
- BGG rank
- BGG #8,797
- BGG rating
- 7.8
Antietam 1862
- 1–2 players
- 60–300 min
- Complexity 2.5/5
- 2019

1989
Rules assistance for First Blood: The 1st and 2nd Battles of Manassas
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.
First Blood: The 1st and 2nd Battles of Manassas is a board game released in 1989 for 2 players, 480 minutes per game, and ages 14 and up. It was designed by Richard H. Berg and its main mechanics are Dice Rolling, Variable Set-up, and Grid Movement.
"First Blood" brings two battles, both of which occured at Bull Run/Manassas, Virginia, into the Great Battles of the American Civil War game system. The First Battle of Bull Run puts the green Union army on the road south to what everyone expects to be the only battle in a short war. But Major General Irwin McDowell's larger force meets the rebel army under General Pierre Beauregard, while General Joe Johnson's more seasoned rebels troops are also about to enter the fray. The Second Bull Run has the Union army commanded by General John Pope attempting to split Lee's Army and crush Stonewall Jackson's forces before Longstreet's wing can bail him out.
First Blood: The 1st and 2nd Battles of Manassas 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 First Blood: The 1st and 2nd Battles of Manassas is 480 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 First Blood: The 1st and 2nd Battles of Manassas 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.
First Blood: The 1st and 2nd Battles of Manassas has a complexity rating of 3.7 out of 5 from BoardGameGeek players, which makes it a medium-weight 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.
First Blood: The 1st and 2nd Battles of Manassas belongs to these categories: Wargame, Civil War, and Post-Napoleonic. Its main mechanics are Dice Rolling, Variable Set-up, and Grid Movement. 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 First Blood: The 1st and 2nd Battles of Manassas 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 First Blood: The 1st and 2nd Battles of Manassas 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.