Board Game
From two to six players may take part in the game, one of which must always be the Germans; the others choose to be one of five nationalities represented by different coloured playing pieces:
- Black: German guards
Prisoners:
- Red: British
- Blue: American
- Brown: French
- Orange: Dutch
- Green: Polish
The number of playing pieces used for German Guards and Prisoners varies according to the number of players participating in the game:
- 2 players: 8 prisoners plus 6 guards
- 3 players: 7 prisoners for each allied nationality plus 12 guards
- 4 players: 6 prisoners for each allied nationality plus 14 guards
- 5 players: 5 prisoners for each allied nationality plus 15 guards
- 6 players: 4 prisoners for each allied nationality plus 16 guards
Historically, during the war, the guards were always outnumbered by the prisoners, and there were no American POWs until very late in the war.
The playing pieces are moved by the score on the throw of two dice.
The game is given a time limit or a target of escaped prisoners (usually the first to two) with the objective of the player operating the guards being to limit or stop the escape attempts.
In order to escape, each prisoner must first obtain an "escape kit", composed of food, disguise, compass and forged papers. There are also Opportunity cards, which can assist in obtaining escape equipment or use of tunnels. The German guards player has Security cards to assist with arresting prisoners or confiscating equipment.
The Opportunity and Security cards are obtained by throwing a 3, 7 or 11.
Other equipment or materials must also be obtained in order for a player to make a successful escape attempt: wire cutters; lengths of rope; forged passes; and keys. There are also three tunnels which can be used to escape if the relevant Opportunity card is held by the escaping player.
Read more about this topic: Escape From Colditz
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