
- BGG rank
- BGG #15,280
- BGG rating
- 8.5
Principles of War: Renaissance – Wars Between 1490 and 1660
- 2 players
- 2000

1996
Rules assistance for Principles of War: Napoleonic – Wars Between 1792 and 1815
Plain-language explanations of turns, card effects and disputed situations, with official source references and saved question history.

What would you like to know?
Answers come from the official rulebook, with the page to check.
Principles of War: Napoleonic – Wars Between 1792 and 1815 is a board game released in 1996 for 2–10 players, 360 minutes per game, and ages 12 and up. It was designed by Tom Penn and its main mechanics are Dice Rolling, Simulation, and Action Points.
A set of Napoleonic miniatures rules. Units have a base strength which is modified by a die roll. This strength is used as the basis for firing, melee and morale tests, but not determined until the player needs to know it. Movement is based on initiative points, based on a die roll. Better officers get a better roll. The game consists of the rules and includes army lists for all major participants in the period 1793-1815.
Principles of War: Napoleonic – Wars Between 1792 and 1815 supports 2–10 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 Principles of War: Napoleonic – Wars Between 1792 and 1815 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 Principles of War: Napoleonic – Wars Between 1792 and 1815 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.
Principles of War: Napoleonic – Wars Between 1792 and 1815 has a complexity rating of 3.0 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.
Principles of War: Napoleonic – Wars Between 1792 and 1815 belongs to these categories: Wargame, Napoleonic, and Miniatures. Its main mechanics are Dice Rolling, Simulation, and Action Points. 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 Principles of War: Napoleonic – Wars Between 1792 and 1815 are: Tom Penn. 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 Principles of War: Napoleonic – Wars Between 1792 and 1815 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.