Against the Odds Annual 2009 : Verdun, a generation lost

The German attack used new weapons such as poison gas, fighter airplanes to clear the skies of enemy observation planes, and a massive collection of artillery to devastate the defenders and obliterate the extensive French fortifications. The offensive was meant to inflict staggering casualties upon the defenders that would compel the Entente to negotiate. In the end, the Germans also suffered losses that ran to the hundreds of thousands, making Verdun a symbol of war's inhumanity as well as tragic sacrifice.

Designed by Roger Nord, Verdun: A Generation Lost is based on the same design as his other WWI game which appeared in Against the Odds #11, The Big Push: The Battle for the Somme. Verdun: A Generation Lost features a 22" by 34" map that, like The Big Push, uses squares to regulate the game's functions, 352 large counters, and approximately 30 pages of rules and charts. Rules cover artillery, defensive fire, and close assault attacks, various types of weaponry, and there are six smaller scenarios covering pivotal aspects of the battle, as follows:

1. Firestorm on the Meuse

2. Crown Prince’s Plan

3. Operation May Cup 

4. Hell’s Doorway 

5. They Shall Not Pass

6. Ramparts Revenge

All of the above, plus a 44 turn Campaign Game! Don't miss this one.

The Annual this year will also include Siege at An Loc, 1972 as a bonus game, and articles will cover both. Also included are articles by Phil Jelley on the siege of Londonderry and a lavish survey of solitaire games by Paul Aceto.