Breitenfeld

About this board game

Breitenfeld is a 1–2-player operational simulation of a significant battle from the Thirty Years War, with a listed playing time of 90 minutes. Originally published in Strategy & Tactics magazine #55 in March/April 1976, it is one of the Thirty Years War Quadrigames.

The game system models warfare in Europe during the first half of the seventeenth century. Its playing pieces represent the armies involved, while the map depicts the terrain over which the battle was fought. Leaders appear as separate units, adding distinct command pieces to the battlefield setup.

Breitenfeld presents the action at a precise operational scale. Each hex represents 175 meters, and each strength point corresponds to approximately 75–100 men. A turn is listed as 45 minutes, while the overall game has a listed play time of 90 minutes.

• 100 counters representing the forces and leaders
• A battlefield map with starting locations printed for each unit
• Terrain including lanes, marshes, roads, towns, forests, rivers, and crests
• A focused two-player design that can also be played by one player

The printed starting positions provide a clear historical foundation for setting up the battle, while the varied terrain defines the battlefield represented by the map. From marsh and forest to roads, towns, rivers, and crests, the map gives the scenario its physical character.

For players interested in compact historical simulations, Breitenfeld combines a focused battle setting with the broader Thirty Years War game system. Its magazine-era presentation, detailed scale, separate leaders, and distinctive terrain make it a concise study of seventeenth-century operational warfare.