Review: So Full of Fire

In keeping with my tradition of reviewing modules well over a decade old, I am going to review So Full of Fire (SFF), an ATS joint from 2007. Yes, it’s out of print, so if you’re inspired to pick the module up after reading the review, it shan’t be easy, but I found my copy recently on BGG, and I saw a copy on Noble Knight while writing this review, so it’s doable. And I mean, come on, it’s Band of Brothers, my high school self insists that I play and review it.

A few disclaimers apply: first of all, I played it all solitaire, though considering that that’s probably how most people play most of their ATS, I don’t think I’m doing anyone a disservice here by reviewing based on solo play. I used the 4.42 edition of the rules, which is at least two editions beyond what the game was designed with, but for a historical ATS module, I don’t think it matters much (I might care more for a module finely honed for balanced play). Finally, I played three of the four scenarios, each of them multiple times. Considering how people review games they haven’t even played, this disclaimer could be considered an advertisement for how thorough my review will be, but since I prefer to play all scenarios (or the campaign for games that have them) before reviewing, we’ll count it as disclaimed.

Lastly, there are ratings at the end if three thousand words are more than you think a tiny 4-scenario module from 2007 warrants. (You’re probably right). 

American Vietnam War ATS Modules and Scenarios

War and Conflict, The Vietnam War, pic: February 1968, Hoa My, South Vietnam, American marines pinned down in the city of Hue during the heavy fighting for the city (Photo by Rolls Press/Popperfoto/Getty Images)

BOHICA! Welcome to the American war in Vietnam, where it’s hot and humid. Although it looks like there’s more on the horizon, so far there are only two modules on the American experience in Vietnam.

French Vietnam War ATS Module and Scenarios

Bonjour! We’re back for some more French fighting against someone else’s independence. It feels like deja vu. Welcome to French Indochina, where it’s just not just hot, but it’s also humid in the jungles of northern Vietnam. This module, Dien Bien Phu covers some of the fighting over the Eliane strongpoints (1, 2, & 4), at well, Dien Bien Phu in the last stages of the French Indochina War.

Arab-Israeli Wars ATS Module and Scenarios

Knocked out Archer

Shalom! Welcome to the Arab-Israeli Wars, where it’s just hot. Although this is post-WW2, ATS once again returns to its desert roots as it depicts various clashes between the Israelis and the Arab world.

French Algeria ATS Modules and Scenarios

Bonjour! Welcome to French Algeria, where it’s just hot in more ways than one. Although this is post-WW2, ATS returns to its desert roots as it depicts some of the actions in the war between the French and Algerians in the latter’s war for independence.

Korean War ATS Modules and Scenarios

Annyeong haseyo! Welcome to Korea, where the winters are freezing, the summers are hot, and the cabbage is spicy. Today we’re going to check out what modules and scenarios are available for the Korean War in ATS.

To GWATS or Not to GWATS

Welcome to our first (and hopefully not last) guest post on the ATS Fully Engaged blog. This is a companion starter article to Mark’s voluminous GWATS posts on the ATS Discord Server (ask us for an invite!). We highly encourage you to head on over there and get involved in the conversation.

To begin this article, Mark starts us off with a great question:

Why should I play Great War ATS (GWATS)?

Because it’s FUN!

Some of you may have read my numerous posts on the GWATS Module Discussion folder in the ATS Discord site that Mitchell Land set up.  Kudos to Mitchell by the way for setting this up – at last ATS fans have a dedicated site to go to ask and answer questions, meet folks and be an active participant.  Being an ATS fan can be a lonely existence, but Mitchell has allowed our creative juices to flow.

That’s why I jumped at the chance to write up an article on Great War ATS (GWATS) when asked.  What I’m not going to do is to rehash what I wrote on the Discord server in the GWATS channel [ed. again, ask us for an invite!]; it’s certainly there for all to read when you get a chance.  What I do want to accomplish is to give a brief write up of what makes GWATS, in my opinion, an excellent gaming choice if that is something you might want to explore. 

As the name implies, Great War ATS is all about WWI and its immediately preceding and following conflicts.  There is a lot to cover.  Like WWII ATS, the Great War was fought all over Europe, Russia, the mid-East and the Pacific. But it’s different than WWII as well.  So this article is going to focus on what GWATS is and isn’t.  And the kind of game you can expect from a session of play.

What is EVO?

ATSFE EVO Week

Welcome to EVO week at ATSFE! This week we’re bringing all you lovely people all that lovely content around that newest of ATS incarnations known as EVO. You’ll laugh, you’ll cry, but hopefully – and most importantly – you’ll undergo demystification so you can figure out if EVO is something you’re interested in or not.