Kolin: Frederick's First Defeat – June 18, 1757 (1994)

About this game

In June of 1757, Frederick the Great and his highly trained Royal Army of Prussia approaches an Austrian army encamped along a low range of hills. Hoping just one more victory will force the Austrians to sue for peace, Frederick sets in motion his master tactic, the "oblique maneuver" against the enemy right flank. Only now the Austrians are under a new commander, the imperturbable Field Marshal von Daun. He calmly redeploys his forces and the Prussian turning maneuver instead becomes a brutal frontal assault. That night some 10,000 Prussians lay dead on the field, with another 5,000 captured. Frederick suffers his first defeat in the Seven Years War. Based on the popular La Bataille system, Kolin offers the first authentic treatment of battles during the Age of Reason. Special command and movement rules reflect the inflexible and difficult nature of commanding armies of the day compared to their Napoleonic descendants. Players must master infantry, cavalry, and artillery tactics at a time when trained manpower is extremely valuable, and not mere "cannon-fodder". Contents: 420 counters 3 34" x 22" period maps 2nd edition standard rules Exclusive rules book Separate charts and tables Insightful historical commentary by Dr. Christopher Duffy.

Does it fit your group?

• Group size. Works with 1 to 2. It has a designed solo mode.
• Rules load. At 3.9/5 this is a heavy game — read the rulebook before people arrive.
• Age. The publisher suggests 12 and up. That rates the rules rather than the artwork, so judge the box yourself for younger players.