- BGG rank
- BGG #3,329
- BGG rating
- 7.4
Flat Top
- 2 players
- 360 min
- Complexity 4.2/5
- 1977
- BGG rank
- BGG #12,335
- BGG rating
- 8.3
By Swords and Bayonets
2025
Rules assistance for By Swords and Bayonets
Plain-language explanations of turns, card effects and disputed situations, with official source references and saved question history.
- 1–2 players
- 240–360 min
- 14+
- Complexity 4.0/5
For 1 player
Rules assistant for By Swords and Bayonets
What would you like to know?
Answers come from the official rulebook, with the page to check.
By Swords and Bayonets is a board game released in 2025 for 1–2 players, 240–360 minutes per game, and ages 14 and up. It was designed by Allen Dickerson and its main mechanics are Dice Rolling, Secret Unit Deployment, and Hexagon Grid.
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About the game
By Swords and Bayonets is the ninth member of GMT Games' Great Battles of The American Civil War series (GBACW). This game is meant to serve as a introduction for players new to the series by limiting the size of the playing area as well as the number of combatants on the map. Experienced GBACW players will appreciate the addition of these four short, sharp "done in an afternoon" battles. Features Include: Four Civil War battles, each on a 22" x "17 "half size" map Opposing forces are no more than one division per side with 50 or fewer combat units each The full GBACW rulebook is supported so there is nothing to "unlearn" when players delve into other GBACW series games The Battle Scenarios: Big Bethel, June 10, 1861 detailing Gen. Benjamin Butler's overconfident assault on John Magruder's Confederates Rappahannock Station, Nov. 7, 1863 in which elements of Sedgewick's VI Union Corps attempt to isolate and disperse a section of Early's CSA division. There is a one turn "learning scenario" for this battle. New Bern, Mar. 14 1862, featuring Maj. General Ambrose Burnside's launches an attack on dug-in but inexperienced Confederates in the vicinity of Fort Thompson. Mill Springs, Jan. 19, 1862 where Rebel Gen. G. Crittenden raced to surprise a large Union contingent before they could be reinforced. —description from the publisher
Categories
Mechanics
Designers
Publishers
- GMT Games
Questions and answers
By Swords and Bayonets supports 1–2 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 By Swords and Bayonets is 240–360 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 By Swords and Bayonets 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.
By Swords and Bayonets has a complexity rating of 4.0 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.
By Swords and Bayonets belongs to these categories: Wargame, Civil War, and American Civil War. 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 credited designers of By Swords and Bayonets are: Allen Dickerson. 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 By Swords and Bayonets 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.