Friends embark on 20-year board game battle
a day ago
- Two friends from Newcastle have committed to completing the board game Campaign for North Africa, which has never been officially finished and is expected to take about 20 years.
- The game simulates the entire North African campaign of World War II, with 111 turns representing real weeks, and requires tracking detailed resources like water evaporation rates.
- The pair met a decade ago and have played Dungeons and Dragons weekly; they decided to tackle this challenge after a casual mention, spending 18 months on a practice run that ended in a draw.
- They document their progress on a podcast called War With A Mate, which has gained a global audience and over 90 episodes, helping maintain accountability.
- Despite tensions and frustrations, including complicated rules and time-consuming admin work, they use a 'Common Ground' segment to avoid conflicts and stay committed through the 20-year journey.