
- BGG rank
- BGG #6,377
- BGG rating
- 7.3
1805: Sea of Glory
- 2 players
- 480 min
- Complexity 3.8/5
- 2009

1981
Rules assistance for Bailen
Plain-language explanations of turns, card effects and disputed situations, with official source references and saved question history.
For 2 players

What would you like to know?
Answers come from the official rulebook, with the page to check.
Bailen is a board game released in 1981 for 2 players and 120 minutes per game. Its main mechanics are Dice Rolling, Secret Unit Deployment, and Hexagon Grid.
Bailen is a Napoleonic Wars Tactical level wargame reproducing the Battle of Bailén (July 1808) of the Spanish War of Independence. Size of the units: Batallion. Game includes one 25 x 31 inch game-map.
Bailen 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 Bailen is 120 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.
Bailen has a complexity rating of 2.3 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.
Bailen belongs to these categories: Wargame and Napoleonic. Its main mechanics are Dice Rolling, Secret Unit Deployment, and Hexagon Grid. 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 catalogue lists Bailen 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.