Overview:
The game looks to recreate Operation Valkyrie, the codename given to the plot devised by high ranking German Government officials and Military Commanders, to assassinate Hitler and bring WW2 to an end.
Rules & Setup:
Game set up is very straightforward and this and the rules are literally a double sided sheet of paper the same size as a standard game box.
The rules are easy to follow and are comprehensive, especially taking into account they are just one page.
Overview:
The game looks to recreate Operation Valkyrie, the codename given to the plot devised by high ranking German Government officials and Military Commanders, to assassinate Hitler and bring WW2 to an end.
Rules & Setup:
Game set up is very straightforward and this and the rules are literally a double sided sheet of paper the same size as a standard game box.
The rules are easy to follow and are comprehensive, especially taking into account they are just one page.
Theme and Mechanics:
As mentioned earlier the theme is that of the plot to get rid of Hitler, and bring the war to an end earlier than it eventually did.
The game mechanics are that you play the part of one of the four plot conspirators, and that you take actions governed by the throw of a set number of dice, and the face results of those dice will show which actions you can take on your turn.
Gameplay:
The game consists of each player taking turns until the game ends.
On your turn, you will complete two steps: Resolve an interrogation if there is at least one enemy (Hitler, Himmler, and/or Goebbels) in your location; and… Roll 3 dice.
You may keep the results or spend a reroll token. If you do, you must roll all 3 dice again. Each die may indicate one of three results (to be resolved in this order):
For each eagle rolled, draw and resolve an interrogation card (see below).
Add each target rolled to the recruitment track. If there are ever 3 dice, remove them and place one of the available Ally tiles in any open Ally space on the board.
Any additional targets rolled may then be placed on the track. Instead of placing a target die on the track, you may switch it to the arrow / move side. Take 1 action for each arrow rolled.
The actions may be taken in any order and may be taken multiple times, one per arrow rolled. Once your dice have been resolved, the next player (to the left) will take a turn.
MOVE 1 space – Move your pawn to an adjacent location (connected by white lines). Locations in Berlin are all considered to be adjacent to each other and to any location connected to Berlin.
SEARCH through item stack – You may pick up the stack of item tiles in your location and look through them. Your co-conspirators may also see them. Shuffle them and place them back on their space.
COLLECT a random item tile – take a random item from the stack and add it to your conspirator board. If all your slots are filled, you must discard an item. You may choose to discard the item you just drew.
SHARE an item – you may give or take a single item tile to or from a co-conspirator in your location.
UTILIZE an ally – Use the action of an Ally tile in your location. Any Ally who can be used in this way will have an arrow icon.
INITIATE a plot – See below for how to carry out a plot against Hitler.
Each time you begin your turn in the same location as an enemy, and for each Eagle you roll as part of your final roll, you will resolve an interrogation card.
Draw the top card from the deck and read it silently. You must choose one of the 3 options on the card without help from any other conspirators.
Option C allows you to try to avoid any ill effects by rolling a die, but you will risk having to resolve both option A and B. Note: If option A or B would result in no action, you may not choose it.
However, you may always choose option C. Once you resolve the interrogation, you must also resolve the event at the bottom of the card. This may change the state of the board in some way. Once you have done this, discard the card.
If you must draw an interrogation card, but cannot because the deck is empty, the conspirators immediately lose.
Many options will require you to add a file token to the Gestapo Investigation track. Place the tokens from left to right.
Once a file token is placed below a lock, that file and all file tokens to the left may not be removed.
The game ends in loss if you have 9 file tokens on Easy difficulty, 6 on Standard, or 3 on Hard.
Recruiting Allies will also be critical.
Each Ally tile represents a person won to your cause and provides a new, more powerful action.
Their effects are described on the tiles.
- Allies with an arrow may be used for 1 action at their location. • Allies without an icon give a static effect, but only apply to their location.
- Allies with a @ can be used during any plot, regardless of location. Allies in the location of a failed plot must be removed from the game, but other Allies used do not have to be discarded after a failed plot.
- New Allies can replace old ones. Old ones are discarded if so.
To carry out a plot (at the cost of 1 action), follow the steps below.
Be in the target location with Hitler and the required access item.
Discard the access item and any other items you will use in this plot.
Set aside the dice you will use, indicated on the items or Allies by [. No dice are available by default, you must build your pool with items and Allies. Usually at least one explosive item paired with a detonator item will be used. However, a plot can occasionally be done without these items. Multiples may also be used – there is no limit on the number of items used in a plot, but all such items must be discarded.
Allies are not discarded unless the plot fails in their location. Save the total number of target symbols rolled. You may not use reroll tokens on plots, and target icons on items or Allies do not add to your total.
Roll one die each for Himmler and Goebbels, unless neutralized by an Ally.
Subtract 1 target from your previous total for each target AND eagle icon rolled. If the total your own target dice remaining is equal to or greater than the quantity shown on the location, that is a success – You win the game!
If you do not meet the required total, that plot ends in failure – Remove all ally tiles at this location, add file tokens to the Gestapo Investigation track until the next locked space is filled, and immediately draw and resolve an interrogation card.
(If the Gestapo Investigation track fills to the current difficulty level, or there are no interrogation cards left to draw, you lose the game.)
The game ends in success if you manage to carry out a successful plot, rolling at least the required number of targets during your attempt (the requirement is different based on location and which side is active).
You lose the game if you are required to place a file token on the last space of the Gestapo Investigation track (according to difficulty) or if you are required to draw an interrogation card but cannot because the deck is empty.
Artwork and Components:
The art and components are of a decent standard & quality, and although there aren’t a huge amount of different items in the game what there is does help to bring the game and it’s theme to life. The player characters are portrayed on the board by illustrated standees of 4 of the plot participants, whilst Hitler, Himmler and Goebbels are portrayed by smaller black coloured standees with just the persons name on it.
The Good:
The game plays in quick time, so you can easily play it several time in a session, changing out which characters you use, as well as changing the difficulty level of the game.
The Other:
The box could have done with a slightly better insert, and the character cards would have benefited from being on thicker card, but other than that there isn’t much wrong with the game itself.
Final Thoughts:
I got this game via a Gamefound campaign, and I have to say the communication from the publisher wasn’t the best, coupled with the fact that the shipping and tax virtually doubled the cost of the game from $29 (quoted $45 retail) to $57.60, and if I had realised this I probably would have simply waited for it to go to retail and buy it that way, and would probably have paid less due to some stockists not charging full RRP. I will certainly think twice before purchasing from the publisher again via a crowdfunding campaign.
That being said, I have enjoyed the solo games I have played so far, and I’m interested to see how it plays with 4 players and what my gaming friends think of the game.
Zatu Review Summary
Zatu Score
80%
