Review: La Primogenita

 

 

In 1941, Allied forces invaded Italian-held east-African territories to ensure the security of the British communications and supply lines between Egypt and the Empire’s possessions in the Indian Ocean. A swift resolution to the action was crucial to allow the Allied troops involved to reinforce their comrades in the North African theatre. This is the background of Kim Kanger’s latest offering, La Primogenita (Legion Wargames, 2022).

La Primogenita is a redevelopment of Kanger’s earlier game, The Road to Cheren (Revolution Games, 2013), which used a chit-pull order activation system. The game was received favourably, if the comments on BoardGameGeek are anything to go by. La Primogenita retains most of the elements of the original game (force structure, map style, but expands the parameters of the map, and replaces the chit-pull orders system with a new order-selection system (more on that later).

Appearence

La Primogenita comes in a sturdy, lightweight box with evocative cover-art featuring aa famous propaganda poster from the region (featuring the slogan, Rìtorneremo! – “We will return!”). As mentioned, the map is very close in appearance to that of the Road to Cheren, but has been increased in size from the standard 17”x22” to 22”x25 ½” (six-panel folded). The terrain elevation runs from Flat, through Rough and Mountain, to Alpine. The colour pallet reflects the harsh environment, and the incorporation of elevation markings help to convey to the players the sheer scale of the undulating countryside in this part of the world (with some points reaching over one and a half miles vertically). Rivers are marked, but don’t affect movement as the country had been experiencing drought conditions for several years before the outbreak of hostilities. The counters a clearly visible on the map-sheet, although it has been argued that the combination of primarily red and green units in wargames can be a hinderance to some players with colour-blindness.

Setting up for a solo game

The playing pieces are simple and effective, using NATO icons for the unit type, with the other information clearly visible (I was able to read the counters without resorting to reading glasses). The rules are also clearly printed and well laid-out, with particular attention given to the innovative order mechanism. It would be churlish to complain about a lack of index; I really didn’t experience any problems finding what I needed to when consulting the sixteen-page rulebook.

Also included are two orders charts, one for each player to lay out their orders selection, and two bi-fold orders explanation player-aids, which can helpfully double as shields when secretly selecting your orders.

Play

While La Primogenita is a relatively straight-forward wargame, it is a showcase for Kanger’s novel order allocation system, which replaces The Road to Cheren’s order chit-pull mechanic. Each side has a set of order chits displayed on a board in three sets; Main Orders, Minor Orders and Combination orders that work in conjunction with specific Main orders. During each turn, after housekeeping and supply-check phases, the players – in secret – choose four orders to execute in that phase. The orders are numbered variously through the two sets, and when revealed, these orders are laid out on the Order Track in their numerical order, from highest to lowest, with each order being returned, face-down, to its position on the order table. The orders are then executed in that order. After the option of some rail movement for the Italian player, a second round of orders are chosen. Some previously used orders (back-printed) may be reused in this round, but at the cost of a second order-slot.

The Order Track, with selected orders in numerical order
(Arial bombardment always comes first)

Main orders generally apply to all units, while Minor orders usually apply to a single unit. Up to three Combination orders can be selected and held for use in conjunction with a sympathetic Main order.

The rules for supply reflect the difficult terrain that the action was fought over. Units must remain withing eight Movement Points of a supply depot. There are placeable supply points for the Allies, but these are limited in how many units they can support at full strength. When the last order for the second round is executed, Emergency Reinforcements (placement of any reinforcements due that turn not already delivered by an order) are placed in their appropriate places with a disrupted marker, a resupply check is made of all units (with any out-of-supply units marked with a Low-Supply marker), Units completely out of supply are removed, and a points-check is made for sudden death victory conditions. If the Allies reach 20 points, they automatically win; if, after the sixth turn they fall below 7 points, a well-deserved automatic win is given to the Italian player.

Casualties taken on both sides

Appraisal

Kim Kanger is, for my money, one of the most innovative game designers working today. He focuses on conflicts that have been largely ignored by the broader wargaming community, like this small forgotten chapter in a much larger theatre of war. The order-bidding system in La Primogenita is revolutionary. It’s not something that would be appropriate to just any situation, but it was literally made for this historical moment. When I unpacked the game and began to read through the rules, I wondered if I’d easily get my head around the orders selection mechanics, let alone be able to instruct new players in it. My first game was a two-handed solo play-through, and while I struggled in the first round and made a few mistakes in the second (like completely ignoring the combination orders for both sides), by the fourth round the order selection and play had become second-nature. I found it remarkably intuitive after I’d gone through the process a half-dozen times.

With their superior armour, mobility, and air-support, one could be forgiven for assuming – all things being equal – that the Allied player should win handily at least 70% of the time. But time is against the British, and a competent denial-of-progress defence by the Italian side, utilising the natural limitations of the terrain on stacking and movement, can slow the advance of the Allies and put the defenders on a more equal footing. La Primogenita is a remarkably well-balanced game that defies assumptions and offers many, often torturous, decision-points in every round of play.

La Primogenita is no one-trick pony. This is a game that richly rewards repeated play. It is a gem of a game that won’t outstay its welcome in any hurry.