- BGG rank
- BGG #5,907
- BGG rating
- 8.4
Death Valley: Battles for the Shenandoah
- 1–2 players
- 300–1200 min
- Complexity 4.3/5
- 2019
- BGG rank
- BGG #5,267
- BGG rating
- 7.5
Terrible Swift Sword: Battle of Gettysburg Game
1976
Rules assistance for Terrible Swift Sword: Battle of Gettysburg Game
Plain-language explanations of turns, card effects and disputed situations, with official source references and saved question history.
- 2–6 players
- 420–4200 min
- 12+
- Complexity 4.2/5
For 2 players
Rules assistant for Terrible Swift Sword: Battle of Gettysburg Game
What would you like to know?
Answers come from the official rulebook, with the page to check.
Terrible Swift Sword: Battle of Gettysburg Game is a board game released in 1976 for 2–6 players, 420–4200 minutes per game, and ages 12 and up. It was designed by Richard H. Berg and its main mechanics are Dice Rolling, Hexagon Grid, and Zone of Control.
Similar games
- BGG rank
- BGG #5,411
- BGG rating
- 7.0
Across 5 Aprils
- 2 players
- 60–360 min
- Complexity 2.3/5
- 1992
- BGG rank
- BGG #4,055
- BGG rating
- 8.7
Stonewall Jackson's Way II: Battles of Bull Run
- 2 players
- 240–720 min
- Complexity 3.7/5
- 2013
- BGG rank
- BGG #6,033
- BGG rating
- 6.5
Conquistador: The Age of Exploration – 1495-1600
- 1–5 players
- 360–420 min
- Complexity 3.2/5
- 1976
- BGG rank
- BGG #4,602
- BGG rating
- 6.7
War of the Ring
- 2–3 players
- 60–210 min
- Complexity 3.5/5
- 1977
- BGG rank
- BGG #4,008
- BGG rating
- 8.1
Men of Iron Battles Tri-Pack: Men of Iron, Infidel, Blood & Roses
- 1–2 players
- 60–180 min
- Complexity 3.2/5
- 2020
- BGG rank
- BGG #2,212
- BGG rating
- 7.7
The Civil War 1861-1865
- 1–2 players
- 120–1200 min
- Complexity 3.8/5
- 1983
- BGG rank
- BGG #1,580
- BGG rating
- 7.7
No Retreat! The Russian Front
- 2 players
- 360 min
- Complexity 3.2/5
- 2011
- BGG rank
- BGG #3,638
- BGG rating
- 8.0
Salerno '43
- 2 players
- 120–360 min
- Complexity 3.4/5
- 2022
- BGG rank
- BGG #4,479
- BGG rating
- 7.2
Battle for Germany
- 2–4 players
- 180 min
- Complexity 2.1/5
- 1975
- BGG rank
- BGG #5,779
- BGG rating
- 7.9
Baltic Gap: Summer 1944
- 2 players
- 240 min
- Complexity 4.1/5
- 2009
- BGG rank
- BGG #1,985
- BGG rating
- 7.9
Normandy '44
- 2–3 players
- 420 min
- Complexity 3.4/5
- 2010
About the game
Three full days of Gettysburg at a small-unit level including counters for individual leaders and horses. Many short scenarios are available but its appeal is the 125-turn 60+-hour full game. Inspiration for the Great Battles of the American Civil War series of games. The name Terrible Swift Sword is taken from the Civil War era song "Battle Hymn of the Republic," which has in its opening lines "He hath loosed the fateful lightning of his terrible swift sword." (from first edition,soap box side of box:) TERRIBLE SWIFT SWORD: The Three Days of Gettysburg is a grand tactical simulation of one of the most decisive battles of all time: Gettyburg. Three days of cataclysmic combat saw 50,000 Americans lost. The game utilizes colourful cardboard playing pieces that accurately represent the size and strength of all the Union and Confederate units actually involved in the battle. The beautifully illustrated map effectively portrays the unusual waves of ridges and scattered forests that criss-cross the battlefield. The units move,position,and engage for battle across the map through a super imposed hexangonal grid,which functions like a chessboard's squares. Simple probability charts determine each exciting confrontation's outcome. Contains: 32 page rules booklet; three 22"x34" soft map sections; 2000 die-cut cardboard playing pieces; and various play aids.
Categories
Designers
Publishers
- Tactical Studies Rules (TSR)
- SPI (Simulations Publications, Inc.)
Questions and answers
Terrible Swift Sword: Battle of Gettysburg Game supports 2–6 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 Terrible Swift Sword: Battle of Gettysburg Game is 420–4200 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 Terrible Swift Sword: Battle of Gettysburg Game 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.
Terrible Swift Sword: Battle of Gettysburg Game has a complexity rating of 4.2 out of 5 from BoardGameGeek players, which makes it a heavy 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.
Terrible Swift Sword: Battle of Gettysburg Game belongs to these categories: Wargame, Post-Napoleonic, and American Civil War. Its main mechanics are Dice Rolling, Hexagon Grid, and Zone of Control. 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 Terrible Swift Sword: Battle of Gettysburg Game are: Richard H. Berg. 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 Terrible Swift Sword: Battle of Gettysburg Game 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.