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1812!: War on the Great Lakes Frontier
2023
Rules assistance for 1812!: War on the Great Lakes Frontier
Plain-language explanations of turns, card effects and disputed situations, with official source references and saved question history.
- 2 players
- 90–540 min
- 14+
- Complexity 3.5/5
For 2 players
Rules assistant for 1812!: War on the Great Lakes Frontier
What would you like to know?
Answers come from the official rulebook, with the page to check.
1812!: War on the Great Lakes Frontier is a board game released in 2023 for 2 players, 90–540 minutes per game, and ages 14 and up. It was designed by Ken Repel and its main mechanics are Hexagon Grid, Simulation, and Campaign / Battle Card Driven.
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About the game
"1812! War on the Great Lakes Frontier" is a card-driven strategic wargame that simulates the naval and land actions fought on and around the Great Lakes of North America during The War of 1812. This is a two-player game with either player commanding the naval and land forces of the United States of America or the British Empire. Players will alternate playing Strategy cards, spending Operation Points and causing historical events to occur. Operation Points are the currency used to move and fight battles with military units. The scale of fighting units is regimental and single ship. Each leader, regiment and naval vessel has been researched to determine its relative strength and weaknesses based on battle performance, unit size, and type. With armies rarely exceeding a few thousand men, the forces are manageable and the clashes are skirmishes in comparison to the battles fought in Europe. —description from the publisher
Designers
Publishers
- Compass Games
Questions and answers
1812!: War on the Great Lakes Frontier supports 2 players according to the catalogue. This is the publisher’s listed player count, so the game is designed for exactly that number of participants. Variants for other group sizes, if any, are described in the rulebook of your edition, so check it before setting up a different configuration.
The listed playing time for 1812!: War on the Great Lakes Frontier is 90–540 minutes. This is the publisher’s estimate for a full game. The actual duration depends on the group, the player count and familiarity with the rules: first sessions usually run longer, while experienced groups often finish faster. Setup and teaching time are not included in this estimate.
The catalogue lists 1812!: War on the Great Lakes Frontier for ages 14 and up. This is the publisher’s recommendation and reflects reading demands, rule complexity and small components rather than theme alone. Younger players can often join with help from an adult, so check the age guidance on your edition and consider your group’s experience with board games.
1812!: War on the Great Lakes Frontier has a complexity rating of 3.5 out of 5 from BoardGameGeek players, which makes it a medium-weight game. The rating reflects how much rules knowledge, planning and decision-making a typical game demands. Expect a longer first teach for heavier games, and use a preparation guide before game night.
1812!: War on the Great Lakes Frontier belongs to these categories: Wargame and Nautical. Its main mechanics are Hexagon Grid, Simulation, and Campaign / Battle Card Driven. Categories describe the theme and setting of a game, while mechanics describe what players actually do on their turns. Each mechanic links to a catalogue hub with similar games, which helps when you want something comparable.
The credited designers of 1812!: War on the Great Lakes Frontier are: Ken Repel. These credits come from the published game data and name the people responsible for the game’s design, not its illustrators or publishers. Designer pages on MeepleRules collect other titles by the same designers, which helps when you enjoy a game and want to find similar ones.
The catalogue lists 1812!: War on the Great Lakes Frontier as a base game. It can be played on its own with the components in the box and does not require any other title. Expansions, if any exist, add new content or rules on top of it and are listed separately in the catalogue with a link back to this base game.