
- BGG rank
- BGG #7,051
- BGG rating
- 8.3
Napoleon's Last Gamble: Battles of the Hundred Days
- 2–6 players
- 180–1200 min
- Complexity 2.8/5
- 2016

1997
Rules assistance for Bailén 1808
Plain-language explanations of turns, card effects and disputed situations, with official source references and saved question history.
For 2 players

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Answers come from the official rulebook, with the page to check.
Bailén 1808 is a board game released in 1997 for 2 players, 120 minutes per game, and ages 16 and up. It was designed by Javier Hoyos and José A. Vargas-Zúñiga and its main mechanics are Dice Rolling, Grid Movement, and Hexagon Grid.
"Bailén 1808", Volume II of the "Shadow of the Eagle" a Tactical Napoleonic board-wargame system. Covers the battle of Bailén, 19 July, 1808. first edition: 360 counters and markers. Slipcase Box. 60 x 52 cm map. Standard & game-specific rules booklet. Historical commentary booklet. second edition (ALEA #40): 18 pages rules (in Spanish) 1 map - 57,8 x 40,5 cm 1 Play aid (in Spanish) 216 counters Game System: Shadow of the Eagle-Series: scale = 250 m/ hex time = 30 min/ GT strength = Bataillon (inf), Regiment (cav), Batteries (art) Juego encartado: Bailén 1808. La Sombra del Águila Gran táctico. Guerras napoleónicas. Periodo histórico: Guerra de la Independencia. 18 páginas de reglas, ejemplos y notas de diseño. 1 mapa de la batalla y tablas de tamaño 465 x 405 mm. 216 fichas y marcadores troquelados (Revista ALEA #40)
Bailén 1808 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 Bailén 1808 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.
The catalogue lists Bailén 1808 for ages 16 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.
Bailén 1808 has a complexity rating of 2.4 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.
Bailén 1808 belongs to these categories: Wargame and Napoleonic. Its main mechanics are Dice Rolling, Grid Movement, 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 credited designers of Bailén 1808 are: Javier Hoyos and José A. Vargas-Zúñiga. 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 Bailén 1808 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.