Enduring Faded Hopes and Sunlight in Codeword Cromwell
Watch the afternoon sun fade away as the battle for Birkham Stokes reaches its crescendo in Codeword Cromwell.
The fictional village of Birkham Stokes is so unassuming and simple at the start of Codeword Cromwell. Yet the tension builds as the invasion progresses, leading to heartbreaking losses and small victories to celebrate! Evening was already within range as I returned to this beloved British setting, determined to guide everyone to a successful conclusion.
Starting in the Proper Place
Just a friendly reminder that this is partway through this story! If you’d like to enjoy it all from the start, make sure to go back to Early Morning, Late Morning, and Early Afternoon for all of the previous action. Enjoy!
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)
Outside of the village, larger-scale events affect the types of troops that might enter Birkham Stokes. It’s a great system that gives ordinary citizens the chance to be heroes, albeit at a great cost. There’s always a little humor to be had, yet protecting the village is a serious affair.
First Play
August 1, 2018
Complexity
3
Latest Play
December 22, 2024
Expansions
0
Setup Time
20 Minutes
Lifetime Plays
20
Play Time
6 Hours
High Score
227
Game Area
42" x 34"
Low Score
0
At All Costs
With the Germans closing in on nearly every side, it wasn’t simply about defending the village. Now there was a need to ensure escape routes or even resupply routes.
Not all were able to join in the heroic acts. Some villagers remained out of the action, unable to do more than stay out of the way. It was for them that neighbors fought on.
Hartwell and Sharma knew they needed to take control back from the Germans, no matter what that cost was.
They gathered around Drayden Fox, prepared to launch a valiant attack to force back the enemy troops.
Unexpected Assistance
A shadow fell across the doorway just as they were preparing to attack. Weary fingers enveloped weapons, possibly for the last time. And the door swung open…
Standing there was not the Germans. Not even the British. US troops arrived courtesy of Drayden’s interview! They were in awe of stumbling across the broadcaster.
Without a moment to lose, the fresh troops agreed on the plan to take back the cricket pitch. Into the fray, they ran!
The assault was a resounding success as the Germans fell and Birkham Stokes reclaimed control. Such excitement!
A Continued Hold
In the southwest, the mood was a bit more serious. Hodges held his own, despite his injury, but it was still a difficult scenario. Sergeant Taylor was boxed in.
The pair of soldiers protected the church, dodging behind trees and whatever little cover remained in the open.
By sheer luck, the remaining units had absolutely terrible aim and missed entirely. Hodges seemed to be stable, at least for the moment, and shared a hopeful grin.
It was the schoolhouse that prevented them from being overrun, but it was still hard to imagine it would hold.
Serious Intimidation
Indeed, Ms. Featherlake’s energy was fading. She had been keeping the teachers going all day. She was not as young as she once was, although her spirit was fierce.
Their attack was an utter failure, even with Clark joining in, and they braced themselves for the enemy gunfire.
But Ms. Featherlake was still alert as ever. She ordered everyone to throw pieces of chalk out of the windows.
This strange attack confused the Germans as they took aim. Yet they hung back, wary that there might be some explosives in the mix. Not a single bullet hit a villager!
Another Fallen Soldier
Ford was on his way to the doctor when he heard of the attack from the east. Despite an injury that lingered from early morning, he was certain he could aid in the defense.
Sadly, he was taken totally unaware by a troop lurking in the trees near the surgery. He was gone in a moment.
His body fell near a stand of cottages. The villagers knew they were undefended. Many raced off to the church, certain they could find protection in the cellar.
But a small contingent hung back to carry Ford’s body with them. He would not be abandoned to the enemy.
Motorized Troops
The Germans fought on from the coast and air. Despite the excellence of the British troops, the enemy still found its way inland from strategic points it had claimed.
Late afternoon brought a chilly breeze to the village. Spring had struggled to take hold, and just like Birkham Stokes itself, it looked to be losing the battle again.
News over the wireless was hardly warm. As ears strained for information between the static, nerves grew weary.
Even the announcers sounded beaten in some ways as news of motorized troops brought a new wave of fear.
