1806: The Elbe Campaign

The year is 1806. The War of the Fourth Coalition has erupted, drawing Prussia into a desperate alliance with Russia, Saxony, Sweden, and the United Kingdom against Napoleon’s formidable First French Empire. At this point, Napoleon’s Imperial Army was arguably at its peak. Forged in the fires of Ulm and Austerlitz, his veteran soldiers were a perfectly integrated and highly trained force. On the other side, the Prussian army, once legendary under Frederick the Great, was a shadow of its former self. Their soldiers were largely inexperienced, and even their commanders hadn’t seen battle in over a decade. It’s said that during his visit to Frederick the Great’s tomb in Potsdam after Berlin fell, Napoleon remarked, “If this man were alive, I would not be here now.” This perfectly encapsulates how Bonaparte masterfully exploited the severe lack of effective leadership plaguing the Prussian forces. 1806: The Elbe Campaign plunges you into the initial, critical weeks of October 1806, culminating in the fall of Berlin. This operational-level game is designed for contained duration, offering a dynamic and succinct depiction of this pivotal conflict. What makes this game truly exciting are its asymmetrical, sudden-death victory conditions. Every decision is critical, ensuring a consistently tense and vibrant experience: As the French, you must be aggressive, leveraging your superior mobility and leadership. But beware, early setbacks can crush your morale and decisively impact your campaign. As the Prussians, you command a numerically larger force with advantageous terrain, but you’re hampered by slowness and a lack of coordination. Your task is to maneuver wisely, delaying the French long enough for uncertain Russian reinforcements to arrive. The game’s system emphasizes maneuverability and coordination over mere troop numbers, opening up a wide array of strategic options and providing excellent replayability. Plus, the crucial fog of war, vital for any Napoleonic game of this scale, is represented through simple, clear rules that deliver just the right amount of uncertainty about your enemy’s true intentions, especially in the crucial opening turns. Can you avoid Prussia’s devastating debacle and the fall of Berlin? Or will you emulate Napoleon’s military genius and bring Prussia to its knees? 1806: The Elbe Campaign is Volume I of our upcoming “Operational Duels” series, which will transport you through the most iconic campaigns of the Napoleonic Wars. —description from the publisher