
- BGG rank
- BGG #4,415
- BGG rating
- 7.0
Quebec 1759
- 2 players
- 60 min
- Complexity 2.1/5
- 1972

1973
Rules assistance for War of 1812
Plain-language explanations of turns, card effects and disputed situations, with official source references and saved question history.
For 2 players

What would you like to know?
Answers come from the official rulebook, with the page to check.
War of 1812 is a board game released in 1973 for 2 players, 90 minutes per game, and ages 12 and up. It was designed by Tom Dalgliesh and Lance Gutteridge and its main mechanics are Dice Rolling, Point to Point Movement, and Secret Unit Deployment.
(from Columbia Games website:) War of 1812 is an elegant strategy wargame depicting the Anglo-American struggle to control the Great Lakes and Canada. War of 1812 sets up in five minutes and plays in 1-2 hours. This classic game has been enjoyed by thousands of gamers for over 30 years. Unit types in this edition include artillery, cavalry, infantry, and navies. The map board is unchanged from previous editions. (see War of 1812 webpage for full history of this war)
War of 1812 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 War of 1812 is 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 War of 1812 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.
War of 1812 has a complexity rating of 2.1 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.
War of 1812 belongs to these categories: Wargame, Napoleonic, and American Indian Wars. Its main mechanics are Dice Rolling, Point to Point Movement, and Secret Unit Deployment. 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 War of 1812 are: Tom Dalgliesh and Lance Gutteridge. 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 War of 1812 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.