
- BGG rating
- 7.6
The Lost Cause: Expansion Kit
- 1 player
- 105 min
- Complexity 2.3/5
- 2010

2010
Rules assistance for The Lost Cause: The American Civil War, 1861-1865
Plain-language explanations of turns, card effects and disputed situations, with official source references and saved question history.
For 1 player

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Answers come from the official rulebook, with the page to check.
The Lost Cause: The American Civil War, 1861-1865 is a board game released in 2010 for 1 player, 60–90 minutes per game, and ages 14 and up. It was designed by Hans von Stockhausen and its main mechanics are Dice Rolling, Point to Point Movement, and Solo / Solitaire Game.
The Lost Cause: The American Civil War: 1861 - 1865 (States of Siege #4) from the publishers website: After the election of Abraham Lincoln in 1860, State after State in America’s “Deep South” seceded from the Union that the North felt must be preserved. In the ensuing war, brother fought brother as the Confederacy resisted with all its might for over four years in The Lost Cause. This States of Siege solitaire game puts you in the shoes of Jefferson Davis and the Confederate High Command as the Union armies close in from five different directions. With famous Generals like Lee and Johnston leading armies for their new nation, much of the conflict also takes place on the waterways and in the halls of power of foreign governments. Told through the use of Headline and Broadsheet Event cards, history unfolds before your eyes as you direct the Southern war effort on land, sea, the diplomatic and home fronts, in an effort to secure independence and survive as a nation. Can you organize the Confederacy and devise the plans necessary to secure victory? Can you make the best use of scarce Southern resources, allocating them at the right place and time to preserve the Confederacy? Or will relentless Union pressure make it all a Lost Cause? Game Data: Number of Players: 1 Ages: 14 and up Playing Time: approx. 1 (Basic Game) to 1 1/2 hours (Advanced Game) Complexity: 3.5 (Basic Game) or 5 (Advanced Game) on a 9 scale Solitaire Suitability: 9 on a 9 scale Scale: Each unit is one Union Army or Civil War Leader, and each turn is one month Game Components: • One 11” x 17” color Basic game map • One 11” x 17” color Advanced game map • One 8-page, color Basic Game Rules booklet • One 6-page, color Advanced Game Rules booklet • 32 color, die-cut 5/8” mounted game pieces • 24 color, die-cut 3/4” mounted game pieces • 48 (total) ‘Headline’ and 'Broadsheet' cards • One 8.5” x 5.5” color player aid mat • One page of designers notes and extensive examples of play
The Lost Cause: The American Civil War, 1861-1865 supports 1 player 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 Lost Cause: The American Civil War, 1861-1865 is 60–90 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 The Lost Cause: The American Civil War, 1861-1865 for ages 14 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 Lost Cause: The American Civil War, 1861-1865 has a complexity rating of 2.6 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 Lost Cause: The American Civil War, 1861-1865 belongs to these categories: Wargame and American Civil War. Its main mechanics are Dice Rolling, Point to Point Movement, and Solo / Solitaire Game. 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 Lost Cause: The American Civil War, 1861-1865 are: Hans von Stockhausen. 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 Lost Cause: The American Civil War, 1861-1865 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.