Box Description
Gustav Adolf the Great: With God and Victorious Arms, is a tactical battle game featuring five battles from the career of one of the Great Captains of History, King Gustav II Adolf the Great of Sweden, often known as Gustavus Adolphus or the Lion of the North. In his brief career, he catapulted Sweden to the forefront of European power politics. This volume sets its focus on the rise and climax of Gustav Adolf's military system.
Our award-winning Musket and Pike Battle Series began with the English Civil War in This Accursed Civil War (Vol I), next covered the Swedish army after Gustav Adolf in Sweden Fights On (Vol II), then looked at the rise of the French in the Thirty Years War in Under the Lily Banners (Vol III).
In this volume the Swedish face the tough Polish cavalry; lance equipped winged Hussars and Cossacks. The Swedish-style brigades also take on Father Tilly's allied Catholic League and Imperial juggernaut. Finally, Wallenstein, with a resurgent Imperial army, mastered the art of drawing out the Swedes to attack on ground of his choosing.
In each battle of Gustav Adolf the Great, armies are divided into several wings. Each has a commander and an order that limits the types of actions that units of that wing may perform. Victory goes to the player who can coordinate the actions of his wings in the heat of battle. Units are infantry battalions or brigades, cavalry regiments and artillery batteries. Rules include cavalry charges, cavalry pistols for skirmishing or for close combat, Polish lances, and artillery grazing fire. Play is highly interactive and most battles can be played through in one sitting. The battles are:
- Dirschau/Tczew 1627 - Gustav crossed the Vistula and again faced the Polish General Koniecpolski. The Poles were pushed back on the first day, and on the second day, as the Swedes were winning, Gustav Adolf was gravely wounded, causing the retirement of the Swedish army.
- Honigfelde/Trzciano 1629 - This great cavalry battle showed the Poles were to be treated
with respect. Gustav's German cavalry attacked the advancing Poles and was drawn into a pincer. Rushing forward to save the impetuous cavalry, Gustav was thrown back by the judiciously committed Imperial contingent.
- Breitenfeld 1631 - The most famous battle of the Thirty Years War and King Gustav Adolf s crown jewel. Gustav's cavalry routed the Imperial cavalry and maintains enough discipline to turn on the exposed Imperial infantry flank. The vaunted Imperial army flees the field in disorder, and Gustav's reputation is made.
- Alte Veste 1632 - The impetuous Gustav attacked the Imperial camp at the Alte Veste
Old Fortress - a derelict castle atop a wooded hill. The Imperials were prepared and stopped
the Swedish advance in its tracks. When the vaunted Swedish brigades faltered, Imperial cavalry charged and cut down many of the exhausted troops. Only the Swedish cavalry reserve was able to avert a complete disaster. The invincible Swedes had been defeated.
- Lutzen 1632 - The King pursued Wallenstein into Saxony. It was growing late in the year and the armies would need to disperse and encamp for the winter. Gustav Adolf sought to catch Wallenstein's army dispersed and defeat it in detail. Southeast of Leipzig the Swedes caught up to the Imperial main body. Wallenstein's army had detached two corps and was in serious danger. He quickly summoned his other troops to join him and chose his ground. He fortified a position at Lutzen. The Swedes attacked, but a dense fog hampered their progress. In the confusion and fog, King Gustav Adolf was killed. The Swedish army continued the attack, mostly unaware of the death of their King. Both armies were battered, the Swedes with the heavier losses, but they had pushed the Imperials back. Despite receiving reinforcements, Wallenstein retired and conceded the field to the Swedes. The Swedes could not press the advantage in light of the King's death.
Game Scale
TIME: A turn = 20-30 minutes
MAP: A hex = 100 yards (90m)
UNIT: Strength point = 80-100 men
Cavalry Regt./Sqdn. = 300-500 men
Infantry Regt./Bde. = 500-2000 men
Light Infantry Unit = 100-200 men
Artillery Unit = 3-4 guns; or a double battery of 7 to 8 guns
COMPLEXITY: Medium (5/9)
SOLITAIRE SUITABILITY: Medium (6/9)
