Escape from Colditz
by Paul Bonnet. Fri 28 AugSo the correct (updated) rules had been read (by most of us), plans made and escape equipment collected as the Escape Committee met this Thursday evening to hopefully execute their “home runs”.
In a significant change from the original classic 1970’s version, we all took on playing the German Security Officer as part of our turn as well as taking on the traditional role of our own team’s Escape Officer.
Quite a few tweaks had had to be made to the OG rules and additional end of game triggers had been introduced along with some end of game scoring bonuses / penalties.
Considering this was in effect only the third play test session of this home-made variant - albeit with a far more experienced group of gamers - the game progressed along nicely and everyone was happy to continue playing past the original 90 minute time limit that had been proposed.
All in all an enjoyable game with lots of dice rolling tension / frustration and laugh out thematic scenarios being played out by the scheming POWs and the ruthless prison castle guards. End of game discussions were very positive with lots of improvement suggestions being made for incorporation into the next further update of the variant set of rules.
In the end, only one tunnel was opened up in the Chapel, however beady-eyed David W. played his Tunnel Detected card and was able to arrest the intrepid tunnellers. Nobody got to hijack the German Staff Car and make a fast getaway, but Michel W. was able to successfully launch a glider from the Officers’ Quarters garret tower to effect his escape.
In fact, Michel would have probably won the game if a second of his POWs had not been shot dead during another breakout attempt. Literally on fire, was James who managed a 66% hit rate by playing the Shoot to Kill card no less than three times during the game and also taking out one of Sam’s POWs. One of David W.s POWs just made it through the barbed wire in a Do or Die attempt but was pinned down by Sam’s guard firing from a distant watchtower.
Both Nigel and David W. also completed successful “home runs”, however the overall clear winner was dead-eyed James with his sharp shooting bonuses and through also leaving the majority of his well-equipped escape team lounging about in the safety of the Appel area. Both Sam and myself ended up with overall minus points as we had no escape attempts and respectively half / two-thirds of our POWs ended up being banged up in solitary confinement following arrest.
Until the next time the Escape Committee reconvenes, please keep an eye out on the noticeboard for the next scheduled breakout session and continue hatching those cunning escape plans ………..
Tom, Dick and Harry