Olympica

Olympica is a 1978 board wargame published by Metagaming Concepts.

Gameplay

Olympica is a two-player combat-oriented game that posits that in the year 2206, Martian colonists are threatened by a thought-control machine called the "Web Mind Generator" that turns all under its influence into dedicated servants of the "Web". One player takes the role of U.N. forces that will try to destroy the Web generator situated in the Martian crater Olympica, while the other player defends the machine. The U.N. forces have light and heavy infantry, laser tanks, a laser drill and rocket-powered lifters. The defender uses light but fast infantry, redoubts and a tunnel system.[1]

The defender starts the game by laying out his defensive counters facedown, including the exact placement of the Web generator. A number of "dummy" counters are included to keep the exact location of units unknown until they are encountered. The UN player then makes an initial "drop" of units. Advantage of movement is given to the defensive player, who pays no cost to move through difficult terrain. Combat can either be ranged or close assault, which may raise clouds of dust, temporarily incapacitating affected units. Although the U.N. forces have more firepower, close assaults favour the defender, and the defender has an opportunity to bring on reinforcements at fixed intervals, while the U.N. forces cannot replace losses.[2]

The game offers several scenarios that vary the initial setup of each side. The game comes with an 8" x 14" paper map, a rulebook and 75 thin boxboard counters.[2]

Reception

In the inaugural issue of Ares Magazine, David Ritchie was ambivalent about Olympica, rating it a 5 out of 9 and commenting that "The game borrows quite shamelessly from Heinlein's Starship Troopers, but for all that (and despite a really horrible map) is fairly interesting and fun. Playable in an hour or so. Moderately simple."[1]

In the November 1978 edition of Dragon, Tony Watson generally liked the game, although he didn't think it was as unique as some of Metagaming's previous Microgame offerings such as Ogre or WarpWar. He admired the artwork on the counters, but found the map's orange and black artwork "a not particularly pleasant color scheme". Although he believed the Web generator, being a mind control device, could have played a more prominent and active role in the combat, he recommended the game, saying, "The system is workable and easy and the game is certainly tense as the UN strive to seek out and capture the generator."[2]

References
  1. Ritchie, David (March 1980). "A Galaxy of Games". Ares Magazine. Simulations Publications, Inc. (1): 29.
  2. Watson, Tony (November 1978). "Review: Olympica". Dragon. TSR, Inc. (21): 13–22.
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