Battle Decisions: Kriegsspiel

Battle Decisions: Kriegsspiel is a recent game by Catastrophe Games and the name says it all. This is an introductory toolbox to run a kriegsspiel. In a kriegsspiel, an umpire runs a wargame for two teams of players that both have their own map and overview of the situation.

So what is in the box?

A very thin rulebook (19 pages but if you see the font and figures, you'll agree it is closer to 5 pages)
13 scenarios, ranging from ancients times to the Korean war
3 copies of the same map
1 countersheet (which contains 3 copies of each counter, so counter density is very low)
2 dice (I'm being completist)

As said, in a kriegsspiel two teams play against each other helped by an umpire. Each team only has information that its generals could logically have. There is no top-down god-like view of the battle field. Also, orders need to be written down and will be executed by the umpire who may misinterpret them. The umpire will execute orders and report back on any occurences. If units are out of your command, the umpire will make decisions that are conservative (defensive). So a kriegsspiel is first of all an exercise in information and communication. The rules here are very limited and a lot is left up to the discretion of the umpire. General movement rates are provided as well as a very simple (but elegant) battle system. Curiously, nothing is said about viewing distances, something that seems important in a kriegsspiel. But I managed to find online information on this from Napoleonic instruction manuals. The designers claim that most games can be played in under an hour or two.

I came across this game as a kickstarter project that was only avaiable in the USA. Fortunately Second Chance Games (UK) and allowed me to purchase it nevertheless. Although that meant steep import costs, I somehow got an expansion thrown in for free. This expansion includes a different map (3 copies again) and 5 more scenarios.

You can find pictures here. I tried to upload some photos into this news item but that didn't work.

Comments

Nick · 9 Sep, 09:52

Great to hear, Rob. there is also online Kriegsspiel. The International Kriegsspiel society worked out a system and I'm trying to learn it. That should make it feasible to have a kriegsspiel online with multiple people on a weekday evening. But first a USL meetup!

Rob · 8 Sep, 13:54 · edited

Colour me intrigued - if you need an opponent or umpire

Nick · 8 Sep, 11:39

For all these scenarios, the designers asked themselves: what challenges with respect to information & communication did the commanders face? The scenarios are built around that. Technical details on combat systems are ignored. Umpires could of course house rule certain aspects

Rob · 8 Sep, 10:46

You mentioned it running games from ancients to Korea but also only having 5-6 pages rules, which seems odd. I could, say, imagine the rules for planes, helicopters and SAMs alone to be 5 pages.

Nick · 7 Sep, 17:17

I have the game already and hope to play it during our September meetup. It was designed by people that have run many kriegsspiel. What do you mean with ‘flexible’?

Rob · 7 Sep, 12:56

Interesting. Double blind games have always been a 'holy grail' in wargaming and not all efforts are workable or realistic - or fun. I would like to read your play experiences once it arrives at your doorstep. How flexible is this game?