"Please Recommend Historical Strategy Board Game" Topic

Hi everyone. I am hosting a few families for a long weekend in a couple of weeks. The adult fathers are intelligent and strategic-thinking guys. They love history. We are going to have a lot of time together under the same roof for a long weekend. Although I have not played board games from the likes of Avalon Hill or SPI for a long time, I thought such games could be really fun for the three of us. Can you please recommend a challenging historical game that could span an evening or afternoon in either the Second World War, ACW or Napoleonic eras?

They key will be that there are three of us, so play/format would need to allow for three adults as participants.

Level of play need to allow for rule comprehension in a reasonable amount of time (don't want to spend the entire evening learning the rules and then playing). Tactical, operational or strategic command? Well, I leave that to your recommendation. Counters vs. blocks vs. cards? Don't really mind but kind of prefer counters.

Anyhow, I really appreciate the advice I get from TMPers. So, feel free to recommend a great game or two. There is a FLGS not far from here that carries many boxed set board games so popular suggestions are probably within my reach (or through ebay).

1812 from Academy Games
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Blocks, cards, area movement. I believe up to 5 can play, so 2 v 1 is very do able…..

The game is abut the War of 1812 in the Great Lakes area.

Or 1775. It is the same basic system, but covers the American War of Independence.

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I highly recommend either. Especially for non-gamers.

Dave

Not sure if it is still available but AH's War and Peace is a great Napoleonic strategy game. There are several scenarios and a grand campaign. With a little ingenuity you could combine it with Command and Colors. Lots of re-playability as well. BoardGameGeeks web site is also a great place to look and read reviews.

I would highly recommend the battle of Alesia by Avalon hill. It is designed for 3 players. The rules are very easy and just a few pages.
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I have played this with friends many times and it is always an exciting game.

Pop over to boardgamegeek.com to see which games are highly rated and to read many reviews. Then check coolstuffinc.com to buy them discounted.

War and Peace is a great game but has a pretty steep learning curve for your purposes.

A Waterloo game has 3 armies so might fit your bill. Try Napoleon by Columbia Games. Fun and easy to learn, good replay value too.

Axis & Allies D-Day. Pick up & play in an afternoon, card driven so not not a lot of complex rules to learn but challenging enough to hold your attention and difficult to gain a victory.

Two or three players control German, US and Anglo/Canadian forces and game time around three – four hours.

Some nice basic little miniatures too!

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War and Peace is a great game but has a pretty steep learning curve for your purposes.

A couple of months ago I finally got ahold of a copy of W&P and taught myself how to play, and don't find it difficult at all, at least if you limit yourself to just the yearly campaign scenarios and not the whole enchilada of Napoleonic War, which adds a lot of extra rules such as unit production and naval rules.

I do recommend any W&P players to download the unofficial 3rd edition rules from boardgamegeek which incorporates all the erratas and is a vast improvement over the original 1st or 2nd edition rule book. Also on the BGG site are scenario setup cards which makes the setup process so much easier.

BGG page for War & Peace:
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A risk style game with more depth – Ikusa
2- 5 players

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Originally Shogun/Samurai Sword

Or

A block game from Columbia – Napoleon-Waterloo Campaign
2-3 players

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Originally Napoleon

Napoleon's Triumph.

simmonsgames.com

Maria is a perfect three players grand-theater strategy game

histogame.de/e_maria.html

I consider both of these games excellent.

Might also throw in Munchkin loot letter or one of the version for some quick lite fun as well

Although it is outside your period window let me second Ikusa/Shogun. I have seen that game turn more squares to gaming than anything this side of Limeys and Slimeys.

Napoleon's Triumph is out of print and goes for crazy prices. Just an fyi. Plus it takes a while to wrap one's mind around the movement and combat. But oh what a good game. Just too expensive.

I would suggest Memoir 44. Fits your needs. It's more of a game, but is fun for the newbie. Easy multiplayer and looks great with its miniatures. Command and Colors is good also.

Another fun and easy game is Wings of War, either WWI or WWII. Buy a starter gor $50 USD with 4 planes. I've played it with kids. Use the basic rules.

Those are some gateway games, which is what you want. The other suggestions seem a bit more hardcore. :-)

Battle Cry or Settlers of Cartaan for folks that have no experience with wargames. Settlers is competitive, but has limited warfare. Neat game, none-the-less and lots of replay value.

Napoleon's Triumph is a tough one for a newcomer.

Diplomacy, excellent game, quick and simple to pick up.

Risk in all its various flavours. Easy to pick up and play and multiplayer to boot. It is generic rather than specific where history is concerned so that may be a consideration.

ccmatty,

Two questions:

1. Do they have gaming experience and if yes, what types?

2. How much time do you wish to spend teaching rules?

FYI…Napoleon's Triumph (NT) is my #1 favorite board game but a steep learning curving even for old timers.

1775 is a good one, mentioned above.

Seamariner,

I don't think either of them have gaming experience. However, they are extremely bright. I would prefer to not spend majority of time teaching or learning rules. I am worried that too much time on rules might cause loss of interest on their part (I enjoy learning rules).

I have researched Napoleon's Triumph and it seems like an incredible game…but many of you have mentioned the learning curve…

I really appreciate all of the ideas and suggestions. Thank you to everyone.

