The Black Prince (1992)

About this game

THE BLACK PRINCE features four battles from the Hundred Years War (Crecy, Poitiers, Navarette and Verneuil). Three of these battles include Edward, Prince of Wales, otherwise known as the “Black Prince.” These battles, Crecy, Poitiers, and Navarette are coupled with the later battle, Verneull, the “Second Agincourt,” to present four of the most important battles of the war. Each battle was not only a clash of arms but also a clash of military systems and weapons. The English longbow would be pitted against the French lance, with the crown of France in the balance. THE BLACK PRINCE game system, designed by Rob Markham, is medium complexity and features rules on the longbow, heavy cavalry charges, commands and command control, ammunition, and demoralization. The system is quick to learn and quick to play, with games taking between 1/2 and 3 hours to play.

Does it fit your group?

• Group size. Works with 1 to 2. It has a designed solo mode.
• Rules load. At 2.3/5 this is a mid-weight game — expect a proper rules explanation before you start.
• Age. The publisher suggests 12 and up. That rates the rules rather than the artwork, so judge the box yourself for younger players.