Alternative Titles/Edition History:
1st Edition, 2004; 2nd Edition (Darkest December), 2011); 3rd Edition, 2014; 4th Edition ("Winterized Expanded Edition" aka "Last Word Edition: Bulge"), 2015.
Publisher/Date:
Critical Hit (1st Edition, 2004; 2nd Edition, 2011; 3rd Edition, 2014; 4th Edition, 2015)
Product Type:
HASL/Historical Module
Country of Origin:
U.S.A.
Contents:
1st Edition: 2 small historical maps, 12 scenarios, special rules.
2nd Edition (Note: this also includes the contents for 2nd Edition Sudden Full Contact): 1 12" x 18" historical map, 1 24" x 18" historical map, 1 10.5" x 13.25" historical map, 2 pages rules, 20 scenarios, 2 duplicate sets of 106 die-cut counters (212 counters total).
3rd Edition (i.e., second edition of Darkest December): Claimed contents not verified by Desperation Morale. Three historical maps (of unknown size but presumably printed on 12" x 18" glossy heavy paper/light cardstock map panels), 20 scenarios, "bonus countersheet," 2 pages rules.
Commentary:Note: Devils in the Woods and Sudden Full Contact were originally released as two separate products, then combined together as Darkest December in a later edition. This entry contains information for the first edition of Devils in the Woods and for all editions of (and supplements for) Darkest December. For information on the first edition of Sudden Full Contact, see this separate entry.
Devils in the Woods (DitW) is one of two Battle of the Bulge related historical modules released by Critical Hit at the same time (the other being Sudden Full Contact). Designed by Pedro Ramis and developed by David Lamb, DitW features two small historical maps, Quatre Bras and Melines, which depict terrain near the town of Hotton. Quatre Bras, which might be thought of as about the size of a “thick” geomorphic mapboard, displays a crossroads on a bare slope, next to a wooded area. It has not even a single building. Melines, a bit more than half the size of the other map, depicts the hamlet of Melines and features more varied terrain. Both maps are attractive, featuring the latter-day Critical Hit “earth tone” style of map artwork. Of the 12 scenarios, 4 take place on the Melines map and 8 on the Quatre Bras map.
The scenarios, like many Pedro Ramis scenarios, tend to be small. Four are night scenarios, but otherwise have little in the way of special rules. Most of the scenarios feature elite Americans (6-6-7s and 7-4-7s) pitted against elite Germans (5-4-8s). Only two of the scenarios do not have AFVs. Overall, DitW has a better selection of scenarios than the companion module, Sudden Full Contact, has, and DitW is probably a better buy.
2nd Edition (Darkest December) notes: In 2011, Critical Hit began a series of module reprints, often hastily done, typically to take advantage of the new style of 5/8″ counter artwork they had recently developed. After a bundle of reprints consisting of, more or less, their 1940-related products, Critical Hit released another reprint bundle that was more or less centered around Battle of the Bulge-related products. That is presumably the only reason why the long-forgotten Sudden Full Contact and Devils in the Woods, two small Bulge historical modules released at the same time in 2004, were combined and given a facelift and a reprint seven years later.
The modules were originally released without any counters–they don’t need any special counters–and the counters provided in Darkest December are also not needed, merely being duplicates of existing counters. It is not clear why anyone would prefer using these over the official counters, though the new style layout and artwork is certainly better than Critical Hit’s previous style of counter layout and artwork.
The maps of Sudden Full Contact and Devils in the Woods were also redone, with generally a poorer result than the originals. The main problem is a much darker palette which makes areas of the map–think dark green on very dark brown–hard to make out. The smallest map, the Melines map, is probably the most usable. The largest map, depicting the village of Hotton, is worse but players can make do. The Quatre Bras map, however, is an essentially unplayable mass of dark and darker brown, often overlayed with dark green. It is far worse than the original. The thinking behind this new map palette is impossible to discern.
The scenarios are the same selection as in the originals; three scenarios seem to have been changed (they are in version “1.1”), probably for errata. Four scenarios use the Melines map, eight scenarios use the Hotton map, and 8 scenarios use the difficult-to-see Quatre Bras map. The scenarios are overwhelmingly small in size (or even tiny); there are 13 small scenarios, 4 medium-sized scenarios, and 3 largish scenarios. Some of the scenarios are simply below the threshold of size that most ASLers would consider acceptable, such as DD4 (Grabbing Some Houses), which pits 3 German squads against 2 American squads and 2 Shermans.
Most of the scenarios have some sort of mist effect, with 6 scenarios having special “heavy mist” rules. Four scenarios use OBA. An amazing 8 scenarios, more than a third of the total, are Night scenarios, so prospective purchasers had better be happy with Night rules.
This is a not particularly well done reprint of two modules that were not all that great in the first place. For owners of those two modules, there is definitely no need to purchase the new module–owners would probably prefer the maps from the originals. For other people, this product is best suited for that subgroup of ASL players who like both small scenarios and Night scenarios.
One additional thing to note is the high price. Originally listed at $69.95, and later reduced to $49.95, this module is overpriced even then.
3rd Edition Notes: In 2014, Critical Hit released a new edition of Darkest December, which Desperation Morale has not seen and whose contents it cannot verify. It contains the three Bulge-related maps, though of unknown size. By this time, Critical Hit had begun printing all its maps on 12″ x 18″ glossy heavy paper/light cardstock map panels which must be assembled to form the game map(s), and that is probably what is used here. Critical Hit also claims this edition has a “bonus” countersheet, which usually means a sheet of generic U.S. or German infantry/SW. This edition does contain the full 20 scenarios.
