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CultureQuiet 9d · day 13

UK gamers begin 30-year quest to finish world's most complex board game

Two friends start playing The Campaign for North Africa, aiming to become the first known people to complete the legendary 1979 war game.

newest coverage 9d agosummary written 12d ago9 pieces25 likes & upvotes Google NewsHacker NewsMastodonNewswires

What to know

  • Two Newcastle friends began playing The Campaign for North Africa on 31 October, aiming to become the first known people to complete the legendary 1979 war game.
  • The pair estimate completion in 20-30 years based on an 18-month practice run covering just six turns of the game.
  • They are documenting their attempt on a weekly podcast called War With a Mate to maintain accountability and prevent abandoning the project.
  • No one has ever finished the game due to its extreme complexity: it features a 10-foot map, 1,600 pieces, seven rule books, and requires tracking aircraft, supply chains, fuel evaporation, and other intricate mechanics.

James Purcell Co-player, mental health workerAndy Taeger Co-player, software developerThe Campaign for North Africa 1979 board game by Richard Berg

UK gamers begin 30-year quest to finish world's most complex board game
theguardian.com

How it unfolded 2 developments, newest first · click a bar or a number to jump articlesposts

Peak 4 pieces in 3h at Oct 31, 3 AM; 9 pieces over 13 days (3 articles · 6 posts) Oct 31, 3 AM — 4 pieces · 2 articles · 2 posts — Mastodon 2, Google News 1, Hacker News 1Oct 31, 6 AM — 1 piece · 1 post — Mastodon 1Oct 31, 9 AM — quietOct 31, 12 PM — 1 piece · 1 post — Mastodon 1Oct 31, 3 PM — quietOct 31, 6 PM — quietOct 31, 9 PM — quietNov 1, 12 AM — quietNov 1, 2 AM — quietNov 1, 5 AM — quietNov 1, 8 AM — quietNov 1, 11 AM — quietNov 1, 2 PM — 2 pieces · 1 article · 1 post — Mastodon 1, Newswires 1Nov 1, 5 PM — quietNov 1, 8 PM — quietNov 1, 11 PM — quietNov 2, 2 AM — quietNov 2, 5 AM — quietNov 2, 8 AM — quietNov 2, 11 AM — quietNov 2, 2 PM — quietNov 2, 5 PM — quietNov 2, 8 PM — quietNov 2, 11 PM — quietNov 3, 2 AM — quietNov 3, 5 AM — quietNov 3, 8 AM — quietNov 3, 11 AM — 1 piece · 1 post — Hacker News 1Nov 3, 2 PM — quietNov 3, 5 PM — quietNov 3, 8 PM — quietNov 3, 11 PM — quietNov 4, 2 AM — quietNov 4, 5 AM — quietNov 4, 8 AM — quietNov 4, 11 AM — quietNov 4, 2 PM — quietNov 4, 5 PM — quietNov 4, 8 PM — quietNov 4, 11 PM — quietNov 5, 2 AM — quietNov 5, 5 AM — quietNov 5, 8 AM — quietNov 5, 11 AM — quietNov 5, 2 PM — quietNov 5, 5 PM — quietNov 5, 8 PM — quietNov 5, 11 PM — quietNov 6, 2 AM — quietNov 6, 5 AM — quietNov 6, 8 AM — quietNov 6, 11 AM — quietNov 6, 2 PM — quietNov 6, 5 PM — quietNov 6, 8 PM — quietNov 6, 11 PM — quietNov 7, 2 AM — quietNov 7, 5 AM — quietNov 7, 8 AM — quietNov 7, 11 AM — quietNov 7, 2 PM — quietNov 7, 5 PM — quietNov 7, 8 PM — quietNov 7, 11 PM — quietNov 8, 2 AM — quietNov 8, 5 AM — quietNov 8, 8 AM — quietNov 8, 11 AM — quietNov 8, 2 PM — quietNov 8, 5 PM — quietNov 8, 8 PM — quietNov 8, 11 PM — quietNov 9, 2 AM — quietNov 9, 5 AM — quietNov 9, 8 AM — quietNov 9, 11 AM — quietNov 9, 2 PM — quietNov 9, 5 PM — quietNov 9, 8 PM — quietNov 9, 11 PM — quietNov 10, 2 AM — quietNov 10, 5 AM — quietNov 10, 8 AM — quietNov 10, 11 AM — quietNov 10, 2 PM — quietNov 10, 5 PM — quietNov 10, 8 PM — quietNov 10, 11 PM — quietNov 11, 2 AM — quietNov 11, 5 AM — quietNov 11, 8 AM — quietNov 11, 11 AM — quietNov 11, 2 PM — quietNov 11, 5 PM — quietNov 11, 8 PM — quietNov 11, 11 PM — quietYesterday, 2 AM — quietYesterday, 5 AM — quietYesterday, 8 AM — quietYesterday, 11 AM — quietYesterday, 2 PM — quietYesterday, 5 PM — quietYesterday, 8 PM — quietYesterday, 11 PM — quiet 1–2
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  1. 1

    Pair chronicle their game on War With a Mate podcast, episode 100

    Taeger and Purcell have spent 99 episodes preparing and documenting their practice for the game. They are using the podcast and public accountability to ensure they complete the project rather than abandon it after weeks.

    “We knew there was no reason to keep playing unless we're held accountable. Otherwise we knew we'd buy the game, we'd give up inside two weeks and we'd have a thousand-pound board game that we can do nothing with.”
    — James Purcell
    • jbenjamint@mastodon.scot

      Wonder what odds you'd get on them completing it. Would like to have a flutter just to be able to bequeath the betting slip in my will. https://www. theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2 026/oct/31/uk-complete-worlds-most-complex-board-game-the-campaign-for-north-africa

      jbenjamint@mastodon.scotMastodon12d agoview on Mastodon ↗
  2. 2

    Taeger and Purcell start playing The Campaign for North Africa

    The two friends began their attempt at 7:30pm on Friday in Newcastle, livestreaming day one. After a six-turn practice run that took 18 months, they estimate the full game will take 20-30 years to complete.

    “Based on that, we are looking at a 20- to 30-year run for the full game. We've come to terms with it.”
    — James Purcell
    1. 1 outlet This legendary board game could take decades to complete

      first by NPR, 11d ago

Also covered reported alongside — the timeline has no entry for these yet

  1. 2 outlets ‘We’re looking at a 30-year run’: UK pair aim to complete world’s most complex board game

    first by Mastodon, 12d ago · also The Guardian