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Kernstown
- 1–2 players
- 120–480 min
- Complexity 3.3/5
- 2019
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- BGG #10,993
- BGG rating
- 8.2
Thunder At Dawn: The Battle of Wilson's Creek (August 10, 1861)
2021
Rules assistance for Thunder At Dawn: The Battle of Wilson's Creek (August 10, 1861)
Plain-language explanations of turns, card effects and disputed situations, with official source references and saved question history.
- 1–2 players
- 240–480 min
- 11+
- Complexity 2.8/5
For 1 player
Rules assistant for Thunder At Dawn: The Battle of Wilson's Creek (August 10, 1861)
What would you like to know?
Answers come from the official rulebook, with the page to check.
Thunder At Dawn: The Battle of Wilson's Creek (August 10, 1861) is a board game released in 2021 for 1–2 players, 240–480 minutes per game, and ages 11 and up. It was designed by Claude Whalen and its main mechanics are Hexagon Grid, Simulation, and Chit-Pull System.
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About the game
Thunder At Dawn: The Battle of Wilson's Creek (August 10, 1861) is the 5th title of the Revolution Games American Civil War Series using the Blind Swords Tactical level system. On August 10th, 1861 the first major battle of the Trans-Mississippi theater, and the second major battle of the American Civil War, was fought near Springfield, Missouri. Three rather green forces (one Union army and two Rebel forces) met at Wilson’s Creek and clashed on “Bloody Hill". Little did they know how bloody the war would be. The commanders were also new to this level of fighting and two novice errors shaped the historic battle. The Union commander, General Lyon, detailed his battle plan to his commanders and then was talked into dividing his smaller force in two at the last minute. The Rebels had dissention amongst Generals McCulloch and Price over whether they should attack immediately or not. After cancelling an advance to attack the next morning (August 10th), they forgot to repost pickets when they returned to their camps. This mistake left them open to the Union surprise attack the next morning. After great initial success, the Union forces ran low on ammunition, lost General Lyon and ended up leaving the field. It didn’t have to be that way as the Union forces had a very good chance of conducting a successful “spoiling” attack. The “What If” scenario gives the Union player a chance to adjust his strategy and win the battle. The game is specifically designed to be a playable regimental-scale simulation of the battle that can be completed in a long evening. It allows the players the immersive experience of tactical combat without the heavy rules normally found in such games, while also delivering a comprehensive experience of limited intelligence and unexpected events. The game features the Blind Swords chit-pull system, which emphasizes the three “FOWs” of military conflict: fog-of-war, friction-of-war and fortunes-of-war. With each chit pull, players will be challenged to make tough decisions based on their assessment of the situation at that moment. This yields an environment of tense action and constant surprises – an environment that will challenge each player. —user summary Components: -22 x 34 inch Map -176 x 5/8 inch Counters -Full Color Exclusive Rulebook -Series Rulebook (Black and White) -5 Player Aids -Box or ziploc bag -2 Dice (Boxed Version)
Categories
Designers
Publishers
- Revolution Games (II)
Questions and answers
Thunder At Dawn: The Battle of Wilson's Creek (August 10, 1861) supports 1–2 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 Thunder At Dawn: The Battle of Wilson's Creek (August 10, 1861) is 240–480 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 Thunder At Dawn: The Battle of Wilson's Creek (August 10, 1861) for ages 11 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.
Thunder At Dawn: The Battle of Wilson's Creek (August 10, 1861) has a complexity rating of 2.8 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.
Thunder At Dawn: The Battle of Wilson's Creek (August 10, 1861) belongs to these categories: Wargame, Civil War, and American Civil War. Its main mechanics are Hexagon Grid, Simulation, and Chit-Pull System. 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 Thunder At Dawn: The Battle of Wilson's Creek (August 10, 1861) are: Claude Whalen. 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 Thunder At Dawn: The Battle of Wilson's Creek (August 10, 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.