Clash of Giants: Civil War

About this board game

Clash of Giants: Civil War is a two-player American Civil War battle game with a playing time of about 420 minutes, covering Second Bull Run and Gettysburg.

Adapted from Ted S. Raicer’s Clash of Giants WWI system, the game combines a modified chit-pull activation system with streamlined combat. Mostly brigade-level units have Tactical Efficiency Ratings reflecting morale, training, leadership, and experience, while even elite formations can produce uncertain results.

Random formation activations and variable movement allowances create the friction and fog of war central to Civil War command. Union formations are generally activated by corps and Confederate formations by divisions, making it possible to issue an order without knowing exactly when—or how effectively—the formation will act. The system also supports solo play without hidden dummy units.

• Two battles: Second Bull Run and Gettysburg, each with distinctive historical situations and special rules.
• Detailed terrain: Woods, hills, steep hexsides, railway cuts, roads, waterways, towns, marshes, and Gettysburg’s Devil’s Den shape movement and combat.
• Abstracted artillery: Combat Support Markers represent artillery, with available support determined by random draws each turn rather than line-of-sight procedures.
• Uncertain arrivals: Reinforcements can be delayed, reach the wrong road, or be force-marched at greater risk.

Victory comes from taking and holding objectives, exiting units, and inflicting casualties. Players must decide when tactical ground is worth the losses, while delayed arrivals can sometimes be offset with victory points.

With rules for confused orders, reserve formations, cavalry delaying actions, night rallies, key leaders, and Gettysburg’s Confederate grand battery, Clash of Giants: Civil War offers historical character without excessive procedures.