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American Civil War 1861-1865
1983
Rules assistance for American Civil War 1861-1865
Plain-language explanations of turns, card effects and disputed situations, with official source references and saved question history.
- 2 players
- 720 min
- 12+
- Complexity 2.9/5
Rules assistant for American Civil War 1861-1865
For 2 players
What would you like to know?
Answers come from the official rulebook, with the page to check.
American Civil War 1861-1865 is a board game released in 1983 for 2 players, 720 minutes per game, and ages 12 and up. It was designed by Bruce Shelley and Joseph Reiser and its main mechanics are Dice Rolling, Hexagon Grid, and Simulation.
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About the game
American Civil War 1861-1865 is a strategic level board wargame about the War Between the States. The US player controls the Union forces under Abraham Lincoln; the CSA player controls the Confederate forces under Jefferson Davis. Leaders are introduced over the course of the game (each game turn represents 3 months real time) and are activated using 'Command Points'. Each game turn consists of activating and rallying troops, supplying troops (including Port blockades), adding reinforcements, fortifying positions, activating Naval units, and then three separate movement/combat phases are executed. On the game turn track is listed a differential in victory points that the CSA player must obtain to win the game (which increases as the game progresses). If the CSA player does not achieve this total by the end of the Spring, 1865 turn he loses.
Categories
Mechanics
Designers
Publishers
- Tactical Studies Rules (TSR)
- SPI (Simulations Publications, Inc.)
Questions and answers
American Civil War 1861-1865 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 American Civil War 1861-1865 is 720 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 American Civil War 1861-1865 for ages 12 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.
American Civil War 1861-1865 has a complexity rating of 2.9 out of 5 from BoardGameGeek players, which makes it a medium-light 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.
American Civil War 1861-1865 belongs to these categories: Wargame, Post-Napoleonic, and American Civil War. Its main mechanics are Dice Rolling, Hexagon Grid, and Simulation. 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 American Civil War 1861-1865 are: Bruce Shelley and Joseph Reiser. 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 American Civil War 1861-1865 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.