A Distant Plain

A Distant Plain, another entry in the COIN series of strategic wargames, drops you right onto the Afghan plains into a conflict involving the US and its allies against the Taliban and more. For this title, system creator Volko Ruhnke (also known for Labyrinth: War on Terror), which was used in his previous game Andean Abyss, teamed up with top-tier game designer Brian Train.

A Distant Plain is the third game to use the COIN system. It introduces a shared resource track for both Coalition forces and the Afghan government, creating a compelling experience as both sides have different visions for how the state should function. The other playable factions are the Taliban and local Warlords, each with their own unique agendas. The Taliban aims to establish a Muslim state under Sharia law, while the Warlords profit from the drug trade and fight for territory that neither of the other sides controls.

New features in this version of the COIN system:

• Joint operations between Coalition forces and the Afghan government
• Volatile Pakistani stance on the conflict
• Evolution of both COIN factions, insurgent tactics, and technology
• Government fragmentation and desertion
• Coalition casualties
• Return of Afghan refugees
• Pashtun ethnicity
• Multiple scenarios
• Deck of 72 new event cards

As with every game in the COIN series, you must face tough strategic decisions with every card played. The innovative game system masterfully integrates political, cultural, and economic issues with military action. Player aids for the 3 Afghan factions are always at hand on the game board, allowing 1 to 4 players to dive deep into the complexities of the Afghan conflict.

The game is in English.

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