Texas Glory!

Jose and I finished our first game of Texas Glory online using Vassal. We played the 1836 scenario. Jose led the Texans and I led the Mexicans. Jose quickly grasped the importance of holding the river crossings which serve as choke points. The decisive battle took place at Bastrop where Sam Houston (after narrowly escaping a band of Comanche warriors) held off my army for several turns. The game ended with me holding a line running from Bastrop to Victoria.

This is a game of maneuver and asymmetric forces. The Mexicans have large numbers and excellent command and control. This is balanced by the supply and terrain rules which make it difficult to mass their armies. The Texans have the advantage of being on the defensive. They have to make use of the terrain to bottleneck the Mexican army and launch hit and run attacks. Time is also on their side as all they have to do to win is hold out until the end.

Overall this is a solid game with excellent replay value. There are a set number of turns and low unit density ensures that games will be shorter than 2 hours. The mechanics will be familiar to anyone that has played other Columbia Games. I feel this is one of Columbia’s best games. Ted suggested having a Texas Glory gaming tournament. If we did that, we could invite Dan Mings, the lead developer and an Austin resident.