Overview:
World War 2, 1940 deep in the desert countering the growing Axis threat, the Brits have formed the Long-Range desert Group, an elite reconnaissance and covert operations unit tasked with gathering vital intelligence and causing chaos behind enemy lines. Facing them is the formidable Italian forces. That’s the brief version of wants on the box.
A two-player deck builder game set in the desert 1940, Brits Vs Italians, choose your side set up the scenario and away you go.
Game play:
If you’ve played Undaunted Normandy, then you know how this plays, if not, continue reading.
Set up is fairly straight forward picking the scenario you wish to play, following the layout of the tiles and any tokens that need to be place. Then selecting the relevant cards for each side and setting up the reserve cards.
Then its into battle time. Each side will have a mission objective, and a certain unit that is vital to that mission. So be mindful and keep them safe, advance slowly and be covert.
Once set up is done, its onto play time, draw your cards, play one for initiative to see who goes first, (sometimes its good to go first, other times best to keep that higher initiative card back for a more decisive strike) once this is decided each player will then play all their cards. The cards will move your troops, reinforce them, fire weapons and so on, each move is very much a tactical choice. A very much predominant theme is the tactical choice to be made, whether to rush the enemy or slowly ware them down by sniping them so you walk in the proud victors.
The shooting is worked out by the defence of your troops with the area they are in making it important to bear in mind terrain you are in, running out in the open desert isn’t advised. Role the dice and see if you hit.
Main thing is to control the area that you’re moving into so that you can sabotage or secure the area.
And that’s the very very very basic version; key takes would be to keep the glossary open as you start playing for the different icons on the cards and enjoy
Conclusion:
A different feel than Undaunted Normandy, which is perfect for the series. Normandy is immersive and has that gritty feel of World War II, North Africa is as gritty and still has that World War II feel however it feels more strategic and that’s what makes it different adding in the sabotage and new vehicles adds to that feel. Osprey games have done well making this diverse from Undaunted Normandy. In conclusion a great addition to the series and well worth adding to the collection if you like war games, strategic and repayable, only two players though so I would bear that in mind if you like to have a large game group. All in all a good game.
