White Sea: Campaign Commander Vol. IV

This is the fourth volume in this series and it takes us to the 16th century and the decisive amphibious campaigns fought by the Ottoman and Habsburg empires in the Central and Eastern Mediterranean. The game begins in 1565 and runs until 1574. It is an operational-scale game played on a zonal map. It is designed for two players: one controls the Ottoman forces and the other the Christian forces—both the Spanish and their Italian allies as well as the forces of the Republic of Venice. A game lasts approximately 3–4 hours and uses a system based on two main elements: cards and counters. Players will have to use their troops and resources to earn Victory Points by controlling the cities on the game map, playing cards, and raiding the opponent’s territory. It is not a “card-driven game” since the cards are used to trigger events that influence battles, secure reinforcements, and obtain resources needed to continue the fight. The OTTOMAN player is on the offensive from the very beginning, and if they lose Strategic Initiative, they will most likely lose the game. Their mission is to expand the empire at the expense of Habsburg and Venetian territories. At the start of the game, the CHRISTIAN player is clearly at a disadvantage, since they can only use Habsburg troops and fleets; the Venetian Republic is neutral at the beginning and will only adopt a belligerent stance when forced, either by Ottoman aggression or by diplomatic pressure that eventually pushes it into the war. At first, the Christian player will focus on playing cards that slow the Ottoman advance, increase diplomatic pressure on Venice, and bring reinforcements—prioritizing a low-intensity war and fomenting rebellions in the Ottoman Balkans. The game features a unique characteristic: tracking the progression of each year’s campaigning season. Operations carried out on the map are tallied to mark the passage of good weather—naval warfare in the Mediterranean was seasonal, and could safely be conducted only in summer. Once the good weather ends, armies and fleets can be forced into winter quarters by playing the appropriate cards. Thus, the OTTOMAN player must carefully plan their offensives, since their fleets will set out from Constantinople each campaign season, and they will have to choose a strategy: either advance toward Habsburg-controlled objectives in the central Mediterranean—which are quite far in logistical terms—or directly attack the Most Serene Republic of Venice, with targets in both the central and eastern Mediterranean, facing a strengthened Christian force once Venice enters the war. Siege warfare plays a crucial role in this game, as every city on the map is a walled city with its own garrison that must be besieged in order to be taken. These were amphibious campaigns focused on besieging fortresses, with constant raiding incursions, some minor engagements, and one great battle: Lepanto. Like all games in this series, it has a very simple ruleset and is designed so that the sessions are highly interactive—creating an enjoyable and solid gaming experience for those who lack the time or space for a longer and more complex game. —description from the designer