A Regular Arrival
Morale kept ebbing and flowing with every hour. It was difficult to remain hopeful when the enemy was right outside and death was a reality. All were exhausted.
The South Sussex Hunt was one such group. They felt unable to assist with their utter failures so far. At one point, some even suggested they make a run for it.
A rustling nearby was quickly followed by voices… Friendly voices! A group of British regular units arrived.
They were part of a group dispatched to nearby villages to try to fight back and lend assistance. Aid at last!
Sergeant Drake
The police sergeant was rather quiet for several hours. It was uncharacteristic of him, but the morning took its toll. Uncovering a spy was a great mental strain.
Drake thought back on his encounters with Reynolds. The suspicions. The clues. Why hadn’t he acted sooner? Was this attack on Birkham Stokes his very own fault?
James Arnold sat down beside him. Silently, he looked at Drake and offered a simple, direct nod that spoke volumes.
His posture straightened. The crease in his brow eased. He was not to blame, and this was his village to protect.
Defending the Square
Hodges continued the assault on the bank. Sergeant Taylor allowed him to take charge of the defensive tactics. It was as if the man was built for this sort of thing.
He fought through his injury, picking off enemy targets who ventured too far from the safety of the bank and trees.
By some unexplained miracle, the Germans simply couldn’t push forward nor hit either soldier. They breathed ragged breaths, grateful to live another hour.
Yet Sergeant Taylor was no fool. By nightfall, the bank would likely be overrun. Where would that leave them?
A Sudden Ambush
Sherwin was well-armed and ready to join up with the defense to the north and east. He crept quietly near the church, never knowing what was behind him.
The Germans came from nowhere. It was dangerous to leave the south so undefended, but there was no other way to ensure that Birkham Stokes could survive.
They spotted the lone soldier before he could turn around. In cold blood, Sherwin was murdered in the ambush.
Just like that, the enemy suddenly had a clear and open path to the edge of the church and the heart of the village.
Session Overview
Play Number: 17
Solo Mode: Designed for Solo (Included in the Base Game)
Outcome: Incomplete
Now, Sergeant Taylor and Hodges were truly in the thick of things. Germans lurked just outside the church. If they reached it, there would be no saving Birkham Stokes. Reinforcements may have arrived, yet the loss of home guard soldiers felt utterly deflating. With the evening crickets starting to sound, some wondered what darkness might bring. For all the small victories, there was still a dreadful sense of foreboding lurking just out of sight.
%
20 Plays
Affordability
Price & Value
8
Functionality
Challenges & Mechanics
7
Originality
Design & Theme
5
Quality
Components & Rules
6
Reusability
Achievement & Enjoyment
4
Variability
Distinctness & Randomness
9
+ Pros (Positives)
- There is a strong storytelling potential present through every stage of play as a sweeping narrative is built.
- Dangerous situations require risks or accepted losses, which are never easy and introduce thoughtful choices.
- With so many different event cards, it’s extremely difficult to come across the same set from play to play.
- Although full sessions often last 6+ hours and the game isn’t one to play that often, the experience is worth it.
- Each lost villager or friendly unit feels very personal and somber since everyone feels important and heroic.
- Poor dice rolls often help move the story along and provide situations that require more strategic planning.
– Cons (Negatives)
- Dice play a very deterministic role when resolving combat or other events, which can feel a bit unbalanced.
- Deciding between British or German events can be obvious when it’s vital not to advance on the invasion track.
- There are a lot of individual units and weapons to keep up with and it can be easy to lose track during a round.
- It can be exceedingly frustrating to constantly look up the effects of all the character events in play at once.
Victory Conditions
Achieve a British Tactical Victory
- Overall Goal Progress 100%
Goals and Milestones
Score at least 150 points.
Score at least 175 points.
Score at least 200 points.
Continue the Conversation
Do you have any fond memories of Codeword Cromwell? It has so many stories to tell! Although I like to focus on the humor of defending with makeshift weapons, there’s a serious and heartfelt tale at the center of it all. What do you think will happen to Birkham Stokes? I took some chances and that southeast square is looking extremely dangerous!
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