Modifying "Liberia: Descent into Hell"

(Cover art for Liberia: Descent into Hell)

 Just over five years ago, my friend Joe and I played a session of Liberia: Descent into Hell.  This is Counter Strike Mini-Game, by Platinum Dragon Productions, published in 2008, and currently out of print.

(Cover Page for our Liberia AAR)

We liked the game.  However the subject matter of The First Liberian Civil War (1989-1999), isn’t for everyone.

The game designers didn’t spare any gory details: Cannibalism, child soldiers, prostitution rings, and the drug trade; just to name a few topics that factor into the game.  

(A Second Civil War erupted shortly afterwards and ended in 2003).

Nor does the game spare any international relief or charity organizations, because all the donated money from such groups go towards lining the pockets of the two faction leaders.

The first big problem Joe & I had was playing on the small 17” x 11” map.  During playtime, the districts would become crowded with unit and leader counters.  During combat, we'd have to line-up counters off the gameboard.

We also wish the map colors were more natural, or at least subdued.

Shortly after our game, I went to a local print shop and had 2 poster-sized maps made (3’ x 2’).  I gave one to Joe, and put my copy in a closet.

(Poster-sized map mounted on cardboard)

And there it stayed until a few weeks ago.

(A comparison of the original with the enlarged map)

I’m still dealing with health issues, mostly chronic pain and fatigue, as a result of my lung transplant in December 2021.  However, I’m a bit stronger and more mobile than I was last year.  So I figured I could tackle an easy game project.

I thought it was long over due to dig out my Liberian Poster Map from its hiding space.  My wife unrolled the map and secured it on a large sheet of cardboard using clear packing tape.  She’s asked me throughout our marriage if she could help with any of my game projects.  Now, after all these years, she got her chance and did a great job.

Another issue Joe and I had was with the game’s several charts & tables.  For such a small game, spreading them out took up nearly all the table space.

To remedy this, I photo copied all the info-graphics, except for the optional Random Events Chart, which wouldn’t fit in my copier.  I trimmed the excess white spaces and taped them on to a display board.

(The game’s status board)

My original idea was to make a “gamemaster’s screen,” with the display board standing upright. Unfortunately, there were two too many charts to fit on the single side of the screen, and 5 of the charts required counters to be placed on them to indicate the status of various leaders, money, international support, and Juju.  

Yes, “magic” is an issue in this game and treated as popular support.  The side which has the most in a combination of money and Juju, wins the game.

When Joe & I get a chance to play this game again, I’ll write another post about whether or not my upgrades made the session more player-friendly.