
- BGG rank
- BGG #16,305
- BGG rating
- 7.1
Lee Moves North: The Confederate Summer Offensive, 1862 and 1863
- 2 players
- 180 min
- Complexity 2.2/5
- 1972

1973
Rules assistance for Rifle & Saber: Tactical Combat 1850-1900
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.
Rifle & Saber: Tactical Combat 1850-1900 is a board game released in 1973 for 2 players, 90 minutes per game, and ages 12 and up. It was designed by John Young and its main mechanics are Dice Rolling, Grid Movement, and Hexagon Grid.
Rifle & Saber is a tactical (company level) simulation of warfare in "the age of the rifle," roughly from 1850 to 1900. The period was marked by a tremendous increase in the firepower of infantry units which far outstripped advances in tactics. The game simulates battles or portions of battles from some of the most significant wars of this period. Seventeen scenarios are drawn from battles in the American Civil War (1st Bull Run, Shiloh, Gettysburg), the Franco-Prussian War (Worth, Mars-la-Tour), the Spanish-American War, and the Boer Wars. There are also battles from minor wars in Europe, South America, and India. Included in the game are a 22" by 28" mapsheet (50 meters per hex), 400 counters (muzzle-, early breech-, and late breech-loading infantry; muzzle- and breech-loading artillery; cavalry; various game markers), a 10-page, accordion-style rules booklet, a sheet of historical notes, and various play aids. Cavalry and infantry units represent about 100-150 men, artillery units about 4-6 guns, game turns about five minutes real time.
Rifle & Saber: Tactical Combat 1850-1900 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 Rifle & Saber: Tactical Combat 1850-1900 is 90 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 Rifle & Saber: Tactical Combat 1850-1900 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.
Rifle & Saber: Tactical Combat 1850-1900 has a complexity rating of 2.1 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.
Rifle & Saber: Tactical Combat 1850-1900 belongs to these categories: Wargame, Post-Napoleonic, and American Civil War. 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 Rifle & Saber: Tactical Combat 1850-1900 are: John Young. 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 Rifle & Saber: Tactical Combat 1850-1900 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.