Game Overview

Game Name: Codeword Cromwell
Publication Year: 2014
Designer: Daniel Hodges
Artist: Mark Mahaffey
Publisher: Fifth Column Games
Solo Mode: Designed for Solo (Included in the Base Game)

Time ticks on ever so slowly in Birkham Stokes, the village at the center of the action. Its defenses come in the form of unorganized troops and unprepared villagers. Yet as the day wears on and German troops invade, the strategic points and rich stories bring every action to life!

A Radio Call for Help

As the Germans continued their assault on the coast, Birkham Stokes needed something else to distract them. News over the wireless was grim and disheartening.

Static was replaced with a familiar voice as Drayden Fox, the local reporter, suddenly sounded over the air!

He abandoned the newspaper office to make for the shop. With no hope of joining in the action, he did the only thing he knew how to do: Report and interview.

That hour, an international broadcast went out from the front lines. Drayden always did know how to stir a crowd.

The Wild Featherlake

The overall morale of the villagers was on edge. No one expected the war to come to their doorsteps. Even the home guard seemed so ragged, and it was barely noon.

At the schoolhouse, the teachers held steady but were still in need of constant encouragement. Ms. Featherlake had already done her part, though there was more to do.

She herself was quite beside herself, though not out of fear. There was genuine concern for her teachers.

Out of nowhere, she hopped onto a desk and began singing to bolster the spirits of her brethren. Her dear friends.

A Clear View

Ms. Featherlake didn’t raise a weapon that noon hour, yet many considered her a weapon unto herself. Her loud and confident singing rang out all the way to the bridge!

This strange sound confused the enemy, and it was Sherwin who used a DeGaulle to clear the area again.

Really, it was quite extraordinary to see Ms. Featherlake in such a state! She was her usual calm, cool, and collected self with the sheer confidence only a teacher could wear.

Her singing went on and on, and the song became a sort of anthem. To this day, it may be heard on June 8th.

Protecting the South

Things weren’t so joyful for Sergeant Taylor and Hodges. They, too, heard Ms. Featherlake’s song. Yet they paid it no heed as they watched the bank very closely.

Germans were in the shadows, flitting about and planning an advance. Not on the home guard’s watch!

Hodges motioned for Reverend Barnstaple to get down as he aimed and fired. He knew it wasn’t nearly enough, but a spectacular explosion from the east did the trick.

“Sharma, is that you?” bellowed the sergeant. The troops were quite spread out with limited communication.

For the Fallen

Sergeant Taylor intended his question to help reposition the troops. Yet it served another purpose as he kept watch to the west, waiting for the enemy to get too curious.

And so the unit did. The attack was far too much, yet this was the same troop that killed the farmers and the entire Women’s Institute. There was no easing up.

The mood was very somber. Avenging the fallen villagers with more death felt improper, but necessary.

War was a strange beast. Sergeant Taylor knew it well. He felt no pride in taking lives. Only a sort of fulfilled duty.

Successful Landings

No sooner had the village taken a collective breath before troubling news came over the wireless. Drayden Fox’s smooth voice was replaced with crackling reports.

Although the British nautical forces were well-positioned, German units crept around in the open waters.

Indeed, it appeared that a coastal defense was no longer possible as the enemy trickled in. They seemed to be everywhere, continuously gaining ground.

Birkham Stokes was positioned right in the midst of the action, and it was a certainty that units were advancing.

Together at the Pub

Although Ms. Featherlake made the schoolhouse a strong point in the west, the pub was not about to fall.

Stranger things might have happened, but no one expected teetotaling Edith Finlay to burst through the door. She and Betty Tanner disliked the other immensely.

Yet Edith alone knew of the secret gun Betty had in her possession. All those years of listening in would pay off, and she urged the other to bring the Mauser into play.

Betty did so rather unwillingly. It was a stark reminder that her husband was gone. But what of her?

Losing the Pitch

With everyone scattered throughout the village, it was difficult to maintain defenses along the perimeter of Birkham Stokes. It all felt like a persistent nightmare.

Then, on the pristine grounds of the cricket pitch, muddy boots trod across in a terribly disrespectful manner. It was only a good thing the cricket team was far away.

The South Sussex Hunt, so accustomed to simple fox hunts in the woods, found itself in the thick of it.

Small as the group was, their 5-person team was reasonably prepared to take aim to the west.

