Scotland Rising: Bannockburn 1314 (2014)

About this game

Scotland Rising, which is being released to honor the 700th Year Anniversary of the battle of Bannockburn, is a sharp fight that highlights the tactics of medieval battles on a crowded battlefield: Knights are powerful and hard to bring down; pikemen are best in massed formation; archers have ranged fire but must be protected; and ax men are vicious in a close fight. In the game, players take the command roles of Robert the Bruce and King Edward II to lead their armies toward old-fashioned victory — medieval style — by inflicting damage on their opponent to relieve the siege of Stirling Castle. Scotland Rising is the first title in Worthington Publishing's "PT-90" game series, a line of wargames that can be played in 90 minutes. The eight-page rulebook has only four pages of rules and four pages of play examples, designer notes, and historical background.

Does it fit your group?

• Group size. Works with 1 to 2. It has a designed solo mode.
• Rules load. At 2.0/5 this is a mid-weight game — expect a proper rules explanation before you start.
• Age. The publisher suggests 9 and up. That rates the rules rather than the artwork, so judge the box yourself for younger players.