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The Battle of the Bulge
- 2 players
- 120 min
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Kriegspiel
1970
Rules assistance for Kriegspiel
Plain-language explanations of turns, card effects and disputed situations, with official source references and saved question history.
- 2 players
- 60–120 min
- 12+
- Complexity 1.9/5
Rules assistant for Kriegspiel
For 2 players
What would you like to know?
Answers come from the official rulebook, with the page to check.
Kriegspiel is a board game released in 1970 for 2 players, 60–120 minutes per game, and ages 12 and up. It was designed by Thomas N. Shaw and its main mechanics are Variable Set-up, Grid Movement, and Modular Board.
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About the game
"Kriegspiel is a full-scale wargame between two nations." In the advanced book it says "Of all the games in the Avalon Hill line this game is best suited for introducing novices to the growing science of game strategy." A basic traditional hex and counter turn based wargame, units having combat and movement factors. Combat results are done by computing odds (1-1, 1-2, 3-1, etc) and using a CRT by cross-referencing one of 4 defending strategies and 3 attacking strategies (no dice). Victory is by reducing the opponent to 20 combat factors or occupying all of the opposing cities. Advanced game adds reinforcements, weather, air power, supply, etc. Famous for the traveling Kriegspiel sold as the final item at the GenCon auction every year.
Categories
Mechanics
Designers
Publishers
- The Avalon Hill Game Co
Questions and answers
Kriegspiel 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 Kriegspiel is 60–120 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 Kriegspiel 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.
Kriegspiel has a complexity rating of 1.9 out of 5 from BoardGameGeek players, which makes it a light 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.
Kriegspiel belongs to these categories: Wargame and Modern Warfare. Its main mechanics are Variable Set-up, Grid Movement, and Modular Board. 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 Kriegspiel are: Thomas N. Shaw. 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 Kriegspiel 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.