New release: Operation Barclay

We are pleased to announce a new in-house production game called Operation Barclay , due for release in 2024. Designed by Maurice Suckling ( Chancellorsville 1863 and Freeman's Farm ) and featuring art and graphic design by Meeple Foundry ( Resist and Witchcraft! ), Operation Barclay is an exclusive two-player game about the intelligence war between the Allies and their Abwehr counterparts in the Mediterranean theater during the period from 1942 to 1943.
With the Axis Powers driven out of North Africa, there was debate about the Allies' next target. In Casablanca (January 14-24, 1943), Roosevelt and Churchill agreed on the next objective: Operation Husky , the invasion of Sicily, to begin on July 9, 1943. But there was a problem. The Axis Powers suspected that Sicily would be the target and knew that deception activities were underway to try to confuse them about what they already knew. Moreover, with Operation Husky already planned for early July, there was little time for Allied intelligence to work. In these six months, Allied intelligence had to create enough disinformation to persuade their intelligence counterparts, the Abwehr, that the main attack and a secondary attack would be directed elsewhere in the Mediterranean. This crucial intelligence operation was called Operation Barclay . Operation Barclay puts players in the role of military intelligence directors, trying to either conceal or uncover the truth about Allied invasion plans in 1943. The Abwehr must try to discover where the Allies plan to advance. The London Control Section (LCS), the central intelligence agency responsible for Allied intelligence, must prevent the Abwehr from discovering the truth. Throughout the six months of the game, the Abwehr player tries to collect enough evidence tokens to reveal the locations of allied attacks. Conversely, each evidence token the LCS player collects prevents another token from being revealed, thus reducing the opponent's chances. To earn evidence tokens, players manage their hand of cards. Just like in poker, they must play five cards to form an unbeatable hand. Having the best hand guarantees two evidence tokens. Betting correctly, after each player reveals the first three cards of their hand, is worth three evidence tokens. So, bluffing and spreading misinformation are more important than simply having a lucky hand. Additionally, each player competes for another evidence token by having the most raid or reconnaissance icons on their cards.
The task is not easy, as many of the cards have powerful effects that can tip the scales one way or the other. It's up to you to make the best decision to uncover your opponent's plans. Operation Barclay begins!