The British Way: Counterinsurgency at the End of Empire is the first of several COIN multipacks, containing four separate wargames exploring a series of thematically related insurgencies. Between 1945 and 1960, the British fought four major “emergencies”, as they referred to their counterinsurgency campaigns, each trying to manage their retreat from empire. The four games in this pack focus on exploring British counterinsurgent responses to a variety of different opponents, including communist insurgents in Malaya, militant nationalists in Kenya, and smaller and more clandestine terrorist organizations in Palestine and Cyprus. The games adjust the core COIN mechanics to provide a compelling new way of handling two-player conflicts, while also streamlining several mechanics to quicken gameplay. The British Way offers an approachable introduction to the COIN series for new players, while presenting experienced players with four mechanically distinct games to explore and compare.
—description from the publisher
- Best introduction to COIN system.
- Campaign is an absolute blast.
- Works fantastically solo and is even better two-player.
- Simple but effective campaign dynamics.
- Easy for most gamers to grasp with streamlined rules.
- Likely simpler than other COIN games.
- Counter-insurgency
- British Empire
- Historical
- Cub Libre
- Distant Plain
- Andy and Abyss
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
- Campaign play — The game can be played as a campaign with four linked games.
- Counter-insurgency — Core mechanic of the game, typically involving government forces fighting an internal uprising.
- Solo Play — Works fantastically solo.
- two-player play — The game is designed for two players and is even better at that count.
Video topics + discussion points
Quotes (from this video)
- I think it's my favorite coin game of all time now.
- It's so Technical and crunchy and just immersive.
- It comes with these really beautiful standies.
- This is going to be part of the giveaway so just leave a comment below.
- It feels like you're playing Skyrim or Fallout but in this Studio Ghibli style World post post apocalypse.
- The way the mechanics and stuff which I'll talk about in the review which will be linked really lend itself to breathing life constantly through the course of the game.
- And that to me is like such a new breath of fresh air.
- So if you plucked me out of this universe somehow and you said you have a choice between you know Skyrim and Fallout no thanks and uh um you know this is like post postapocalyptic Earth I 100% I'm going to play in the world of the earthborne.
References (from this video)
- Approachable introduction to the COIN series
- Educational value
- Connects different board game communities
- Simpler and shorter than other COIN games
- Lots of content in the box
- Mechanically distinct games within the pack
- Learning one game means learning 85% of others, focus on passion over ease of learning.
- Managing British retreat from Empire through counter-insurgency
- British counter-insurgency campaigns from 1945-1960
- Historical simulation
- COIN series games
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
- coin system — The game adjusts the core coin mechanisms to provide a compelling new way to handle two-player conflicts while also streamlining several mechanisms to Quicken game playay.
- Modular scenarios — There are four games in the pack focusing on exploring British counter and surgery responses to variety of different opponents.
- Two-player conflict — It's two players and they are simpler shorter more approachable games to play.
Video topics + discussion points
Quotes (from this video)
- I love Gloom Haven but due to the time and setup and tear down and having to replay many missions my wife and I haven't finished any of the games until now.
- I love buttons and bugs and for $15 I was able to take the cutest Gloom Haven on the planet which is a phrase I never thought I'd be saying on a business trip with me and play through three scenarios on the desk in the hotel.
- The size and simplicity and the duration all make this game a winner for me and most likely the first Gloom Haven I'll finish.
- I really enjoyed my play of buttons and bugs which I was not expecting.
- I enjoyed it that much I thought it was great and at some point there's a Twist and you go what how okay cool let's do that.
- This coin system has been the most remarkable bridge between different parts of the hobby that just really stands out and shows that it must be something very very special.
References (from this video)
- Potentially interesting event-driven decisions
- Multiple scenarios for replayability
- Direct two-player interaction
- Event cards can restrict options
- No map described in discussion; unclear balance
- Uncertainty about replayability
- Ethnos
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
- Compound Scoring — Variant scoring if you're ahead at the end of rounds.
- End-of-round lead-based scoring variant — Variant scoring if you're ahead at the end of rounds.
- event cards — Cards that can force actions and limit options.
- Events — Cards that can force actions and limit options.
- Limited operation vs full operation — Choice each turn between performing one action or a full operation.
- Multiple scenarios — Three scenarios on the map to vary gameplay.
- Positive Player Interaction — Competitive play with direct disruption to the opponent.
- Scenario / Mission / Campaign Game — Three scenarios on the map to vary gameplay.
- Two-player interaction — Competitive play with direct disruption to the opponent.
Video topics + discussion points
Quotes (from this video)
- I do not like when event cards force me to have no options
- this is not Ethnos
- it's a completely different scaled down game set collection
- Ethnos to me was an intense area control game
- this is literally just set collection and managing boards
- it's a clever economic game because you've got factions coming out on the board