
- BGG rank
- BGG #12,879
- BGG rating
- 7.6
World War I: Deluxe Edition
- 2 players
- 180–240 min
- Complexity 2.6/5
- 2015

1993
Rules assistance for Napoleon's First Battles
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.
Napoleon's First Battles is a board game released in 1993 for 2 players, 180 minutes per game, and ages 12 and up. It was designed by Joseph Miranda and its main mechanics are Dice Rolling, Grid Movement, and Hexagon Grid.
Napoleon's First Battles simulates four early battles from the French Republican era, namely, "Montenotte", "Arcola", "The Pyramids" and "Marengo". There are a basic and an advanced game. The wargame utilises the standard CRT (Assault Combat Result Table) which includes disruption. An elan rating is included to show the capability of a unit to close with the enemy in battle. A separate artillery bombardment table is utilized to show the effects of artillery. Contents: 1 standard rules booklet 400 double sided die counters 2 17"x22" maps 1 six sided die Playing Time = 1 to 2 hours Complexity = Low Solitaire Suitability = High
Napoleon's First Battles 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 Napoleon's First Battles is 180 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 Napoleon's First Battles 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.
Napoleon's First Battles has a complexity rating of 2.2 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.
Napoleon's First Battles belongs to these categories: Wargame and 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 Napoleon's First Battles are: Joseph Miranda. 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 Napoleon's First Battles 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.