
- BGG rank
- BGG #16,790
- BGG rating
- 6.9
The Cossacks Are Coming!: The Tannenberg Campaign, 1914
- 2 players
- 360 min
- Complexity 4.2/5
- 1982

1997
Rules assistance for Home Before the Leaves Fall: The Marne Campaign 1914
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.
Home Before the Leaves Fall: The Marne Campaign 1914 is a board game released in 1997 for 2–4 players, 360 minutes per game, and ages 12 and up. It was designed by David Bolt and its main mechanics are Hexagon Grid.
Game covers the campaign that took place in 1914 along the Western Front from the beginning of August 1914 until the beginning of November 1914. In addition to the Grand Campaign game, the scenarios highlight specific army actions during the Battle of the Frontiers, the Retreat from Mons and the Miracle of the Marne. Two 34" x 22" maps represent NW Europe at a scale of five miles (eight kilometers) to the hex. Time scale is weekly turns with daily impulses. Over 2000 counters (over 3000 including markers) represent the battalions, regiments, brigades and divisions of the various nations featuring full-color period national symbols. Numerous charts (37) and two rule books (Exclusive Game Rules & Standard Game Rules) are included. Oh, and two dice. One of the most detailed and comprehensive WW1 wargames ever published. As the promo on the box says "...is designed for the serious student of history."
Home Before the Leaves Fall: The Marne Campaign 1914 supports 2–4 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 Home Before the Leaves Fall: The Marne Campaign 1914 is 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 Home Before the Leaves Fall: The Marne Campaign 1914 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.
Home Before the Leaves Fall: The Marne Campaign 1914 has a complexity rating of 4.2 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.
Home Before the Leaves Fall: The Marne Campaign 1914 belongs to these categories: Wargame and World War I. 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 Home Before the Leaves Fall: The Marne Campaign 1914 are: David Bolt. 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 Home Before the Leaves Fall: The Marne Campaign 1914 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.