Designer Diary: The Ground Between
by Felix Sonne
The perception that wargamers are dwindling is prevalent, with many arguing that contemporary lifestyles leave little room for extensive gameplay, especially with outdated components. However, the reality is that wargames can be both engaging and visually appealing while remaining accessible and quick to play. With this in mind, the creation of a free Print and Play (PnP) hex-and-counter wargame became a personal mission. This endeavor culminated in the development of The Ground Between, a low-complexity wargame set on the Western Front of World War I (WWI). While the design process proved challenging, it was also rewarding, as it involved balancing fun, aesthetics, and educational elements while simplifying complex mechanics.
Key Features
- Easy Crafting: The game is designed to facilitate easy crafting, ensuring that players can assemble the components without frustration. By limiting the number of counters to 15 per faction, all of which fit on a single sheet of paper, the crafting process becomes straightforward.
- Simplified Card Mechanics: Adhering to the principle of “Keep it Simple and Short” (KISS), the game features a reduced card deck, ultimately condensing it to one sheet per faction. This streamlining enhances gameplay while maintaining essential strategic elements.
- Focus on Ground Combat: While tanks and airplanes revolutionized warfare, the game intentionally focuses on the early WWI period (1914-1915) before these innovations came into play. This choice emphasizes traditional combat mechanics, delivering a gritty and authentic experience.
- Streamlined Gameplay: Efforts were made to eliminate unnecessary complexity in gameplay. For instance, secret deployments were removed to simplify the experience, allowing players to focus on the overall strategy rather than intricate mechanics.
- Theme Integration: To enhance immersion, unit names were adapted for clarity, maintaining unique identifiers for advanced units and tactic cards while using English for the rest. This approach ensures all players can easily engage with the game.
- Variable Player Powers: The game reflects historical realities by incorporating variable player powers, particularly in the context of technological advancements in warfare. This design choice illustrates the competitive dynamics present during the arms race of WWI.
Conclusion
For newcomers to wargames, The Ground Between serves as an excellent introduction. With just an hour dedicated to crafting, players need minimal components: four sheets for maps, two for cards, cardstock for counters, two dice, and some tokens from existing games. The latest version (v1.2) is now available for download, inviting players to experience a streamlined and engaging representation of WWI combat.
Via BoardGameGeek Blog
