Overview

Andean Abyss is a COIN (Counter-Insurgency) series game simulating the multi-faction conflict in Colombia during the 1990s and 2000s. Four factions – Government, FARC, AUC (paramilitaries), and Cartels – each have unique victory conditions, capabilities, and special activities. Players execute operations and special activities driven by an event card system that determines faction order. The game combines area control, asymmetric powers, and political maneuvering.

Components

• 1 Map of Colombia (departments and cities)
• Event cards deck (72 cards)
• Faction pieces: Government (troops, police, bases), FARC (guerrillas, bases), AUC (guerrillas, bases), Cartels (guerrillas, bases)
• Eligibility cylinders
• Aid, Resources, and Support/Opposition markers
• Propaganda cards (embedded in deck)
• Various tracking markers
• Sequence of Play aid cards

Setup

1. Place the map centrally. Set up faction pieces according to the scenario instructions.
2. Set initial resource levels for each faction.
3. Place support/opposition markers in departments as indicated.
4. Shuffle event cards with propaganda cards inserted at specified intervals.
5. Place eligibility markers for all factions.

Turn Structure

Each card turned reveals an event with faction order shown. Factions act in the listed order, choosing from:

1. Execute the Event (as described on the card)
2. Conduct an Operation (+ optional Special Activity)
3. Pass (gain resources)

Only the first 2 eligible factions may act per card. After acting, a faction becomes ineligible for the next card. Passing keeps you eligible.

Actions

Government Operations

Operation	Effect
Train	Place troops/police, build bases, civic action (shift support)
Patrol	Move troops along lines of communication, activate for security
Sweep	Move troops into departments to find hidden guerrillas
Assault	Remove enemy pieces in departments with troops

Special Activities: Eradicate (destroy drug crops), Air Strike, Air Lift

FARC Operations

Operation	Effect
Rally	Place guerrillas, build bases
March	Move guerrillas between departments
Attack	Remove enemy pieces
Terror	Place terror markers, shift opposition

Special Activities: Kidnap (gain resources), Extort, Ambush

AUC Operations

Operation	Effect
Rally	Place guerrillas, build bases
March	Move guerrillas
Attack	Remove enemy pieces
Terror	Place terror, shift opposition

Special Activities: Assassinate, Extort

Cartel Operations

Operation	Effect
Rally	Place guerrillas, build bases, cultivate (place drug crops)
March	Move guerrillas
Attack	Remove enemy pieces
Terror	Place terror

Special Activities: Bribe (flip enemy pieces), Cultivate, Process

Scoring / Victory Conditions

When a Propaganda card is drawn, check victory conditions:

Faction	Victory Condition
Government	Support + Aid exceeds threshold
FARC	Opposition + FARC bases exceeds threshold
AUC	AUC bases in departments with no FARC bases
Cartels	Resources + bases exceeds threshold

If no faction wins at the final Propaganda card, the faction closest to their condition wins.

Special Rules & Edge Cases

• Hidden Guerrillas: Guerrillas start hidden (underground). Sweeping reveals them. Only revealed guerrillas can be assaulted.
• Lines of Communication (LoCs): Roads connecting departments; Patrol and economic effects use LoCs.
• Population: Only populated departments can have support/opposition.
• Propaganda Rounds: Reset eligibility, collect resources, redistribute aid, check victory.
• Solo/2-Player: Non-player factions use flowchart-based bot systems.

Player Reference

Card Flow: Reveal card → 1st/2nd eligible factions choose: Event / Operation+Special / Pass → Adjust eligibility

Faction Resources: Government (Aid), FARC/AUC (Extortion), Cartels (Drug revenue)

Key Mechanic: Guerrillas are hidden until swept; only revealed pieces can be attacked.