Osprey Games OSP8935 Escape from Colditz 75th Anniversary Edition Game for 14 years to 18 years,Multicolor,11.6 x 2.8 x 426.72 inches

Product Information

v1.0 [2017.05.24]: Add XBox360 controller support, VSYNC and more shaders on Windows + fix various issues Escape Equipment Cards are obtained by placing two PoWs in each room where the required equipment symbols are shown. Alternatively, one PoW may be placed in each of two rooms containing the appropriate symbols. After claiming Equipment, both PoWs must move directly to the Appel area. Equipment may also be obtained from Opportunity Cards. The original game, created by Mike Halsall and John Law (with intro music by Bjørn Lynne), was published in 1991 by Digital Magic Software. It's worth noting that even early designs differed considerably. For example, one UK Gibson's edition removed the swastika and any human figures, while retaining the castle on the hill and focusing on displaying the game contents.] While it might show its age in terms of gameplay, this new edition of Escape from Colditz is a gorgeous set for tabletop and history fans alike. Clearly, a lot of care and attention has been paid to respecting the original game and its real-life muse, while also making smart changes to help find a new audience today. All of the components are finished to an impressive level of standard, complemented by beautiful new artwork and the fascinating historical artefacts and details. It’s the type of set you could see continuing to be passed down through generations another 75 years from now.

A time limit is agreed to by all players, as well as the number of successful escapes required for victory. [2] Now, Osprey Games has published a new edition of the title to coincide with the 75th anniversary of the real-life breakout next year.Seventy-five years ago, Major Reid braved barbed wire, searchlights, and armed guards to Escape from Colditz. Now it's your turn to do the same. This game is truly iconic: with its historical note, high quality components and immersive game-play. However, there are a few let downs. For example, seemingly incomplete gameplay instructions (even with the additional typed rules and amendments) forced us to deploy house rules on occasions. Using an item means placing an escape marker on the obstacle. The markers are little cardboard exclamation marks, contrasting with the otherwise premium wooden pieces and cards. Allies and guards alike can then pass freely through the obstruction, with guards able to optionally destroy the item as they traverse it, stopping further pieces from moving through. Other mechanics include safe spots for prisoners, saving them from being arrested, and spotlights that illuminate spaces that prisoners cannot stop on. The rules change as inmates make their way from the depths of the castle to the outer countryside, with players whose pieces are arrested outside the inner courtyard having to discard precious equipment. Colditz Escape!, an Open Source game engine recreation, was created by Aperture Software in 2009. The engine is available for Microsoft Windows, Linux, MacOS and PlayStation Portable.

Because the game is a simulation of conditions in Colditz it is virtually impossible to prevent a number of successfull escapes being achieved. In a typical game between six players, the PoWs will spend up to an hour collecting the equipment and escape kit necessary to make escape attempts; thereafter, escape attempts will be made frequently. Cards may be drawn, employed or discarded only during a player's turn except for Arrest Key, Pass Holder, Advance Warning of Appel, Search, Talisman or Hideaway. Designed by Major Pat Reid, one of only a handful of prisoners-of-war to escape Colditz Castle, and screenwriter Brian Degas, Escape From Colditz is the iconic game of careful planning and nerves of steel.A Personal Civilian Escape Kit Card must be held by an Escape Officer and displayed when one of his PoWs reaches an Escape Target. It is a precondition for a successful escape, however, an Escape Officer may collect the Kit at at any time during the game at his discretion, according to the following rules. The Escape Kit consists of Civilian Disguises, Magnetic Compass, Food, false documents, maps, and money (Reichmarks). For the purpose of this game, documents, maps and money have been combined together, providing a total of four components to be collected. The Colditz Game Board is based on a true plan of Colditz Castle, but adapted to provide all the necessary rooms on one level. It consists of the Inner PoW Courtyard, coloured grey, and the outer Garrison Courtyard known as the Kommandantur. PoWs in cells, safe areas (marked blue), tunnels or outside the entire castle walls or wire are not required to attend Appel. An Escaper is deemed to have succeeded and to be 'gone away' when he reaches, safely, one of the targets outside the perimeters of the Castle as marked on the board. The exact score is not required providing he lands on or passes the target. Seventy-five years ago, Major Reid braved barbed wire, searchlights, and armed guards to Escape from Colditz. Now it’s your turn to do the same._x000D_

A new edition of the board game, with new artwork and updated rules, was released in October 2016 by Osprey Games. We played Escape from Colditz as a two-player game, which really gave it a feel of cat and mouse. However, game play would undoubtedly be improved with more players, and therefore allied forces, due to increased complexity in strategies employed. To counteract this, we chose to play under a time-limit, with two POWs needing to successfully escape for the allied forces to win. Final Thoughts Players, in turn, throw the dice, and move their men. PoW teams aim to obtain Escape Kit and Escape Equipment, both essential to making an escape attempt. They may also collect Opportunity Cards. Depending on the types of equipment collected and Opportunity Cards held, each Escape Officer will then plan routes and execute the escapes of individual men in his team. Reading through the supplementary information supplied in this booklet, should help you to recreate the atmosphere of Colditz Castle during the war. The Escape Kit Card once obtained is held for the duration of the game and never surrendered. PoWs do not return direct to the Appel area after obtaining kit.

A PoW may only use the Staff Car if he holds the relevant Opportunity Card and reaches the car by dice throws in his turn(s) giving up necessary equipment en route.

As a last resort, an Escape Officer may elect to use the "Do or Die" card, which allows for one escape attempt without the need for any Equipment. Turning over the "Do or Die" card reveals a number between 3 and 7. This is how many dice rolls the player is allowed to make in attempting to move one chosen POW towards a target area. The player rolls the dice the number of times indicated (rolling again if doubles are rolled). If the total of all rolls equals or exceeds the amount of movement the chosen POW needs to reach a target area, the POW successfully escapes. If the amount of movement generated is not enough for the POW to reach a target area, the escape attempt fails and that player is out of the game. [2] Victory conditions [ edit ] In 1972, BBC produced Colditz, a television series about Allied POWs imprisoned at the supposedly escape-proof Colditz Castle and their many attempts to escape. The TV series proved popular in the UK, and former Colditz POW and escapee Major Pat Reid, who had written several books about his wartime experiences, co-designed a board game with Bob Brechin and Brian Degas as an official licensed tie-in to the TV series. The game, Escape from Colditz, was published in the UK by Gibsons Games in 1973. It was also published in North America by Parker Brothers the same year. The original box of both these editions featured a swastika; in later editions, this was replaced by an Reichsadler (Imperial eagle). The game proved to be very popular.Escape from Colditz remains a fun and fascinating – if unforgiving – way to understand and appreciate an important real-life event. The mechanics may be a tad dated, but this set is a loving tribute to an iconic British board game, which is sure to help it stand the test of time.