Box Description
War Galley is the seventh volume
in the multi-award winning Great Battles of History series, but the first to venture entirely into the waters of the Mediterranean Sea. It is also the first historical boardgame published, in over two decades, to address galley warfare. As such, War Galley is almost a complete history of this era of war at sea.
What is best about War Galley is how easy it is to play - the rules are about half the length of the usual GBoH game - and that means that most battles can be completed in several hours, at the most. The battles, themselves, cover all aspects of galley tactics, from the line against fine of big ships at Salamis (Cyprus), to the Chase, Turn and Fight of Chios, to the Line Astern vs. Line Abreast at Side, to probably the most unusual of all ancient battles, the Roman arrowhead against the Carthaginian Lines Astern at Drepanum in 249 B.C.
War Galley wars and battles covered by the scenarios are: Ionian Revolt - Lade, 494 BC; Peloponnesian War - Arginusae, 406 BC; The Sicilian Wars - Catana, 397 BC; The First Successor War - Salamis, 306 BC (Cyprus); The First Punic War - Ecnomus, 256 BC; Drepanum, 249 BC; Aegatian Islands, 242 BC; The Macedonian Wars - Chios, 201 BC; The War with Antiochus - Side, 190 BC, Myonessus, 190 BC; The Civil War - Tauris, 47 BC, Naulochus, 36 BC; Actium, 31 BC.
The Battle of Actium
One of the most decisive battles in history, Actium turned Octavian from a somewhat sorry military loser into the first emperor (Augustus) of Rome and determined the course of European history forever.
The Blockade
The 240 warships of Antony's Fleet, made-up of squadrons under Marcus Octavius, Gaius Sosius, and Antony, plus Cleopatra's Reserve squadron, cannot reach the open sea and get back to Egypt, blocked by Octavian's Fleet, made-up of squadrons under Marcus Agrippa, Lucius Arruntius and Octavian.
The Engagement
Marcus Agrippa feints a retreat. Pursued by Antony, he turns sharply about, attacking and encircles his squadron.
The Retreat
Passing through a breach in the enemy line, Cleopatra reaches the open sea.
Game Features
-
Fourteen different Galley types, from Biremes up to the giant Dekares.
- Thirteen naval battles, virtually all of the major naval engagements of the era.
- All the great admirals, from Demetrius and Ptolemy,
Adherbal to Agrippa - even Hannibal and Cleopatra!
- Most scenarios playable in several hours.
- A maneuver-oriented play sequence, with galleys
rated for Crew, Manpower, Speed and Ram capability.
- Special rules for tactics such as Diekplus and Anastrophe, plus weapons such as Flame missiles,
Corvus, and Harpax.
Games Scale
TIME: 5 to 10 minutes per turn
UNIT: 1 to 8 ships per counter
COMPLEXITY: Medium (5/9)
SOLITAIRE SUITABILITY: High (8/9)
