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- BGG #5,269
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Terrible Swift Sword: Battle of Gettysburg Game
- 2–6 players
- 420–4200 min
- Complexity 4.2/5
- 1976
- BGG rank
- BGG #12,963
- BGG rating
- 6.9
Bloody April: The Battle of Shiloh, 1862
1979
Rules assistance for Bloody April: The Battle of Shiloh, 1862
Plain-language explanations of turns, card effects and disputed situations, with official source references and saved question history.
- 2–6 players
- 1200 min
- 12+
- Complexity 4.3/5
Rules assistant for Bloody April: The Battle of Shiloh, 1862
What would you like to know?
Answers come from the official rulebook, with the page to check.
Bloody April: The Battle of Shiloh, 1862 is a board game released in 1979 for 2–6 players, 1,200 minutes per game, and ages 12 and up. It was designed by Richard H. Berg and its main mechanics are Hexagon Grid.
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About the game
Bloody April is the grand tactical, regimental level simulation of the Battle of Shiloh (Tennessee), April 6-7, 1862. Bloody April is Richard Berg's second game using the award winning system for American Civil War battles introduced in Terrible Swift Sword (Gettysburg). There are 1200 counters and two 22" x 34" full color maps. Each hexagon on the map is 115 yards and each game turn is 20 minutes. Counters represent regiments and each strength point on the infantry / cavalry counters is the equivalent of 100 effective men. Artillery counters represent batteries, with each strength point equal to one gun.
Categories
Mechanics
Designers
Publishers
- SPI (Simulations Publications, Inc.)
Questions and answers
Bloody April: The Battle of Shiloh, 1862 supports 2–6 players according to the catalogue. This range comes from the publisher’s listed player count, so the game can be set up for any group size within it. Some setups, rules and scoring details may still vary by player count, so check your edition’s rulebook for the exact configuration.
The listed playing time for Bloody April: The Battle of Shiloh, 1862 is 1,200 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 Bloody April: The Battle of Shiloh, 1862 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.
Bloody April: The Battle of Shiloh, 1862 has a complexity rating of 4.3 out of 5 from BoardGameGeek players, which makes it a heavy 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.
Bloody April: The Battle of Shiloh, 1862 belongs to these categories: Wargame and American Civil War. Its main mechanics are 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 Bloody April: The Battle of Shiloh, 1862 are: Richard H. Berg. 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 Bloody April: The Battle of Shiloh, 1862 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.