Recently we kicked off the Village Games’ Summer ’09 Combat Card Campaign. It is set in WWII during the battle of Kursk on the Eastern Front. Specifically, it is dealing with the battle for Ponyri Station.
Folks had been building their armies for this for quite a few weeks. People did this partly because the campaign had the prerequisite of painted armies and terrain, and partly because everybody who wanted to participate wanted the campaign to be a very cool event. On the first night the hard work really showed off with some outstanding armies. So good in fact, that uniforms and camouflage patterns were even correct for the theater and time period – and many of the armies even had aircraft painted in the correct camo schemes!

All of the forces had to be built off a proscribed order of battle (copies are posted on the Combat Cards’ website: http://www.CombatCards.info). The lists are historically based and balanced, with players selecting off of a menu system. In addition, players had to bring their own terrain (up to two square feet’s worth) and, of course, their own copy of the Cards.

As part of the campaign, folks will be play testing a supplemental deck for the Combat Cards – the ‘Campaign Cards’. It is a really innovative way to incorporate player’s battle records into the campaign and rewarding them for success, without condemning their opponents to certain defeat if they don’t have as successful a record. From the feedback I have heard so far, everybody is very excited about it.

The campaign is going to have a great rhythm to it – the scenario for the next session is posted online about a week ahead of time (again at the Combat Cards site) and includes tactical tips for both sides. Then, before the actual night’s battles begin, all of the players gather together to discuss the scenario and go over the intricacies of it. Then we have a little ‘tactics talk’ – a general discussion of modern strategies and tactics and how they relate to the Cards. Then it is off to the battlefield to test our skills! Afterwards we gathered back up to debrief and discuss how the battles went, what tactics would have worked better, etc.

For the first week of the campaign the Russians got the better of the battles – three out of four wins were Russian! This will greatly affect the next scenario – as well as grant the victors access to the Campaign Cards for the next session. So far, I would have to say, the campaign is off to a great start!
Until next time…
Hail to the victorious Motherland!
Dan