Description
Balance of Powers enables players to game the entire First World War in a hex-and-chit format at the army corps and naval squadron-level from the diplomatic crisis of July 1914 through countless air, land, and naval battles until Europe reaches an armistice, which can occur as late as May 1919. In addition to a two-map grand campaign, the game has several smaller scenarios, including single-season, one-mappers, to accommodate every schedule and area of interest. Taken together, the maps permit a degree of strategic speculation absent from operational-level games. For example, the British can invade the German or Adriatic coast instead of the Dardanelles.
Balance of Powers also portrays diplomacy and economics. A haggle-based diplomacy system enables history buffs to recreate the land-swap politics of the period, or players can opt for a simpler, streamlined schedule of neutral entry with a dash of randomness added for surprise. Industrial production is as simple as 1-2-3 to avoid excessive math while enabling players to comprehend the “cost” of their losses. In the end, victory hinges on control of terrain or accumulated demoralization.
Game mechanics recreate the dilemmas of WWI. Land action begins with mobile stacks in grand sweeping offensives, but eventually slows down as corps flip to entrench and thereby lock in gains for the long war of attrition. Trench warfare involves an in-hex dimension with a counterattack mechanism that creates see-saw struggles for single hexes and thereby simulates the tactical ebb and flow that animated the front even during strategic “stalemate.” The prospect of a “breakthrough” to the green fields beyond motivates ceaseless attacks, but it’s ephemeral until tanks, planes, and tactical innovation change warfare forever. In the air and at sea, a roll-to-hit system enables air and (optional) naval combat to scale from the small dogfights of the Fokker Scourge to the mighty clash of dreadnoughts at Jutland. And there’s a Sea Chart, in the corner of one map, which spans the globe so players can recreate events in the Far East and far out at sea.
Scenario List:
- Before The Leaves Fall: Replay the opening (mobile) months of WWI in two hours with only land units in this fast-paced, introductory scenario.
- Fire in the East: Replay Russia 1915 in two hours with air and land units only, in this preview of blitzkrieg.
- Storm of Steel: Recreate the titanic battles that defined WWI using air, land, and possibly surface naval units for a two-hour grudge match.
- Kaiserschlacht: Recreate 1918 in western Europe using air and land units for a two-hour recreation of Germany’s Spring Offensives.
- The South Slavs: Explore the early war struggle for Italy, the Balkans, and the Dardanelles in four hours with air, land, and possibly naval units.
- The Price of Admiralty: Refight the battle of Jutland with naval units only in this one-hour recreation of Mahan’s vision.
- Asian Treasure House: (One Map) This land unit-only scenario covers the four-year fight for the Middle East in about three hours.
- Africa: (One Map) This scenario covers the entire war in Africa in about three hours.
- The Great War: This is it! Take command through the entire First World War in the air, on land, and at sea in this 24-hour scenario that employs every game piece and both maps.
Product Information:
- Complexity: 7 out of 10
- Solitaire Suitability: 7 out of 10
- Time Scale: Monthly turns each consisting of two “fortnights”
- Map Scale: 33 miles per hex in Europe, 200 miles per hex in Africa
- Unit Scale: Corps in Europe, battalions in Africa, naval squadrons (4-16 vessels) and air groups (50-100 planes) across the globe
- Players: 2-7, but best with 2
- Playing Time: 2-24 hours depending on scenario
- Designer: John Gorkowski
- Developer: Gian Carlo Porciani
- First Edition Artist: Mark Mahaffey
- Second Edition Artist: Phoebe Hinkle
Components:
- 2 24″x36″ MOUNTED Game Maps
- 1 Punchboard Map Link
- 6 1/2″ Pre-Rounded Countersheets
- One Rulebook
- One Scenario book
- One General Records Track
- 2 Player Aid Cards
- Dice
- One Box and Lid set
Note: Cover art subject to change.
Want to learn more about this game? Check out the videos below! Please note that these videos highlight the first edition.
