.6.4 could be Light Mortars, 6.6 HRM, 6.7 OM & 1.6.5 Molotov Cocktales are examples of this. Also I do wonder how the spine will survive in the long term with lots of use?
The Module Rule book is up to the same production standard as the Core Rules and nicely themed to North Africa in colours and artwork. The special rules are set out clearly and each of the scenarios look great and are varied. it would have been nice to have seen a Commonwealth vs Vichy French one but that's pure nitpicking! The hints on playing order of the scenarios for gamers with less experience in the system is a nice touch. One niggle I'm not a fan for advertising inside the book (back cover is cool), I work in media and advertising and recognise this is a useful advertising tactic but for me it's like Pay TV putting ads in shows when your paying up front for the privilege of watching.
The maps represent the terrain required wonderfully, the colours used evoke North Africa straight away in my mind. The lack of overlays is fantastic (I note there is still the occasional terrain counter still required, the buildings are dodgy as the where in the hex is that damn counter when determining LOS?
). As some of these maps are back printed it rules out mounting the boards unless you spend a bit more to make up copies that match 100% (yeah yeah I'm an old fashion lover of mounted maps). All in all they're good I may go for a clear bit of 'perplex' to lay over them to keep them flat and in place or something like that.
The Player Aid Chart, well not much to say here it has everything you need and is well laid out and again printed in the game theme on study card.
The Turn Track Card, again some good printing in the game theme but I'd prefer to have it include the Turn Sequence and other helpful turn related information instead of the casualty boxes and blank space.
Sequence of Play/Combat Resolution Card, again top notch production and chock a block with useful notes/processes for players, very useful.
The Skill Reference Card, a well illustrated piece of kit but I'd prefer the cards as takes up a lot of table space especially when sometimes you are just refunding one or two Skills. Sorry, bring back the cards.
Lastly the Rules Reference Card, again a great bit of printing but can't see a lot of use for it and it's really odd that on both sides a column is cut in half by the fold so you'll need to keep it open to read the information, a strange layout idea.
Plus two very square looking dice ,
Oh and I'm not going to comment on Rule 13.1.1 made my thoughts clear on that quite a while ago hahaha!
I also got in this order the Solo Rules set and the two WW 2 Compendiums but they're still sealed at the moment!
I'll write up a separate AAR post for 'On the Run' as soon as I can.
Cheers!
Okay I've now had a really good look over HoNA and played a FtF game (On the Run)! Here's my initial thoughts on the product itself...I stress this is my opinions only.
Overall HoNA is definitely the best produced LnLT boxed game l have received so far. I am very happy I registered with the P500 list all those years ago!
The box looks suitably impressive and is sturdy and spacious (I could do with a second one for my other LnL stuff).
The new Core Rules book is a really slick item. The printing is great and it reads better than the earlier versions. The illustrations used throughout are good. Just two things about the rules; I don't see why some of the rules included in the Module Rules book aren't in it as they are more suited to be there, i.e. 1.6.4 could be Light Mortars, 6.6 HRM, 6.7 OM & 1.6.5 Molotov Cocktales are examples of this. Also I do wonder how the spine will survive in the long term with lots of use?
The Module Rule book is up to the same production standard as the Core Rules and nicely themed to North Africa in colours and artwork. The special rules are set out clearly and each of the scenarios look great and are varied. it would have been nice to have seen a Commonwealth vs Vichy French one but that's pure nitpicking! The hints on playing order of the scenarios for gamers with less experience in the system is a nice touch. One niggle I'm not a fan for advertising inside the book (back cover is cool), I work in media and advertising and recognise this is a useful advertising tactic but for me it's like Pay TV putting ads in shows when your paying up front for the privilege of watching.
The maps represent the terrain required wonderfully, the colours used evoke North Africa straight away in my mind. The lack of overlays is fantastic (I note there is still the occasional terrain counter still required, the buildings are dodgy as the where in the hex is that damn counter when determining LOS?
The Player Aid Chart, well not much to say here it has everything you need and is well laid out and again printed in the game theme on study card.
The Turn Track Card, again some good printing in the game theme but I'd prefer to have it include the Turn Sequence and other helpful turn related information instead of the casualty boxes and blank space.
Sequence of Play/Combat Resolution Card, again top notch production and chock a block with useful notes/processes for players, very useful.
The Skill Reference Card, a well illustrated piece of kit but I'd prefer the cards as takes up a lot of table space especially when sometimes you are just refunding one or two Skills. Sorry, bring back the cards.
Lastly the Rules Reference Card, again a great bit of printing but can't see a lot of use for it and it's really odd that on both sides a column is cut in half by the fold so you'll need to keep it open to read the information, a strange layout idea.
Plus two very square looking dice ,
Oh and I'm not going to comment on Rule 13.1.1 made my thoughts clear on that quite a while ago hahaha!
I also got in this order the Solo Rules set and the two WW 2 Compendiums but they're still sealed at the moment!
I'll write up a separate AAR post for 'On the Run' as soon as I can.
Cheers!
