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Strategy I: Strategic Warfare 350BC to 1984
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- 1971
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The Franco-Prussian War: August 1 to September 2, 1870
1972
Rules assistance for The Franco-Prussian War: August 1 to September 2, 1870
Plain-language explanations of turns, card effects and disputed situations, with official source references and saved question history.
- 2 players
- 360 min
- 12+
- Complexity 2.4/5
For 2 players
Rules assistant for The Franco-Prussian War: August 1 to September 2, 1870
What would you like to know?
Answers come from the official rulebook, with the page to check.
The Franco-Prussian War: August 1 to September 2, 1870 is a board game released in 1972 for 2 players, 360 minutes per game, and ages 12 and up. It was designed by Jim Dunnigan, Redmond Aksel Simonsen, and Phil Orbanes Sr. and its main mechanics are Dice Rolling, Hexagon Grid, and Simulation.
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About the game
The Franco-Prussian War is an historical simulation of the conflict between the French Empire and the Kingdom of Prussia, with its German Allies. The game covers only the period of the defeat of the French Imperial Armies, from August 1 through September 2, 1870. The map on which the game is played covers the important areas of Germany and eastern France. There are two main versions of the Franco-Prussian War game. The first version, the Basic Game, familiarizes the Players with the map and forces involved, as well as the basic strategy and tactics of the game. The Standard Game introduces the use of dummy counters and hidden forces. There are two independent Optional Rules introducing strategic limited intelligence, and the use of Formation status for all Combat units.
Categories
Publishers
- SPI (Simulations Publications, Inc.)
Questions and answers
The Franco-Prussian War: August 1 to September 2, 1870 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 The Franco-Prussian War: August 1 to September 2, 1870 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 The Franco-Prussian War: August 1 to September 2, 1870 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.
The Franco-Prussian War: August 1 to September 2, 1870 has a complexity rating of 2.4 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.
The Franco-Prussian War: August 1 to September 2, 1870 belongs to these categories: Wargame and Post-Napoleonic. Its main mechanics are Dice Rolling, Hexagon Grid, and Simulation. 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 The Franco-Prussian War: August 1 to September 2, 1870 are: Jim Dunnigan, Redmond Aksel Simonsen, and Phil Orbanes Sr.. 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 The Franco-Prussian War: August 1 to September 2, 1870 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.