
2023John Welch
Mainly reviews and unboxings. Cruel Necessity (Deluxe Edition): The English Civil Wars 1640-1653 is covered on BoardGameVideo.com by 3 reviews, 1 how-to-play guides, 2 recorded sessions, 3 unboxings, and 1 other video.
From BoardGameGeek
Cruel Necessity is a solitaire game simulating the military, political, and religious struggles of the English Civil Wars. You attempt to stop the advance of four armies bent on destroying Parliament and Puritanism, whom you represent. Simply holding on to London is not enough; you must also suppress the enemies of Puritanism, Parliamentary Government, and English domination. There are civil wars going on not just in England, but in Scotland and Ireland too; and each will have varying impact on the play of the game at different times. The title comes from the purported response to the beheading of King Charles by his implacable foe, Oliver Cromwell, who remarked that this act of regicide was a “Cruel necessity.” Deluxe edition changes: This is a deluxe new edition of the classic solo game. It will be printed with super high quality components. The box, board, and counters will be thick and mounted. The player aids will have the largest font possible and be on nice quality card stock. The values, and thus the impacts, of the Achievement cards have been changed. Errata from the classic VPG edition has also been included. Game contents: One full color Rulebook including designer's Notes One large mounted game board One Player Aid 75 cards One sheet of thick, two-sided, multi-shaped game pieces One blue (Parliamentary) 6-sided die One red (Royalist) 6-sided die
Cruel Necessity (Deluxe Edition): The English Civil Wars 1640-1653 has 10 videos from 6 creators: 3 reviews, 1 how-to-play guide, 2 playthroughs, 3 unboxings and 1 other video. They date from 2023 to April 2026.
To learn the rules, start with "Cruel Nescessity | Battle Example | Battle of Braddock Down" by Lone Boardsman, which runs 11 min.
For an opinion before you buy, start with "TDG: Cruel Necessity" by The Discriminating Gamer. 3 creators have reviewed it. To see it played, watch "Cruel Necessity (Deluxe Edition) | Playthrough 1 | 1st Civil War" by Lone Boardsman, one of 2 playthroughs.
If you like it, try Levee En Masse and Keep Up The Fire!: The Boxer Rebellion, also by John Welch, or Dawn of the Zeds (Third Edition) and Warfighter: The WWII Pacific Combat Card Game, which share several of its mechanics.
2011John Welch
1 players50 minLight weight
2016Hermann Luttmann
1 - 5 players90 - 120 minHeavy weight
2019Dan Verssen
1 - 6 players45 - 240 minHeavy weight
From BoardGameGeek:
Cruel Necessity is a solitaire game simulating the military, political, and religious struggles of the English Civil Wars. You attempt to stop the advance of four armies bent on destroying Parliament and Puritanism, whom you represent. Simply holding on to London is not enough; you must also suppress the enemies of Puritanism, Parliamentary Government, and English domination. There are civil wars going on not just in England, but in Scotland and Ireland too; and each will have varying impact on the play of the game at different times. The title comes from the purported response to the beheading of King Charles by his implacable foe, Oliver Cromwell, who remarked that this act of regicide was a “Cruel necessity.” Deluxe edition changes: This is a deluxe new edition of the classic solo game. It will be printed with super high quality components. The box, board, and counters will be thick and mounted. The player aids will have the largest font possible and be on nice quality card stock. The values, and thus the impacts, of the Achievement cards have been changed. Errata from the classic VPG edition has also been included. Game contents: One full color Rulebook including designer's Notes One large mounted game board One Player Aid 75 cards One sheet of thick, two-sided, multi-shaped game pieces One blue (Parliamentary) 6-sided die One red (Royalist) 6-sided die
Designer
John Welch
Artist
Sean Cooke
Publisher
Worthington Publishing, LLC
Categories
Mechanics