A Distant Plain (4th Printing)

Part of GMT’s acclaimed COIN (Counterinsurgency) series, A Distant Plain places 1 to 4 players in the complex, modern conflict in Afghanistan following the 2001 invasion. This is an operational–strategic game, where military action, political influence, and shifting alliances are all equally important.

Each player controls one of four asymmetric factions: the Coalition, Afghan Government, Taliban, or Warlords. Rather than a simple two-sided conflict, every faction has its own objectives, capabilities, and tensions—even supposed allies may be working at cross purposes. Success depends on balancing cooperation and competition while navigating an evolving and unpredictable situation.

Gameplay is driven by the COIN system’s card-based structure, where each event presents both historical flavor and meaningful strategic choices. You’ll decide how to deploy forces, build influence, manage resources, and respond to changing conditions on the ground—all while anticipating what your opponents might do next.

Compared to earlier entries like Andean Abyss, this volume introduces new dynamics such as Coalition–Government coordination, shifting Pakistani support, corruption and desertion, and evolving insurgent tactics. These additions deepen the simulation without significantly increasing complexity for players already familiar with the system.

A Distant Plain works equally well as a competitive multiplayer experience or as a solo game thanks to its integrated flowchart-driven system that runs non-player factions effectively.

This 4th Printing offers the most refined version of the game, making it a strong entry point into the COIN series or a worthwhile upgrade for returning players.

Contents include: a mounted map board, wooden pieces, cards, counters, rulebooks, player aids, and dice.