
- BGG rating
- 8.5
The Skirmisher #2
- 1–2 players
- 180–600 min
- Complexity 3.3/5
- 2003

2001
Rules assistance for Grant Takes Command
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.
Grant Takes Command is a board game released in 2001 for 2 players, 120 minutes per game, and ages 12 and up. It was designed by Ed Beach and Joseph M. Balkoski and its main mechanics are Dice Rolling, Grid Movement, and Hexagon Grid.
(from the back of the box:) Grant Takes Command simulates all the action of this pivotal campaign. This seventh volume in the Great Campaigns of the American Civil War series recreates the marches, assaults, and defensive stratagems of these months using the series' interactive game system. As a player, you control either the Union or Confederate forces in turns representing one day of real time. The game's map is drawn exclusively from Civil War period maps from state and county archives. Twelve scenarios are provided, ranging in scope from one-day battles and cavalry raids that can be played in an hour to a grand campaign game that links in maps from other games in the series. The game focuses on Grant's Overland Campaign to Richmond with the Army of the Potomac but also captures the action in the Bermuda Hundred and Shenandoah Valley side theaters. Grant Takes Command is sure to appeal to anyone with an interest in this decisive chapter of the American Civil War. Contents: 2 22"x32" Mapsheets 3 Countersheets 2 Rule and Scenario Booklets 1 Off-Map Display Card 2 Charts and Tables Cards 2 6-sided dice Time Scale: One day per tum Map Scale: 2,000 yards per hex Unit Scale: Division, Brigade, and Regiment Players: One, two, or teams Playing Time: 1 to 24 hours depending on scenario (BGG description:) The seventh installment in the acclaimed Great Campaigns of the American Civil War series, Grant Takes Command covers Grant's overland campaign to Richmond in 1864. Grant Takes Command features the long-awaited GCACW standard rulebook (so now you can play all the games in the series from one set of rules), a by-now standard beautiful map by Rick Barber, a series of small tournament-style scenarios as well as campaign games ranging from really big to monster, and - for those with plenty of time - two scenarios linking the map areas of Grant Takes Command, Stonewall in the Valley, and On To Richmond.
Grant Takes Command 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 Grant Takes Command 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 Grant Takes Command 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.
Grant Takes Command 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.
Grant Takes Command belongs to these categories: Wargame, Civil War, and Post-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 Grant Takes Command are: Ed Beach and Joseph M. Balkoski. 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 Grant Takes Command 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.