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Gettysburg
- 2 players
- 180 min
- Complexity 2.8/5
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- BGG #8,387
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- 6.5
Test of Fire: Bull Run 1861
2011
Rules assistance for Test of Fire: Bull Run 1861
Plain-language explanations of turns, card effects and disputed situations, with official source references and saved question history.
- 2 players
- 45 min
- 10+
- Complexity 1.9/5
For 2 players
Rules assistant for Test of Fire: Bull Run 1861
What would you like to know?
Answers come from the official rulebook, with the page to check.
Test of Fire: Bull Run 1861 is a board game released in 2011 for 2 players, 45 minutes per game, and ages 10 and up. It was designed by Martin Wallace and its main mechanics are Dice Rolling, Area Majority / Influence, and Action Points.
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About the game
July 21, 1861: the raw untried armies of North and South meet for the first battle of the American Civil War. Will you take the part of General Beauregard of the Confederate States of America defending Virginia or the part of Union General Irvin McDowell seeking to stop the rebellion of the south and re-unite the nation? Test of Fire: Bull Run 1861 commemorates the sesquicentennial of the first land battle of the American Civil War and is the first game in a series of American Civil War themed games scheduled to be released by Mayfair Games and designed by Martin Wallace. Command opportunities are determined by dice and action cards. To achieve victory the Union Army of Northeastern Virginia must seize Manassas Junction or rout the Southern Army to achieve victory. The Confederate Army of the Potomac & Confederate Army of the Shenandoah win by routing the Union army, avoiding rout, by seizing the Northern town of Centreville, or simply denying the Union victory.
Categories
Designers
Publishers
- Mayfair Games
Questions and answers
Test of Fire: Bull Run 1861 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 Test of Fire: Bull Run 1861 is 45 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 Test of Fire: Bull Run 1861 for ages 10 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.
Test of Fire: Bull Run 1861 has a complexity rating of 1.9 out of 5 from BoardGameGeek players, which makes it a 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.
Test of Fire: Bull Run 1861 belongs to these categories: Wargame and American Civil War. Its main mechanics are Dice Rolling, Area Majority / Influence, 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 Test of Fire: Bull Run 1861 are: Martin Wallace. 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 Test of Fire: Bull Run 1861 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.