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Date published: 6/1/1979
Designed by: Richard Berg
Developed by: Martin Goldberger
Data: An intensive battalion/company level simulation focusing on logistics, command coordination and all the complex aspects of this unique theatre of war. Five full maps. Extensive background information.
Comments:
What can one say about CNA that others haven't already? More than any other monster, this game pushes players to understand the needs for logistics in battle. Every unit, every rule, every detail is in this game. There are over 70 charts in this game! Unlike many of the monsters, this one means it.
More than any other monster, it also requires a true time commitment from the players. People joke that the playtesters are almost finished with the first try at the game. Example: The Operation Crusader scenario is estimated to take 250 game hours to complete. Meaning, if this was your full time 'job' it would take almost 2 months.
The 'knock' against Campaign for North Africa is it required far too much bookkeeping. It was designed to require bookkeeping. The battle for North Africa, set in one of the most inhospitable areas on Earth, made supplies and logistics the most vital resources.
Years later, the Designer, along with the head of SPI during the time of the game's development, and one of the original playtesters would have the following exchange:
Richard Berg: "CNA was a goldmine for game systems and mechanics at every level . . .and it played fast and furious . ...when you weren't spending hours doing logistics. CNA was Wretched Excess. . . but it was designed specifically as such."
Brad Hessel: "On the other hand, it must be pointed out that in CNA you—or, at least, Matisse Enzer—could drown POWs by leaving them in a wadi until there was a flash flood, an effect unrivaled so far as I know before or since. Ergo sometimes excessive chrome pays off."
Matisse Enzer: "You go to war with the wadis (and truck supply) you have. I was merely misinformed about the weather. It was tragic. (And we needed trucks to carry ammunition, not food and water for the POWs)"
Details:
5 Maps, and it requires all of them to play the
game. 1 hex = 8 kilometers
There are 1800 Counters, and all but a few are combat counters. Only a few
hundred are informational.
Each unit can be from company (100 men) to a division (15,000 men).
Each turn is 1 week of 'realtime.'
Formats and Pricing:
CNA was offered in the 4" box (2140), and in zpack plastic bag, (2141).
The advanced offer was for $33, it was published at $44, and zpack was $39.
Articles |
Errata | Scenarios |
Pictures |
Articles |
Rules |
Other |
Important note: in the photos below, I stole the maps shot from Pete
Phillipps, a fellow ComsimWorld gamer. But it is TOO valuable a shot NOT to showcase!
Many many thanks for making all these shots available Pete!!
Click picture below to see larger version.
Once opened, some can be expanded by clicking again.
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| Magazine | Issue # | Date | Yr | Article Type | Article Name | Author | Author2 | PageNumber |
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| Moves | 30 | Dec/Jan | 1976 | Works in Progress | Designer's Notes |
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3 |
| Moves | 33 | Jun/Jul | 1977 | Works in Progress | Designer's Notes |
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3 |
| Moves | 34 | Aug/Sep | 1977 | Works in Progress | Designer's Notes |
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3 |
| Moves | 36 | Dec/Jan | 1978 | Works in Progress | Designer's Notes |
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3 |
| Moves | 37 | Feb/Mar | 1978 | Works in Progress | Designer's Notes |
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3 |
| Moves | 38 | Apl/May | 1978 | Works in Progress | Designer's Notes |
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3 |
| Moves | 39 | Jun/Jul | 1978 | Works in Progress | Designer's Notes |
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3 |
| Moves | 40 | Aug/Sep | 1978 | Works in Progress | Designer's Notes |
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3 |
| Moves | 41 | Oct/Nov | 1978 | Works in Progress | Designer's Notes |
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3 |
| Moves | 42 | Dec/Jan | 1979 | Works in Progress | Designer's Notes |
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3 |
| Moves | 49 | Feb/Mar | 1980 | Game Profile | The Endless Sand: Campaign for North Africa Surveyed | Thomas G. Pratuch |
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15 |
| Moves | 49 | Feb/Mar | 1980 | Review | FO | Eric Goldberg |
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20 |
| Moves | 59 | Oct/Nov | 1981 | Advertisements | Advertisement: SPI's Great Game Lineup |
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30 |
| Strategy & Tactics | 62 | May/Jun | 1977 | Works in Progress | Work in Progress |
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17 |
| Strategy & Tactics | 63 | Jul/Aug | 1977 | Works in Progress | Outgoing Mail - Works in Progress | Brad Hessel |
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2 |
| Strategy & Tactics | 64 | Sep/Oct | 1977 | Works in Progress | Outgoing Mail | SPI Staff |
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20 |
| Strategy & Tactics | 65 | Nov/Dec | 1977 | Works in Progress | Works in Progress - Status of Games |
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18 |
| Strategy & Tactics | 65 | Nov/Dec | 1977 | Works in Progress | Works in Progress | SPI Staff |
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34 |
| Strategy & Tactics | 66 | Jan/Feb | 1978 | Works in Progress | Works in Progress - Update | Brad Hessel |
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18 |
| Strategy & Tactics | 66 | Jan/Feb | 1978 | Works in Progress | Works in Progress - Paragraphs | SPI Staff |
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20 |
| Strategy & Tactics | 67 | Mar/Apl | 1978 | Works in Progress | OUTGOING MAIL: Work in Progress | SPI Staff |
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23 |
| Strategy & Tactics | 68 | May/Jun | 1978 | Works in Progress | Outgoing Mail: Works in Progress | SPI Staff |
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17 |
| Strategy & Tactics | 69 | Jul/Aug | 1978 | Works in Progress | Work in Progress | SPI Editors |
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13 |
| Strategy & Tactics | 70 | Sep/Oct | 1978 | Works in Progress | Works in Progress | SPI Staff |
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2 |
| Strategy & Tactics | 70 | Sep/Oct | 1978 | Advertisements | Campaign for North Africa (Advertisement) |
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44 |
| Strategy & Tactics | 71 | Nov/Dec | 1978 | Works in Progress | Works in Progress | SPI Staff |
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2 |
| Strategy & Tactics | 72 | Jan/Feb | 1979 | Feature Article | SPI Bestseller List Sep/Oct 1978 |
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40 |
| Strategy & Tactics | 74 | May/Jun | 1979 | Advertisements | AD: Campaign for North Africa |
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40 |
| Strategy & Tactics | 75 | Jul/Aug | 1979 | Works in Progress | Works in Progress | SPI Staff |
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33 |
| Strategy & Tactics | 75 | Jul/Aug | 1979 | Advertisements | Campaign for North Africa (Advertisement) |
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44 |
| Strategy & Tactics | 78 | Jan/Feb | 1980 | Feature Article | Outgoing Mail | Brad Hessel |
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2 |
| Strategy & Tactics | 78 | Jan/Feb | 1980 | Errata | Errata / Addenda Available Updates | Eric Goldberg |
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37 |
| Strategy & Tactics | 82 | Sep/Oct | 1980 | Advertisements | Military Game Titles from SPI (Advertisement) |
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0 |
| Strategy & Tactics | 83 | Nov/Dec | 1980 | Advertisements | FP Ad for Various SPI Games |
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22 |
Vassal - still looking.
Cyberbox - see below.
Other Items - http://cna-group.proboards.com has many great player aids, including a Cyberboard!
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