1870-1871 La campagne de l'Armée de l'Est

1870-1871 La Campagne de l'Armée de l'Est is a historical simulation of the last fights of the Franco-Prussian War from November 1870 to February 1871. One player takes the role of the French Republican forces lead by Bourbaki trying to raise the siege of Belfort and threatening the Prussian line of supply running from Germany to Paris. The other player is in command of four strong Prussian Corps who must prevent this threat and destroy the French Army.

This is an Operational level board-wargame, with hidden corps, division, columns or dummies evoluting on the map featuring the eastern part of France, from Dijon to Colmar, one turn for one week. The map represents all major cities, fortresses, main roads and railroads, based on a Point-to-Point Movement game map. Infantry, cavalry, artillery and siege artillery units are placed on boards for each nominative combat force on the map. Their status is follow-up on this board; full or reduced strength, supplied or unsupplied and their exhaustion level: rested, tired or exhausted. Normal and railroad movements are done through activation shits. Initiative may switch from one side to the other, depending on the number of combat forces moved on the previous turn. There are three combat resolution tables; pitched battles and skirmish - depending of the sizes involved in the fight - and a specific siege table. Reconnaissance and retreat are possible before fights which are never mandatory. A dozen of random events bring chrome and allow uncertainty.

1870-1871 La Campagne de l’Armée de l’Est (1870-1871 The East Army Campaign) contains three independant scenarios The Opening Fights in Burgundy (5 turns, 2 hours), The Last Rides of the Vanquished (6 turns, 3 hours) and the Full Campaign (11 turns, 5 hours). Victory points are earned by controlling objective cities or winning pitched battles.

The game include 108 counters and A3 map. Two 6 sided dices - not included - are necessary.

Available with French rules, but English rules can be downloaded from Vae Victis website.