Yet another new group enters the game publishing field, calling themselves Historical Perspectives, and it includes Fred Schachter, formerly of S&T. The game is another "monster" coming in a flat, 15"x23", corrugated cardboard box. It consists of: four 14 1/2 x 22" mapsheets (brown on tan, light-weight cardboard); two 11"x14" sheets of 1/2" square, die-cut unit counters (Judeans three different shades of blue; Romans red and two shades of pink); five 5" x 8 1/2" booklets of rules (one for game mechanics and four for specific scenarios; three 8 1/2" x 11" cards, one each for the "Loss & Replacement Record", "Terrain Effects Chart" and "Time Record"; two 8/"x14" sheets containing identical sets of charts and tables; one 8}"xll" card with a reduced version of the map; and one 8/"xll" sheet of errata, printed on both sides.

This game simulates the climactic event in the Great Jewish Revolt against the Roman Empire of 66-72 A.D. Two and a third pages of historical background text, and two maps, are provided. It is a tactical-level game, with the map depicting the city of Jerusalem and a bit of surrounding terrain. Each hex represents a distance of approximately fifty meters across. Three Roman unit counters represent one cohort. The Judean (or Rebel) units are not standardized. There are a great variety of types of units: Roman light infantry, heavy infantry, cavalry, catapults, regulars, leaders, ladders, etc., etc. The game mechanics are pretty similar to Helm's Deep and Seige! Units are either at ground level or on the walls. ZOCs do not extend from one of those levels to the other. Terrain types include clear, slope, built-up area, road, curtain wall, bastion, fortress and bridge. In addition to conventional combat resolution, called melee here, some units have a range greater than 1 hex and can use the fire-power combat chart.

The scenarios, in order of their complexity, starting with the simplest, are: The Assault of Gallus (the Governor or Syria's first attempt to put down the rebellion), The Historical Rebellion (the original overthrow of the Roman garrison of Jerusalem), Roman Quick Response (same but assumes the Romans were more on their toes and the Rebels a bit slower), Assault Upon the Temple (simulates the Roman attack which successfully penetrated the Rebel's wall defenses and destroyed the Temple), Roman Preparedness (like the Historical Rebellion and Quick Response but assumes the Romans are forewarned ana reinforced before the rebellion star=s) and the Full Seige Game (the successf..l seige of Titus, 70A.D.). The actual siege of Jerusalem was a long, drawn-out affair. Combat was not constant, however and usually consisted of isolated periods of intensive activity. In the Full Seige game these periods of intensive activity are grouped into five "Assault Periods" into which the game is divided. Each Period consists of eight turns.

If the sword & spear period is your bag, and especially if you like tactical games, and most especially if you like games like Seige!, Helm's Deep and Caesar (Alesia) you'll love this game. The components are as good or better than SPI's, almost on a par with GDW. It sells for $12.00 and is available from Historical Perspectives, P.O. Box 343 Flushing Station, Flushing, NY 11367.

Thumbnail Analysis

Game Review: Vicksburg
Game Review: East Front (WWII)
Game Review: Siege of Jerusalem 70AD
Game Review: Madame Guillotine
Game Review: Palace of the Vampire Queen
Game Review: Airborne (WWII)
Game Review: Poland (WWII)
Game Review: Basic Fighter Combat Manual (WWII)
Game Review: Hex Sheet