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The Napoleonic Wars (Second Edition)
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Mr. Madison's War: The Incredible War of 1812
2012
Rules assistance for Mr. Madison's War: The Incredible War of 1812
Plain-language explanations of turns, card effects and disputed situations, with official source references and saved question history.
- 2 players
- 150–240 min
- 14+
- Complexity 2.7/5
For 2 players
Rules assistant for Mr. Madison's War: The Incredible War of 1812
What would you like to know?
Answers come from the official rulebook, with the page to check.
Mr. Madison's War: The Incredible War of 1812 is a board game released in 2012 for 2 players, 150–240 minutes per game, and ages 14 and up. It was designed by Gilbert Collins and Dave Stiffler and its main mechanics are Dice Rolling, Point to Point Movement, and Events.
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About the game
In June of 1812 Napoleon invaded Russia, meanwhile on the other side of the world the young republic of the United States declared war on Great Britain. It was one of America's most unpopular wars and “Mr. Madison's War - The Incredible War of 1812” is a strategy game based on the US campaigns to take Canada in the years 1812 - 1814. The map board measures 35”x24” and covers the the northern part of the states of New York, Pennsylvania, Ohio and the Canadian provinces of Upper and Lower Canada, the area where most of the battles were fought. The game features over 203 counters that feature the named regiments and battalions that fought the war including militia and Indian units. Also included are named individual Schooner, Brigs and Frigates that fought the naval war on the great lakes. The principal leaders of the war are included such as Major General Isaac Brock, Sir George Prevost, Major General Hull and many others. The game utilizes the new 'card driven system' which enable players to perform their actions on the game board and score automatic points for the playing of a card as an historical event. The colorful cards include historical information, the year the event took place and a detailed description of the function of the card. There are 110 individual cards in the game. The illustrated Rule Book is approximately 20 pages long, and there are 5 player aid sheets that contain the Combat Results Table along with cards to set up the various reinforcements. The objective of the game is to gain Victory Points by invading your enemy's territory while maintaining your own. In complexity the game would be rated as average and would appeal to any student of the Napoleonic Wars in general. It is at present the most comprehensive treatment of the War of 1812 yet offered to the public. The publisher, GMT Games, also produced a mounted map for this game which was sold separately.
Categories
Mechanics
Designers
Publishers
- GMT Games
Questions and answers
Mr. Madison's War: The Incredible War of 1812 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 Mr. Madison's War: The Incredible War of 1812 is 150–240 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 Mr. Madison's War: The Incredible War of 1812 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.
Mr. Madison's War: The Incredible War of 1812 has a complexity rating of 2.7 out of 5 from BoardGameGeek players, which makes it a medium-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.
Mr. Madison's War: The Incredible War of 1812 belongs to these categories: Wargame and Napoleonic. Its main mechanics are Dice Rolling, Point to Point Movement, and Events. 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 Mr. Madison's War: The Incredible War of 1812 are: Gilbert Collins and Dave Stiffler. 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 Mr. Madison's War: The Incredible War of 1812 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.