Along the Main Road

Captain McGowan stationed himself along the main road, which served as the final strategic point under the village’s control. And it was a rather dire situation…

Earl Thorncroft knew enough when he heard the reports from elsewhere. This was the last escape route out of the village. If it didn’t hold, Birkham Stokes would be lost.

Almost on cue, German troops appeared from around the bend. They strode forward, almost taunting the pair.

The odds looked poor, yet both men silently smiled. These units had no idea what sort of defense could be mounted.

Partial Success

Ms. Featherlake’s beloved schoolhouse showed no signs of falling, yet the pristine drive to the south fell to the Germans hours earlier. Such a pity. Outrageous.

They showed no respect for the lovely petunias and daisies the older students planted just weeks before. It was more than enough to ruffle the schoolmistress’s feathers.

However, ruffled feathers didn’t equate to excellent shooting. Only part of the troop was shot down.

Yet Ms. Featherlake took the lead of her teachers and marched straight over for some brutal close combat!

A Stray Bullet

The small victory called for a brief celebration at the schoolhouse, so removed was it from the troop’s path. No one seemed to want to approach Ms. Featherlake anymore.

Sergeant Taylor knew that he was in danger, though. Hodges was in a worse position since there was so little cover this close to the church. So much open space…

It was more surprising that Hodges only took a single bullet. But it was a nasty wound, and one likely to worsen.

Loathe as he was to admit it, the sergeant couldn’t send Hodges away for aid. Such was the wrenching grip of war.

An Injured Hero

Although he didn’t know it, Drayden Fox’s broadcast had already set things in motion. It would not be long before reinforcements arrived. But not yet. No, not yet.

Instead, the troops marched straight across the cricket pitch and took aim at the only building that looked to be of significance. Naturally, it was where he was hiding out.

Windows shattered. Goods flew off the shelves. Jars readily exploded from the assault of gunfire.

A particularly unruly stack of milk jars came toppling down in the fray, cutting Drayden up rather seriously.

Danger from the Sky

The difficulties along the coast and at sea were enough to dampen the spirits of the villagers. At this point, some actively ignored the news pouring in from outside.

For those who continued to listen eagerly, almost desperately, things looked even worse than before.

German planes now zoomed through the skies, guarding more territory and making a right mess of Britain.

Villagers nervously watched the cloud-scarred sky. Was there a bomber headed their way this moment? Could it all end with their sights set on the ground forces?

For Home and Hearth

Edith Finlay was so proud of her shop and considered it an honor to know that Drayden’s already infamous interview was conducted from her equipment. Her very own!

But now, it seemed that the Germans were targeting the little place she called home. It was disheartening.

She turned to leave the pub, desperate to protect all that was hers. Yet a firm hand gently held her back.

“I know,” Betty almost whispered. “But this pub is my home and I need you here. We’ll return to your shop. But first, pints for all!” She ended on an oddly hopeful note.

Thinning the Troops

Drayden Fox found himself rescued, to a certain extent, by Hartwell and Sharma. Injured in their own ways, they still came to his aid and tried to find him better cover.

No one was particularly prepared to attack, though. The South Sussex Hunt trembled at the rapidly expanding troops. And the cricket team? All huddled together.

It wasn’t that they were cowards, of course. Paired against guns, their solid cricket bats were simply no match.

The German advance was slowed but far from over. And with injuries mounting, the afternoon seemed dark.

Fighting Back

Captain McGowan didn’t find himself alone for long. James Arnold and Sergeant Drake joined the defense.

It wasn’t particularly coordinated, however much they wanted to believe they were in sync. Only half of the units fell, which was far from enough to protect the road.

Dr. Greystone hunkered down nearby. The front line was no place for him, but his previous inaction felt haunting. He had to do whatever he could to keep everyone alive.

Although it was a sloppy bit of defensive planning, the main road remained under Birkham Stokes’ control.

Session Overview

Play Number: 16
Solo Mode: Designed for Solo (Included in the Base Game)
Outcome: Incomplete

It was far from easy, but the pub and schoolhouse were the new strongholds within the village. Unorthodox strategies and tactics that seemed odd in the moment prevented the enemy from getting closer to the central church. The day was nearing late afternoon, though, and no one knew what might happen after nightfall. Would this siege last for days? Weeks? It was unclear if they could withstand much more of the unpleasantness that war threw at them.

Affordability

Price & Value

8

Functionality

Challenges & Mechanics

7

Originality

Design & Theme

5

Quality

Components & Rules

6