You really needto know what you are investing in with this game. This is a gateway game that is perfect for hooking young players. It may not be satisifying for more veteran gamers who want a more challenging fare. As a slightly experienced wargamer I was disappointed with the combat mechanics. The game uses a shot-range mechanic that is brutally simple. Imagine you have two infantry that are within range offive infantry bad guys. Infantry have one shot each. Your two shoot and two enemy infantry are removed. Infantry incover can only be killed by template weapons. Onlycertain units have template attacks. Itcreates a rock-paper-scissors system . Any unit can damage any other unit. This means infantry can hurt tanks. They will not make a huge dent and the tank will wipe them out with return fire. I find it odd. It hit me after thinking about it for a while. The mechanic reflects "I shot you, Lay down" system kids use when playing war! The game has a RtS feel too Your factories have so many points to make new units. This is secret. Knowing what to make is key to winning.   Firing first really makes adifference. What is odd is that it does not feel like a wargame. As another reviewersaid it is like a tabletop version of command and conquer. Just Fire up "Mechanical Man" and play!  Battle Fortress definitely breaks themold as awargaming model. Strategy isdifferent from other wargames. Numbers and having the right counter will decide the day. There are no super units. Though I would put ahero in every infantry unit and place artillery next to every factory. A wise opponent would make afew heavy tanks and punish that strategy. This can be played in any scale. I would suggest 1/72 scale plastics as they have a high model count low price ratio. They are also big enough for little hands to grab but still allow decent manuver room on the table. My only criticism is that artillery unit's attack is not listed on it's description in the rules. I found in on the tactical awareness sheet in the back of the rules. Artillery uses a 5"template. The other issue i have is that Japanese jungle fighters are invincible if they are in cover. That could create some issues.
I liked the special rules for the sci fi nations and the ww2 nations. With how simple the game is you could create your own units and rules. It is a sandbox of potential. b This is a great game for beginners and kids. It is not rules heavy although there is light bookkeeping involved. This game could be a success at a convention! I would definitely play this with my kids ...but i would pull out another game with like minded adults.

Wow! This is another great find on Wargame Vault. I have always had an interest in warfare the late medieval period and advent of gunpowder. The only issue is that there are very few games that cater to the exploration of the new world and the colonies (I am unable to think of any). IW has similarities to DbA. But I feel that is an unfair comparison. The writer was very original in his design.

The most important thing that makes this game unique is in the title. Every game will present a new "and irregular" challenge because there are many factors that affect your army's strength and strategies. Your army consists of compulsory and optional troops. The amount of troops you muster depend on your die rolls. Other factors are whether or not your troops are affected by disease or greed or even bribes. The game has a chance deck with 52 cards. These cards can change your strategy for the upcoming battle. In one game I drew cards that made my lord a rash, inexperienced and charismatic leader. Your companies armed with black powder weapons could become useless if a rain cloud card is drawn. The cards and the random happenings give each game a very strong narrative story telling flavor.

The army lists covers a lot of ground. They cover a global view of the world instead of focusing on one war or continent. You will feel equally at home in Asia as you will in Europe. There are lists for Dutch Privateers, Scottish Highlanders, Polynesian tribesmen, the Ottoman Empire, Sengoku period Samurai, Ming Chinese and many more. I was bummed that there was only one Portuguese force. It is not a big deal as the writer gives ideas and guidelines on how to make your own lists. There are so many lists available that you should be able to find something. The writer has a lot of knowledge about different notable figures for each list. A little internet search can help with looking up a unit you are unsure about. I did that with Scottish Gallowglasses. Their dress and weapons closely resemble Viking Huscarls.

The game is primarily written for one off battles and campaigns. I doubt this would work as a tournament unless everyone has a sense of humor about it. The army descriptions give historical encounters and wars to fight. You could do a English raid on a Spanish colony or the Spanish invasion of Ireland. Another option is to do a hypothetical battle from James Clavell's Shogun. Imagine that Portuguese troops are sent to Japan to enforce Spanish and Portuguese interests.

These rules are very well written and laid out. The price is a little high for my tastes. I am glad I took the risk and bought the rules. It is easy to see the writer's interest in this period. I believe that is reflected in the dedication and devotion to these rules. Get this game. You will be very happy that did.

The rules seem interesting enough at first glance. My gripe with them is that they are unplayable. There is an example in the shooting rules about numbers of models necessary to cause immediate panic in enemies fired upon. This rule is mentioned in the example but is not actually in the shooting rules. Maybe I am reading it wrong.

I really wanted to like these rules but I feel they are incomplete as written.

Tusk is a great game to introduce people to wargaming. The rules can be learned in five minutes. It offers a solo play for frumpy, solitaire gamers. I believe the game really shines when several people are playing. You can send a panicked mammoth smashing into a opposing players tribe on purpose. There is some luck involved but it would be a great time that is heavy on the fun and light on the rules.

I recommend Tusk to anyone who enjoys wargames that focus more on player interaction and less on memorizing rules for charge reactions. There are plenty of cheap plastic dinosaurs and elephant toys to use as critters. The game plays better if you put "100 million years B.C." or "Quest for fire" on in the background. If you enjoy hunting all day and going "Onga Bonga" with the cave females at night then Tusk is the game for you.