Paper Wars 100 - Bloody Retribution: Battle of Inkerman, 1854

Paper Wars #100 — Bloody Retribution: Battle of Inkerman, 1854

Publisher: Compass Games
Series: Paper Wars Magazine
Designer: Ty Bomba
Type: Magazine with full game included
Theme: Crimean War — Battle of Inkerman
Players: 1–2 players (solo adaptable)
Playing Time: ~3 hours
Complexity: Low-Intermediate
Language: English
Historical Period: 5 November 1854 — Crimean War

Overview

Bloody Retribution: The Battle of Inkerman recreates the largest Russian offensive of the Crimean War, aimed at breaking Allied siege lines around Sevastopol. The battle featured fierce back-and-forth fighting under heavy fog and chaotic battlefield conditions.

The game is a grand-tactical two-player simulation (easily adapted for solitaire play), emphasizing overall operational command decisions rather than detailed tactical micromanagement.

System & Components

• System: Alternating Actions System
• Map Scale: Hex map — 1 hex ≈ 200 yards (≈183 meters)
• Unit Scale: Brigades, regiments, battalions
• Time Scale: 1 turn = 1–2 hours of real time
• Historical Chrome: Heavy fog effects during early turns
• Artillery: Abstract bombardment markers
• Counters: 1 sheet — 228 medium (5/8”) counters

Historical Context

The Inkerman offensive was personally ordered by the Tsar as a last attempt to break Allied siege lines. British forces were initially surprised on the slopes of Mount Inkerman, leading to an intense and chaotic battle that nearly produced a decisive Russian victory.