Regarded as the longest battle in World War I — if not the most devastating — The Battle of Verdun saw German and French armies locked in a brutal trench warfare. This conflict resulted in staggering casualties. Ren Multamäki from Dragon Dawn Productions, he’s not a stranger to trick-taking card game. Taking this grim historical event, he transformed it into his next card game project. I expect another great game coming out of Verdun.
Disclaimer: We had the preview copy for this review, and it was not the final version. There might be possible changes and alteration from the publisher regarding the components, printing and build quality, rules and concepts in the official released product.
Verdun is a trick-taking game, as mentioned. It features two suits only, representing the French and German at war. A minimalist design, but effective. The cards are ranked from 2 to 13, with the addition of a General and a Spy.
A long battle
The game sets itself apart thanks to its loose adherence to the definition and rules of a trick-taking game. Unlike the other games with this mechanic, Verdun grants players freedom to not strictly follow the leading suit. One might say it’s a refreshing flexibility. Yet, I won’t be surprised when some would deny Verdun the rank within trick-taking games. Nevertheless, the game is playable, engaging — and it’s not broken.
Each trick in Verdun represents a skirmish from the big battle. The aggressor targets a fortification, attacks it and tries to capture objectives. On the other hand, the defender does not give up without a fight. Verdun then incorporates many war elements. Decoys, artillery, mustard gas — you name it. These aspects come in handy through what we call Tactical cards. They encapsulate the grim reality of the longest and gruelling confrontation in World War I.
To win a skirmish, both sides play a card, combining the values to determine the strength of each force — or suit. The fortified trench value adds to the defending side. Once it concludes, casualties are inevitable. Each card represents soldiers who sacrificed themselves for mere yards of land. The winner takes their lowest card from the trick, while the loser takes the highest, adding these to their respective scoring piles.
While capturing objectives yields positive points, the cards in your scoring pile subtract from your score. This creates a gruelling dilemma: deciding which soldiers are expendable. Carelessly sending a high-rank trooper (like a Rank 13) could cost you the game. Attacking is primarily a way to gain points to offset the subtraction, but it must be done with caution. You should only attack when you’re certain of victory, as a failed assault could jeopardize your position further. Hence, the skull icons on the trooper cards.
Verdun is a small game with a big impact. It vividly portrays the horrors one may face in a warfare. I appreciate not the theme itself, but how seamlessly our designer has woven this historical narrative into the gameplay.
It is a highly tactical game, focused more on deciding who you’re willing to sacrifice. Sometimes, letting go of a fort is necessary—losing a battle to win the war by inflicting higher casualties on your opponent. The game is a solid 7 for me, though it does not really define itself as a trick-taking game.
REDEFINING TRICK-TAKING GAME (?)
Traditionally, and in my personal point-of-view, trick-taking games require players to follow suit whenever possible. Yet, Verdun bends this rule. Is it then really a trick-taking for me? I am unsure, but it is offering a fresh experience.
While Verdun can be played 1v1, it truly shines in a team setting. The game is designed for 2v2 battles, and I find this setup to be more challenging. And interesting, to top it. In a team game, players face the added challenge of restricted communication, which introduces an extra layer of deduction. Winning becomes more difficult as you and your partner must silently coordinate your moves. The old saying, “two captains sink the ship,” holds true in Verdun—the lack of clear communication can lead to missteps, but it also makes the game more fascinating and intense.
Verdun has already seen success on Kickstarter. And now, they are looking for a second round of crowdfunding, this time focusing on its German-language edition through Spieleschmiede.
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I am a full-time food technologist during weekdays. However, when the calendar hits weekends, I transform into an avid board gamer. I am a hardcore Legend of the Five Rings (L5R) LCG player from Fantasy Flight Games (FFG). Current hobby: buying board games. My shelf of shame’s list is getting longer, thanks to you, Kickstarter.
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