Printers are whirring away on Levy & Campaign Volume III Inferno! Here Volko shares a gander at an advance copy in action on his game table.

With my proof copy in hand, I set up for the world’s first-ever session of Inferno on a finished set – Scenario B “In Far Vendetta”, the second of six scenarios in the box.

Below, the situation after one turn —

• Guelph Colle gave the cold shoulder to both Firenze and then Arezzo (failed Lord Muster attempts).
• Sienese Ghibellines blocked a possible Florentine move on Pisa’s territory and Ravaged Guelph lands to Siena’s north (historically, the “Reprisal War”), then countermarched to cover Poggio Bonizio (a Town in rebellion against Firenze and allied with the Ghibellines).
• Guelph Firenze, after threatening Poggio Bonizio with WAR ENGINEERS, returned home to Tax next season. Their allies the Arrezani rebuilt the Ruined Castle of Castelnuovo Berardenga with Costruttori.

All my Lords need more Transport to be tramping around like this, but Siena’s Podestà is now awkwardly outside enemy Montespertoli, so won’t be able to Muster anything during the upcoming Levy. …

Autumn 1259 maneuvers (second turn) – Ghibelline Count Giordano and Guelph Town of Colle have Mustered. Both sides are building their baggage trains and war chests. The operational focus remains Poggio Bonizio. Each side has acquired one Treachery card already, via Events. …

At the bottom of this pic, you can see what the Command cards for the various Lords look like as they activate one by one according to each side’s “Plan” stack.

In Tuscany’s center, a big Ghibelline army has chased Florentines off from Siege of Poggio, but the latter decide to risk a stand against Siena Captain Provenzano’s vanguard, alone on the track northward toward Firenze. …

In the Battle, Provenzano’s Sienese PALVESARI-BALESTRIERI (shield-and-crossbow) teams will take on Florentine FEDITORI (elite vanguard knights), as SWAMPY ground delays the Ghibelline horse. If Round 1 goes badly, the defending Guelphs probably will withdraw inside Castle Barberino. …

As it happens, Provenzano’s shield-and-crossbow teams hold off the Florentine FEDITORI just fine, as Firenze’s Foot take the worst of the Battle. The surviving Guelph knights hole up in the castle. …

The above shot is at mid-scenario. Again, the rows of cards along the bottom are the just-played Campaign’s Command cards to activate Lords. …

Despite their minor tactical victory, the Ghibellines are unable to achieve much over the winter of 1259-1260. The two small armies locked in Siege at Barberino both Disband, as do Arezzo’s forces after a poor Guelph choice of investment of Coin in Treachery (via the TREASURERS Event) instead of paying the Arezzani to keep the field. Colle, however, uses Surprise to snag a castle near allied Volterra. Both sides receive foreign reinforcements, and both now have Treachery ready …

Below, the situation mid-Spring, after first a Ghibelline attempt to spur Revolt with a Treachery card then a Storm assault fail against the rebel Towns south of Siena. …

On the eve of the scenario’s final turn (late Spring 1260), some armies have gone home, while others have reinforced from outside the province. Both sides have Treachery and Events ready to vie for the win. …

(At the bottom of the pic, I have revealed the Events and Treachery that each side holds.)

It is personally very satisfying for me to get to play the game with finished art and production components! The operational decisions in this volume all feel quite interesting to me. And I think players will enjoy the new Capabilities and especially the Treachery cards, which can be potent but must be earned and used with deft timing.

Now to await the journey of the finished product from printer to warehouse. Fingers crossed for Christmas!

– Volko

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Previous Articles:

Cavallata per Cortona – INFERNO Scenario Replay Series

Art Preview – INFERNO: Levy & Campaign Volume III