4th Edition (“Winterized Expanded” Edition aka Last Word Edition: Bulge) Notes: In 2015, Critical Hit released yet another version of this product. Desperation Morale has not seen it and cannot verify its contents. It contains “winterized” versions of the maps with allegedly larger hexes, 4 pages of rules, 20 scenarios, and a “free bonus counter sheet of American leaders in Winter uniforms.” Wow, both free and bonus.
2020 Update: In 2019-2020, Critical Hit released, for separate purchase ($39.95) a “Monster” map set consisting of the winterized Darkest December maps printed with a larger hex size. At the same time, it similarly released for separate purchase ($59.95) an “Uber Monster” map set with even larger hexes still.
2nd Edition (Darkest December) Notes: In 2011, Critical Hit began a series of module reprints, often hastily done, typically to take advantage of the new style of 5/8″ counter artwork they had recently developed. After a bundle of reprints consisting of, more or less, their 1940-related products, Critical Hit released another reprint bundle that was more or less centered around Battle of the Bulge-related products. That is presumably the only reason why the long-forgotten Sudden Full Contact and Devils in the Woods, two small Bulge historical modules released at the same time in 2004, were combined and given a facelift and a reprint seven years later.
The modules were originally released without any counters–they don’t need any special counters–and the counters provided in Darkest December are also not needed, merely being duplicates of existing counters. It is not clear why anyone would prefer using these over the official counters, though the new style layout and artwork is certainly better than Critical Hit’s previous style of counter layout and artwork.
The maps of Sudden Full Contact and Devils in the Woods were also redone, with generally a poorer result than the originals. The main problem is a much darker palette which makes areas of the map–think dark green on very dark brown–hard to make out. The smallest map, the Melines map, is probably the most usable. The largest map, depicting the village of Hotton, is worse but players can make do. The Quatre Bras map, however, is an essentially unplayable mass of dark and darker brown, often overlayed with dark green. It is far worse than the original. The thinking behind this new map palette is impossible to discern.
The scenarios are the same selection as in the originals; three scenarios seem to have been changed (they are in version “1.1″), probably for errata. Four scenarios use the Melines map, eight scenarios use the Hotton map, and 8 scenarios use the difficult-to-see Quatre Bras map. The scenarios are overwhelmingly small in size (or even tiny); there are 13 small scenarios, 4 medium-sized scenarios, and 3 largish scenarios. Some of the scenarios are simply below the threshold of size that most ASLers would consider acceptable, such as DD4 (Grabbing Some Houses), which pits 3 German squads against 2 American squads and 2 Shermans.
Most of the scenarios have some sort of mist effect, with 6 scenarios having special “heavy mist” rules. Four scenarios use OBA. An amazing 8 scenarios, more than a third of the total, are Night scenarios, so prospective purchasers had better be happy with Night rules.
This is a not particularly well done reprint of two modules that were not all that great in the first place. For owners of those two modules, there is definitely no need to purchase the new module–owners would probably prefer the maps from the originals. For other people, this product is best suited for that subgroup of ASL players who like both small scenarios and Night scenarios.
One additional thing to note is the high price. Originally listed at $69.95, and later reduced to $49.95, this module is overpriced even then.
– See more at: https://www.desperationmorale.com/products/sudden-full-contactdarkest-december/#sthash.DAEuDWWD.dpuf
2nd Edition (Darkest December) Notes: In 2011, Critical Hit began a series of module reprints, often hastily done, typically to take advantage of the new style of 5/8″ counter artwork they had recently developed. After a bundle of reprints consisting of, more or less, their 1940-related products, Critical Hit released another reprint bundle that was more or less centered around Battle of the Bulge-related products. That is presumably the only reason why the long-forgotten Sudden Full Contact and Devils in the Woods, two small Bulge historical modules released at the same time in 2004, were combined and given a facelift and a reprint seven years later.
The modules were originally released without any counters–they don’t need any special counters–and the counters provided in Darkest December are also not needed, merely being duplicates of existing counters. It is not clear why anyone would prefer using these over the official counters, though the new style layout and artwork is certainly better than Critical Hit’s previous style of counter layout and artwork.
The maps of Sudden Full Contact and Devils in the Woods were also redone, with generally a poorer result than the originals. The main problem is a much darker palette which makes areas of the map–think dark green on very dark brown–hard to make out. The smallest map, the Melines map, is probably the most usable. The largest map, depicting the village of Hotton, is worse but players can make do. The Quatre Bras map, however, is an essentially unplayable mass of dark and darker brown, often overlayed with dark green. It is far worse than the original. The thinking behind this new map palette is impossible to discern.
The scenarios are the same selection as in the originals; three scenarios seem to have been changed (they are in version “1.1″), probably for errata. Four scenarios use the Melines map, eight scenarios use the Hotton map, and 8 scenarios use the difficult-to-see Quatre Bras map. The scenarios are overwhelmingly small in size (or even tiny); there are 13 small scenarios, 4 medium-sized scenarios, and 3 largish scenarios. Some of the scenarios are simply below the threshold of size that most ASLers would consider acceptable, such as DD4 (Grabbing Some Houses), which pits 3 German squads against 2 American squads and 2 Shermans.
Most of the scenarios have some sort of mist effect, with 6 scenarios having special “heavy mist” rules. Four scenarios use OBA. An amazing 8 scenarios, more than a third of the total, are Night scenarios, so prospective purchasers had better be happy with Night rules.
This is a not particularly well done reprint of two modules that were not all that great in the first place. For owners of those two modules, there is definitely no need to purchase the new module–owners would probably prefer the maps from the originals. For other people, this product is best suited for that subgroup of ASL players who like both small scenarios and Night scenarios.
One additional thing to note is the high price. Originally listed at $69.95, and later reduced to $49.95, this module is overpriced even then.
– See more at: https://www.desperationmorale.com/products/sudden-full-contactdarkest-december/#sthash.DAEuDWWD.dpuf
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