1:Black Orchestra … let’s kill Hitler but best avoid being caught

You will not have played anything like this game .... it is soooooooo good - and if one wins = one has killed Hitler (universally considered to have been not a nice guy)

Surprisingly easy to teach and plays really well despite the premise.

Various extras included, involving laminated standee 'cards' for the various protagonists.

2:  Some narrative on the game itself (I won’t pretendthis is myself waxing lyrical – I usually pull this from Board Game Geek /Producer website for detail/accuracy)

As Hitler's grasp on Germany tightens and his maniacal fervour isunmasked, men from the highest levels of the Reich begin to plot hisassassination.

As the clock ticks and Hitler's ambitions grow, these daring few must build their strength and prepare for the perfect moment to strike.

The Gestapo hound their trail, calling these conspirators "Schwarze Kapelle", the Black Orchestra. Will this band of daring patriots save their country from utter ruin before it is too late?

BlackOrchestra begins with each player choosing a historic figure involved in the conspiracy against Hitler. In this dark and dangerous pursuit, motivation is perhaps your greatest weapon. If you can stay true to your convictions in the face of overwhelming threat and inspire your comrades, then you will be able to use your special ability, attempt plots, and even become zealous (necessary for some extremely daring plots).

But every move you make may also increase the suspicion of the authorities. The Gestapo will make routine sweeps, and any players with high suspicion will be arrested and interrogated (possibly resulting in other players being arrested). If you are all arrested or if the Gestapo finds your secret papers, you lose. And the suspicion placed on each conspirator will increase the chances their plots are detected.

On a turn, players may take three actions, such as moving, searching for an item, or drawing a card; or, at the cost of one action per die, roll the dice in an attempt to gain even more actions — at the risk of attracting the suspicion of the gestapo. This dice rolling "Conspire" action allows players to make bold moves when most needed.

After the actions have been taken, an event card is drawn. The game is played over seven stages of World War 2, represented by seven stacks of event cards. These cards walk you through the events of WWII in a roughly (but not strictly) chronological order. New stages open up new areas of the board, cause Hitler and his deputies to interact with the Conspirators, and present various opportunities or threats. During the final stage, many board spaces become off-limits, as the Allies move closer to Germany.

To win, players must collect a plot card and fulfill all necessary requirements listed (such as having Hitler be in a certain space and possessing certain items--detonator & fuse, etc.).

The active player may then attempt the plot by rolling theindicated dice, including all additional modifiers and helpful Action cards.

The total of number of "Target" symbols needed to killHitler is based on Hitler's military support, but a Conspirator's securitylevel decides if any "Eagles" rolled will see them detected, and foilthe plot regardless.

Players must consider their ability to successfully complete aplot and the relative suspicion levels of the different Conspirators involved.

Players will need to work together and agree on the wisest courseof action, as well as have a little luck, to succeed. The phenomenon of oneplayer dominating the game because of its cooperative nature is mitigated bythe fact that there are no certainties, and often a player will need to make abold or reckless move to keep the conspiracy alive.

Cool heads often prevail, but play it too cool and you may missyour chance.

The co-operative dynamic gets really interesting if a player isever arrested, and fails to resist interrogation, then they will need to make abig decision all by themselves, without revealing their options to the group.

 No one player can guaranteesuccess. It is hoped that players will have tense conversations similar tothose had by the real conspirators and enjoy a truly unique historicalexperience.

3: My opinion of the game from my experience:

See(1) above – this is SUCH a fantastic game … and so easy to teach and then sitback (until it’s your turn at least) and watch everyone cut everyone up and tryleave them in their dust – not forgetting slip-steaming … and those damnedcorners 😊

4:Don’t take my word for it (I am trying to sell the game after all) - what otherreviews would I suggest?

I recommend potentialbuyers unaware of a game and its qualities have a shufty at any availablereviews on the likes of Shut Up and Sit Down, Dice Tower,The Esoteric Order of Gamers, Board Game Geek, etc.

As all in the GamingWorld know these reviews can be extremely variable and often are not reflectiveof my own individual/group experience.

I personally haveinitially avoided ‘hot games’ and have only purchased games that Ihave either researched fully/played elsewhere and enjoyed, or just float myparticular boat.

5: Ohaye, but why are you selling your games anyway ?