If you moved to a two player game with yourself acting as a sort of umpire / rules adviser, you would open up you range of potential games massively and two rookies would be playing each other, rather than you unwittingly unbalancing play by your involvement.

Battle for Moscow is specifically designed as an intro game and a nice version can still be had in one of the back issues of GMT's 3Ci.

they may also like one of the Napoleon 20 games.

Or leningrad by Decision Games

AH Third Reich. War and Peace. These are ones that run long and might be completed over several sessions.

Axis and Allies is a good choice. As well you can try Shogun which has similar combat mechanics.

Soldier King by GDW. A 18th century style game. Lots of fun.

I would say Axis and Allies is a safe bet. I've introduced many to the game and I'd say if the gentlemen are reasonably bright and enjoy military history then you can't go wrong. IMO the rules are very straight forward and intuitive.

Set up time is considerable however.

I've recently purchased Command & Colors and it looks like an excellent choice but I believe it's only two player.

Best of luck in your search.

I forgot one that is very unique: Risk Legacy. The premise is that a new world, just like earth is found and factions move in to claim it, and of course a fight ensues.

However, what makes this game different is:

1. The territories' value can be developed and changed.
2. The rules will be added to and changed depending on the events in each game. [In other words, the players are creating a unique game in both terrain and rules as they play. It takes five games to finish it. The idea being that your "Risk Legacy" will look different from everyone elses.'

It is all very clever and done in an easy to play process with stickers for cities to be placed on the map and rules inserts for the rule book--which are hidden and opened when events occur. The players even get to record their wins and losses on the game board [the history of the first five games]. A rather engrossing game with lots of surprises. It ends up being a record of the groups' games together.

Bill

Axis & Allies D-Day was bought for me by my non-wargaming wife a couple of Christmases ago. We were able to set up and play the game right through that afternoon….

I've also taken it to a non-gaming friend's house and played it through with him in an afternoon (quicker this time as we weren't drinking!) No learning curve, just jump in and play!

Here you go.

These are a few of my favorite multi-player games.

Britannia (AH) – I prefer the AH version but the newer ones are nice too. Has a three player campaign.

History of the World (AH)

Civilization (AH) – Better with more than three.

Battle for Germany (SPI) – Great for three players. Easy to learn and fun to play.

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War and Peace (AH)

Circus Maximus (AH)

Whilst not exactly the period you indicated Friedrich (7yw) is an excellent game that works very well 3 handed….with the bonus that you can't be "knocked out" before the game ends.
Maria is a very similar system for the preceding war.
map and counter games…with low number of counters. Combat is card driven but the cards are very similar to a normal deck.
Event cards determine what's going on in the rest of the world and determine game length.

Another vote for Maria. It is a blast and very easy to learn with lots of good decisions that need to be made to keep the game very interesting.

It is specifically designed for optimal play with 3 players.

While not in the specific settings you prefer (War of the Austrian Succession) I believe it will scratch that itch for you and your friends. I have provided a link to boardgame geek below.

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I'd look into some of the games by Mayfair. They have about 5 or 6 that are actually historic battles. Also, look at games from Avalanche Press. They have both Naval and land warfare games.

Ccmatty,
I would recommend A&A D-Day from those already listed above if your looking for an intro type game with "strategic" theme. It is a simple and somewhat card driven version of the full version.

Another intro, gateway game that I use to introduce players to "war games" is Maneuver from GMT by Jeff Horger. It's a simple type of Napoleonic tactical game that can be taught in 15 minutes and played in 30. Not really a 3 player game but you could run a round robin with that type of game time. He also designed a kind of NASCAR style race game that is pretty simple but strategic and fun if you or some of the guys are racing fans. Not a war game but definitely requires strategy, is quick easy and fun. Thunder Alley.

McLaddies recommendation of Risk Legacy is also good as it can be played as a campaign of battles over few weekends. Not too complex and easy to teach.

Good luck and have fun.

Axis and Allies Europe (US/UK vs Germany/Italy vs USSR) is a good one for three players that is not too taxing. Not particularly historical, at least the way we game.

Not historical, but a clever card game called Dominion from Rio Grande Games offers great 3-player (and more) play.

If you want the whole family (including kids) to get involved, Apples to Apples is fantastic.

It is not historical, but Settlers of Cataan is a great game. My kids (adults now) cut their teeth on gaming with this game and still love playing it. It is not a wargame, but it competitive.

Command & Colors Napoleonics

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Command & Colors Ancients

Also for more modern there is Fire in the Lake

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Also the Conflict of Heroes Games will allow three players to play.

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Also the Columbia block games like East Front

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This one is newer Churchill from GMT Games

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In the morning, Diplomacy with the wives playing too! In the afternoon Axis and Allies with the gents only. In the evening Junta with anybody who wants to have fun. Repeat until exhausted, evicted or divorced!
Cheers and good gaming.
Rod Robertson.

I got hold of Quartermaster General a little while ago and it is excellent. Easy to pick up and plenty to think about. I did a review which will give you an idea

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Steve

I got hold of Quartermaster General a little while ago and it is excellent.

IMHO it is not much more than upmarket SNAP.

My money on a good introduction would be 1775 link