Cruel Necessity is a solitaire game simulating the military, political, and religious struggles of the English Civil Wars. Players will have to 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.”

This version of the game is a Deluxe Edition and is printed with high quality components. The box, board, and counters are also 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 Victory Point Games Edition has also been included.

We also published an interview with the designer John Welch and you can read that at the following link: https://theplayersaid.com/2022/11/02/interview-with-john-welch-designer-of-cruel-necessity-the-english-civil-wars-1640-1653-deluxe-edition-from-worthington-publishing-currently-on-kickstarter/

-Grant