Review: Czas Honoru

Czas Honoru Dystopian Game Reviews

Players: 2

Publisher: Phalanx

Year: 2013

In 1944, in German-occupied Poland testing was done for the V-2 missiles, Hitler’s latest secret weapon. As they were being tested, and the missiles crashed, fragments were being collected with the purpose of being sent to London for further examination. In this game the Polish underground forces are pitted against the Germans.

The home-zones

Setting up is easy, as both players take a deck and the zone cards are placed between them. Cards are divided along various units, such as regular soldiers/partisans, or elite units as the SS/Silent and Unseen. Cards start in their Home Zone. Based upon how they are positioned, they can perform an action or not.

A turn consists of several phases. Players draw their cards and rocket fragments are placed. Afterterwards players take their actions, which continues until both players pass after each other, does the turn end and is a new turn started. This is repeated four times. Afterwards, the victory conditions are checked. The player that has the most rocket fragments (cubes) after four missiles have been launched (rounds played) is declared the winner. If the players have an equal number of cubes, the German player wins. If at any stage, your Home Zone is invaded and you have no friendly forces to fight them, you automatically lose the game.

Two player cards

The game is a bit simple and plays fast. There are special cards for every deck. It’s interesting how the historical past has been implemented. The cards are language-independent, using only symbols to provide information, although this might be a bit complicated at times. Not all symbols are as self-explanatory as might have been expected.

A downside is that the game can only be played with two people. So if you have a larger crowd, it’s unsuitable. It also has a few nationalistic tones. For example it feels as if the Polish are more powerful than they might have been. However, I’m not an historian, so I don’t know.

The rockets and their fragments

This game's most outstanding feature?

Thematically, it’s a niche game, which is great! It’s an unknown aspect of the Second World War and that alone makes it interesting. It’s wonderful tosee how they have incorporated historical features. The Polish can protect their fragments with Operation Wildhorn III, while the Germans can perform operation Sturmwind, which was an anti-partisan operation. Another example is how the Polish player always starts with the player actions.

There are several interesting mechanics and features. The theme is really cool, but there are also a few flaws in the game. Overall, it’s an above-average game, carried strongly by the theme. If you’re interested in the history, you can certainly get this game.