Depending on the game: 

a: Under threat ofpotential death from my partner, I find myself compelled to slim down myextensive board game collection and is therefore one of these (to my mind)regrettable 'victims'.  

b:  My dearestgaming buddy died recently/suddenly and my enthusiasm for a particular game hasbeen lost – particularly those I/we bought for us to play … and now remaintherefore forever little played/ wholly unplayed and are resultantly ‘asnew’ , ‘as new/unpunched ’or ‘still sealed’;

c: Some ‘stillsealed’games are those I have been lucky enough to receive as a gift butunfortunately are an additional copy of a game I already possess.

6: Now, do the contentsof your games only consist of the ‘as originally sold’ elements?

Many of the games I amselling will some of the following:

-       have cards sleeved/laminated;  

-       include additional home-printed copies of rules(to keep the official copies mint): and

-       include every appropriate available additional'file' from BGG, printed/laminated

7: Ah, but whatcondition are your games actually in?

Please see (2) and (3)above but also….

Evenif advertised in a USED condition (as is demanded by eBay if the game is notnew/sealed) – at the absolute worst there will be boxwear to a variable extent or some very minor signs ofuse in some contents but these would still be comfortably described as ‘verygood’ to ‘as new’ condition as I take extremely good care of mygames even when played (doesn’t make me ‘that guy’ 😉).

Generally,if advertised as MINT or similar both the game box and the game contentsthemselves will be MINT. Albeit, on occasions the box itself might havesuper-minimal shelf-wear.

IFin doubt – please ask and I can send as many photos as you may require.  

8:Hang on - you seem to be selling a number of games – are there more that youintend to sell?

As part of my drive toavoid almost certain death at the hands of my partner (or a shadowy hired-hand)I will be listing many other games …. so please feel free to check thosebeauties out too (some listed below) - when I eventually get around to listingthem – as I am bit of a luddite on negotiating the IT demands of eBay and gettingitems listed efficiently.

9:  Tell me aboutthe postage service you use and the costs

I usually opt for ‘smallparcel’ under Royal Mail 48-Hour Tracked – which costs me £3.29 (+)– as no game equates to a ‘letter’ of any size (grrr).

Some games are MAHOOSIVEand extend into ‘large parcel’ due to size or weight.

I had sometimes used EVRI ,and others, but am not a fan of any of those as they do not offer the 100%reliability I have experienced with good ol’ RM (touch wood).

I never recover mypostage costs in my advertised price  – includingwrapping, etc, which costs me – not you – as I price my games as low aspossible – bon chance with finding them cheaper 😊

I also prefer RM postagefor the insurance level cover.

Alternatively, I couldhand the game to you, Cold War style, if necessary, in central Edinburgh or theScottish Borders or in the vicinity of Livingston in West Lothian to perhaps speeddelivery.

11:  In anyevent - games will be wrapped to counteract the dreaded courierfactor.

12: PLEASE NOTE

I OFTEN WORK AWAY DUETO MY EMPLOYMENT WHICH CAN LEAD TO DELAYS IN POSTAGE

(That said –exceptionally, it may extend to a week but I will keep you fully updated)

Reminder: Please feel free to message me with anyquestions or requests for additional photos. 

13:  Curiositykilled the cat – what other games will you be listing?

Why thank youfor asking …

TERROR BELOW

LOST EXPEDITION: FOUNTAIN OF YOUTH 7 OTHER ADVENTURES

ABADDON

KACHINA

EXODUS FLEET

KEYFORGE(VARIOUS)

JAWS

MEMOIR 44 –DISASTER AT DIEPPE

MEMOIR 44 –HEDGEROW HELL

MEMOIR 44 –SWORD OF STALINGRAD

COMBO FIGHTER

SUN TZU

BLACKORCHESTRA

1754: FRENCHINDIAN WAR (or)

878: VIKINGS (samegame as above in many respects – different eras)

7 WONDERS: DUEL

WARHAMMER:INVASION (THE CARD GAME) (2009)

FIELD OF GLORY– THE CARD GAME

LINCOLN

ANDROID :MAINFRAME

BLOODBORNE:THECARD GAME

SUMMONER WARS

ZOMBIE 15

GAME OFTHRONES (HAND OF THE KING)

GAME OFTHRONES: THE CARD GAME

THE ADVENTURERS:TEMPLE OF CHAC

FLASH POINT

MASCARADE

And many more…..

14:  In ending

I do have a metric tonne of games to shed –hence the death threats 😉 – please help me tosave my soul …..